HP Zbook X2 G4 Review: Introduction
HP takes a different approach to the detachable PC with its Zbook X2 G4 workstation. HP aims high with this machine and shoves as much power as possible into a sleek tablet form factor that’s a little over half an inch thick. While the Microsoft Surface Pro starts at $799 with a Core M3 and spartan memory and storage, the HP Zbook X2 G4 has a much higher $2,699 cost of entry for the latest generation models, but configurations start with a beefy quad-core Intel Core i7-8550u and discrete graphics.
Pricing for the Zbook X2 G4 places it in direct competition with the Surface Book 2, but HP keeps all the hardware in the tablet section – there’s no performance reduction when it's detached from the keyboard. But is HP’s promise of more horsepower and Adobe-specific hardware features enough to lure users away from the Microsoft Surface Pro, Surface Book 2 or traditional clamshell designs? Join us as we find out...
|
Processor Options | 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8650U Quad Core (8MB Cache, 1.9GHz to 4.2GHz) |
Display |
14-inch DreamColor (4K) Touchscreen Wacom EMR pen included |
Graphics |
Intel UHD Graphics 620 Nvidia Quadro M620 (2GB GDDR5) |
Memory |
32GB DDR4-2133 SDRAM (2 x 16GB SO-DIMM) |
Storage |
512GB Samsung SM961 M.2 NVMe PCIe x4 Solid State Drive |
Audio | Bang & Olufsen audio |
Ethernet | NA |
Wireless Connectivity |
Intel 8265 802.11ac 2x2, Bluetooth Version 4.2 |
Interface (Left) |
3.5mm Headset/Microphone Combo |
Interface (Right) |
2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 3.0 PCIe x4), HDMI, USB 3.0, SD card reader |
Interface (Back) | N/A |
Webcam |
Windows Hello face sign-in camera 720p HD front camera 8MP rear facing camera |
Operating System |
Windows 10 Pro |
Battery | 4-cell, 70Whr |
Dimensions | 0.53 (H) x 14.35 (W) x 8.94 (D) inches (tablet mode) / 0.75 (H) x 14.35 (W) x 8.94 (D) inches (with keyboard) |
Weight |
3.64 lb (tablet mode) / 4.78 lb (with keyboard) |
Manufacturer Warranty |
1-year limited warranty, 3-year warranty optional |
Pricing | $3,575.52 (As Configured) - Starting @ $2248 (with 7th Gen Core) |
Touted as the most powerful detachable PC on the market, the HP Zbook X2 G4 packs a quad-core 8th-Generation (Kaby Lake R) processor and NVIDIA Quadro M620 graphics in all configurations. The Intel Core i7-8550U is the base processor with a 1.8 GHz base clock and 4.0 GHz turbo speed -- higher end models get the Core i7-8650U with a 100 MHz base clock bump and 200 MHz for turbo mode – 1.9 GHz and 4.2 GHz, respectively.
There are two RAM and storage options – 16GB or 32GB DDR4-2133 and 512GB or 1TB SSDs, which keeps configurations simple. The SSD choices are both PCI Express, too. HP also continues to offer the regular Zbook X2 with Intel 7th-Generation Core i7 processors and 128GB storage for a lower $2,279, but our focus is strictly on the quad-core Zbook X2 G4 models here.
HP sent over a configuration packed to the gills with a DreamColor display, Core i7-8650U, Quadro M620 2GB GDDR5, 32GB DDR4, and a 512GB NVME SSD. This specific configuration isn’t available as a ready-to-ship model, but comes to $3710 when custom built. However, HP offers an identical model with a higher capacity 1TB SSD for $3799 that’s ready to ship. It’s not a cheap workstation, so let’s see if it lives up to its price.