HP ZBook 16" Firefly G11 2024, Core Ultra 7 155H, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX A500, Silver

A workstation in gaming laptop clothing. Great for work, weak for play, and that display is a letdown at this price.

The Core Ultra 7 155H surprised us. It sits at the 76th percentile for CPUs, which sounds modest, but in real-world use it chews through spreadsheets, code compiles, and browser tab hoarding without breaking a sweat. The 32GB of DDR5 is a standout, landing in the top 13% of all laptops we track. The RTX A500 is the bottleneck though. It's a pro-grade GPU, not a gaming one, and 4GB of VRAM means modern AAA titles will choke. For CAD, video editing, and AI-assisted workflows, it's competent. For Cyberpunk at high settings, look elsewhere.

The MacBook Pro M4 Max absolutely destroys this thing in GPU performance, display quality, and battery life, but it costs significantly more. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is the better pick if you actually want to game, with a proper gaming GPU in a lighter chassis. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 is another strong alternative for raw power. The Firefly G11's real competition is the MSI Prestige, which offers similar productivity chops but with a better display in our testing. For pure workstation reliability, HP's own enterprise support is the differentiator, but the reliability scores here don't inspire confidence.

At $2,250 USD, this is a tough sell unless you specifically need the workstation pedigree and pro app certifications. The hardware is solid for productivity, but that display and GPU hold it back from being a great all-rounder. If you're buying it as a gaming laptop because Newegg labeled it that way, don't. If you need a durable, capable work machine with HP's enterprise support, it's a reasonable investment.

The HP ZBook Firefly G11 is a weird one. It's a mobile workstation wearing a gaming laptop's clothes, and honestly, it mostly pulls it off. The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and 32GB of DDR5 RAM make this thing a multitasking monster for productivity work. But that RTX A500 with just 4GB of VRAM is the elephant in the room. It's fine for pro apps and light creative work, but anyone expecting serious gaming performance from that 'Gaming Laptop' label on Newegg is going to be disappointed. This is a work machine first, and a very good one at that.

If you're looking for a gaming laptop, skip this entirely. The RTX A500 will frustrate you within a week. Get an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or Lenovo Legion instead. If you need a color-accurate display for creative work, this 45% NTSC panel is a dealbreaker. Look at the MacBook Pro or a higher-end ZBook with a better screen.

The ZBook Firefly G11 is a capable productivity workhorse with a misleading gaming label. Buy it for work, not play. The Core Ultra 7 and 32GB RAM are excellent, but the weak GPU and mediocre display make it a poor value for anyone wanting a do-everything machine. If you need a reliable business laptop with pro app certifications, it's worth considering. If you want to game, get a Zephyrus G14 and don't look back.