HP ZBook Studio 16" G11 2024, Core Ultra 7 165H, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 3000 Ada

Gorgeous 4K display and pro graphics wrapped in a laptop with reliability scores that make us nervous. Buy it for the screen, not the AI hype.

The Core Ultra 7 165H with 32GB of DDR5 and an RTX 3000 Ada with 8GB VRAM handles creative workloads well. Rendering and 3D modeling feel responsive, and the 1TB NVMe SSD keeps things snappy. What surprised us is how poorly this thing scores for AI and LLM tasks, a 48.7 out of 100. For a laptop marketed as AI-powered, that's a real letdown. The GPU sits in the 82nd percentile, which is solid but not exceptional for a workstation at this price point.

The MacBook Pro M4 Max absolutely destroys this thing in AI and reliability, and it's in the same price bracket. If you're not locked into Windows, that's the obvious choice. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 offers better gaming performance and portability for less money, though you sacrifice the 4K display. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i gives you more raw power for similar cash, but it's bulkier. For pure creative work on Windows, the ZBook Studio makes sense, but it's not the clear winner HP wants it to be.

At $4,910 USD, this is a tough sell. You're paying a premium for that display and the RTX 3000 Ada, but the reliability concerns and mediocre AI performance make it hard to justify. If you need the screen and the pro GPU, fine. But most people should look elsewhere.

The HP ZBook Studio G11 is a creator-focused workstation that nails the display and packs serious professional graphics, but it's not the slam dunk the spec sheet suggests. The 16-inch 3840x2400 120Hz IPS panel is genuinely stunning, sitting in the 98th percentile for screens we've tested. But reliability scores land in the bottom third, and that's a red flag for a machine this expensive. The one thing to know: this is a gorgeous screen attached to a laptop that might let you down when you need it most.

If you're buying this for AI workloads, don't. The AI performance is genuinely disappointing for a laptop marketed as AI-powered. Get a MacBook Pro M4 Max instead. If you want a portable gaming machine, the ROG Zephyrus G14 is lighter, cheaper, and better at games.

The ZBook Studio G11 is a beautiful laptop with a fantastic display and solid creative performance, but the reliability issues and weak AI chops hold it back. If you're a Windows-bound creator who needs that 4K 120Hz panel and pro-grade graphics, it's worth considering. Everyone else should look at the MacBook Pro M4 Max or save money with the ROG Zephyrus G14.