HP Zbook 15 G2 review
Mighty processing power and a huge price – is this workstation worth almost £3,000?
It’s got great power, decent ergonomics and versatile design, but the HP loses out to its rival thanks to a high price, middling screen quality and its sheer size.
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High-end processor; Discrete ISV-certified graphics; Numerous ports and a well-made exterior; Customisable specification
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Bland looks; Heavier and thicker than rivals; Middling screen quality
The HP's colour accuracy is disappointing. Its colour temperature of 7,721K is far too cool and cooler than its 15.6in rivals and its average Delta E of 3.73 is similarly middling.
The HP's screen is good, and it's certainly got the resolution and quality to suit most work tasks. Its rivals are better, though, which means we'd opt for an XPS or Apple laptop for colour-sensitive software.
Ergonomics
We don't have many complaints about the HP's typing action. The scrabble-tile keys are installed into a firm base, they've got a good amount of travel, and we like the action it's soft enough to feel comfortable for long periods of time, but snappy enough to really feel like you've hammered down the keys. It's easily as good as the keyboard on the Dell XPS 15, but it's not quite able to match the Macbook.
The trackpad is decent, too, with a smooth surface and three light physical buttons. It's also got a trackpoint in the middle of the keyboard and this gets its own trio of buttons.
The keyboard and mouse facilities are ergonomically sound, but they're hampered by niggling issues. The Return key is only single-height, and the trackpad is off-centre we kept nudging the pad with our left hand.
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Mike Jennings has worked as a technology journalist for more than a decade and has been fascinated by computers since childhood, when he spent far too long building terrible websites. He loves desktop PCs, components, laptops and anything to do with the latest hardware.
Mike worked as a staff writer at PC Pro magazine in London for seven years, and during that time wrote for a variety of other tech titles, including Custom PC, Micro Mart and Computer Shopper. Since 2013, he’s been a freelance tech writer, and writes regularly for titles like Wired, TechRadar, Stuff, TechSpot, IT Pro, TrustedReviews and TechAdvisor. He still loves tech and covers everything from the latest business hardware and software to high-end gaming gear, and you’ll find him on plenty of sites writing reviews, features and guides on a vast range of topics.
You can email Mike at mike@mike-jennings.net, or find him on Twitter at @mikejjennings
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