Ranking: Best workstation laptops tested by Notebookcheck

The entire workstation segment is firmly in the hands of Nvidia graphics chips. But with the ZBook Ultra G1a 14 hP has launched a Gallic workstation that shakes up the status quo. True to its name, it is a compact 14-inch workstation that is equipped by HP with processors from the AMD Strix Halo series - and does without an Nvidia GPU. Instead, HP relies entirely on the integrated AMD graphics solution, the AMD Radeon 8060S. The result: very high performance in a compact and high-quality metal casing. The biggest disadvantage is the soldered RAM, but with up to 128 GB ex works, this should be bearable for many users.

Lenovo's ThinkPad P16 G2 is a minor refresh following a major overhaul in the previous generation. The workstation now features Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh processors, along with slight GPU upgrades. RAM capacity has been increased from 128 GB to 192 GB. However, Lenovo has not addressed previous criticisms, such as the lack of an RJ45 Ethernet port and the inclusion of only two M.2 2280 slots in a workstation of this size.

The HP ZBook Fury 16 G11 builds on the success of its predecessor, which ranked highly in last year’s workstation list. The new model remains largely unchanged aside from an update to Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs. It retains its strengths, including excellent upgradeability, a bright and fast display, and high performance, though performance stability could be improved. Despite this minor drawback, the ZBook Fury remains a solid choice in 2024.

For those seeking a budget-friendly workstation, the HP ZBook Power 16 G11a is a strong contender. As the more affordable variant in HP's lineup, it still delivers solid performance and maintains a high level of build quality. Equipped with AMD Ryzen 8040HS CPUs, it benefits from quieter operation under low and medium loads compared to many workstation laptops. However, its lower price comes with trade-offs, including limited display options and SSD performance throttling under continuous load.

The HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 aims to strike a balance between performance and mobility. Weighing just 1.8 kg, it is impressively lightweight for a powerful workstation. It is also highly upgradeable and features an excellent display. However, it has only one SSD slot, a subpar webcam, and mediocre battery life.

The Schenker Key 18 Pro is a mobile workstation in a large 18-inch format. The Key 18 Pro impresses with a good keyboard as well as high upgradeability and performance, and Schenker also installs a great 4K UHD display with a 200 Hz refresh rate. The disadvantage of all the performance that an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 means: The large laptop is quite loud under load, and the performance is also reduced in battery mode. Unpleasant: The lid sometimes creaks a little, which shouldn't really happen with a laptop that costs over 6,000 euros.

Lenovo’s ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 continues its tradition of combining performance with mobility, positioning itself as a premium option alongside the ThinkPad X1 series. This latest version enhances quality with a haptic touchpad and an aluminum lid, making it more premium than its predecessor. While it no longer offers the highest-end GPUs, overall performance remains excellent. The inclusion of a 120 Hz display and improved battery life enhances the user experience, though the high price may be a deterrent.

The ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 (AMD version) is Lenovo's most compact and lightest mobile workstation. This year, this model has been significantly upgraded, as Strix Point has found its way into this compact workstation laptop. The Ryzen AI 9 HX CPU impresses with its high performance and the ThinkPad laptop has great upgradeability as well as good input devices and a wide range of connectivity options. Weak point: As a pure AMD workstation, there is no dedicated GPU. Although the AMD Radeon 890M is not completely useless, it cannot keep up with dedicated GPUs.