HP ZBook 8 G1i: Budget Workstation or Just… Meh?

First Impressions: That Instant Vibe Check

Alright, so imagine you're doom-scrolling TikTok at 2 AM, and a laptop review pops up. That's the vibe we're aiming for here. Mobile workstations, right? The OGs of 'maxed out specs, idgaf about the weight.' They're built for heavy-duty tasks—think video editing, CAD work, basically anything that makes your everyday consumer laptop weep. Historically, these bad boys came with a price tag that made your wallet ghost you faster than a bad date.

Then HP rolls in with the ZBook 8 G1i 14-inch, pulling a Beyoncé-level surprise drop. Wired called out this "curious twist": a mind-blowing deep discount of over $2,500 off its initial $4,000+ asking price. Suddenly, this beast is chilling in the same price bracket as a 'traditional' laptop. My immediate reaction? 'Okay, HP, you have my attention. Spill the tea.'

Aesthetic Vibes: Design Evolution or Just a Facelift?

Let's be real, industrial design isn't exactly where the ZBook 8 G1i is trying to win awards. Wired straight-up described it as "anonymous," and honestly, it’s giving major 'corporate HR laptop from 2014' energy. At 27mm thick and 3.8 pounds, it's not exactly winning any slim-and-light contests. If it weren't for the extra girth, you might mistake it for any other 14-inch system.

The chassis is a metallic gray, sporting standard HP branding, and made from partially recycled aluminum and plastic—which is a nice touch for the eco-conscious among us, I guess. But those gently rounded corners? They do zero to hide the surprisingly wide bezels around the display. It's functional, sure, but it's not exactly going to make you feel like the main character. If you're upgrading from a relic, this'll feel like leveling up in your fave RPG, but if you're used to modern ultrabooks, prepare for a blast from the past.

Under the Hood: Cracking Open the Spec Sheet

This is where mobile workstations usually flex, right? And the ZBook 8 G1i throws some curveballs. Let's start with the good: 64 GB of RAM. Chef's kiss. That's solid, and exactly what you'd expect for serious multitasking. No complaints there.

But then we hit the CPU. HP went with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265H. Wired found this an "odd" choice, noting it lands smack in the middle of the Core Ultra Series 2 power spectrum. Lowkey, for a workstation aiming to be "future-proof," an Ultra 9 would have been the power move. My test unit came with a respectable 1-terabyte SSD, so storage isn't an issue.

Now, for the discrete graphics—a workstation staple. The ZBook 8 G1i packs an Nvidia GeForce RTX 500 Ada Generation GPU. And here's where it gets savage: Wired confessed they'd "never actually encountered [this] in the wild." This GPU is nearly two years old and, get this, it's a stripped-down version of the GeForce RTX 4060. Benchmarks? They peg its performance roughly on par with the mobile GeForce GTX 1000 series. Yeah, you read that right. It's a seriously "curious choice" that doesn't exactly scream 'top-tier performance' for demanding graphics tasks.

Display Dive: Not Dazzling, Just… There

The ZBook 8 G1i features a 14-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. For a non-touchscreen device of this size, that's perfectly fine. It's not going to ruin your day, but it's also "shy of anything I’d consider dazzling," as Wired put it. Don't expect vibrant, eye-popping colors or inky blacks that make your Netflix binge feel cinematic. It's a pragmatic panel designed for work, not for showing off your latest vacation pics in glorious HDR. It gets the job done, but don't expect it to be a highlight of your user experience.

Keyboard & Trackpad Tango: Utilitarian Rhythm

In the grand scheme of things, the keyboard and trackpad on the ZBook 8 G1i are... perfectly functional. They're not going to blow your mind with innovative haptic feedback or buttery-smooth key travel, but they're not going to make you rage-quit either. Wired noted their "utilitarian appearance," which perfectly sums it up. Expect a standard, no-frills typing and navigation experience. If you're hammering out code or long reports, it'll get you through, but it won't be a joyride. It's the laptop equivalent of a reliable work shoe—it does its job without any extra flair.

Real-World Workload: Can it Grind?

This machine is ostensibly designed for "heavy grind tasks" like video editing, CAD, or any scenario where you're pushing serious pixels and crunching massive datasets. The 64GB of RAM is a solid foundation, hinting at serious multitasking prowess. However, the somewhat perplexing CPU choice (Core Ultra 7 instead of Ultra 9) and the notably underpowered RTX 500 Ada Generation GPU cast a shadow over its 'workstation' cred.

While it will undoubtedly handle most day-to-day business tasks and even moderately intensive creative work better than a standard ultrabook, those truly hardcore, future-proof workloads that workstations are famous for might find the GPU and CPU a bottleneck. It’s like bringing a very nice car to a race, but with a slightly weaker engine than its competitors. It'll go, but will it win? That deep discount starts to make a bit more sense when you look at these specs.

Quick Hits (Pros & Cons)

Here’s the TL;DR for those of you who skim:

Pros:

• 64GB RAM: Plenty of memory for serious multitasking and heavy applications. 🔥
• Initial Deep Discount: Made it competitively priced against traditional laptops (if you snagged it).
• Solid Build: Partially recycled aluminum and plastic chassis feels sturdy.
• 1TB SSD: Ample fast storage.

Cons:

• Dated Design: Thick, heavy, and wide bezels are a blast from the past. 😬
• Questionable CPU Choice: Core Ultra 7 feels underpowered for a true workstation.
• Underwhelming GPU: The RTX 500 Ada is nearly two years old and struggles to keep up.
• 'Fine' Display: 2560x1600 is okay, but not dazzling or touch-enabled.
• Utilitarian Everything: Keyboard, trackpad, and overall aesthetic lack modern flair.

Wrap-Up Thoughts: A Deal or Just Dealt With?

The HP ZBook 8 G1i is a fascinating case study in workstation pricing. On paper, the concept of a powerful, future-proof mobile workstation at a dramatically reduced price is incredibly appealing. Lowkey, who doesn't love a bargain? However, when you dig into the specs, particularly the CPU and GPU choices, it feels a bit like HP cut corners to hit that discount. It's not a bad machine by any stretch, especially if you snagged it at the discounted rate and your workload leans heavily on RAM rather than raw GPU power.

Ultimately, this ZBook feels like a product caught between eras. It has the workstation spirit with its ample RAM and build quality, but its core processing muscle feels stuck in a slightly older generation. Does it make your shortlist? Drop your takes in the comments—does this make your shortlist or is it a pass?

Final Score: 6.8/10

Look, if this ZBook had launched at its original over-$4,000 price with these specs, it would have been a hard pass. But that deep discount is what makes it even worth talking about. It’s got some seriously good bones (64GB RAM, 1TB SSD) but then throws in some head-scratching compromises (that CPU and especially that GPU). For specialized tasks that are RAM-intensive, it could be a decent workhorse. But for cutting-edge graphics work or pushing the absolute limits, it's just not quite there. It's a perfectly okay machine that gets a little boost from its surprising price drop, but it’s far from being a slam dunk.