The HP ZBook Firefly 14 G10 (2023) is a thin lightweight mobile workstation laptop perfect for professionals on the go. Although it may not be the best choice for rendering or 3D graphics, it’s tailored for mobile productivity. Let’s deep in full review.
Design and keyboard
The HP ZBook Firefly 14 G10 with its sleek natural silver finish and all-metal construction, weighs 1.54kg. Its rounded edges ensure a comfortable grip and the smooth lid mechanism allows for easy one-finger opening.
On the left side, you have an HDMI 2.0 B port, a USB-A port, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports with USB Type-C connectors for data transfer, charging and display connections and also a smart card reader for added security.
The right side includes a nano SIM card slot for mobile broadband, a Kensington Lock port, a full-size USB-A port, and a 3.5-millimeter combo jack for microphone and headphones. While the port selection is robust, it lacks an SD or microSD card slot, which could be a drawback for some users.
Opening this laptop’s lid is effortless with one finger. The screen tilts back up to 175 degrees, offering flexible viewing angles, though it doesn’t quite reach 180 degrees. The sturdy hinges ensure minimal screen wobble even while typing which is a notable advantage.
The keyboard is another highlight features about 1.5 millimeters of key travel providing a comfortable and responsive typing experience. The multi-level backlight is useful for working in dim environments and the glass Precision touchpad is highly responsive for scrolling and gestures.
The HP ZBook Firefly 14 2023, particularly the G10 model, has an impressive webcam. It captures video in 1440p at 30 frames per second and includes an IR camera for face recognition login through Windows Hello. A physical privacy shutter adds extra security by deactivating the webcam when needed.
The 5-megapixel webcam uses HP Presence technology to enhance lighting and adjust for low-light conditions ensuring excellent image quality. Features auto-framing to keep you in view with options for wide-angle, portrait or tight framing. Webcam also supports multiple face framing for group calls and includes a background blur effect allowing you to customize your background with presets or your own images. And the camera’s 5MP 440p video capabilities deliver clear, high-quality images. Fingerprint scanner below the keyboard provides reliable security enhancing the overall user experience.
- CPU: 13th Generation Intel Core i7-1360P, 12C (4P + 8E) / 16T, P-core 2.2 / 5.0GHz, E-core 1.6 / 3.7GHz, 18MB.
- Display: 14″ diagonal, WUXGA (1920 x 1200), touch, IPS, anti-glare, 250 nits, 45% NTSC Display; Graphics: Intel Iris Xᵉ …
- 32GB DDR5 Memory; 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD; No Optical drive
Display and Speakers
HP ZBook Firefly 14 G10 features several display options but the standout is the HP DreamColor display. The 14-inch screen offers a resolution of 2560×1600 with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a dynamic refresh rate up to 120Hz ensuring a smooth experience. Its anti-glare coating minimizes reflections making it easy on the eyes. For content creation excels with over 500nits of brightness and excellent color accuracy making it ideal for video editing and photo work.
Battery life varies based on settings. A constant 120 Hz refresh rate drains the battery faster, but switching to a dynamic rate helps conserve power without a significant drop in performance. While not the best in its class, the battery life is adequate for most needs. In terms of audio, this laptop surprises with impressive sound quality equipped with quad speakers delivers rich, balanced audio with ample volume, clear mids and respectable bass making it an exception among workstations typically for average audio capabilities.
User Upgradeable Options
The SSD is user-upgradable, supporting up to 2TB of PCIe NVMe Gen 4 storage with fast read and write speeds, meeting 2023 performance standards. And also features two user-accessible SO-DIMM slots for up to 64GB of DDR5 5200 MHz RAM in dual-channel mode which is impressive for a mobile workstation. My review unit comes with 32GB of RAM in dual-channel mode.
For wireless connectivity, the ZBook Firefly 14 G10 includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Although the combo card is soldered and not upgradable, both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have performed flawlessly. There’s also a slot for optional mobile broadband, supporting 4G LTE or 5G. This feature ensures a reliable always-on connection which is convenient for avoiding the need for a smartphone hotspot and dealing with unreliable connections in places like airports or cafes.
Performance and Benchmarks
As previously mentioned, the HP ZBook Firefly 14 is available in both AMD Ryzen Pro and Intel variants. The unit I’m currently reviewing is the Intel variant, powered by the 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1365U processor with vPro. This processor boasts 10 cores, comprising 8 efficient cores and 2 performance cores, providing a balance of power and efficiency.
| PCMARK 10 | 6,310 |
| GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core) | 2,341 |
| GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core) | 10,806 |
| CINEBENCH R20 | 2,276 |
| CINEBENCH R15 | 1,081 CB | 186.16 FPS |
| CINEBENCH R23 | 1,727 Single-Core | 7,439 Multi-Core |
| 3DMARK Fire Strike | 5,511 |
| 3DMARK Time Spy | 2,252 |
Analyzing the benchmarks, the performance of the HP ZBook Firefly 14 is notably impressive. It achieved a single-core score of 1727 in Cinebench R23, showcasing its capability for handling everyday tasks with ease. Additionally, its multi-core score reached 7000, which, while not topping the charts compared to other laptops in its category, remains commendable. Considering its design as a thin and light mobile workstation tailored for on-the-go productivity, the performance is commendable and meets the demands of various professional tasks effectively.
| Laptop | PC MARK 10 | GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core) | GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core) | CINEBENCH R15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP ZBook Firefly 14 G10 Core i7-1365U | 6,310 | 2,310 | 10,806 | 10,081 CB | 186.16 FPS |
| HP ZBook Firefly 14 G9 Core i7-1265U | 5,491 | 2,030 | 11,006 | 708 CB | 189.23 FPS |
| Laptop | PC MARK 10 | GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core) | GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core) | CINEBENCH R15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP ZBook Firefly 14 G10 Core i7-1365U | 6,310 | 2,310 | 10,806 | 10,081 CB | 186.16 FPS |
| HP ZBook Firefly 14 G9 Core i7-1265U | 5,491 | 2,030 | 11,006 | 708 CB | 189.23 FPS |
Battery Life
| Laptop | PCMARK 10 MODERN OFFICE | PCMARK 10 Video Playback |
|---|---|---|
| HP ZBook Firefly 14 G10 51Wh | 8h10m | 10h40m |
| HP ZBook Firefly 14 G9 51Wh | 7h28m | 8h54m |
The battery life of this model remains consistent with last year’s G9 version, featuring a 51 watt-hour battery. In the PC Mark 10 modern office battery test, it lasted for 8 hours and 10 minutes, whereas the previous year’s model managed 7 hours and 28 minutes. For video playback, it ran for 10 hours and 40 minutes, compared to last year’s 8 hours and 54 minutes. This suggests a slight improvement in battery performance year over year.
Conclusion
HP ZBook Firefly 14 G10 makes a strong impression as a portable mobile workstation features an outstanding HP DreamColor display with QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate contributing to its excellent visual quality. The keyboard and touchpad provide a satisfying user experience and 4G LTE or 5G connectivity is perfect for those on the go. Its range of ports and upgradeable RAM and SSD add to its versatility. And the 5-megapixel camera and quad speakers enhance audio and video capabilities.
However, there are some drawbacks. The lack of an OLED display option may be a letdown for those seeking higher display quality. Performance, while decent, could be better for a mobile workstation. The absence of an SD card reader might be inconvenient for some users, and the price may be steep for certain buyers. Despite these issues HP ZBook Firefly 14 G10 remains a strong choice for professionals looking for portability, performance and versatility in a mobile workstation.
