Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
June 2, 2025: With this update, we added two new laptops to our recommendations list: the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 as our Best Workstation Laptop for High Performance and the HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 as our Best Workstation Laptop for Screen Quality. We also updated the buying guide in places to reference the current state of workstation CPUs and GPUs. Since our last update, we tested 41 new laptops for possible inclusion in this and other laptop roundups.
- Stunning 4K OLED touch screen
- Blazing performance for its size
- Elegant build with snappy keyboard
- Not quite as fast or expandable as heavier rivals
- No USB-A ports or webcam shutter
- Mega expensive, as most mobile workstations are
Today’s best workstation for most professional users is the Dell Precision 5690. This beastly machine flaunts AI-enhanced Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processing and a potent Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada GPU but keeps its weight under five pounds. The 16-inch laptop’s feature set is nearly as impressive as its high-powered hardware: It has an outstanding 4K OLED touch screen, snappy keyboard, and capable connectivity with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and Wi-Fi 7. Its portability makes the Precision suitable for on-the-go professionals, but raw power propels it to the top of our list.
This one’s for design, engineering, and scientific professionals who need power and portability but still want some visual real estate. They’ll appreciate the spacious 4K OLED panel and comfortable keyboard, as well as the reasonable carry weight. But the real selling point here is sheer horsepower (which, as with virtually all workstations, costs a pretty penny).
Class
Workstation
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Secondary Drive Type
SSD
Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Screen Size
16 inches
Native Display Resolution
3840 by 2400
Panel Technology
OLED
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada
Graphics Memory
16 GB
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.87 by 13.9 by 9.5 inches
Weight
4.46 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
17:11
Learn More
Dell Precision 5690 Review
- Monumental power and expandability
- Gorgeous DreamColor display
- Top-notch connectivity
- HP Wolf Security sets the standard
- Heavy in a briefcase
- Even heavier on your budget
- Awkward cursor control keys
The HP ZBook Fury 16 G11 delivers monumental power, thanks to an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor and Nvidia RTX 3500 Ada GPU, and the latest connectivity via a Wi-Fi 7 radio, making this one of the top mobile workstations we’ve tested. It’s super expandable, too, with up to 128GB of RAM and 16TB of storage to support the CPU’s 32 processing threads. The giant 16-inch HP DreamColor display is professional grade, with a superbly colorful 4K panel refreshing at 120Hz. As an ultra-expandable, cost-no-object powerhouse, the HP ZBook Fury 16 G11 is the workstation to beat.
HP’s ZBook Fury 16 G11 is the answer if you have no budget. It’s tailor-made for CGI rendering, engineering, and data analysis jobs that require top-tier performance. We’ve long considered HP’s DreamColor panels a must-have for color-critical work, and the ZBook’s build quality is tough enough to let you carry out that kind of work on the road. This is a high-end mobile workstation for unparalleled performance if you don’t mind some bulk and limited battery life.
Class
Workstation, Desktop Replacement
Processor
Intel Core i9-14900HX
RAM (as Tested)
64 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
16 inches
Native Display Resolution
3840 by 2400
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
Dynamic
Screen Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Graphics Processor
Nvidia RTX 3500 Ada
Graphics Memory
12 GB
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (HWD)
1.13 by 14.3 by 9.8 inches
Weight
5.3 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
8:22
Learn More
HP ZBook Fury 16 G11 Review
- Peppy performance for its size
- Long battery life
- Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
- Impressive speakers
- Only Thunderbolt 4 ports
- RAM can’t be upgraded
- Just a 720p webcam
- Expensive
When portability is a peak concern, we recommend the Dell Precision 5490. This slimline’s AI-ready CPU and Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada professional graphics deliver performance that’s surprisingly potent for the laptop’s 14-inch size, making it suitable for demanding tasks on the go. Long battery life ensures extended use when there’s no AC outlet around, and a comfortable keyboard and touchpad improve the experience during long work sessions. Enterprise-ready features like Intel vPro remote management and ISV certifications are essential, and the speakers provide high-quality audio for presentations and media.
This 14-incher is for professionals who need a powerful yet portable workstation for fieldwork and who won’t be hemmed in by the relatively compact display. It has ample performance when it counts, but puts the emphasis on long battery life and easy portability.
Class
Workstation
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
RAM (as Tested)
64 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
14 inches
Native Display Resolution
2560 by 1600
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada
Graphics Memory
8 GB
Wireless Networking
802.11be, Bluetooth 5.4
Dimensions (HWD)
0.75 by 12.2 by 8.3 inches
Weight
3.29 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
14:48
Learn More
Dell Precision 5490 Review
- Dominant content creation performance
- More than 24 hours of battery life
- Game-changing nano-texture display option
- Thunderbolt 5 support
- Helpful Center Stage webcam upgrade
- Only a minor performance boost over M3 MacBooks
- Strangely priced configuration
- Nano-texture display is an optional extra
Workstations aren’t limited to Windows and Linux, and our macOS favorite is the potent 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro, powered by a fiery M4 Pro processor that delivered exceptional performance in our gauntlet of taxing benchmarks. Apple’s unique take on graphics—technically integrated but workstation-grade—drives the Pro’s top-tier performance and efficiency. You can upgrade from our review unit to the M4 Max if you need even more power. Pair this performance with a Liquid Retina XDR display (now with a glare-reducing nano-texture option) that produces stunning visuals and vibrant colors, not to mention even faster Thunderbolt 5 ports, and you’ve got a superb Mac workstation. We didn’t even get to the 25 hours of battery life yet. It costs a small fortune, but this is legitimately the most powerful MacBook Apple makes.
The 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro (2024, M4 Pro) is built for media creation, data science, engineering, or animation pros. Whatever the use, buyers who need a robust, reliable laptop for professional use will find the muscle they need in this MacBook Pro. As with most workstations, just be ready to spend: Our test unit costs $3,649.
Class
Workstation, Desktop Replacement
Processor
Apple M4 Pro (14-core)
RAM (as Tested)
48 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
2 TB
Screen Size
16.2 inches
Native Display Resolution
3456 by 2234
Panel Technology
Mini LED
Variable Refresh Support
ProMotion
Screen Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Graphics Processor
Apple M4 Pro (20-core)
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (HWD)
0.66 by 14 by 9.8 inches
Weight
4.7 lbs
Operating System
Apple macOS Sequoia
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
25:52
Learn More
Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2024, M4 Pro) Review
- Blazing M4 performance outclasses high-end Intel laptops
- Unmatched 28-hour-plus battery life
- Stunning Retina XDR display with HDR and 120Hz refresh rate
- Upgraded 12MP camera
- Versatile port selection
- Camera still limited to 1080p video
- Keyboard/trackpad design unchanged from previous models
- Graphics lag behind last year’s top-end M3 Pro and M3 Max
Like its PC laptop competitors, Apple sells both powerhouse 16-inch and grab-and-go 14-inch workstations. It’s not as powerful as its larger sibling with an M4 Pro (or Max) chip, but the 14-inch MacBook Pro is still potent. Our review model includes the base M4 chip, but if needed, you can easily order it with a more powerful M4 Pro or M4 Max option inside this smaller chassis (which also unlocks Thunderbolt 5). The updated Apple silicon inside delivers exceptional data-crunching and multimedia-creation power, AI-centric efficiencies, and an astonishing 28-hour battery life. The slim all-metal MacBook design is appealing, but we love the snappy keyboard and excellent touchpad even more.
This powerful but compact MacBook is for multimedia content creation, editing, and design. It’s built for pros who need a powerful yet portable workstation in the Apple ecosystem. Creatives and professionals who want premium build quality without the bulk of larger models can enjoy formidable power, an excellent feature set, remarkable battery life, and an excellent screen now with an anti-glare option.
Class
Desktop Replacement
Processor
Apple M4 (10-core)
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
14.2 inches
Native Display Resolution
3024 by 1964
Panel Technology
Mini LED
Variable Refresh Support
ProMotion
Screen Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Graphics Processor
Apple M4 (10-core)
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions (HWD)
0.61 by 12.3 by 8.7 inches
Weight
3.4 lbs
Operating System
Apple macOS Sequoia
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
28:33
Learn More
Apple MacBook Pro 14-Inch (2024, M4) Review
- Formidable power for high-demand apps
- World-class keyboard
- Speedy 165Hz display
- Up to 192GB of RAM
- As bulky and heavy as its asking price
- Storage ceiling is 8TB to HP Fury’s 16GB
- Wi-Fi 6E, not 7
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 is a formidable machine, even on a list of powerful workstations. Beyond the expected touches for a premium Lenovo laptop, like a world-class keyboard and exceptional build quality, this laptop’s real draw is the 20-core Intel Core i7-14700HX CPU, an Nvidia RTX 4000 Ada professional GPU, and room for up to 192GB of RAM. It’s a powerhouse for CAD 3D modeling work, CGI rendering, software engineering, and scientific programs, making it a favorite high-performance workstation. Also, did we mention the 165Hz display for incredibly smooth visuals?
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 is ideal for professionals in fields requiring intensive computing power, such as engineering, design, and scientific research. With powerful performance, customizable configurations, and premium build quality, this is an outstanding workstation, assuming you don’t need something more portable.
Class
Workstation, Business
Processor
Intel Core i7-14700HX
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
16 inches
Native Display Resolution
2560 by 1600
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
Manual
Screen Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Graphics Processor
Nvidia RTX 4000 Ada
Graphics Memory
12 GB
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
1.19 by 14.3 by 10.5 inches
Weight
6.5 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
9:50
Learn More
Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 2 Review
- Stunning DreamColor screen
- Handsome chassis
- RGB-backlit keyboard
- Ultra-expensive
- Middling performance
- Short battery life
- Lowball 720p webcam
Mobile workstations usually focus on extreme number crunching, but many people need workstation-level performance for visual work instead. For those creative types, we recommend the HP ZBook Studio 16 G11. The system is home to HP’s exceptional DreamColor display, which delivers 4K resolution and stunning color coverage, making it ideal for professional creatives. The accompanying RGB keyboard has per-key lighting controls, making it easy to customize for quick access to frequent shortcut keys or to give your laptop some personal pizzazz. Under the stylish hood, the system has an Intel Core Ultra H-class processor and options for Nvidia’s GeForce RTX consumer and RTX Ada Generation professional GPUs. It may not win top honors for performance, but this system won’t slow you down, even if you’re working on demanding visuals or complex video content.
We can rattle off a list of creative pros who would benefit from the HP ZBook Studio 16 G11, from graphic designers and illustrators to photographers and videographers. Whether they work in print, digital, static, or live-action media, professionals will appreciate this creator-focused workstation’s capable performance, color-calibrated display, and slick aesthetics.
Class
Workstation
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
Processor Speed
2.5 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
64 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
16 inches
Native Display Resolution
3840 x 2400
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Graphics Processor
Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada
Graphics Memory
8 GB
Wireless Networking
802.11be, Bluetooth 5.4
Dimensions (HWD)
0.76 by 14.02 by 9.54 inches
Weight
3.81 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
6:56
Learn More
HP ZBook Studio 16 G11 Review
- Competitive performance in creative apps
- Totable 14-inch size
- Stunning 16:10 display
- Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI connectivity
- Flashy RGB effects
- Fans are loud when maxed out
- Short battery life
- Just a 720p webcam
- No SD card reader
You may need a portability-first workstation to power content creation or other applications, but you may also need it to stay light enough for travel. For thin-and-light portability, we recommend the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, which combines an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 laptop GPU, a hefty Intel Core i7-13700H processor, and a 2,560-by-1,600-pixel IPS screen that provides excellent visual quality for editing and design work. It even has some gaming flair, with RGB effects adding a modern aesthetic appeal to the laptop. But this loadout isn’t for leisure time; it’s all about providing the power for top-tier data work and media creation.
With the Stealth 14 Studio, MSI refitted a gaming rig for number crunchers and content creators who frequently travel and need a powerful yet compact workstation. This system precisely fits what pros need for video editing and other demanding fields, all in a trim and lightweight package.
Class
Workstation, Gaming
Processor
Intel Core i7-13700H
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Screen Size
14 inches
Native Display Resolution
2560 by 1600
Panel Technology
WVA
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Graphics Processor
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
Graphics Memory
8 GB
Wireless Networking
802.11ax, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.75 by 12.4 by 9.7 inches
Weight
3.75 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
3:22
Learn More
MSI Stealth 14 Studio Review
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The Best Mobile Workstations for 2025
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Buying Guide: The Best Mobile Workstations for 2025
The Buying Basics: Workstation Laptops
Mobile workstations like HP’s ZBook, Dell’s Precision, and Lenovo’s ThinkPad P series are expensive but highly valued by professionals in fields such as computer-aided design (CAD), architecture, engineering, video editing and post-production, 3D rendering and animation, virtual reality, and oil and gas exploration. These laptops are built for reliability and are overkill for basic office tasks but excel in handling complex tasks like CGI effects. Additionally, ISV certifications ensure that mobile workstations are optimized for specific software applications, making them ideal for professionals who rely on programs like AutoCAD or SolidWorks.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
For most laptop users, a mobile workstation is unnecessary. For example, if you just need a system for everyday or perhaps prosumer-level video editing, you’ll find consumer models that use powerful combinations of CPU and GPU to handle demanding media workloads. However, if you work in one of the mentioned professional fields or require extensive calculations and graphics processing, investing in a mobile workstation can be justified and elevate your productivity to elite levels.
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Let’s look at which components are essential in a mobile workstation.
Which CPU, and How Much RAM, Do You Need in a Workstation Laptop?
The rule of thumb here is to buy all the processing power you can afford. In the pro mobile workstation market, workstation-grade CPUs are an investment. Whether it’s the most powerful Core i9 or Core Ultra 9 chips from Intel, Apple’s M4 Pro and Max CPUs, or AMD’s best Ryzen 8000-series or AI 300 processors, what you spend is proportional to the power you get.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
While plenty of good gaming laptops, as long as they have a fast graphics card, can make do with a Core i5, mobile workstation shoppers should head straight for a Core i7 or Core i9—or their contemporary “Core Ultra” equivalents—with as many cores and threads as are available. Here, you’ll want to look at the specific software that you mean to run on the machine for recommendations about what grade of CPU the vendor deems ideal.
The laptop CPUs included in most legit mobile workstations come from what’s called the “H” class from Intel or AMD. What that means: These chips’ model numbers end in “H,” “HS,” or “HX,” which indicate high-powered processors that are intended for this level of work. (CPUs for lighter—and lighter-hitting—laptops tend to end with the letter “U,” “P,” or “V.” See more about how to choose a laptop CPU in our deep-dive guide.) Most mobile workstations rely on processors with 10 or more cores teamed with plenty of memory—16GB is a minimum, with 32GB common and 128GB a popular ceiling. Again, your software’s suggested requirements should be your guide, but erring on the side of “more” here, especially for demanding applications, is a safe mistake to make. Again, let the software makers’ recommendations be your guide.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
Some (but not all) workstation configurations support server-style error-correcting code (ECC) memory, which can detect and fix single-bit memory errors. ECC DRAM is a mainstay in financial or scientific computing applications, where even the slightest internal data corruption cannot be permitted. That said, a requirement for ECC RAM is outside the mainstream for most ISV apps.
How to Choose a Workstation Laptop GPU and Display
As with gaming laptops, all but a handful of mobile workstations draw on the speed and strength of a dedicated or discrete graphics adapter rather than the integrated graphics built into the CPU. Nvidia’s professional mobile graphics chips were traditionally found under its Quadro brand; AMD’s (seldom seen in mobile workstations these days) are called Radeon Pro (formerly FirePro). In 2021, Nvidia retired the Quadro name in favor of the A series and later the RTX Ada series, with chips like the lower-end Nvidia A2000 or high-end RTX A6000.
Though built to optimize different operations, mobile workstation GPUs give nothing away to consumer or gaming GPUs, like Nvidia’s GeForce line or AMD’s Radeon products. The current top workstation mobile GPU, the Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada Generation, is on par with the mobile GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs but with business-ready, mission-critical ISV certification and the correct drivers for professional use. Nvidia has “Blackwell”-generation RTX Pro laptop GPUs prepared for 2025, which you can safely expect to be more potent than the outgoing class.
Mobile workstations may prioritize power, but they still follow some larger trends in laptop design. Specifically, most current models have adopted a taller 16:10 aspect ratio, providing more screen space than past 16:9 panels. As a result, you’ll also find that workstations are moving toward 16-inch models, with a few beefier 18-inch systems that are gaming/workstation crossovers and almost exclusively for stationary use, and a growing number of 14-inch systems that provide thinner, lightweight designs for better portability. As a general rule, you give up some performance in the name of portability (and vice versa).
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Screen resolutions have also changed slightly. While Full HD and 4K panels are quite common, they have been updated with the move to 16:10 aspect ratios. Full HD becomes 1,920 by 1,200 pixels instead of 1,920 by 1,080, and screens with 4K capability display 3,840 by 2,400 pixels instead of the 3,840 by 2,160 you might know from 4K TVs. Many mobile workstations fall in between, with better-than-FHD resolutions that may not reach 4K but still provide high resolution for work in which high detail and clarity matter.
Color management—making sure that what you see on screen exactly matches a finished product—is often important for the kinds of tasks expected of a high-end mobile workstation. Screens such as HP’s factory-calibrated DreamColor displays come with software that lets you choose the internet’s sRGB, print’s Adobe RGB, or cinema’s DCI-P3 palettes or color spaces.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Some Lenovo systems go further with Pantone color calibrators on board: You select a white point (typically D65 for photography or D50 for prepress and graphic design) and gamma (tone response) value, then close the lid, which puts the screen against a palm-rest sensor. A few seconds later, an audible tone indicates that the calibrator has done its work.
How Much Storage Is Right in a Workstation Laptop?
Mobile workstation owners work with massive data files, so these laptops need ample storage. That typically means one or more M.2 solid-state drives, with capacities ranging from 512GB up to several terabytes per drive, and some larger machines offering more than one M.2 slot. Given how often workstation users work with larger, data-intensive projects, we recommend at least 1TB of storage from any system you’re considering.
For still more storage capacity, nowadays, we don’t consider a new-model workstation worthy of the name unless it has at least one Thunderbolt 4 port for high-speed connection to external drives and RAID arrays, as well as single or multiple high-resolution displays. If Thunderbolt’s daisy-chaining connectivity is too much of an investment for you, a growing number of desktop docking stations use the technology to provide one-plug access to ports aplenty.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Finally, note the touchpad located in the palm rest south of the space bar. Many CAD and other workstation apps can use three mouse buttons, so it’s worth checking to see whether a system has a middle button instead of only the usual two.
Who Are the Major Players in Workstation Laptops?
You’ll find several big names in the mobile workstation market, and most will be familiar to any laptop shopper: Dell, HP, and Lenovo have an outsized presence in our list of the best systems, but we’ve also seen competitive workstation models from Apple and MSI. Model lines to watch for include the Apple MacBook Pro, Dell Precision, HP ZBook, Lenovo ThinkPad P-series, and MSI CreatorPro. All have what we consider to be the three must-haves for any workstation: a high-end CPU, a powerful discrete GPU or equivalent graphics capability, and ISV certification. This pretty clearly separates mobile workstations from generic office laptops, which may be casually called workstations (as in “a computer for work”) but aren’t equipped to handle the demanding workloads of data analysis, 3D rendering, and media creation that mobile workstations machines are built for.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Take note of an up-and-coming concept in the workstation world: a more generic GPU driver built around maximizing compatibility with creative apps. Nvidia is already doing this with its Nvidia Studio Driver, which works on both GeForce and A-series GPUs. The driver doesn’t offer guaranteed compatibility, such as ISV certifications, but is tested against creative software from popular vendors. (You’ll find a list of apps on the driver download page.) We’re seeing an emerging class of near-workstation Studio laptops hitting the market.
Ready to Buy the Right Workstation Laptop for You?
Between this buying advice and the reviews and specs we’ve shared for our top picks, you’re ready to find a fantastic workstation laptop. Don’t need quite as much power as these workstation beasts deliver? You can also check out our roundup of the top business laptops and our overall roundup of the best laptops.
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