HP ZBook Firefly 14 G8 review

A 2020 ZBook Firefly with 64 GB of RAM and a high-tier CPU — memory is the standout

The HP ZBook Firefly 14 G8 (2020) is the thin-and-light entry in HP's workstation line, built around an 11th-gen Intel Core i5 1135G7 with 64 GB of RAM, landing at $366 — slightly below the ultrabook-class median of about $373. Its genuine strengths are memory (64 GB, 100% above the median, "pro" level) and CPU (score 70, "high" level), with overall performance mid-tier at 48.4. The honest trade-off is a relatively small 53 Wh battery.

Pro-tier memory and a high-tier CPU

For a memory- and CPU-bound office, developer, or light engineering workflow, 64 GB of RAM at a "pro" level is genuine headroom, and the i5 1135G7's high-tier CPU score (70 against a median near 60) makes this one of the stronger compute configs in the bracket. The ZBook build quality also adds reassurance for a work machine.

Battery life is the honest constraint

The weak spot by level is the 53 Wh battery, which sits 16% below the category median and translates to shorter unplugged runtimes than most ultrabook peers. Note that the Firefly is the thin-and-light ZBook line — it carries the workstation badge but does not have the ISV-certified dGPU of the larger ZBooks, so do not buy it expecting heavy CAD or 3D capability.

Depreciation tracking the class

From a base near $1400, the laptop has depreciated to $366 at roughly 8.9% per year, with a projected value around $304 in two years — a typical curve for a 2020 thin-and-light workstation.

Sits between pricier and cheaper peers

A slightly pricier option is the HP Elite c640 G3 Chromebook Enterprise ($385); cheaper alternatives include the HP Laptop 15-fc0102nr ($333) and Dell Inspiron 3593 ($326).

Bottom line

The ZBook Firefly 14 G8 is a strong pick for a memory- and CPU-bound professional — developer, analyst, or knowledge worker — who wants the ZBook build quality and a thin-and-light form factor without paying for a full mobile workstation. Battery life and the absence of an ISV-certified dGPU are honest constraints; buyers who need either should look at the larger ZBook lines instead.