Case

HP uses a completely new chassis construction for the third generation of the ZBook 15 G3. It is about 500 grams lighter than before and also about 0.5 cm thinner. The surface area on the other hand did not really change. Such a diet always brings the risk of a lower stability, but you do not have to worry. The base unit made of a magnesium/aluminum alloy is extremely sturdy and cannot be warped or twisted at any point. The lid is comparatively thin and can be slightly twisted, but pressure is absolutely no problem. We were not able to provoke picture distortions even with a lot of pressure on the center of the lid. The central hinge is also conveniently taut and can effectively prevent bouncing of the screen and allows a maximum opening angle of around 150 degrees. The ZBook 15 G3 is also tested according to the military standard MIL-STD 810 (humidity, temperatures, dust etc.) and the keyboard is spill-water resistant. All in all, the stability of the ZBook 15 G3 is on a similarly excellent level as the ThinkPad P50.

However, the ZBook clearly has the upper hand in terms of design. HP uses rounded edges on the bottom of the base unit, so the notebook appears much thinner than it actually is. Instead of one color we can see multiple shades of gray, and at the top of the base unit is a polished surrounding edge. HP uses a matte-black surface for the palm rest and the area around the keyboard, which does not really attract fingerprints. Only the bottom made of simple black plastic falls behind in terms of tactile feeling and does not really suit the high price tag.

The lid is slightly rubberized in the peripheral areas and surrounds a slightly brighter inlay. It accommodates the shiny HP logo in the center and uses an appealing dotted structure. Contrary to the base unit, however, you can soon see fingerprints and dirt on this inlay, so you should clean it regularly. The display frame is also made of matte plastic. This combination of materials is certainly a matter of taste, but the overall package does leave a very noble impression. At the left front are four small status LEDs, but you can hardly see them due to their position.

Contrary to the old ZBook 15 G2, the battery is now inside the case and cannot be accessed from the outside anymore. There are no maintenance hatches, but you can remove the whole bottom cover with some simple steps. We will have a closer look at the procedure in the section Maintenance.