Best mobile workstations (May 2023)

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Best Mobile Workstations
(Image credit: Future)

The best mobile workstations offer the kind of power you would only expect to see in robust desktop PCs and the best laptops. But they are also trimmed enough to be easily used on the road. As internal components such as GPUs and CPUs have gotten smaller, so have the laptops equipped with them. Fortunately, this also applies to these portable workstations, which have been called lighter and thinner while providing more performance than their predecessors.

Thanks to all the power they contain, you can use these portable desktop PC replacements for several applications. So, whether you need something that can keep up with the best business laptops or do some video editing without breaking a sweat, one is more than capable. All that power and their reliability also mean that you should get quite a few years of use out of them before upgrading, making them an excellent value. And some of them can go head-to-head with some of the best desktop workstations available.

We tested many mobile workstations to determine the best ones for power users. We analyzed their performance, graphics, display, hardware design, and storage, among other things. The workstations we’ve listed are suited for different uses — while some are great for business professionals, others are perfect for content creators and creatives at varying levels. 

We’ve gathered our picks of the best mobile workstations 2023 has to offer here to help you find your next portable. 

Also, check out the best laptops and tablets for drawing and artwork here. 


The best mobile workstations of 2023 in full

The MacBook Pro 13-inch M2 2022 laptop open and facing forwards

(Image credit: Future)
Best mobile workstation for creatives

Specifications

CPU: Apple M1 Pro 8-core – M1 Max 10-core
Graphics: Integrated 10-core GPU
RAM: 8GB – 24GB
Screen: 13.3-inch 2560 x 1600 display with P3 and True Tone technology
Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
M2 is a brilliant performer
+
Excellent battery life
+
Almost silent in use

Reasons to avoid

-
Continued design
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Still only 2 Thunderbolt ports.

If power and portability are what you’re looking for, there’s no better choice right now than the MacBook Pro 13-inch (2022). It’s more of a creative laptop than a business one. However, if you need a workstation for your creative tasks that you can carry anywhere, its M2 chip comes with a lot of processing and graphical prowess. That’s while touting a battery life that’ll last you even past your work hours. 

This laptop may be overkill for normal users, but it is incredible for video editors, music producers, photographers, and programmers.

Read the full review: MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022)

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Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021) against a white background

(Image credit: Gigabyte)
Great mobile workstation for creative professionals

Specifications

CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M – Radeon Pro 5500M
RAM: 16GB – 64GB
Screen: 16-inch Retina display with True Tone

Reasons to buy

+
Gorgeous display
+
Abundance of ports

Reasons to avoid

-
Runs hot

One of the most powerful mobile workstations out there, the Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021) comes with a lot of power, a gorgeous display, and a whole lotta ports. Best yet, it is priced well below its less-powerful rivals, making it a better proposition even if you have a more flexible budget. It is not by any means perfect. The battery life could use a bit of a boost, for example. But, for how much you are paying and for the other things you are getting in return, it is a minuscule sacrifice.

The Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021) boasts exceptional build quality and can run AAA games pretty well too. Not just that, this midrange laptop offers terrific performance when running video editing, graphic design, and 3D rendering apps.

Read the full review: Gigabyte Aero 17 (2021)

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MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021) against a white background

(Image credit: Apple)
Best mobile workstation for professional content creators

Specifications

CPU: Apple M1 Pro 10-core – M1 Max 10-core
Graphics: Integrated 16-core – 32-core GPU
RAM: Up to 64GB
Screen: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
Storage: Up to 8TB

Reasons to buy

+
Extremely long battery life
+
Plenty of ports

Reasons to avoid

-
On the bigger side

 No matter what you’re looking for in a computer, the MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021) can probably handle it. That’s thanks to Apple’s in-house M1 Pro and M1 Max (if you choose to upgrade) that can blaze through any application you can think of. 

The Pro comes with an incredible display that'll eliminate the need to plug into an external monitor, as well as plenty of ports including next-gen Thunderbolt 4 ports. All that performance does come at a price, as even the base model costs a lot. But, considering how powerful this laptop is, it’s worth the price of entry. 

The laptop's also large and heavy, so you'll want to check out the 14-inch MacBook Pro, unless you really need the larger screen and longer battery life. 

Read the full review: MacBook Pro 16-Inch (2021)

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6 against a white background

(Image credit: Lenovo)
Best 2-in-1 mobile workstation

Specifications

CPU: 11th generation Intel Core i5 – i7
Graphics: Intel Xe Plus
RAM: 8GB – 16GB
Screen: 14-inch, 1920 x 1200p, IPS touchscreen, 400 nit
Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic 16:10 display
+
Excellent battery life especially with its outstanding performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Rather plain design for the price
-
No SD card slot

There are very few laptops that are more powerful than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6. This 2-in-1 workhorse delivers excellent battery life of up to 14 hours, and if you’re going to be working long hours, this is the mobile workstation you’ll want to be working in. 

It also comes with a breathtaking 16:10 display as well as many security add-ons, features business professionals will appreciate. We’re also pretty sure that they’ll appreciate its connectivity ports (two USB Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-Cs, and HDMI 2.0) and garaged stylus.

The X1 Yoga Gen 6 does lack an SD card slot, making it a bit inconvenient for creatives and photographers. Despite its stunning performance, the laptop has a rather plain design that won't grab any eyeballs.

Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 6

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HP ZBook Studio G7

(Image credit: HP)
Excellent mobile workstation that's elegant and affordable

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-10750H - Core i9-10885H
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics - NVIDIA Quadro RTX3000 w/Max-Q design (6GB)
RAM: 16 – 32GB
Screen: 15.6" diagonal FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – 15.6" diagonal 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) multitouch display
Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Great performance for the price
+
Sleek design
+
Beautiful display

Reasons to avoid

-
On the heavy side
-
Can run hot

The HP ZBook Studio G7 may have been meant for creative professionals looking to get away from the Macbook Pro. However, its versatility, thanks to all the customizable options when purchasing, makes it ideal for a number of different uses, whether you’re looking for a reasonably priced ultrabook or one that can tackle gaming. 

It can be upgraded to have some serious RAM and storage, up to an Intel i9, as well as an NVIDIA Quadro RTX3000 with Max-Q Design and a beautiful 4K display. And, even in its souped up configuration, it comes in at a decent price especially when compared to similar offerings from Dell or Apple.

This laptop can handle lots of heavy tasks, from graphic design and video editing to AAA gaming. The fan can be a bit loud and the laptop sometimes gets hot when running intensive apps, but overall, it's a sleek and well-built device.

Read the full review: HP ZBook Studio G7 review

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Acer ConceptD 7 against an off-white background

(Image credit: Acer)
Best mobile workstation for creatives seeking color accuracy

Specifications

CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 – 2080
RAM: 16GB – 32GB
Screen: 15.6" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 IPS
Storage: 1TB

Reasons to buy

+
Very powerful
+
Cheaper than MacBook Pro
+
Good selection of ports

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Plain design
-
Not as thin and light as MacBook Pro

For those who think that MacBook Pros are overpriced but still need a powerful mobile workstation, there’s the Acer ConceptD 7. This formidable laptop capable of handling complex and demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, thanks in part to its Nvidia RTX graphics, was designed specifically with creative professionals in mind. 

Beyond the sheer power it delivers, it also offers decent port selection, a minimalist solid white design, and that stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. Obviously, it’s still pretty pricey, but if you’re looking for a Windows-powered MacBook alternative for video and photo editing, it’s a great option.

The Acer ConceptD 7 is quite a stylish laptop and with Nvidia's RTX graphics, you can run AAA games on it too. But with support for Adobe GB and Delta E<2 color gamut, this laptop is not designed for normal users or gamers. Rather, it's perfect for those who need color accuracy, like photographers and video editors. 

Read the full review: Acer ConceptD 7

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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation against a white background

(Image credit: Lenovo)
Best mobile workstation for corporate use

Specifications

CPU: up to 8th-generation Intel Core i7
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with Max-Q
RAM: up to 64GB
Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS anti-glare – 15.6-inch 4K UHD HDR (3840 x 2160) IPS multi-touch, anti-reflective
Storage: Up to 1 TB PCIe SSD x 2
Connectivity: up to Intel Dual Band 9560 Wireless AC (2 x 2) with vPro + Bluetooth 5.0
Camera: 720p HD with ThinkShutter privacy cover with Infrared Camera

Reasons to buy

+
So much power
+
Glorious 4K screen
+
Great user experience

Reasons to avoid

-
Heavy
-
Expensive
-
Battery life could be better

Do you have a lot of cash to spare and require a powerful mobile workstation? Look no further than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation, whose impressive specs are only the beginning. 

You’ll also appreciate working with that bright and crisp 15.6-inch screen, especially if you’re getting the 4K version, as well as all that storage space if you go all out. Though, fair warning, this isn’t exactly the lightest laptop you’ll lug around, so investing in a sturdy backpack with padded straps is ideal for stowing it in.

Although the interior of the laptop is packed with powerful, high-quality technology, the laptop's exterior is almost the same as the previous ThinkPad models. Although this may not appeal to users who want a more aesthetic-looking laptop, it's quite apt for the corporate market and working environments. 

Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme mobile workstation

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Lenovo ThinkPad P16

(Image credit: Future)
The best for raw power regardless of size

Specifications

CPU: 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9 2.30GHz
Graphics: Nvidia RTX A5500
RAM: 64GB
Screen: 16-inches
Storage: 2TB
Connectivity: USB-A (x2), USB-C, Headphone/mic combo, Optional Smart card reader, optional nano-slim card slot, SD Express 7.0 card reader, Power connector, Thunderbolt 4 (x2), HDMI 2.1

Reasons to buy

+
Incredibly powerful
+
Durable design and build
+
Full Keyboard with Numpad

Reasons to avoid

-
Very large size
-
Expensive compared to some competition
-
No 4K display

The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is not for the faint of heart. Its large size can be intimidating, but the raw power is truly the most shocking thing about this computer. This laptop can perform at desktop levels thanks to the 12th gen Intel i9, RTX A5500, and 64GB of RAM. In addition to the impressive internals, this laptop has quite a few ports, allowing for this to be a workstation to complete nearly any project that you may need a computer for.

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How do I choose a workstation PC?

  • TechRadarPro Q&A with Anu Herranen, Director of New Product Introduction, Advanced Compute and Solutions at HP Inc.

There are a couple of basic questions you need to ask yourself before choosing a workstation. The first is simply to think about the work you need it to support. Do you need fantastic graphics performance, or to analyze huge data sets in hours, rather than days? Do you need to be able to do a range of tasks concurrently? Which applications or operating system are you relying on?

The next step is to think more broadly about how and where you will use your workstation. Are you always in the field, therefore need a lightweight device, combined with great battery life? Or like so many of us today, do you need something that you can use at home, but doesn’t take up much space so you’re able to hide it away when not working? What audio experience do you need? Do you need to be able to work collaboratively?

Reliability is another key factor in choosing a workstation PC. Imagine that you are in a hospital environment analyzing CT scans: your computer needs to run 24/7 all year round and must never fail. Likewise, a NASA astronaut in a space station cannot ever take the risk of having their computer fail due to system crashes, component breakdowns and sluggish performance.

Some have undergone hundreds of thousands of hours of extensive testing under extreme conditions, where frequency, voltage and temperature are varied in such a way that it goes beyond what one could call normal operating conditions.

The best mobile workstations: how we test

We evaluated various aspects of different laptops to arrive at the best mobile workstations. Performance is essential, so we looked at how the workstations run different types of applications — from graphics-heavy programs to large data sets. 

We analyzed numerous specs, like CPU, RAM, graphics, and storage, to determine what kinds of users the workstation would be best suited for. We considered how many connectivity ports the workstation had, whether the fan was noisy, and if the laptop would get hot with prolonged use. 

Another key area we assessed was the laptop’s portability and battery life. We looked at the size, weight, and design of the workstations and included laptops of varying builds in our list.


Collin Probst
B2B Hardware Editor, TechRadar Pro

Collin is the B2B Hardware Editor for TechRadar Pro. He has been in journalism for years, with experience in small and large markets, including Gearadical, DailyBeast, FutureNet, and more.


Collin is an experienced individual who has an abundance of knowledge when it comes to all things professional hardware. He is the go-to subject matter expert for TechRadar Pro and focuses on standing desks, office chairs, business laptops, "pro" monitors, and other similar topics. With his in-depth understanding of these areas, Collin can provide invaluable insights and advice to readers looking to make informed decisions about their hardware investments.

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