Latest news with #SidMeier
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
PlayStation Plus free games for June 2025 revealed: Destiny 2, NBA 2K25, and more feature in this month's catalogue
The catalogue for PlayStation Plus games for June 2025 has been revealed. The PlayStation Plus users have expressed their excitement at the list of games for the month, as it features top-rated titles from 2K, Ubisoft, and other popular game developers. The gamers had often complained that the PS Plus game catalogue lacked popular titles, and Sony has responded to the feedback in a great manner. Sony announced the return of the Days of Play event, featuring exciting offers and discounts on PS5 consoles, games, and accessories. The event also brings a plethora of fan-favourite titles to PlayStation Monthly Games. The event will commence on May 28, 2025, hence, the month of June is going to be an exciting one for PlayStation Plus users. PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for June 2025 The gaming titles coming in June have excited fans. Fan-favourite titles like Destiny 2 and Alone in the Dark will be free to access for PS5 Plus and Deluxe members. The list of games include: NBA 2K25 | PS5, PS4 (available on June 3) Alone in the Dark (2024) | PS5 (available on June 3) Bomb Rush Cyberfunk | PS5, PS4 (available on June 3) Destiny 2: The Final Shape | PS5, PS4 (available on May 28) Additionally, Sony announced that various bonus titles have been lined up for the PS Plus Game Catalog and Classics Catalog. Due to the commencement of the Days of Play event, PlayStation users will be able to access more titles in the regular Game Catalog. The list for the regular Game Catalog titles is yet to be announced. More games added to Game Catalog for Days of Play event PlayStation Plus and Deluxe members will be able to access the games mentioned below on the given dates for free. The additional games are: Another Crab's Treasure | PS5 (available on May 29) Skull and Bones | PS5 (available on June 2) Destiny 2: Legacy Collection | PS5, PS4 (available on June 4) Grand Theft Auto III | PS4, PS5 (available on June 10) Myst, Riven, and others are added to the Classics Catalog The games in the Classics Catalog will be available on June 5, 2025. The list includes only two titles; however, PS Plus and Deluxe members will be able to play free trials of two additional games. The free trial will commence on May 28, 2025. Myst | PS5, PS4 | June 5 Riven | PS5, PS4 | June 5 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | PS5 | May 28 (only for PS Plus and Deluxe members) Sid Meier's Civilization VII | PS5, PS4 | May 28 (only for PS Plus and Deluxe members)
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TakeTwo's Q4 Loss Widens Year Over Year, Revenues Increase
TakeTwo Interactive Software TTWO incurred fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 GAAP net loss of $21.08 per share, wider than a loss of $17.02 reported in the year-ago Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings was pegged at $1.08 per net revenues increased 13.1% year over year to $1.58 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues was pegged at $1.55 from the United States increased 9.8% year over year to $946.1 million and accounted for 59.8% of GAAP net revenues. The rest came from international, revenues of which increased 18.3% year over year to $636.4 revenues (93.1% of total revenues) rose 16.9% year over year to $1.47 billion. Advertising revenues (6.9% of total revenues) plunged 21.7% year over year to $108.7 improved 17.3% year over year to $1.58 billion. Bookings from the United States increased 17.4% year over year to $961.1 million and accounted for 60.8% of GAAP bookings. The rest came from international, bookings from which increased 17.1% year over year to $620.4 million. Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Quote Recurrent consumer spending rose 14% for the period and accounted for 77% of Net Bookings. In terms of distribution channels, Digital online revenues grew 14.3% year over year to $1.53 billion and accounted for 96.4% of GAAP net revenues. Physical retail and other revenues slumped 11.4% year over year to $56.9 million and accounted for 3.6% of GAAP net online bookings improved 18.4% year over year to $1.53 billion and accounted for 96.7% of bookings. Physical retail and other bookings declined 7.7% from the year-ago quarter to $52.8 million and contributed 3.3% of terms of platform, revenues from mobile, console, and PC and other accounted for 47.2%, 37.4% and 15.4% of GAAP net revenues, respectively. Mobile revenues increased 4.6% year over year to $747.4 million. Console revenues inched up 4% year over year to $591.2 million. PC and other revenues increased 110.7% year over year to $243.6 from mobile, console, and PC and other accounted for 46.2%, 38% and 15.8% of bookings, respectively. Mobile bookings increased 3.1% year over year to $730.1 million. PC and other bookings increased 120.8% year over year to $249.7 million. Console revenues increased 14.1% year over year to $601.7 million. During the quarter, NBA 2K25 posted near-record performance and exceeded the company's forecast. To date, the title has sold nearly 10 million units, a 7% increase compared to NBA 2K24 during the same timeframe. 2K and HB Studios successfully launched PGA TOUR 2K25 and are generating significant recurrent consumer spending growth compared to the prior iteration. 2K's release of WWE 2K25 was also successful. Consumer appetite for the franchise grew, with recurrent consumer spending up 20% during the quarter. During the period, 2K also released Sid Meier's Civilization Grand Theft Auto series exceeded the company's expectations, and to date, GTA V has sold in more than 215 million units. Red Dead Redemption 2 also outperformed, with Net Bookings growing 23% year over delivered another quarter of solid results. Net Bookings of Match Factory grew meaningfully over the last quarter and the title is generating profits. Net Bookings for Toon Blast grew 7% over last year, primarily due to the introduction of the Cannon Fest event. The title achieved its largest quarter of Net Bookings since Zynga acquired Peak in newest hit, Color Block Jam, is scaling rapidly and is currently a top-10 downloaded game and among the top-grossing titles in the U.S. Apple App Store. There was stabilization seen in Empires & Puzzles. TakeTwo's GAAP gross profit surged 71.2% year over year to $803.3 million. Gross margin expanded to 50.8% on a year-over-year basis from 33.5% in the year-ago expenses rose 43.9% year over year to $4.58 billion. Selling expenses decreased 10.4% year over year to $402.1 million. General and administrative expenses rose 31.5% year over year to $230.2 million. Research & development expenses rose 21.3% year over year to $297.8 loss was $3.78 billion compared with the year-ago quarter's operating loss of $2.71 billion. As of March 31, 2025, TakeTwo had $1.47 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments compared with $1.21 billion as of Dec. 31, company had a debt of $2.51 billion as of March 31, 2025. For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, TakeTwo expects GAAP net revenues between $1.35 billion and $1.40 billion. Operating expenses are expected to be between $908 million and $918 million. It expects a loss per share between 78 cents and 65 cents. Per management, the reporting tax rate is anticipated to be 18%.Net Bookings are expected to be in the range of $1.25-$1.30 billion. The company's release slate for the guided quarter includes Civilization largest contributors to net bookings are expected to be NBA 2K, the Grand Theft Auto series, Toon Blast, Color Block Jam, Match Factory, Empires & Puzzles, Words With Friends, the Red Dead Redemption series, and Zynga company projects recurrent consumer spending to increase approximately 7%, which assumes strong double-digit growth for NBA 2K, flat results for mobile, and a modest decline for Grand Theft Auto fiscal 2026, the company expects GAAP net revenues between $5.95 billion and $6.05 billion. The company expects net bookings in the range of $5.9-$6 billion. Total operating expenses are expected in the range of $3.78-$3.80 billion. It expects a loss per share between $2.79 and $ fiscal 2026, net cash provided by operating activities is expected to be roughly $130 million. Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $140 million. Currently, TTWO carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Stride LRN, Naspers NPSNY and GameStop GME are some better-ranked stocks that investors can consider in the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector. LRN, NPSNY and GME sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks shares have gained 47.7% in year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LRN's full-year fiscal 2025 earnings is pegged at $7.09 per share, which has remained unchaged over the past seven days, suggesting growth of 51.17% from the year-ago quarter's reported shares have gained 33.4% in year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NPSNY's full-year fiscal 2026 earnings has remained changed at $4.88 over the past 30 days, suggesting year-over-year growth of 123.85%.GME shares have lost 9.1% in year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GME's full-year fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at 47 cents per share, implying a rise of 42.42% from the year-ago quarter's levels. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO) : Free Stock Analysis Report GameStop Corp. (GME) : Free Stock Analysis Report Stride, Inc. (LRN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Naspers Ltd. (NPSNY) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TTWO Set to Report Q4 Earnings: What's in Store for the Stock?
TakeTwo Interactive Software TTWO is scheduled to release fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on May the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, TakeTwo expects GAAP net revenues between $1.52 billion and $1.62 billion. It anticipates a GAAP net loss per share of 20 cents to earnings per share of 13 Zacks Consensus Estimate for TTWO's fiscal fourth-quarter revenues is pegged at $1.55 billion, indicating growth of 14.73% on a year-over-year consensus mark for earnings is currently pegged at $1.08 per share, which remained unchanged over the past 60 days, indicating year-over-year growth of 248.39%.TTWO beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 206.58%. TakeTwo Interactive Software, Inc. price-eps-surprise | TakeTwo Interactive Software, Inc. Quote Let us see how things have shaped up for the upcoming announcement. NBA 2K is expected to have driven results in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with net bookings projected by the company to benefit from a high-teens percentage increase in recurrent consumer spending for the franchise. Titles like Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online are also likely to have continued contributing meaningfully, although GTA Online is expected to have seen declines during the quarter under review. Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online remain active, with high levels of player engagement reported in the prior fiscal fourth quarter is expected to have included contributions from new launches such as Sid Meier's Civilization VII, PGA Tour 2K25, and WWE 2K25. Civilization VII has already set a franchise record for preorders, and early access was launched in the current quarter. WWE 2K25 and PGA Tour 2K25 are expected to have supported top-line growth with new gameplay features and expanded content bookings, however, are expected to have faced headwinds. TakeTwo projects only a low single-digit growth in mobile for the fiscal year, with mobile performance in the fiscal fourth quarter having been influenced by continued underperformance in some titles like Empires & Puzzles. The hyper-casual mobile segment is also expected to have weighed slightly on the cost side, GAAP operating expenses for the fiscal fourth quarter are projected between $900 million and $920 million by the company. The company expects a 2% decline in operating expenses year over year, primarily due to normalized marketing for Match Factory and cost savings initiatives. Despite the shift of some expenses from the prior quarter to the quarter under review, the bottom line is expected to have shown significant improvement. According to the Zacks model, the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the exact case here. TTWO has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Here are a few companies worth considering, as our model indicates that they possess the right combination of factors to exceed earnings expectations in their upcoming releases:Capital Southwest CSWC currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.23% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks Southwest shares have lost 4.6% year to date. CSWC is slated to report its fourth quarter fiscal 2025 results on May 14. Baidu BIDU has an Earnings ESP of +8.67% and a Zacks Rank #3 at shares have gained 8.3% year to date. BIDU is scheduled to report its first-quarter 2025 results on May Materials AMAT has an Earnings ESP of +1.94% and a Zacks Rank #3 at shares have gained 13.4% year to date. It is scheduled to report its second-quarter fiscal 2025 results on May 15. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Baidu, Inc. (BIDU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (TTWO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Capital Southwest Corporation (CSWC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
The HP ZBook Ultra outperforms the MacBook Pro in key areas, but it comes at a price
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. HP's ZBook Ultra is a hyper-portable mobile workstation that immediately feels like a competitor to Apple's MacBook Pro lineup. Not only is it a light and thin workstation, but it's also got a new, innovative chipset under the chassis. AMD's Ryzen AI Max chipset is an ambitious project for x86 CPU architecture and something of a gamble. While we did have a blast with the gaming-centered version on the Asus ROG Flow Z13, I've been waiting to get my hands on this chip in the HP ZBook Ultra since CES back in January. The Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 chip in the ZBook Ultra 14 G1a offers fantastic all-around performance, solid Radeon 8060s GPU power, and more memory than I know what to do with. The ZBook also features a vivid display, a slim, portable design, powerful audio, and a professional port array. A steep price tag, lackluster battery life, and a grainy webcam hold it back, but they aren't shocking for a 14-inch workstation laptop. Does the MacBook Pro 14 finally have competition in the form of the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a? Is it powerful enough to land a spot on our best workstations list? Let's take a look. Price: $2,599 starting, $4,049 as reviewed CPU: AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 GPU: AMD Radeon 8060S integrated graphics RAM: 128GB Storage: 2TB SSD Display: 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, Touch OLED Battery (HH:MM): 6:46 Dimensions: 12.29 x 8.45 x 0.71 inches Weight: 3.4 pounds Click to view full benchmark test results HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Geekbench 6 Single-core (Higher is better) 2,837 Geekbench 6 Multicore (Higher is better) 17,721 Handbrake conversion (Lower is better) 02:34 25GB File Transfer Test (Lower is better) 20 25GB File Transfer Test (SSD speed) 1,342 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Read (Higher is better) 4,468.0 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Write (HIgher is better) 4276.1 SPECWorkstation 3.1: Blender (1060p, Higher is better) DNR SPECWorkstation 3.1: FSI (1060p, Higher is better) 6.5 PugetBench Photoshop (Higher is better) 10,186 Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit) 99.6 Battery life (Higher is better) 06:45 Display brightness (Higher is better) 368 sRGB color gamut (Higher is better) 197.6% DCI-P3 color gamut (Higher is better) 139.9% Color accuracy (Lower is better) 0.31 3DMark Fire Strike (Higher is better) 23,459 3DMark Time Spy (Higher is better) 10,114 3DMark Steel Nomad (Higher is better) 1,992.00 SPECWorkstation 3.1: maya-05 (1060p, Higher is better) 3.68 SPECWorkstation 3.1: energy-02 (1060p, Higher is better) 14.86 PugetBench Premiere Pro (Higher is better) 7,223 Borderlands 3 (1080p, fps) 97.19 Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) 81 Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (1080p, fps) 168.62 No workstation is cheap, and if you hoped the ZBook Ultra might be an exception to that rule, you'll be disappointed. The base configuration of HP's ZBook Ultra 15 G1a costs $2,599 and gets you the powerful combination of the Ryzen AI Max Pro 385 CPU with Radeon 8060S integrated graphics, 32GB of memory, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200, IPS display. You can upgrade to the Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 chipset with a 1TB SSD and a 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED touchscreen for an additional $350. Upgrading the Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 model to 64GB of RAM for an additional $300 brings the total to $3,249. Upgrading to the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 model costs $5,660 and comes with 64GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display. Upgrading the RAM to 64GB and storage to 2TB brings the total to $6,290. The top-end configuration of the ZBook Ultra with the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395, Radeon 8060S integrated graphics, 128GB of RAM, 4TB of SSD storage, and 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display costs a total of $8,250. However, our review spec is perhaps the best value for the ZBook Ultra. For $4,049, you get the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 CPU, Radeon 8060S integrated graphics, 128GB of RAM, 2TB of SSD storage, and the 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED touchscreen. This gives you the most use of the unified memory, with additional storage space, an upgraded CPU, and an OLED display. While none of these configurations are cheap, they're not too steep compared to the average workstation price. However, it does start higher than other portable content creation laptops like the Apple MacBook Pro 14 ($1,599 starting price) or Asus ProArt PX13 ($1,699). It is worth noting that upgrades on the MacBook Pro, in particular, are expensive, to match our recommended ZBook Ultra configuration, it would be $5,099. Most ZBook workstations aren't laptops you'd want in your lap for long. HP hasn't changed much of the ZBook aesthetic for the ZBook Ultra 15 G1a. It has a Meteorite Silver magnesium alloy chassis with a minimalist chrome HP logo on the top cover and a sleek keyboard deck with a centered touchpad. The ZBook Ultra does have slim bezels on the display, with a slight increase in bezel size along the top to fit the webcam. The hinges are nice and sturdy, with an almost 180-degree rotation in case you need to use the ZBook on your lap and tilt the display back for better ergonomics. Most ZBook workstations aren't laptops you'd want in your lap for long. Even the slim ZBook Studio can feel a bit hefty after some time, but the ZBook Ultra is designed to be a completely portable powerhouse machine, and its chassis design is small and lightweight to match. The ZBook Ultra measures just 12.29 x 8.45 x 0.71 inches and weighs just 3.4 pounds. While this is pretty light and portable compared to most powerful workstation laptops, it is a bit closer in dimensions to more mobile creator devices like: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 2024): 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.61 inches, 3.4 pounds Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: 13.95 x 9.49 x 0.67 inches, 4.3 pounds Asus ProArt PX13: 11.74 x 8.26 x 0.62 inches, 3.04 pounds Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024): 14 x 9.7 x 0.66 inches, 4.7 pounds Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 As a mobile workstation, the ZBook Ultra comes with a full port array to connect all of your devices: 2x USB 4 Type-C (40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1) 1x USB Type-C (10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1) 1x USB Type-A (10Gbps) 1x HDMI 2.1 1x Audio combo 1x Security lock slot The ZBook Ultra offers the majority of ports you could want with multiple DisplayPort 2.1 USB-C connections, additional USB Type-C and Type-A ports, and an HDMI port. The only major workstation port missing is an SD card reader, so if you need a quick-access SD slot, you may want to snag one of the best laptop docking stations or USB-C hubs. The Achilles' heel of most Windows workstations is battery life. The Achilles' heel of most Windows workstations is battery life. And the HP ZBook Ultra is no exception. While it doesn't have a discrete graphics card, its Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 chipset is still a bit of a power hog. I easily got through half of my workday, with 15-20 Chrome tabs and Photoshop running, without needing to find an outlet, but I did have to plug the ZBook into its charger around my lunch break. It's not awful for a powerful workstation laptop, but it's not touching MacBook Pros, which offer over 18 hours of battery life. On the Laptop Mag web surfing battery test, the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a lasted 6 hours and 46 minutes. It's not much worse compared to most workstation laptops, but when compared to its hyper-portable competition, the ZBook Ultra does fall short against the ProArt PX13 and ThinkPad P1 Gen 7. Click to view chart data in table format HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 Asus ProArt PX13 Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) Battery life (Higher is better) 06:45 18:32 17:24 09:28 20:46 The ZBook Ultra features HP Wolf Pro Security, a TPM 2.0 embedded security chip, and a nano security lock slot, so it has plenty of hardware and software security. The ZBook also features an IR webcam for Windows Hello secure sign-in, and a fingerprint reader on the power button. HP has run the ZBook Ultra through all 21 durability tests to meet the MIL-STD-810H standard, including exposure to extreme high and low temperatures, dust, humidity, and high altitude. So the ZBook Ultra can follow you on location to The numbers don't lie; this display is fantastic. More than other laptops, workstations require a high level of color accuracy in their displays. After all, if you're using the ZBook Ultra for design work, you need to know the color you see on your display is what will be seen by customers. The glossy 14-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED touchscreen display on our ZBook Ultra model is absolutely what you'd expect from a ZBook laptop. Pulling up photos of a recent trip to put the ZBook through its editing paces, I was taken back by just how well the OLED touchscreen captured the vivid, bright colors of the Walt Disney World parks, even at night. From the cyberpunk blue lights of the new Tron Lightcycle Run coaster to the terracotta pink of the Tower of Terror, I've rarely been more nostalgic for a family Disney trip than when editing my vacation photos on the ZBook Ultra. In our lab testing, the ZBook's display covered 139% of the DCI-P3 color gamut with an accuracy of 0.31 (lower is better) and had a max SDR brightness of 368 nits, with a peak HDR brightness of 575 nits. The numbers don't lie; this display is fantastic. Click to view chart data in table format. HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 Asus ProArt PX13 Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) Display brightness (Higher is better) 368 557 386 350 565 sRGB color gamut (Higher is better) 197.6% 113.3% 111.0% 113.1% 115.0% DCI-P3 color gamut (Higher is better) 139.9% 80.2% 78.6% 80.1% 81.4% Color accuracy (Lower is better) 0.31 0.19 0.29 0.22 0.27 The ZBook Ultra's keyboard is crisp, with a springy activation feel. HP opted for the Premium keyboard on the ZBook Ultra, and it's a choice that's paid off. The ZBook Ultra's keyboard is crisp, with a springy activation feel. On the advanced typing test, I averaged a typing speed of words per minute (WPM), which is just shy of the 88 WPM I maintain on the MacBook Pro 14. The HP Premium keyboard is also mounted underneath the keyboard deck, making it easier to swap out for repair or IT recycling to a different region. While not necessary on more consumer-focused devices, it's a valuable option on a professional workstation, as most of these laptops will be used for at least 4 years. The large glass touchpad on the ZBook Ultra is also a delight, sporting multigesture support and a silky feel. The touchpad is clickable through about 90% of the area, with only the top edge being unclickable. I didn't notice the difference while using the ZBook until I looked for it. Not only can they fill a room, but the speakers have a high degree of audio clarity HP has loaded four integrated stereo speakers with tuning by PolyStudio into the ZBook Ultra, and those top-firing speakers pack an impressive amount of power. Not only can they fill a room, but the speakers have a high degree of audio clarity, even at full volume. I could differentiate between the screaming guitars and melodic synth of Sleep Token's 'The Summoning' at high and medium volumes. The PolyStudio audio offered serious fidelity from the rich, driving bass to Vessel's soaring vocals. The ZBook Ultra's audio can handle web calls and video or audio editing sessions. However, if you spend a lot of time editing in the field or office, we'd recommend a set of the best headphones so you don't need to worry about background noise getting in the way. Even editing multi-layered projects for my work at Laptop Mag was a breeze. The ZBook Ultra 14 G1a features AMD's most ambitious mobile chipset, the Ryzen AI Max series, specifically the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395. This massive APU is supported by 128GB of unified memory and a speedy SSD. I used the ZBook Ultra to edit some of my recent vacation photos, and even unplugged, the ZBook Ultra could handle my usual edits without issue. Even editing multi-layered projects for my work at Laptop Mag was a breeze. In our performance testing, the ZBook Ultra's Ryzen AI Max+ Pro chipset outperformed the MacBook Pro 14's M4, the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7's Intel's Core Ultra 7 165H, and the ProArt PX13's Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 processors in Geekbench 6 multicore performance by up to 36%. Only the MacBook Pro 16's M4 Pro outpaced the ZBook Ultra. The ZBook does get a bit hot under strain, with its hottest point measuring 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit above the F4 key after streaming a 4K video for at least 15 minutes. While not the hottest laptop temperature we've ever measured, it can get toasty on your fingertips. Thankfully, the rest of the laptop stays a bit cooler, with the area between the G and H keys hitting 95.5 degrees and the underside measuring 92.3 degrees. Click to view chart data in table format. HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 Asus ProArt PX13 Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) Geekbench 6 Single-core (Higher is better) 2,837 3,807 2,424 2,847 3,910 Geekbench 6 Multicore (Higher is better) 17,721 15,114 12,974 15,203 22,822 Handbrake conversion (Lower is better) 02:34 4:27 4:22 3:36 2:38 25GB File Transfer Test (Lower is better) 20 12.97 16.96 25GB File Transfer Test (SSD speed) 1,342 2,071 1,583 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Read (Higher is better) 4,468.0 2,900.1 4,713.4 3,586.2 5,353.7 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Write (HIgher is better) 4276.1 3,318.6 4,154.9 3,345.6 6,640.5 SPECWorkstation 3.1: Blender (1060p, Higher is better) DNR 2.11 SPECWorkstation 3.1: FSI (1060p, Higher is better) 6.5 3.44 PugetBench Photoshop (Higher is better) 10,186 10,542 7,948 12,292 Heat (Degrees Fahrenheit) 99.6 84.5 88.0 95.5 90.5 if you want to use the ZBook Ultra as your daily driver, it can keep up with some light gaming. The HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a is a thin, light, and ultraportable workstation. Not a gaming laptop. Workstation laptops do feature powerful GPUs, but they historically perform poorly in gaming compared to high-powered gaming laptops because workstation GPUs are designed for precision rather than raw power. While I am a self-professed MMO hermit who will play Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail on any platform capable of running it, even I hesitate to game on a workstation. However, the ZBook Ultra is a competitor of the MacBook Pro 14, and I like to play games on my Mac. So I eventually convinced myself to download and run FFXIV on the ZBook Ultra, not that it took too much effort. I didn't expect the ZBook Ultra to play as well as a dedicated gaming laptop, but it maintained a smooth 55 to 60 frames per second on the Standard (Laptop) preset at 1800p. So, if you want to use the ZBook Ultra as your daily driver, it can keep up with some light gaming. Click to view chart data in table format. HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 Asus ProArt PX13 Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) 3DMark Fire Strike (Higher is better) 23,459 19,607 18,634 3DMark Time Spy (Higher is better) 10,114 8,505 7,861 3DMark Steel Nomad (Higher is better) 1,992.00 1,783 1,654 SPECWorkstation 3.1: maya-05 (1060p, Higher is better) 3.68 3.49 SPECWorkstation 3.1: energy-02 (1060p, Higher is better) 14.86 9.94 PugetBench Premiere Pro (Higher is better) 7,223 4,618 7,178 7,074 8,888 Borderlands 3 (1080p, fps) 97.19 23.03 69.02 62.22 42.80 Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) 81 36 78 72 79 Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (1080p, fps) 168.62 53.548 152.765 115.736 98.357 The HP ZBook Ultra features an AMD Ryzen AI chipset, which means it has a 50 TOPS NPU onboard, which gets you access to the entire Copilot+ suite of applications like CoCreate, LiveCaptions, and Recall, in addition to advanced Windows Studio Effects and the full version of Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant. As an AMD laptop, the ZBook Ultra also has access to AMD's AI-optimized software, which includes Amuse, Topaz Labs, Camo Studio, and Arkrunr. The ZBook Ultra sports a 5MP IR camera, which is ideal for Windows Hello secure sign-in and not so great for virtual meetings. The feed is a bit grainy with some color distortion, which casts a persistent pink layer over my face. It's perfectly serviceable for the occasional Zoom call, but if you want to use the ZBook Ultra as your daily work laptop, you may want to invest in one of our best webcams to handle your virtual meetings rather than use the onboard camera. The ZBook Ultra ships with Windows 11 Pro, which includes standard Microsoft applications like Copilot, Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Windows Media Player, and Microsoft Teams. The ZBook Ultra has some pre-installed AMD software, like AMD Bug Report Tool and AMD Install Manager. HP also pre-loaded proprietary software, such as HP Audio Control, Connection Optimizer, Insights, Sure Recover, Poly Camera Pro, and HP Support Assistant. There are more than 15 different HP and Poly programs pre-installed on the ZBook Ultra, which is a bit much. Thankfully, the programs don't take up much space on the SSD. HP offers a three-year limited warranty with the HP ZBook Ultra. But if you need the full breadth of the Windows ecosystem, the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a is a worthy contender. If you're OS agnostic like I tend to be, you want a portable, powerful, efficient workstation to meet your day-to-day requirements and make sure you don't miss a beat when working or creating in your off time. The HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a comes very close to eclipsing my MacBook Pro in terms of portability and beats the base MacBook Pro's CPU power, but it comes at the cost of battery life and a higher price. The base configuration of the ZBook Ultra costs $2,599, which is a bit steep for the average consumer. And it doesn't get the full leverage of the Ryzen AI Max Pro chipset's unified memory. If you need the ultimate combination of affordability, power, and battery life, the MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) is still the way to go, especially if you don't need to run Windows to access all of your applications. But if you need the full breadth of the Windows ecosystem, the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a is a worthy contender. Unlike the Asus ProArt PX13, the ZBook Ultra is more powerful than the base M4 chipset, offers more GPU power for data analysis and video editing, and has a much better display. While the ProArt PX13 is the cheaper option, the ZBook Ultra gets you far more power. It's got your back if you've got funds.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
AMD's Ryzen AI Max Pro and Apple's M4 Pro are strong, but which powers the better workstation?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Not all workstations are created equal. Some are designed for STEM research and data analysis, while others are more design-focused. Either way, workstations need to be powerful machines with brawny processors to match. Apple's Pro-series silicon powers the MacBook Pros, which have become a staple for many designers thanks to their unmatched CPU and GPU performance. But AMD's newest Ryzen AI Max chip could potentially change that. We've compared AMD's Ryzen AI Max chip to the Apple M4 Pro before, based on our testing of the Asus ROG Flow Z 13 and MacBook Pro 16. But the M4 Pro isn't a gaming chipset; it's intended for high-performance design work like illustration, architecture, or app development. That makes the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro variant in HP's recently reviewed ZBook Ultra 14 G1a a far better competitor. The ZBook Ultra is also aimed at creative professionals who need powerful computing in a portable package. So, which is the better workstation chip? Apple's high-end M4 Pro, or AMD's Ryzen AI Max Pro? View Deal View Deal Workstations need good general performance, so we still run the usual Geekbench and Handbrake tests and more design and data analysis-focused benchmarks like the PugetBench Adobe suite tests and SPECWorkstation for compatible Windows machines. The HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a outperforms the Apple MacBook Pro 14's M4 chip in general performance and the PugetBench tests, but the MacBook Pro 16's M4 Pro holds onto its lead. However, the ZBook closed the gap between the Ryzen AI Max and the M4 Pro compared to the ROG Flow Z13, as the Flow Z13's performance was capped at 70 Watts due to its tablet-style design. Click to view chart data in table format. HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) Geekbench 6 Single-core (Higher is better) 2,837 3,807 3,910 Geekbench 6 Multicore (Higher is better) 17,721 15,114 22,822 Handbrake conversion (Lower is better) 02:34 4:27 2:38 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Read (Higher is better) 4,468.0 2,900.1 5,353.7 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Write (HIgher is better) 4276.1 3,318.6 6,640.5 PugetBench Photoshop (Higher is better) 10,186 10,542 12,292 PugetBench Premiere Pro (Higher is better) 7,223 4,618 8,888 Borderlands 3 (1080p, fps) 97.19 23.03 42.80 Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, fps) 81 36 79 Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (1080p, fps) 168.62 53.548 98.357 While the M4 Pro is still the more powerful chip, the Ryzen AI Max Pro offers some solid competition. It has the advantage of operating on Windows 11, which offers a broader range of supported programs. That might make it a better fit, depending on what applications you need to run. Unfortunately, all of the Ryzen AI Max's power comes at the cost of battery life. The HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a lasted 6 hours and 45 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, while the MacBooks lasted 18 hours. Click to view chart data in table format. HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4, 2024) Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024) Battery life (Higher is better) 06:45 18:32 20:46 As always, this depends. If you need to use specialty CAD software like SolidWorks, macOS isn't the best bet. At the same time, you can run Windows programs through various virtualization tools and emulation, which can often cause performance issues and slow down your processing speeds, making the M4 Pro's increased performance gains functionally worthless. But if you primarily intend to use design tools like Blender or the Adobe suite, you can run almost everything you need on Apple Silicon. And if you want the best performance, a great display, and industry-leading battery life, Apple is still the way to go. Assuming, of course, you have the flexibility to choose macOS. The HP ZBook Ultra with AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ Pro chip is an excellent alternative if you don't. Apple is ramping up its iPhone release cycle at the worst possible time Are Snapdragon X Elite chips that much better on battery power than AMD and Intel? I've found the best new laptop for designers, and it's a Lenovo Legion 9i
