Top 10 best mobile workstations of 2017

Mobile workstations are not just slightly more powerful (and much more expensive) business laptops - these are incredibly versatile devices that bring a lot of power you'd usually find in desktop PCs to the mobile laptop form factor.

Thanks to the parts they use, the level of after-sales services and their retail prices, mobile workstations are certainly an investment, but if you need to be able to work while away from the office (or just don't want to have a chunky desktop machine), then they are definitely worth considering..

You tend to get expensive professional GPUs (Graphics Processing Units like Nvidia's Quadro, or AMD's FirePro - which is now the Radeon Pro WX range), loads of memory, good expansion capabilities, optional 4G/LTE connectivity, Intel Xeon processors as an option, and more often than not, a long warranty.

• For a more WASD-centric alternative, here is the best gaming laptop

These portable powerhouses are popular in a number of verticals: CAD/CAM, Geospatial, oil & gas and engineering because they allow workers to be flexible on the move, reducing downtime that might be associated with long commutes or intercontinental flights.

A number of recent trends have accelerated this shift. Component manufacturers have shifted their attention away from the desktop to the laptop markets with a laser focus on delivering the best performance per watt.

Some vendors - like MSI - are also using experience acquired in other markets - such as gaming - to design and build their mobile workstation portfolios. Then there's also the move to further miniaturise the form factor with a number of models falling in the UItrabook category by virtue of their size and heft.

If you'd prefer a Best Desktop Workstation roundup or, if you're interested in a business laptop that isn't necessarily a workstation, we've got you covered.

Because mobile workstations are so specialist - and come with such a high price tag - finding one that suits your business needs is important, and we're here to help with this list of the best mobile workstations in 2017.

Very few laptops on the market can compete with this model. Dell's Inspiron range is aimed at business and consumers with a definite nudge towards the former. Dare we say, the 7000 series is one that will please almost everyone, including gamers. For the price, you get a laptop with an aluminium chassis and a long list of impressive features. As this is not your typical workstation, the laptop comes with Windows 10 Home but can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for £99.99.

Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 15 7000

Not only is the Razer Blade one of the best gaming laptops money can buy, it is also an excellent desktop replacement and mobile workstation for non-gamers, thanks to its excellent array of features and powerful components. It’s thin, powerful and includes some of the latest hardware money can buy.

Read the full review: Razer Blade review

HP's mobile workstation Ultrabook has already reached its third generation but the last one is still very much a best-in-class especially when it comes to sheer value for money. It is one of the cheapest workstations on the market to offer a professional dedicated graphics card, and the most affordable business laptop to come with a whopping half-decade warranty. HP opted for a 14-inch diagonal which may well hit a sweet spot for some.

Read the full review: HP ZBook 14 G2

HP calls it the perfect combination of brains and beauty and it is kind of hard to disagree. The G3 is essentially a mobile workstation that has been squeezed in an Ultrabook form factor. A 4K monitor adorns it and there's plenty of oomph under the hood. It is actually the only device known to us that comes with a Xeon CPU. Add in extensive ISV certification, a super-long warranty and MLD-STD 810G certification and you have a very attractive candidate.

Read the full review: HP ZBook Studio G3

The more upmarket version of the Inspiron 15 7000 above is the Precision 15 7000, an outrageously fast machine with an equally outrageous price tag. As expected you get cutting edge components and the type of flexibility in the customisation process that sorely lacks with the SOHO-oriented Inspiron range. This is Dell's direct, built-to-order model at its best: From the latest Intel quad-core CPU to a plethora of other high end parts, this is as good as it gets.

Lenovo hails this model as the world's first multi-mode workstation, one that manages to combine power and creativity thanks to a 360-degree hinge that has, to some extent, set the standard when it comes to convertible or 2-in-1 designs. What's more, it is one of the very rare laptops to come with built-in Wacom Active ES pen technology, capable of delivering 2048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition.

MSI is not a brand that we usually associate with workstations but the Taiwanese company, unlike its staunchest competitors, Gigabyte and Asus, has made some remarkable inroads in this lucrative niche market. The WS60 is essentially a more expensive version of its gaming laptop with a certified professional GPU. It's worth noting that this laptop is one of the slimmest and lightest of the workstations in this list.

Read the full review: MSI WS60

This is the top-of-the-range workstation at Lenovo, the apex predator, the one to beat. Targeting designers, engineers and professionals in the oil and gas industry, it is one of the only two models to feature an Intel Xeon processor. There's also a built-in colour calibrator as well as a steep price tag for the top-end model to highlight its premium nature. It is a shame though that it doesn't offer any RAID option at this price and tops out at 512GB storage.

Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad P70

Toshiba’s excellent range of Tecra business laptops has produced this brilliant mobile workstation, which packs a heck of a lot of power into an easily portable body. As well as offering plenty of power and mobility, there’s also plenty of connectivity options which makes this an excellent laptop for business use.

The MSI WS60 6QH 088UK is an excellent mobile workstation, and with MSI being known for producing powerful gaming laptops, it’s no surprise that the company has also created this powerful workstation that excels in CAD and graphics applications. This laptop has been updated to provide some of the latest components to ensure a top notch experience.

In the world of workstations lies an even smaller niche. One for vendors that build to order using parts from the likes of Foxconn. The Octane III is one of them, allowing the user to choose exactly what parts they want to power their workstations and more. Sure, you don't get the sort of support you'd expect from the likes of Lenovo, Dell or HP, but for many, the pros of using a vendor like PC Specialist will outweigh the cons.

The model we configured came with the best consumer grade laptop CPU on the market, 64GB of RAM and two 500GB SSDs in RAID-0 mode. Of course, you’re free to specify the machine as you wish – but there are plenty of options when it comes to powerful components, that’s for sure.

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