ZBook X 16 G1i charging issue with docks and monitors

[Direktor]

Thanks again @IT_WinSec for taking the time to respond to my thoughts. I really appreciate that!

@IT_WinSec wrote:

Plenty for a regular notebook like Elitebook or less powerful ZBook model like Firefly but not for your ZBook X model.

Interesting.

So are you saying, that a different series laptop with identical/similar parts would charge via USB-C, just because it’s not considered a high-power workstation, while the ZBook is (just because it’s a ZBook)? So I could have bought an Elitebook or even a ProBook 4 Gli 16 AD2N9ET#ABD (identical CPU, even more power-hungry GPU) – and I would not have my actual problems?

Even worse if so.

I do own an Elitebook X360 1030 G3 – and I was very happy until the display started to come out of its frame. I got it repaired and apparently got a faulty mainboard (please read my thread for that).

The technician who "repaired" it said, that, of all the hi-power HP Models, the ZBooks would make the least problems – nearly no repairs. (Not the Fireflies though - too much power in a too tiny frame is what he said).  I kept that in mind and decided to spend the extra money to get the best possible machine for my purpose, because I tend to use my stuff for a looong time. Because of the AI development and because of power-efficiency I wanted the newest model of the Intel Ultra (2xx) and a Blackwell GPU – and the biggest possible battery (83 WH).

Regarding thermal problems I makes sense to me, that the thicker base of the ZBook (not Firefly) allows better cooling / less throttling – and thus a better performance than other laptops with identical or similar parts (CPU/GPU). But that wouldn't effect charging possibilities.

@IT_WinSec wrote:

Your computer's specs require more power especially when working at their peak. The power adapter needs to be one that will guarantee top performance and stability under all PC conditions with the specs you have inside (CPU, GPU, etc). You can check details about each or most components (e.g. Intel's website for processor, GPU). There is no way for HP to know under what conditions a user would operate a given device (low load 1 minute, might be max load next minute).

It's a laptop! It’s supposed to be used without power-supply. And it's not "especially" when working at their peak - it's ONLY then. (<7 Watts idling...).

Of course HP cannot guarantee that I always use it the way the way they think would be best…

Because of the given policy I right now use it just connected to the monitor which could charge it very well while I just write this text – but charging is not allowed because JUST IN CASE I decided to do a quick Video-rendering (or whatever else) it would maybe drain the battery while connected to power???

Well - instead it’s not charged at all right now and for sure the battery drains – and would drain quicker in a high-power situation.

@IT_WinSec wrote:

Your logic is absolutely sound: in theory, the battery could slowly drain under heavy load and recharge when idle. However, HP’s design prioritizes system stability and battery health over flexibility.

Regarding battery health

The worst thing you can do to a battery is to always charge it fast and keep it fully charged most of the time. Yes, the latter would also be the case with PD charging, but I already configured the bios not to. If charged, the slower charging of the PD would (if allowed) be healthier than the 120/150/180/280 Watts of the allowed chargers/docks.

The second “unhealthy” thing is battery-cycles.
I try to avoid unnecessary ones – but, because I did not go through the hassle of bringing (unplugging, packing, plugging) the power-supply to the office today and my monitor is not allowed to keep it charged, it’s going through half a cycle now. Where is the improved system stability and battery health here - this is a real-life situation and not a theoretical best case scenario.

@IT_WinSec wrote:

It is not what HP wants. It's about the technical specifications or requirement of the sub-components, the device's best and stable performance and overall experience.

See the last part.

@IT_WinSec wrote:

If HP was able to create such a device with this vision, mobility and technical capability and with a battery that requires charging only once a week - such a thing would already be created and available on the market, please, trust me. Or with a 15W power adapter to charge such a beast.

Sorry, but a little polemic?
I do not want to charge it once a week, I want to charge it while connected to my expensive monitor that I bought for that purpose – and not with 15 Watts, but with 90.

I’m really sorry, but so far I’m still not convinced, that not allowing the full USB-C charging power “because it’s a hi-power workstation” does make much sense. Because of that it's going through a battery-cycle right now while being connected to 90W PD.

Why not allow the user to decide what would be “the best user-experience” for him?

Thank you very much again for acknowledging and taking my concerns seriously. I would really appreciate it, if you would forward it to the people deciding these things, because I can't imagine that I'm the only ZBook X user who is disappointed that the expected functionality connected to an expensive monitor featuring a built-in dock is not available, just "because".

Regarding the workarounds (usually used to avoid unnecessary problems...) 😁

So I would have to spend another pile of money for a "fitting" docking station - which I do not need/want because it's already connected to one. If needed I got the original Power-Supply.

Or for a second Power-Supply just to spare the hassle of unplugging, packing, plugging - but still with (unnecessary) additional cables and things on the desk that I do not like.

Either way I would have to buy more things - good for HP, but where is the environmental part in this?

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @Direktor 

Thank you for your feedback.

I sent you a private message, please check it out and reply there.

Have a nice evening and weekend !

[IT_WinSec]

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@Direktor wrote:

Interesting.

So are you saying, that a different series laptop with identical/similar parts would charge via USB-C, just because it’s not considered a high-power workstation, while the ZBook is (just because it’s a ZBook)? So I could have bought an Elitebook or even a ProBook 4 Gli 16 AD2N9ET#ABD (identical CPU, even more power-hungry GPU) – and I would not have my actual problems?

Even worse if so.

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No, this is not because it is a Zbook. The brand (Zbook / Elitebook / Probook) has nothing to do with the power requirements.

If there is an Elitebook or Probook with the exact same specs as your Zbook, it would behave the exact same way.

It is about your concrete computer's internal components and their unique requirements + the overall device performance.

ZBook X 16 G1i comes with different specs inside. I do not know your concrete device SN and specs but just one simple example, if it has Intel Core Ultra 5 225H CPU, it has these power specs here.

If it has Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, its specs are listed here.

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Regarding battery health

The worst thing you can do to a battery is to always charge it fast and keep it fully charged most of the time. Yes, the latter would also be the case with PD charging, but I already configured the bios not to. If charged, the slower charging of the PD would (if allowed) be healthier than the 120/150/180/280 Watts of the allowed chargers/docks.

The second “unhealthy” thing is battery-cycles.
I try to avoid unnecessary ones – but, because I did not go through the hassle of bringing (unplugging, packing, plugging) the power-supply to the office today and my monitor is not allowed to keep it charged, it’s going through half a cycle now. Where is the improved system stability and battery health here - this is a real-life situation and not a theoretical best case scenario.

HP computers (especially the business ones like your Zbook) have advanced power management features and intelligent charging. Please, check the Battery Health manager options (already built-into your Zbook model):

>> https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/ish_4449597-3519507-16

>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8e9oWso_BE

Thank you !

[MatjazOgrinc]

Hi 

I have simmilar problem.

I have Zbook X g1i connected to HP 738PU monitor using integrated dock (Tunderbolt4 port). At the same time I have also original 150W power supply connected to Zbook. All cables are original HP which came with monitor. 

Why do I have this notification, if I have pluged original 150W power supply to Zbook? 

[MatjazOgrinc]

HP ZBook X G1i 16 inch Mobile Workstation PC IDS Base Model
Product number:
B4YT6AV

Installed new bios update 01.03.02 Rev.A released Sep 24, 2025. After update, no notification for slow charger. 

Bug resolved for me. 

Regards, Matjaž