Gadgets
HP Unveils ZBook Ultra G3a With Up to 192GB Memory for Local AI
HP's 16-inch ZBook Ultra G3a pairs AMD Ryzen AI Max+ silicon with up to 192GB of unified memory and preloaded Perplexity Computer, due in October.
PALO ALTO, Calif. · Noah Park, Gadgets · Sep 16 2026
PALO ALTO, Calif. - HP Inc. on Sept. 15 introduced the ZBook Ultra G3a, a 16-inch mobile workstation built around AMD silicon and on-device AI software from Perplexity, aimed at professionals who want to run large models and design tools without sending every workload to the cloud.
The thin-and-light system starts at 4.2 pounds and 17.9 millimeters thick. Configurations reach AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 processors with up to 192GB of unified memory, up to 160GB treated as dedicated graphics memory, and a 55 TOPS neural processing unit. HP says top builds can run language models with as many as 300 billion parameters locally and keep multi-agent workflows beside professional apps on the same machine. That “most capable local agentic laptop” label is the company’s own competitive claim, based on an internal August 2026 comparison that stresses graphics memory capacity.
Photo: HP
Photo: HP
HP lists a new thermal design that raises maximum TDP to 100 watts, which it says is about 81.8 percent higher than the prior ZBook Ultra G1a. The machine is pitched for architects, engineers, and designers who need Autodesk Revit 2027, 3ds Max, and Chaos Enscape on the road. Optional HP Go 5G connectivity and an IT-replaceable keyboard round out the chassis features.
Software is a second half of the pitch. Perplexity Computer ships preloaded, including a Portable Computer mode that can keep models and agents on the device and hand a step to a cloud model only when the user chooses. HP and Perplexity also advertise an MCP connector into Autodesk Revit so project data can stay local, plus task-based Skills available only on HP systems.
“Professionals need AI experiences that are powerful, reliable, and integrated into the way they work,” said Jim Nottingham, senior vice president and division president of Advanced Compute and Solutions at HP. AMD’s Jack Huynh and Perplexity’s Ryan Foutty echoed the local-AI theme in the same announcement.
Availability is planned for October 2026. HP said pricing will come closer to launch. The ZBook Ultra G3a joins HP’s broader agentic AI hardware lineup that already includes ZGX Nano and ZGX Fury systems for IT teams that want more control over where inference runs.
