HP Dev One 68V48AA : The Developer Laptop with Ryzen 7 PRO
The HP Dev One 68V48AA is a collaboration between HP and System76, aiming to provide a seamless and powerful experience out of the box. Its design prioritizes performance, stability, and developer-centric features, making it an excellent choice for coders, system administrators, and anyone deeply embedded in the ecosystem.
Processor and Graphics: At its core, the HP Dev One is powered by an AMD Ryzen™ 7 PRO 5850U processor. This is an 8-core, 16-thread CPU with a base clock of 1.9GHz and a Max Boost Clock of up to 4.4GHz. The “PRO” designation signifies enhanced security, manageability, and business-grade features. It provides robust performance for compilation, virtualization, running multiple development environments, and general productivity tasks.
Graphics are handled by the integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics. While not designed for high-end gaming, this integrated GPU is perfectly capable of driving high-resolution external monitors, handling video playback, and supporting graphical user interfaces smoothly for typical developer workloads.
Operating System: NO OS
Display and Design: The laptop features a 14-inch diagonal Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-glare display. While some initial reviews noted narrower viewing angles (leading some to speculate about a “privacy screen” feature, though not officially stated by HP), it generally offers crisp visuals and 100% sRGB color gamut coverage. The display brightness is rated up to 1000 nits, which is excellent for visibility in various lighting conditions. The chassis is a professional-looking Mineral Silver color, with a robust build quality designed for daily use.
Memory and Storage: The 68V48AA comes with 16GB of DDR4-3200MHz SO-DIMM RAM, configured in a 2x 8GB dual-channel setup for optimal performance. Crucially for developers, the RAM is upgradeable, supporting up to 64GB or even 96GB depending on module availability, which is a significant advantage over laptops with soldered RAM. For storage, it includes a fast 1TB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD, providing ample space and rapid data access. This SSD often supports Full Disk Encryption (FDE) for enhanced security.
Keyboard and Input: The HP Premium keyboard is backlit and designed for a comfortable typing experience, crucial for developers who spend hours coding. It notably features a “Super” key instead of a Windows key. It also includes a pointing stick (TrackPoint) in addition to a standard touchpad, offering alternative navigation methods preferred by some users.
Connectivity and Ports: The HP Dev One offers a solid array of ports suitable for a developer’s needs:
- 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps signaling rate): Both support DisplayPort™ 1.4 Alt Mode and Power Delivery.
- 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps signaling rate): One supports charging.
- 1x HDMI 2.0
- 1x RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet port
- 1x MicroSD Card Reader
- 1x 3.5mm Headphone/microphone combo jack
- 1x AC power connector
Wireless Connectivity: It supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) 2×2 via a Realtek RTL8822CE module and Bluetooth® 5.0, ensuring reliable wireless connections.
Battery and Other Features: The laptop is powered by a 3-cell, 53.2Wh Lithium-ion battery, offering up to 12 hours of battery life under normal development conditions. It includes an HD webcam (720p) with dual-array microphones for video conferencing and stereo speakers. The device is also ENERGY STAR certified and TCO Certified Notebooks 9 compliant.
The HP Dev One 68V48AA is a unique offering in the laptop market, specifically addressing the needs of the developer community with a focus on hardware compatibility, performance, and out-of-the-box functionality with Pop!_OS.
Key Specifications:
- Model Number: 68V48AA#ABA
- Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 7 PRO 5850U (8 cores, 16 threads, 1.9GHz base, up to 4.4GHz boost, 16MB L3 cache)
- Graphics: Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics
- Operating System: NO OS
- Display: 14-inch diagonal FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS Anti-glare, 100% sRGB, 1000 nits brightness
- Memory (RAM): 16GB DDR4-3200MHz SO-DIMM (2x 8GB, upgradeable to 64GB+)
- Storage: 1TB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD (Gen4, Full Disk Encryption support)
- Keyboard: Backlit HP Premium Keyboard with “Super” key and pointing stick (US layout)
- Webcam: HD 720p camera with dual-array microphones
- Audio: Dual stereo speakers
- Ports:
- 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort™ 1.4, Power Delivery)
- 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (1 with charging)
- 1x HDMI 2.0
- 1x RJ-45 (Gigabit Ethernet)
- 1x MicroSD Card Reader
- 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) 2×2, Bluetooth® 5.0
- Battery: 3-cell, 53.2Wh Li-ion
- Power Adapter: 65W Smart AC Adapter
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 32.34 x 21.46 x 1.91 cm (12.73 x 8.44 x 0.75 inches)
- Weight: Approximately 1.47 kg (3.24 lbs)
- Color: Mineral Silver
