ZBook: Dreamcolor vs. Dreamcolor "anti-glare"

I am looking at a new ZBook Studio G5 (or G5 x360).

HP has two screen options: "Dreamcolor" and "Dreamcolor (anti-glare)". The "anti-glare" version is about $100 cheaper.

Does anyone know what is different between the two? I would think that both glossy and matte screens would be "anti-glare". If I buy the anti-glare one thinking it's matte, am I going to end up with an inferior (cheaper) screen?

It looks like the non-convertible (G5) comes with the "anti-glare" only screen whereas the convertible (G5 x360) has both options.

Confusion.

Any tips?

Thank you!

 

Based on various reviews it appears that antiglare=matte and glossy is glossy without or with anti reflective coating, which will still cause some reflections. I’m not sure why it’s cheaper though. Perhaps you can ask HP sales in a chat? Please post the results here if you find out...

 

AlphaG,

Okay, so I found out the difference between "antiglare" and "glossy". It is as you suspected.

Glossy DreamColor = glass-covered DreamColor display (used on the Studio G5 x360).
Note that this may technically have anti-glare properties, as most glass panels do somewhat. The glass panel adds about 0.5 pounds as well (coupled with the convertible hinge on the x360).

Anti-glare DreamColor = film-covered DreamColor display (used on the Studio G5, non-convertible).

You can see what the "anti-glare" option looks like in this video, 20 seconds in.


I'm actually a bit bummed about the anti-glare screen on the G5. I really like the concept of a matte display, but the huge privacy hinge over the camera at top coupled with the big IR camera openings (which would be mostly obscured by a glass panel and look so much nicer) really seems to take away from the beauty of the ZBook Studio G5.

 

You can always get the glossy version and stick a matte screen protector (precut or self-cut) on it for the best of both worlds. Plus you have the convenience of being able to swap out the AG layer once it gets all mucky and scratched up.

It's an additional step with (minimal) additional cost (and for folks with art dead hands like me, a tedious one) but it's still a viable option. I did just that on my Envy 13t, which, where I'm located, didn't even have a matte screen SKU / option to personalise.

That is, if this "Glass" display is edge-to-edge as mine is, anyway... as I'm not entirely sure how the Zbook looks with the Glass option.

 

Wow, I agree with you 100%. That looks terrible. I was assuming something more along the lines of the ZBook X2 Dreamcolor (or even standard 4K) display which looks like a much more uniform as the frosted panel covers a majority of the display except for the side frames that house the quick access buttons:



Is the display in the video linked by you a Dreamcolor variant?

My order with Dreamcolor anti-glare was delayed a second time. Now it will supposedly ship mid March. Will post some actual pics when it arrives...

 

If you ordered a Studio X360 with the Antiglare touch option, it should be the same as the X2 - an antiglare treatment on the touch screen.

 

That actually sounds pretty good TBH... I wish more TS PCs ship with that option in place of "Fingerprinty Gloss" .

 

The anti-glare treatment is great, but it is indeed quite rare as no consumer devices are usually offered with it and even very few business models are offered with it these days. You can always get an anti-glare screen protector from photodon.

 

I did just that with my E13t - put some aftermarket self cut matte protector on it. Turned out acceptably OK, if I may say so myself, but imma thinking that a market standard option would be less of a hassle for most folks but alas.

On the other hand, Pen equipped touchscreen models are a bit of a conundrum though. Aftermarket films might end up scratching easily against the hard tip of a TS Pen. Personally I ended up choosing "normal" tempered glass instead for my old Miix 510 but hell the glossiness was killer. I wonder how durable factory matte screens are in this situation.

There's also the option of going "Anti Glare Tempered Glass" (that's what I have on my Phone right now) - with a matte backing under the TG. So you end up having the smooth feel of naked glass AND an AG screen. Unfortunately even for my phone (the OP6) there's only one brand selling a decent version of those (Encased) and I have NEVER seen people do larger, laptop sized protectors this way.

 

I am loathing the idea of ordering a ZBook Studio 360 G5, because the spec sheets are so damn vague about the panels. I'm currently torn between the Dreamcolor if I can nail down an anti-glare one, if it's the same treatment process as the X2, then they etch the glass so writing/drawing on it, should be great. Though I really wonder how well the etching will hold up over time, and will it 'wear' away to introduce glare prone spots.

 

I received a CTO laptop months after the original order this week.

The configured display is a 4K DreamColor panel with anti-glare and the Windows Hello IR camera. I do not have the mechanical camera shutter as linked in the above video.

This post’s intention is to confirm that, as configured, the display does indeed have the same ‘etched’ glass cover with a single piece covering the display and bezels, just like on the X2. There are small round portions over the cameras that are spared the etch and are glossy.

The display, while I have not used it much yet, is bright and beautiful. I am very happy with the system so far!

 

I just realized that the "matte" finish display on the ZBook Studio G5 is not a touchscreen.

ZBook Studio G5 DreamColor = matte, non-touch
ZBook Studio x360 G5 DreamColor = glossy, touch

That makes the decision easier for me: I need the touchscreen (even if I don't use the x360 in convertible mode).

 

No, it’s a touchscreen. Not sure where you got that information.

 

AlphaG, on the HP website when I configure a ZBook Studio G5 (vs the convertible ZBook Studio x360 G5), all the display options on the regular G5 do not include the word "touchscreen" (whereas options on the x360 G5 convertible do offer the word "touchscreen").

Also, on the B&H website it says that the ZBook Studio G5 (non-convertible) does not have a touchscreen. Maybe that's just the model(s) they have in stock though. On their specs for the regular G5, it says "Touchscreen: No"
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1416643-REG/hp_4nl40ut_aba_zbook_studio_g5_e_2176m.html

I saw a note that says that the "privacy camera" and the touchscreen options were mutually exclusive. Do all the regular G5s come with that privacy camera? If so perhaps that's why none of them are getting the touchscreen option?

Do you have a ZBook Studio G5 (non-convertible) that has a touchscreen? Which camera?

 

Sorry, didn’t realize that you were comparing Studio to Studio x360. I see what you mean about the lack of a “touch” descriptor in the Studio configurator. I wonder if that’s an inconsistency rather than actually not being a touchscreen.

I have the Studio x360 with 600nit DreamColor with antiglare and IR camera (no manual shutter), and it is in fact a touchscreen.

 

Could you post a picture of the display?
Is the anti glare coating easy to clean? Are fingerprints visible?
How does the antiglare coating effect the colors and contrast?

 

I got a used G3 with anti-glare UHD. The display is not advertised as DreamColor but it is still amazing. I wished I had the dream color version though.