HP EliteBook 840 G9 review

HP provides an extensive selection of Windows laptops, among which the 800 series holds a central position. If you’re seeking lower prices, the 600 series would be more suitable, while for the lightest designs, you can go for the 1040 or Dragonfly series.

Even within the 800 series, you can find a broad range of options. So, if you prefer a laptop-tablet hybrid or AMD processors, HP has something for you. The 840 G9 is a typical laptop that employs Intel’s 12th-generation Core chips, specifically the i7-1255U. It contains only two performance cores, making it unsuitable for demanding tasks like video editing or running a flight simulator.

However, it can handle everyday jobs with ease. It’s worth noting that some laptops contain a 13th-generation i5 processor that performs better in multi-core benchmark tests. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro includes an Intel Core i5-1340P chip that runs over 20% faster in these tests. On the other hand, the 840 G9’s lower power requirements ensure that it lasts for nine hours on video playback and 11 hours for office work, according to our battery tests. In contrast, the Galaxy Book3 Pro lasted less than seven hours.

The model that we have tested comes equipped with 16GB memory and a 512GB SSD. In case the storage capacity falls short, there is an option to add a second M.2 SSD by opening up the case. There are multiple screen options available for these laptops, and it’s advisable to select the one rated at 1,000 nits of brightness and has a color gamut of 100% sRGB from HP’s website. This ensures that the screen is of great quality with both brightness and vividness.

It’s important to note that there are other models available with similar names but with inferior screens labeled at 250 nits/45% NTSC, which are not as good. So, one should be careful while making a purchase from other retailers or ensure that the relevant options are selected while using HP’s website.

Though it weighs around 1.5kg, it’s sleek and stylish. The laptop doesn’t come with an Ethernet port, but it has an HDMI port along with two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left edge and a USB 3.0 port on both edges. The laptop boasts an array of security features, including a fingerprint reader, Windows Hello-compatible webcam, and dual-array mics, which pick up clear audio and cancel background noise. The 1440p webcam is better than most, although we found the Auto Frame feature’s movement to be quite jerky.

The keyboard’s quality is impressive, offering a cushioned yet decisive action, and it’s quiet. Moreover, the laptop comes with one of the meatiest pair of speakers we’ve seen in a laptop at this price, which allows users to play music in the background.