Notebookcheck Logo

HP EliteBook 840 G4 (7200U, Full HD) Laptop Review

Hardly any changes. HP now ships its business notebooks with Kaby Lake processors as well, but the rest is pretty much unchanged. This is also the case for the display, which is quite bright, but it disappoints in all other areas.

For the original German review, see here.

The EliteBooks from the 800-series are premium business notebooks from HP. There are two more expensive EliteBooks with the additional Folio designation (1040G1), but they have a bigger focus on mobility. The EliteBook 840 with its 14-inch display is already the fourth generation (G4), but there are only minor changes compared to the previous EliteBook 840 G3. More precisely: You only get a new processor from Intel's current Kaby Lake generation.

Our test model carries the designation Z2V49ET ABD and is a mainstream model from the 840 G4 lineup when you have a look at the available components. HP equips the test model with an Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, a 256 GB NVM-SSD as well as a Full HD display. The latter is unfortunately not an IPS screen but is based on TN technology, which was already the case for the previous model.

Is that enough to keep up with some of the completely reworked rivals? We already reviewed many new business laptops, including the Lenovo ThinkPad T470 & T470s and the Fujitsu LifeBook U747. Dell also offers the updated Latitude E7480, which is currently in review.

EliteBook 840 G4 Z2V49ET#ABD (EliteBook 840 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-7200U 2 x 2.5 - 3.1 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4-2133, 1/2 slots in use, up to 32 GB
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, AUO123D, TN, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U Premium PCH
Storage
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm audio, Card Reader: SD (SD, SDHC, SDXC), 1 SmartCard, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-V (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2, LTE, LTE
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 18.9 x 338 x 237 ( = 0.74 x 13.31 x 9.33 in)
Battery
51 Wh Lithium-Ion, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 15 h
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p HD
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 45-Watt-PSU, Quick-start guide, warranty information, HP Tools, Microsoft Office 365 (trial), 36 Months Warranty
Weight
1.48 kg ( = 52.21 oz / 3.26 pounds), Power Supply: 283 g ( = 9.98 oz / 0.62 pounds)
Price
1539 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The elegant case of the EliteBook 840 G4 did not change this year. HP once again uses a combination of magnesium alloy and painted aluminum, only the bottom is made of dark plastic. The palm rests are therefore cool to touch and fingerprints are no problem. We really like the design with the mixture of black and silver. The lid has a silver HP logo, but there are otherwise no design elements. HP uses a visual trick, because the chassis gets a bit slimmer towards the front, so the laptop itself appears thinner than it actually is.

The stability of the base unit is also good and only a lot of pressure can warp the surfaces, which also results in slight creaking sounds. The thin lid is not as stable and can easily be twisted. Pressure from behind will also create ripples on the screen. The hinges have black plastic covers and are smooth, but they have some play and the display will quickly bounce. The maximum opening angle is sufficient at ~145 degrees. We can hear some creaking from the hinges when we adjust the angle, but it is not as bad compared to some shown in user videos on the Internet. Obviously we cannot check the long-term effects during our short review period.

This is the second model year with the same chassis, but it still holds up very well in our size comparison. The footprint is very similar between all comparison devices. This is also the case for the height, except for the noticeably slimmer EliteBook Folio 1040 G3. At ~1.9 cm and a weight of around 1.5 kg, the 14-inch laptop is very portable and can easily be stored in a bag or backpack.

Size Comparison

338 mm / 13.3 inch 237 mm / 9.33 inch 18.9 mm / 0.744 inch 1.5 kg3.26 lbs336.6 mm / 13.3 inch 232.5 mm / 9.15 inch 19.95 mm / 0.785 inch 1.7 kg3.67 lbs337 mm / 13.3 inch 234.5 mm / 9.23 inch 15.8 mm / 0.622 inch 1.4 kg3.19 lbs332.6 mm / 13.1 inch 234 mm / 9.21 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 1.4 kg3.17 lbs331 mm / 13 inch 226.8 mm / 8.93 inch 18.8 mm / 0.74 inch 1.4 kg3.01 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The ports did not change compared to the previous model. The EliteBook 840 G3 was already equipped with a modern USB-C jack, but it is still just a "regular" USB 3.1 port without support for Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, or power supply. At least you get all the other important components including two video outputs (DisplayPort 1.2, VGA) as well as a docking port. These connectors are very important for office environments.

The port layout is not perfect, because they are at the center of the two sides. If you do not use a docking station and still attach external devices, you will have to manage some cables. The performance of the USB ports (2x USB 3.0, 1x always-on) is decent at 310 MB/s on average (Samsung SSD T3), but it could be better.

Left side: Kensington lock, VGA, USB 3.0, SmartCard reader
Left side: Kensington lock, VGA, USB 3.0, SmartCard reader
Right side: USB-C Gen.1, DisplayPort 1.2, SD-card reader (not visible), 3.5 mm audio, USB 3.0, RJ45, docking port, Micro-SIM, power
Right side: USB-C Gen.1, DisplayPort 1.2, SD-card reader (not visible), 3.5 mm audio, USB 3.0, RJ45, docking port, Micro-SIM, power

SD-Card Reader

The SD-card reader is well hidden.
The SD-card reader is well hidden.

It is easy to miss the SD-card reader, because it is located very far to the bottom of the right side and there is also a small black plastic tray. The memory card does not stand out. We check the performance in combination with our reference card from Toshiba (Exceria Pro 64 GB UHS-II), which manages transfer rates of up to 260 MB/s according to the manufacturer. We only see average transfer rates and all the comparison devices are pretty much on par. A folder with pictures (~5 MB each) is transferred at almost 75 MB/s, while AS SSD determines up to ~84 MB/s.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
 
79.3 MB/s +6%
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
 
76.6 MB/s +2%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
 
74.9 MB/s
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
 
72.6 MB/s -3%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
 
61 MB/s -19%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
 
90.5 MB/s +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
 
88.7 MB/s +6%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
 
83.7 MB/s
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
 
83.6 MB/s 0%
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
 
83.3 MB/s 0%

Communication

Communication modules EliteBook 840 G4
Communication modules EliteBook 840 G4

HP implements a full-size Gigabit Ethernet port (folds out), despite the pretty slim base unit. Wireless network connections are handled by different Wi-Fi adapters from Intel. Our test model is equipped with the familiar 8265 adapter (2x2), which supports all common standards including the fast 802.11 ac as well as Bluetooth 4.2. Mobile Internet connections are possible as well thanks to the integrated Snapdragon X5 LTE module; the corresponding Micro-SIM can be inserted at the right side.

Our standardized WLAN test with the router Linksys EA8500 (one meter from the test system) does not determine any record values, but more than 500 Mbps is still a decent result. We did not experience any issues with the Wi-Fi connection during our review period, either.

The familiar HD webcam sits above the display, but the picture quality is bad. It does its job during video conferences, but we would like to see better sensors in the future. The dual-array microphone works well, as per usual, and an external headset is often unnecessary.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
512 MBit/s +1%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (jseb)
509 MBit/s
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
509 MBit/s 0%
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
297 MBit/s -42%
iperf3 receive AX12
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
657 MBit/s +13%
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
655 MBit/s +13%
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
639 MBit/s +10%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (jseb)
579 MBit/s

Security

Integrated fingerprint scanner
Integrated fingerprint scanner

The new EliteBook 840 G4 once again offers all relevant security features. This includes the fingerprint scanner (swipe-style), TPM, SmartCard reader, and a slot for a Kensington lock, for example. But HP also implements numerous software tools and features to increase the security of the laptop. This includes HP SureStat or HP Client Security, where many security-relevant settings (administration of passwords, fingerprints, hard drive encryption) are summarized. The EliteBook 840 G4 is also equipped with a vibration sensor, but it is only important for SKUs with mechanical hard drives.

Accessories

The box only includes the laptop, a compact 45-Watt power adapter and some service brochures. HP offers a number of optional accessories like several adapters and docking stations. The chassis did not change, so you can also use accessories from the previous generation.

Maintenance

It is no problem to loosen the screws after the removal of 10 rubber caps. You should not forget the screw in the SD-card slot, which is usually covered by a plastic tray. Once the bottom panel is removed, you get full access to all components. The empty RAM slot is particularly interesting. The free 2.5-inch slot features the necessary connector, but the corresponding mounting frame is missing.

Bottom without rubber covers
Bottom without rubber covers
Internal layout HP EliteBook 840 G4
Internal layout HP EliteBook 840 G4

Warranty

HP grants a limited three-year warranty for the EliteBook 840 G4, which can be extended or expanded, respectively, by optional CarePacks. An upgrade to a five-year on-site service, for example, retails for around 350 Euros (~$376).

Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Illuminated keyboard
Illuminated keyboard

The keyboard was already pretty good last year and HP did not change it. The black chiclet input (spillwater-proof) still provides a firm feedback with sufficient key travel. The individual keys are completely flat; rivals like Dell and Lenovo have an advantage with their slightly concave keys. You have to get used to the additional column on the right side as well as the small vertical directional keys.

All in all, we are still very satisfied with the keyboard and even longer texts are no problem. The illumination can be adjusted in three stages and improves inputs in low-light situations. The two additional buttons for the communication modules and the speakers at the upper right are very handy.

Input devices
Input devices

Touchpad

The touchpad is equipped with dedicated mouse buttons, but they are not perfectly integrated and clatter a bit. The clicking sounds do not leave the most sophisticated impression, either. The touchpad surface itself is not very large at 10 x 5.5 cm due to the dedicated buttons, but the handling is very good thanks to the smooth surface. Gestures are also executed well.

HP also includes a black PointStick. The cursor control is precise, but the stick is not as smooth as the counterparts from Lenovo or Dell, and it requires more force to initiate the cursor movement. A third scrolling button is unfortunately not available.

Display

Subpixel array
Subpixel array

HP offers many displays for the EliteBook 840 G4, and the two matte IPS models (1920x1080 or 2560x1440 pixels) are particularly interesting. Similar to the previous test model of the EliteBook 840, however, we are once again dealing with the FHD-TN panel. The TN technology is indicated by SVA (Standard Viewing Angle) in spec sheets from HP. There is a worse option with the HD TN panel, but the FHD screen is not particularly satisfying, either.

The best aspect is the high luminance, because we can determine an average of almost 320 nits. The black value is very high at 0.86 in return though, so dark surfaces always look grayish and the contrast suffers as well. The latter is only 402:1, despite the high luminance – insufficient for a modern business notebook priced at more than 1,500 Euros (~$1614). The result is a washed-out picture, which suffers from a heavy blue cast as well. At least there is no PWM.

315
cd/m²
323
cd/m²
311
cd/m²
296
cd/m²
346
cd/m²
304
cd/m²
304
cd/m²
345
cd/m²
311
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO123D tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 346 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 317.2 cd/m² Minimum: 22.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 346 cd/m²
Contrast: 402:1 (Black: 0.86 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 8.64 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 11.24 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
80% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
52% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
57.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
80.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
55.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.62
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
AUO123D, , 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
N140HCA-EAB, , 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
B140QAN01.5, , 2560x1440, 14.00
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
LG LP140WF3, , 1920x1080, 14.00
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
AUO1136, , 2560x1440, 14.00
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Chi Mei CMN14C0, , 1920x1080, 14.00
Display
-24%
21%
10%
21%
-11%
Display P3 Coverage
55.8
41.6
-25%
69
24%
66.1
18%
67.9
22%
48.93
-12%
sRGB Coverage
80.7
61.9
-23%
95.1
18%
84.8
5%
96.8
20%
73.7
-9%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
57.7
43.06
-25%
69.6
21%
62
7%
70
21%
50.5
-12%
Response Times
-28%
-22%
4%
-17%
-10%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
39 ?(20, 19, Plateau)
41.6 ?(20.4, 21.2)
-7%
46.4 ?(20.4, 26)
-19%
36 ?(16.4, 19.6)
8%
46.4 ?(16.4, 30)
-19%
43 ?(20, 23)
-10%
Response Time Black / White *
23 ?(6, 17, Plateau)
34 ?(9.6, 24.4)
-48%
28.8 ?(16.4, 12.4)
-25%
23.2 ?(12.4, 10.8)
-1%
26.4 ?(6.8, 19.6)
-15%
25 ?(9, 16)
-9%
PWM Frequency
204 ?(90)
Screen
23%
39%
33%
38%
4%
Brightness middle
346
306
-12%
327
-5%
291
-16%
327
-5%
366
6%
Brightness
317
287
-9%
311
-2%
296
-7%
316
0%
336
6%
Brightness Distribution
86
88
2%
88
2%
84
-2%
87
1%
87
1%
Black Level *
0.86
0.3
65%
0.25
71%
0.32
63%
0.35
59%
0.65
24%
Contrast
402
1020
154%
1308
225%
909
126%
934
132%
563
40%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
8.64
6.2
28%
6.1
29%
4.3
50%
4.39
49%
10.26
-19%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
13.58
13.6
-0%
12.2
10%
7.5
45%
7.27
46%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
11.24
5.8
48%
8.8
22%
4.3
62%
4.69
58%
11.51
-2%
Gamma
2.62 84%
2.04 108%
2.18 101%
2.31 95%
2.15 102%
2.4 92%
CCT
12530 52%
6277 104%
6172 105%
6529 100%
7101 92%
12725 51%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
52
39.62
-24%
61.56
18%
55.46
7%
62.52
20%
47
-10%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
80
61.44
-23%
94.88
19%
84.77
6%
96.71
21%
74
-7%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-10% / 7%
13% / 27%
16% / 25%
14% / 27%
-6% / -1%

* ... smaller is better

CalMAN Grayscale (pre-calibration)
CalMAN Grayscale (pre-calibration)
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (pre-calibration)
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (pre-calibration)
CalMAN ColorChecker (pre-calibration)
CalMAN ColorChecker (pre-calibration)
CalMAN Grayscale (post calibration)
CalMAN Grayscale (post calibration)
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (post calibration)
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps (post calibration)
CalMAN ColorChecker (post calibration)
CalMAN ColorChecker (post calibration)

The blue cast is also supported in our further measurements with the X-Rite i1Pro2 spectrophotometer and the professional CalMAN software. Both the DelatE-2000 deviations for the grayscale (11.24) and the colors (8.64) compared to the sRGB reference clearly miss the target range (smaller 3). The color temperature is also too cool.

Our calibration improves the situation for the colors and the grayscale significantly. The strong blue cast is gone as well, so you should definitely calibrate the screen or use our icc-profile, which is linked in the box above.

The panel is still not suited for professional tasks in the graphics segment, because the color gamut (80% sRGB, 52% AdobeRGB) is limited.

sRGB: 80%
sRGB: 80%
AdobeRGB: 52%
AdobeRGB: 52%

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
23 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6 ms rise
↘ 17 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 45 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
39 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 20 ms rise
↘ 19 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 53 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The outdoor capabilities of the EliteBook are decent thanks to the matte screen surface. The luminance is not reduced on battery power, either, so you can also use the test model in bright environments.

One major issue of the TN panel is the extremely limited viewing-angle stability. It is not easy to find a good viewing position. Even slight deviations from this spot will reduce the contrast ratio even further or colors start to invert. We definitely recommend a model with an IPS display.

Outdoor use (sun)
Outdoor use (sun)
Outdoor use (sun)
Outdoor use (sun)
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

HP offers several components for the EliteBook 840 G4. You can choose between modern Kaby Lake ULV processors, starting with the Core i3-7100U all the way up to the Core i7-7600U. All SKUs use the integrated GPU, because dedicated graphics cards are not available. The two SODIMM memory slots support up to 32 GB DDR4-RAM. Storage options include conventional 2.5-inch HDDs as well as M.2 SSDs (SATA-III & PCIe), so the subjective system performance can differ significantly depending on the configuration.

Processor

Our test model of the EliteBook 840 G4 is equipped with the mainstream CPU option, the Core i5-7200U. The dual-core chip has a base frequency of 2.5 GHz, which can be raised all the way up to 3.1 GHz via Turbo Boost (also for two active cores). Hyper-Threading is supported as well, so the two cores can execute up to four threads simultaneously. The performance is more than sufficient for common office tasks.

There are no surprises in the benchmarks. The 15-Watt TDP is sufficient for the Kaby-Lake chip, and the performance can be maintained in the multithread test.

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

The performance on battery power is reduced because the Turbo Boost is deactivated by default. This is supposed to increase the battery runtime, but we will have a closer look at the results later in the corresponding section. The Cinebench Multi test determines 252 points without Turbo Boost (-24%). It is still possible to get the full performance without the PSU attached; you just have to activate the BIOS option "Enable Turbo Boost on DC". More benchmarks with the Core i5-7200U are available in our Tech section.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
Intel Core i7-7600U
162 Points +36%
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel Core i5-7200U
130 Points +9%
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
126 Points +6%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
Intel Core i5-6300U
124 Points +4%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Intel Core i7-6500U
119 Points 0%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel Core i5-7200U
119 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
Intel Core i7-7600U
368 Points +12%
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel Core i5-7200U
331 Points +1%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel Core i5-7200U
329 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
Intel Core i5-7200U
326 Points -1%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Intel Core i7-6500U
322 Points -2%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
Intel Core i5-6300U
303 Points -8%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
119 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
329 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
38.88 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.7 %
Help

System Performance

The system performance of our test model definitely benefits from the fast PCIe-SSD. Inputs are executed immediately and applications are launched without delays. The overall hardware configuration is very balanced and there are no bottlenecks. All comparison devices are very close to each other and the EliteBook 840 G4 manages average scores in the synthetic PCMark 8 benchmarks. It would be possible to increase the scores a bit with a faster processor and more RAM, but you will hardly notice the difference in practice.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0)
3968 Points +14%
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3507 Points +1%
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung MZYTY256HDHP
3506 Points +1%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3486 Points
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6300U, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
3305 Points -5%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
3231 Points -7%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0)
4856 Points +6%
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4667 Points +2%
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung MZYTY256HDHP
4653 Points +2%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4572 Points
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
4275 Points -6%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
HD Graphics 520, 6300U, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
4241 Points -7%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3486 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4352 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4572 points
Help

Storage Devices

Empty 2.5-inch bay, but no mounting frame
Empty 2.5-inch bay, but no mounting frame

The EliteBook 840 G4 is either equipped with conventional 2.5-inch HDDs or M.2-2280 SSDs. Our test model is shipped with the Samsung PM961 with a storage capacity of 256 GB. The NVMe drive is attached via PCIe and is currently used for many high-end business notebooks. The benchmark results are very good and the sequential transfer rates in particular are superior to SATA-III drives. More benchmarks for many HDDs & SSDs are listed in our comprehensive comparison.

HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0)
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Samsung MZYTY256HDHP
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-10%
12%
-50%
9%
-56%
Read Seq
1819
1155
-37%
1760
-3%
504
-72%
1649
-9%
497.8
-73%
Write Seq
1263
1076
-15%
1666
32%
497.8
-61%
1265
0%
241.4
-81%
Read 512
922
811
-12%
832
-10%
396.7
-57%
1252
36%
396
-57%
Write 512
804
862
7%
1064
32%
283.4
-65%
1244
55%
241.8
-70%
Read 4k
61.4
55.5
-10%
53.2
-13%
35.73
-42%
53.3
-13%
27.02
-56%
Write 4k
157.1
134.6
-14%
167.4
7%
87.8
-44%
159.9
2%
82.6
-47%
Read 4k QD32
513
496.2
-3%
630
23%
399.1
-22%
559
9%
388.5
-24%
Write 4k QD32
410.2
425.4
4%
533
30%
249.7
-39%
376.7
-8%
242.8
-41%
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Sequential Read: 1819 MB/s
Sequential Write: 1263 MB/s
512K Read: 922 MB/s
512K Write: 804 MB/s
4K Read: 61.4 MB/s
4K Write: 157.1 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 513 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 410.2 MB/s

GPU Performance

We already mentioned that the EliteBook 840 G4 is not available with dedicated graphics cards. All the graphics calculations are handled by the integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 of the processor. The maximum core clock can vary depending on the CPU model; our GPU can reach up to 1000 MHz.

The graphics performance is sufficient for an office device, but you cannot utilize the full performance of the GPU due to the single-channel RAM. The additional memory bandwidth from a second RAM module can increase the graphics performance by roughly 20-30% (also see ThinkPad T470s).

The performance of the graphics card is not reduced on battery performance, more benchmarks are listed here.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7600U
1777 Points +26%
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1432 Points +1%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1413 Points
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1409 Points 0%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6300U
1377 Points -3%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
1327 Points -6%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7600U
9610 Points +40%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
6864 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
6824 Points -1%
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
6803 Points -1%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6300U
6708 Points -2%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
6351 Points -7%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-7600U
1176 Points +59%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i5-6300U
900 Points +22%
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
818 Points +11%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
800 Points +8%
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
799 Points +8%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
738 Points
3DMark 11 Performance
1525 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
50497 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
5621 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
697 points
Help

Gaming Performance

It is no surprise that the performance of the integrated GPU is not sufficient for modern games. You are also limited to low details and resolutions for older titles like BioShock Infinite, for example. A second RAM module could increase the fps number by a couple of percent, but this will obviously not transform the EliteBook 840 G4 into a gaming laptop. Our gaming list shows what games can be played with the integrated HD 620.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 40.5 24.3 19.8 6.4
Battlefield 4 (2013) 30.7 24.5 15.7
The Witcher 3 (2015) 12.9

Emissions

System Noise

The HP EliteBook 840 G4 is a very quiet laptop. The fan is deactivated while idling or with light workloads and we cannot hear any annoying sounds, either. This is obviously not the case for SKUs with mechanical hard drives.

The fan is very restrained under load at up to 33.7 dB(A) and you can only hear a quiet murmur. This is also a very good result within the comparison group.

Noise Level

Idle
31 / 31 / 31 dB(A)
Load
33.5 / 33.7 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 31 dB(A)
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
6300U, HD Graphics 520
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
6500U, HD Graphics 520
Noise
6%
-2%
8%
3%
-6%
off / environment *
31
28
10%
28.9
7%
28.2
9%
29.1
6%
31.2
-1%
Idle Minimum *
31
28
10%
28.9
7%
28.2
9%
29.1
6%
31.2
-1%
Idle Average *
31
28
10%
28.9
7%
28.2
9%
29.1
6%
32.1
-4%
Idle Maximum *
31
29.4
5%
30.1
3%
28.2
9%
29.1
6%
33.1
-7%
Load Average *
33.5
31.4
6%
39.2
-17%
31.2
7%
32.6
3%
36.2
-8%
Load Maximum *
33.7
34.6
-3%
39.2
-16%
33
2%
37.8
-12%
37.8
-12%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

The temperature development is moderate, despite the restrained fan. The chassis does not really warm up at all with light workloads and it is no problem to use the system on your lap, even when you really stress it.

We can see the typical ULV behavior in the stress test with the tools Prime95 and FurMark. The processor (3.1 GHz) and graphics card (1000 MHz) start with their respective maximum clocks before the TDP limit at 15 Watts sets in after a short time (28 seconds). The CPU clock will drop to 2.6-2.8 GHz and the GPU can maintain its maximum clock. The temperature of 65 °C is no problem, either. A 3DMark 11 run immediately after the stress test did not determine a lower score, which is no surprise.

Max. Load
 34 °C
93 F
37 °C
99 F
33 °C
91 F
 
 33.2 °C
92 F
36.3 °C
97 F
33.5 °C
92 F
 
 26.5 °C
80 F
26.2 °C
79 F
27.4 °C
81 F
 
Maximum: 37 °C = 99 F
Average: 31.9 °C = 89 F
39.4 °C
103 F
35.6 °C
96 F
35.4 °C
96 F
33 °C
91 F
35.2 °C
95 F
33.2 °C
92 F
29.1 °C
84 F
28.2 °C
83 F
27.3 °C
81 F
Maximum: 39.4 °C = 103 F
Average: 32.9 °C = 91 F
Power Supply (max.)  34.7 °C = 94 F | Room Temperature 22.1 °C = 72 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 31.9 °C / 89 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 37 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 39.4 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 27.4 °C / 81.3 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (+0.3 °C / 0.6 F).
Temperature idle top
Temperature idle top
Temperature idle bottom
Temperature idle bottom
Temperature load top
Temperature load top
Temperature load bottom
Temperature load bottom

Speakers

The two stereo speakers produce decent results in our audio analysis with balanced mids and high tones. Bass is limited though, so the sound is rather tinny. The sound characteristics are favorable for voices in conferences or VoIP calls, for example.

However, the two modules are comparatively quiet at up to 66 dB(A). This is sufficient for your work space, but you should use external solutions in larger meetings.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2039.23739.22537.43437.43135.330.735.34038.436.938.45038.331.138.36339.630.839.68039.83039.81003928.53912540.425.340.416042.925.542.920046.925.946.925048.523.748.531557.923.957.940060.622.160.65006121.46163060.820.560.880058.22058.2100060.919.360.9125060.318.760.3160059.718.259.7200061.51861.5250065.317.965.3315062.317.862.3400064.817.864.8500066.617.966.6630066.317.866.3800063.617.963.61000062.117.762.11250059.617.559.61600051.217.651.2SPL75.231.175.2N36.21.636.2median 60.6median 18.7median 60.6Delta5.92.25.93336.432.635.528.436.629.234.626.23225.934.926.138.325.936.924.339.922.741.62245.324.550.52159.519.262.21862.218.668.618.573.420.369.216.56814.66614.962.814.466.514.771.315.160.214.867.11569.915.357.215.257.614.960.914.953.828.879.71.247.3median 16.5median 62.23.18hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseHP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABDLenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (66 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 0.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 14% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 21% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 74% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 16.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (8.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (13.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 29% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 66% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 37% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 55% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency comparison (checkboxes select/deselectable!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

There are no surprises in our consumption measurements, and the test model is even among the most efficient laptops within the comparison group. The load measurements easily show what devices are bound by the usual TDP limit, because they will hover around 30-32 Watts. Our EliteBook 840 G4 is such a device. The compact 45-Watt power adapter is sufficient for the maximum consumption.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.52 / 0.72 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.9 / 5.6 / 8.15 Watt
Load midlight 30.6 / 31 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, 2560x1440, 14.00
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 1920x1080, 14.00
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
6300U, HD Graphics 520, 2560x1440, 14.00
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
6500U, HD Graphics 520, 1920x1080, 14.00
Power Consumption
-2%
-44%
-19%
-56%
-6%
Idle Minimum *
2.9
3.21
-11%
4.64
-60%
4.11
-42%
6.3
-117%
3.8
-31%
Idle Average *
5.6
6.15
-10%
8.93
-59%
7.87
-41%
9.4
-68%
6.3
-13%
Idle Maximum *
8.15
6.82
16%
9.12
-12%
8.74
-7%
10.1
-24%
6.8
17%
Load Average *
30.6
28.5
7%
42.2
-38%
30.2
1%
33.3
-9%
34.4
-12%
Load Maximum *
31
34.5
-11%
47.3
-53%
32.4
-5%
49.5
-60%
28.3
9%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

The battery capacity was increased to 51 Wh. Our test model just slightly misses the 10-hour mark in our practical runtime tests at an adjusted luminance (how we test). It should therefore not be a problem to manage a full business day.

You can expect little more than 3 hours when you really stress the system. We determined this value with the default BIOS settings, where the Turbo Boost of the CPU is deactivated in favor of longer battery runtimes. We were obviously curious to see the result with the full performance (Enable Turbo Boost on DC). A second test resulted in 114 minutes, so the runtime is considerably shorter.

A full recharge of the battery takes about 2:20 hours when the device is turned on.

Maximum runtime
Maximum runtime
Wi-Fi test
Wi-Fi test
Video test
Video test
Minimum runtime (without Turbo Boost)
Minimum runtime (without Turbo Boost)
Charging
Charging
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
19h 15min
WiFi Websurfing
9h 31min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
9h 51min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 04min
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 51 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad T470-20HD002HGE
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad T470s-20HGS00V00
i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, 51 Wh
Fujitsu LifeBook U747
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 50 Wh
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G3
6300U, HD Graphics 520, 45.6 Wh
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
6500U, HD Graphics 520, 46 Wh
Battery Runtime
-19%
-33%
-28%
-43%
-18%
Reader / Idle
1155
787
-32%
782
-32%
530
-54%
1020
-12%
H.264
591
623
5%
454
-23%
490
-17%
339
-43%
WiFi v1.3
571
438
-23%
417
-27%
430
-25%
309
-46%
453
-21%
Load
184
110
-40%
93
-49%
117
-36%
131
-29%
146
-21%

Pros

+ sturdy chassis
+ low emissions
+ comprehensive security features
+ LTE modem
+ good performance
+ 3-year warranty
+ good input devices

Cons

- TN display with strong blue cast and very limited viewing angles
- no Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C Gen.2
- slight creaking sounds from the hinges

Verdict

In review: HP EliteBook 840 G4. Test model courtesy of Notebook.de
In review: HP EliteBook 840 G4. Test model courtesy of Notebook.de

The new HP EliteBook 840 G4 is basically just a Kaby Lake update of the previous G3 model. Both the size and the quality of the case still hold up well against the competition, only some issues like the creaking hinges or the clattery dedicated touchpad buttons affect the good impression a bit. The access to the components is another positive aspect: Upgrading the RAM is no problem, for example. We still really like the input devices – the keyboard in particular.

The 14-inch business laptop does not disappoint in terms of performance or emissions, either. The laptop is quiet, does not get overly warm, and the Intel Core i5-7200U can utilize its performance potential really well. HP also increased the battery capacity, which results in practical runtimes of almost 10 hours.

Good chassis, sufficient performance, low emissions – the fourth generation of the HP EliteBook 840 could be a very good business laptop. This is prevented by the bad TN panel, which has no place in a laptop for more than 1,500 Euros (~$1614).

That HP only slightly updated the EliteBook this year is made evident with the ports. You get all the important connectors for the office, but there is no future-proof Thunderbolt 3.

The biggest problem, however, is the Full HD TN display. Luminance and resolution are okay, but the panel disappoints in pretty much all the other measurements. The limited viewing-angle stability is a real issue in practice. Such a panel should not be used in a business laptop for more than 1,500 Euros (~$1614). If you are interested in the EliteBook 840, you should definitely get an IPS model. We cannot recommend our test sample with the TN screen.

HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD - 05/26/2017 v6(old)
Andreas Osthoff

Chassis
89 / 98 → 91%
Keyboard
89%
Pointing Device
87%
Connectivity
68 / 80 → 85%
Weight
69 / 20-67 → 100%
Battery
92%
Display
76%
Games Performance
54 / 68 → 79%
Application Performance
87 / 92 → 94%
Temperature
94%
Noise
97%
Audio
68%
Camera
27 / 85 → 32%
Average
77%
87%
Office - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 6 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > HP EliteBook 840 G4 (7200U, Full HD) Laptop Review
Andreas Osthoff, 2017-03-23 (Update: 2019-04-13)