HP EliteBook 840 G5 (i5-8250U, SSD, Full HD) Laptop Review
The HP EliteBooks of the 800 series are premium business notebooks that position themselves just below top models such as the HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G4. Today, we will be taking a look at the fifth-generation of the HP EliteBook 840, which has been given a technical and optical overhaul and is quite different from its predecessor, the HP EliteBook 840 G4.
Our test unit (model number 3JX66EA) is positioned in the center field compared to devices from other manufacturers. It is equipped with an up-to-date Intel Core i5-8250U with 8 GB of RAM, a 256-GB NVMe SSD and a Full HD IPS display. Our test configuration of the HP EliteBook 840 G5 is available for $1400 and also offers many security features, which business devices cannot go without nowadays.
Alternatively, the device can also be equipped with a faster Intel Core i7-8650U, although this bumps the price up quite a bit. There is another, cheaper version of the HP EliteBook 840 G5 in the configuration with the Intel Core i5-7200U. However, this model offers significantly lower performance compared to eighth-generation chips. There are also different storage device and RAM configurations available. According to the technical specifications, the maximum is a 1-TB SSD and 32 GB of RAM.
Will these changes suffice to beat the competition? The probably toughest competitor is the Lenovo ThinkPad T480s, which has a similar configuration. All comparison devices, including our test unit's predecessor, can be found in the table below.
| HP EliteBook 840 G4 | Lenovo ThinkPad T480s | Fujitsu LifeBook U747 | Dell Latitude 7480 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 | Acer TravelMate P648 | |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-7200U | Intel Core i5-8250U | Intel Core i5-7200U | Intel Core i7-7600U | Intel Core i7-8550U | Intel Core i7-7500U |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| Display | 14-inch 1920 x 1080 (TN) | 14- inch 2560 x 1440 (IPS) | 14-inch 1920 x 1080(IPS) | 14-inch 1920 x 1080 (IPS) | 14-inch 2560 x 1440 (IPS) | 14-inch 1920 x 1080(IPS) |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR4 | 8 GB DDR4 | 8 GB DDR4 | 8 GB DDR4 | 16 GB DDR4 | 8 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD | 256 GB SSD | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD | 256 GB SSD |
| Rating | 87% | 91% | 87% | 87% | 90% | 90% |
Case - the HP EliteBook in a new look
The elegant silver aluminum case of the HP EliteBook 840 G5 looks very different to its predecessor (HP EliteBook 840 G4). The display cover has a contrasting edge at the top and the new HP logo emphasizes the elegant design. The new EliteBook 840 looks more angular, as the rounded corners at the back of the base have disappeared. The business notebook appears cleaner and of higher quality - both in look and feel. Its perfect workmanship is just as convincing as its stability - you need to apply strong pressure to warp the base unit. The display cover is easier to warp but is still acceptable. The pressure test shows that the case gives way slightly in the center of the base unit, but this is no reason for criticism. We would like to praise the display cover for not showing any waves on the screen under pressure.
Opening the device is quite easy and can be done with one hand. Despite the smooth hinges, the display hardly wobbles when typing. Optically, the HP EliteBook 840 G5 is very convincing and small features such as the webcam cover show that the manufacturer has also paid attention to functionality.
Size Comparison
Except for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, all comparison devices have very similar footprints. With a width of 32.6 cm (~12.8 in) and a depth of 23.4 cm (~9.1 in), the HP EliteBook 840 G5 does not take up too much space. The device is also relatively slim at 17.9 mm (~7.0 in) and does not appear bulky. The weight of our test unit is average for our comparison devices at about 1.5 kg (~3.3 lbs). The Acer TravelMate P648 is a bit heavier at 1.7 kg (~3.7 lbs). The power supply of the HP EliteBook 840 G5 adds another 334 grams (~11.7 oz) to the package.
Connectivity - HP 840 G5 has USB Type-C but no card reader
The port selection of the HP EliteBook 840 G5 is good and bad at the same time. But let us start with the positive: Finally, the HP EliteBook 840 offers a USB Type-C port, which not only supports image output but can also supply the device with power. The ports are positioned on the sides of the device, although most of them have been placed on the right side. Aside from the already mentioned USB Type-C port, the device also has two conventional USB 3.1 ports (one on each side). The notebook also offers an HDMI port and an Ethernet connector. On the right side you will also find the proprietary docking station port, which enables you to easily connect to all devices at work. There is a Micro-SIM slot, but our test unit does not have a suitable WWAN module.
What we cannot understand is why HP has removed the SD card reader. Devices have sometimes been equipped with a microSD, but even this seems to have been deemed unnecessary here. Other well-known manufacturers have done it before, however - and it works. So the end user is left to fiddle around with adapters - USB ports are still available after all.
Communication
The wireless communication is taken care of by a 2x2 dual-band AC-Wi-Fi module from Intel, which also supports Bluetooth 4.2. During our measurements, which take place in ideal conditions, our test unit managed to attain very good results. We measured an average transfer rate of 523 Mbit/s when sending and 644 Mbit/s when receiving. HP has managed to improve the device's performance compared to its predecessor, and the fifth-generation EliteBook 840 also does well when confronted with its comparison devices. The Ethernet port offers an alternative network connection and can transmit data at up to 1 Gbit/s (sending and receiving). Both network connectors work reliably and we did not encounter any issues during our period of testing.
If you want to use the device to surf while on the go, you will have to add a suitable WWAN module. There is a free space for it next to the Wi-Fi module.
Security
Particularly business users rely strongly on their device's security features. Like its predecessor, the HP EliteBook 840 G5 offers a nice selection including a fingerprint reader, a SmartCard reader and the well-known slot for a security lock. Apart from the webcam, the EliteBook 840 G5 also has an infrared camera, which means it supports authentication via face recognition. After an easy setup, a quick look at the login screen will give you immediate access to your Windows account. HP has not only thought of hardware, however, and it has equipped our device with a variety of security programs including HP SureStart and HP Client Security, which enables you to manage all settings relevant to security.
Accessories
Apart from the device itself and its 65-watt power supply, the box only contains the obligatory safety and warranty information. If you would like additional accessories, you will have to purchase these separately. This includes the HP docking station with which you can easily connect the notebook to a good number of peripheral devices. The HP UltraSlim docking station costs another $135.
Maintenance
Maintenance work is relatively easy despite the missing maintenance hatch. Although you have to remove the entire bottom of the base unit, the HP EliteBook 840 G5 does not make this too difficult. We would still recommend using a plastic lever to avoid damaging the base unit. Once the bottom is removed, you can access all the important components. It is also easy to add a WWAN module, as all cables are already in place. Overall, the notebook is quite clearly constructed. Out test unit has a free slot for a second RAM module.
Warranty
Buyers will receive a 36-month limited warranty for parts and labor. You can also upgrade to a five-year on-site service (HP Care Pack).
Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.
Input Devices - comfortable keyboard and a good touchpad
Keyboard
Not only the HP EliteBook 840 G5 has been redesigned - its chiclet keyboard has also been given an overhaul. The keys have a nice size at 16 x 15 mm (~0.6 x 0.59 in) and their matte surface offers enough grip for fast typing. The keyboard still has crisp feedback, which is accompanied by good travel, and it remains protected from drops of water. Unlike Dell or Lenovo, the keys of the HP EliteBook 840 G5 are flat and do not have a conic shape. The arrow keys (up and down) are a little difficult to use and you are more likely to mistype due to their size.
Overall, we are pleased with the keyboard and the lettering is very easy to read. The device is also equipped with white backlighting that can be regulated in two levels. You can adjust the backlighting in the BIOS, by setting a timeout for the keyboard backlighting (5, 10, 30, 60 or 300 seconds). If you do not like timers, you can deactivate the feature. Backlighting can be turned on and off with a key combination.
Touchpad/PointStick
The touchpad is higher and wider than its predecessor's was and now measures 11 x 6 cm (4.3 x 2.3 in) while the old version was 10 x 5.5 cm (~3.9 x 2.1 in). For this increase in size, HP had to get rid of the bottom mouse keys, which turns the touchpad into a ClickPad. The input area is smooth and the device reacted precisely to our inputs in all areas - even the corners. The two integrated mouse keys make a quiet clicking noise. The touchpad appears to be of high quality and fits nicely to the device's general impression.
Another feature of the HP EliteBook 840 G5, which the competition from Lenovo and Dell also features, is a point stick. With a little practice, this enables you to navigate quickly. The accompanying plastic keys above the ClickPad appear a little rickety, however. Compared to the overall concept, aluminum keys would have been a better choice.
Display - IPS for the EliteBook 840 G5
HP has made only IPS displays available for the HP EliteBook 840 G5, which offer a significant improvement compared to TN panels. If you look at the technical specifications, you can see that EliteBooks will also be available with a touch display. But it is not clear whether this option is limited to certain regions. The matte panel in our test unit comes from AU Optronics and offers a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. This results in a pixel density of 157 PPI. During our measurements, the screen reached an average brightness of 387 cd/m², which places the HP EliteBook 840 G5 in second place behind the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (533 cd/m²). But thanks to its low black value (0.25), the display still offers the best contrast ratio (1656:1).
The brightness distribution is not the best at 87%, but we did not notice any bothersome shadowing which would indicate irregular illumination. We did notice slight clouding in the top left corner, but this does not influence everyday office use. The EliteBook 840 G5 does not use PWM to regulate display brightness - good news.
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Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 414 cd/m²
Contrast: 1656:1 (Black: 0.25 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.5 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91, calibrated: 2.3
ΔE Greyscale 6.4 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
88.1% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
56.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
61.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
88.2% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
60.2% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.31
| HP EliteBook 840 G5-3JX66EA AUO3B3D, 1920x1080, 14" | Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02D00 LP140QH2-SPB1, 2560x1440, 14" | Fujitsu LifeBook U747 LG LP140WF3, 1920x1080, 14" | HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD AUO123D, 1920x1080, 14" | Dell Latitude 7480 LG Philips LGD0557, 1920x1080, 14" | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900 B140QAN02.0, 2560x1440, 14" | Acer TravelMate P648-G2-M-73T0 1920x1080, 14" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 18% | 2% | -7% | 7% | 41% | 8% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 60.2 | 72.8 21% | 66.1 10% | 55.8 -7% | 65.4 9% | 87.7 46% | 67.2 12% |
| sRGB Coverage | 88.2 | 97.9 11% | 84.8 -4% | 80.7 -9% | 92.3 5% | 100 13% | 90.8 3% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 61.3 | 74.1 21% | 62 1% | 57.7 -6% | 65.8 7% | 99.9 63% | 66.4 8% |
| Response Times | 10% | 21% | 18% | 3% | -25% | 16% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 42.4 ? | 38.4 ? 9% | 36 ? 15% | 39 ? 8% | 40.8 ? 4% | 59.2 ? -40% | 38 ? 10% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 31.6 ? | 28.4 ? 10% | 23.2 ? 27% | 23 ? 27% | 31.2 ? 1% | 34.4 ? -9% | 25 ? 21% |
| PWM Frequency | |||||||
| Screen | -5% | -6% | -54% | 6% | 30% | -1% | |
| Brightness middle | 414 | 352 -15% | 291 -30% | 346 -16% | 344 -17% | 578 40% | 275 -34% |
| Brightness | 387 | 343 -11% | 296 -24% | 317 -18% | 321 -17% | 533 38% | 253 -35% |
| Brightness Distribution | 87 | 91 5% | 84 -3% | 86 -1% | 85 -2% | 84 -3% | 85 -2% |
| Black Level * | 0.25 | 0.46 -84% | 0.32 -28% | 0.86 -244% | 0.32 -28% | 0.38 -52% | 0.25 -0% |
| Contrast | 1656 | 765 -54% | 909 -45% | 402 -76% | 1075 -35% | 1521 -8% | 1100 -34% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 5.5 | 3.3 40% | 4.3 22% | 8.64 -57% | 2.6 53% | 1.9 65% | 3.49 37% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 9.9 | 7.3 26% | 7.5 24% | 13.58 -37% | 7.8 21% | 3.8 62% | 6.77 32% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 2.3 | 0.8 65% | |||||
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 6.4 | 5.3 17% | 4.3 33% | 11.24 -76% | 2.6 59% | 3 53% | 4.91 23% |
| Gamma | 2.31 95% | 2.22 99% | 2.31 95% | 2.62 84% | 2.28 96% | 2.14 103% | 2.39 92% |
| CCT | 7811 83% | 6452 101% | 6529 100% | 12530 52% | 7050 92% | 6377 102% | 6271 104% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 56.9 | 68.4 20% | 55.46 -3% | 52 -9% | 65.82 16% | 88.8 56% | 59 4% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 88.1 | 98 11% | 84.77 -4% | 80 -9% | 92.27 5% | 100 14% | 91 3% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 8% /
2% | 6% /
-1% | -14% /
-35% | 5% /
5% | 15% /
25% | 8% /
3% |
* ... smaller is better
The image quality is acceptable ex-works, but the EliteBook 840 G5 has a significant blue cast. The measured DeltaE 2000 deviation is also way too high. Calibration improves this and reduces the DeltaE 2000 deviation as well as the blue cast. You can find our ICC profile available for download above. The color-space coverage is decent at 88.1% of the sRGB and 56.9% of the AdobeRGB color space. The competition from Dell and Lenovo offers significantly better results. Compared to the HP EliteBook 840 G4, the fifth-generation shows visible improvements.
The matte display surface and the good brightness are great conditions for outdoor use. You can use the device outdoors when the sun is shining, although we would recommend finding a spot in the shade. Here, you can work freely as the matte surface prevents bothersome reflections. To be even better equipped for outdoor use, the manufacturer also offers special displays with up to 700 cd/m².
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 31.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 18 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 13.6 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 84 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 42.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 19.6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 22.8 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 67 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| 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 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
The viewing-angle test of the Full HD panel is very convincing and the test image can be seen very well from almost all angles. There are slight changes in color in the four corner images, but this will not lead to any limitations in everyday use.
Performance - the Core i5-8250U is the minimum
Most users will do fine with the performance that our test configuration can offer. Although HP does have the fifth-generation EliteBook 840 G5 available with the older Intel Core i5-7200U as an entry-level version, we would suggest going for the Intel Core i5-8250U, which our unit is equipped with. The advantage in performance due to the double amount of cores is noticeable even in everyday use. Our 8 GB of RAM is also sufficient and can be expanded to up to 32 GB if necessary. The device has two RAM slots and neither is soldered on. Overall, the components in our test unit work together nicely, which the LatencyMon results confirm.
Processor
The processor is the well-known Intel Core i5-8250U, which is now used in many devices and is the successor of the Intel Core i5-7200U. It has a TDP of 15 watts and has four physical cores that can work up to eight threads simultaneously. The base clock rate is 1.6 GHz and can be overclocked to up to 3.4 GHz depending on the load. The HP EliteBook 840 G5 reaches similar results to the Lenovo ThinkPad T480s in the single-core benchmark but cannot quite keep up with it in our multithread test. This is due to the higher TDP limit. The HP EliteBook 840 G5 still has good results compared to the class average. It is interesting to see the results of the HP EliteBook 840 G4, as this is equipped with the Intel Core i5-7200U. Due to this difference in performance, we would not recommend buying the HP EliteBook 840 G5 equipped with the older i5 processor.
You can find further benchmarks for the Intel Core i5-8250U here.
The good cooling system means that the device can work quickly even under constant load. The HP EliteBook 840 G5 reaches 582 points in the first round of our Cinebench R15 Multi loop. Due to the perpetual thermal load, the results drop continuously over the next 10 rounds, until they settle down to around 505 points. This equates to a loss in performance of 13%, which is still acceptable.
| Cinebench R10 | |
| Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit | |
| Average of class Office (5904 - 15443, n=6, last 2 years) | |
| HP EliteBook 840 G5-3JX66EA | |
| Average Intel Core i5-8250U (5163 - 8153, n=13) | |
| Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit | |
| Average of class Office (22075 - 76704, n=6, last 2 years) | |
| HP EliteBook 840 G5-3JX66EA | |
| Average Intel Core i5-8250U (11245 - 28932, n=13) | |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
The overall system performance of the HP EliteBook 840 G5 is fast and we encountered no issues. As you can see from the PCMark benchmark results, our test sample even managed to beat the Lenovo ThinkPad T480s, although this offered significantly better CPU performance (multithread). During our test period, the EliteBook 840 G5 showed great system performance and we enjoyed working on this laptop.
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3652 points | |
| PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 4726 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4832 points | |
| PCMark 10 Score | 2429 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Devices
The storage device comes from Toshiba and offers 256 GB of space. Minus the system requirements, this leaves the user with about 174 GB available for free use. The M.2 SSD uses the fast NVMe protocol, which makes it speedier than regular SSDs that only use a SATA interface. However, our SSD could only convince us in its read rates during our test, although these do not fit to the manufacturer specifications from Toshiba (read: 2700 MB/s, write: 1050 MB/s). Its write rates were closer to SATA speeds. We assume that this is due to an issue with the drivers which can still be dealt with. A future BIOS update might also improve the SSD's performance a little.
But this does not mean that the performance is bad. You will not notice the "low" write rates in everyday use. We were pleased with the 4K read rate, which is around 30 MB/s. The boot times will benefit from this, as this is when many small files have to be loaded.
| HP EliteBook 840 G5-3JX66EA Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G | Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02D00 Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ | Fujitsu LifeBook U747 Samsung MZYTY256HDHP | HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Dell Latitude 7480 Intel SSDSCKKF256H6 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900 Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ | Acer TravelMate P648-G2-M-73T0 SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 3.0 | 139% | -5% | 92% | -16% | 118% | -16% | |
| Read Seq | 1929 | 1540 -20% | 504 -74% | 1819 -6% | 486.5 -75% | 2327 21% | 518 -73% |
| Write Seq | 340 | 1613 374% | 497.8 46% | 1263 271% | 418.6 23% | 1808 432% | 267.2 -21% |
| Read 512 | 908 | 835 -8% | 396.7 -56% | 922 2% | 354.3 -61% | 419.3 -54% | 562 -38% |
| Write 512 | 286.1 | 1716 500% | 283.4 -1% | 804 181% | 306.8 7% | 1272 345% | 263.5 -8% |
| Read 4k | 30.94 | 66.9 116% | 35.73 15% | 61.4 98% | 29.25 -5% | 60.6 96% | 32.88 6% |
| Write 4k | 94.5 | 160.6 70% | 87.8 -7% | 157.1 66% | 90.5 -4% | 132.9 41% | 85.6 -9% |
| Read 4k QD32 | 244.7 | 444.9 82% | 399.1 63% | 513 110% | 280.2 15% | 340.7 39% | 351.3 44% |
| Write 4k QD32 | 351.3 | 343 -2% | 249.7 -29% | 410.2 17% | 252.8 -28% | 439.7 25% | 265.2 -25% |
Graphics
The Intel UHD Graphics 620 takes care of the graphics department and can take a burden off the processor when displaying high-resolution videos thanks to its integrated hardware encoder. In the 3DMark comparison, the HP EliteBook 840 G5 can beat the Lenovo ThinkPad T480s once again. Performance can be increased even more by adding a second RAM module. However, the dual-channel mode cannot create miracles. If you require higher 3D performance, you should look for a device that is equipped with a dedicated graphics card - the HP EliteBook 840 G5 is also available with the discrete GPU AMD Radeon RX 540.
You can find further benchmarks for the Intel UHD Graphics 620 here.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 1791 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 61742 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 7535 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 941 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score | 440 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 364 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming Performance
The low 3D performance of the Intel UHD Graphics 620 is not enough to display demanding games smoothly. If you are looking for a device that you can play games on, you might want to take a look at the version of the HP EliteBook 840 G5 that offers a dedicated graphics card.
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BioShock Infinite (2013) | 41.9 | 26 | 21.4 | 7.3 |
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 14.8 | 9.4 | 5.3 | |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) | 18.1 | 10.9 | 6.3 |
Emissions - a quiet HP 840
System Noise
Without load, the HP EliteBook 840 G5 is completely silent and we did not hear the usual coil whine in our test unit, either. Only under load does the small cooling fan set to work and reach a maximum volume of 35.2 dB(A). This makes our test unit a little quieter than the Lenovo ThinkPad T480s. However, the devices from Fujitsu and Dell are even quieter than our test unit.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 28.8 / 28.8 / 33.1 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 35.2 / 35.2 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 28.8 dB(A) | ||
| HP EliteBook 840 G5-3JX66EA UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G | Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02D00 UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ | Fujitsu LifeBook U747 HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung MZYTY256HDHP | HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Dell Latitude 7480 HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Intel SSDSCKKF256H6 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900 UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ | Acer TravelMate P648-G2-M-73T0 HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | -1% | 6% | -2% | 8% | 0% | -0% | |
| off / environment * | 28.8 | 28.9 -0% | 28.2 2% | 31 -8% | 28.9 -0% | 30.6 -6% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 28.8 | 28.9 -0% | 28.2 2% | 31 -8% | 28.6 1% | 28.9 -0% | 30.6 -6% |
| Idle Average * | 28.8 | 28.9 -0% | 28.2 2% | 31 -8% | 28.6 1% | 28.9 -0% | 30.6 -6% |
| Idle Maximum * | 33.1 | 28.9 13% | 28.2 15% | 31 6% | 28.6 14% | 32.5 2% | 31 6% |
| Load Average * | 35.2 | 36.9 -5% | 31.2 11% | 33.5 5% | 30.2 14% | 35.1 -0% | 34.5 2% |
| Load Maximum * | 35.2 | 38.9 -11% | 33 6% | 33.7 4% | 31.2 11% | 35.1 -0% | 32.4 8% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
The HP EliteBook 840 G5 has good case temperatures and only reaches 39.5 °C (~103.1 °F) under load. All other comparison devices become a lot hotter and often reach surface temperatures of 50 °C (~122 °F) and more. The temperatures are great on the inside, too. The processor reached a maximum of 83 °C (~181.4 °F) in our load test. The Intel Core i5-8250U also clocks at a good rate of 2.4 GHz, which is significantly higher than the base rate of 1.6 GHz. However, the processor cannot keep this up when the CPU and GPU are put under load at the same time, as both have to share the TDP of 15 watts. The CPU therefore only reaches an average clock rate of 1.4 GHz in the stress test (Prime95 and FurMark). The continuous load does not affect 3D performance negatively.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.6 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 34.3 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 39.5 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.2 °C / 74 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 26 °C / 78.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.6 °C / 81.7 F (+1.6 °C / 2.9 F).
| HP EliteBook 840 G5-3JX66EA UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G | Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02D00 UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ | Fujitsu LifeBook U747 HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung MZYTY256HDHP | HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Dell Latitude 7480 HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Intel SSDSCKKF256H6 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900 UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ | Acer TravelMate P648-G2-M-73T0 HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | -10% | -2% | -4% | -18% | -15% | -8% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 36.6 | 50.1 -37% | 42.6 -16% | 37 -1% | 39 -7% | 52.6 -44% | 39.1 -7% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 39.5 | 46.1 -17% | 34.4 13% | 39.4 -0% | 47.2 -19% | 48.2 -22% | 35 11% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 23.8 | 22.2 7% | 25.1 -5% | 25.9 -9% | 27.6 -16% | 23.6 1% | 29.4 -24% |
| Idle Bottom * | 24.7 | 22.6 9% | 24.6 -0% | 25.6 -4% | 32 -30% | 23 7% | 27.8 -13% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers
The two stereo speakers are positioned above the keyboard. This means that the sound output is not blocked or reflected by a table. Due to the device's small size, the membranes do not offer a lot of bass. Highs and mids take center stage and there is nothing the Bang & Olufsen software can do about it. Nonetheless, the integrated speakers are suitable for audio transmission and video-telephoning as speech output is clear and precise. Even at maximum volume we did not notice any distortions. For a better sound experience, we would still recommend using an external sound system that can be connected via the 3.5-mm audio jack.
HP EliteBook 840 G5-3JX66EA audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (85.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 43% of all tested devices in this class were better, 10% similar, 47% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 51% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 41% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02D00 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.9% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.9% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 61% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 31% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 65% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 29% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes can be turned on/off!)
Energy Management - the EliteBook is not an energy-saving wonder
Power Consumption
The HP EliteBook 840 G5 is not very energy-efficient. Although its consumption of 3.2 - 9.5 watts while idling is still OK, it climbs up to 65.5 watts for a short time under load. On average, the consumption settles down to around 36.2 watts. The included power supply offers a maximum of 65 watts and can supply sufficient power as the maximum consumption rate drops after about 10 seconds. The Lenovo ThinkPad T480s cannot offer better rates, however. It actually consumes about 8% more energy with a similar configuration.
| Off / Standby | 0.39 / 0.49 Watt |
| Idle | 3.2 / 6.6 / 9.5 Watt |
| Load |
36.2 / 65.6 Watt |
   
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| HP EliteBook 840 G5-3JX66EA i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Toshiba XG5 KXG50ZNV256G, IPS, 1920x1080, 14" | Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02D00 i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 2560x1440, 14" | Fujitsu LifeBook U747 i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung MZYTY256HDHP, IPS LED, 1920x1080, 14" | HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, TN, 1920x1080, 14" | Dell Latitude 7480 i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, Intel SSDSCKKF256H6, IPS, 1920x1080, 14" | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900 i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 2560x1440, 14" | Acer TravelMate P648-G2-M-73T0 i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A, IPS, 1920x1080, 14" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -8% | 6% | 21% | 15% | -18% | -6% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 3.2 | 3.1 3% | 4.11 -28% | 2.9 9% | 4.32 -35% | 3.8 -19% | 4.8 -50% |
| Idle Average * | 6.6 | 6.8 -3% | 7.87 -19% | 5.6 15% | 6.27 5% | 8.9 -35% | 7.9 -20% |
| Idle Maximum * | 9.5 | 10.1 -6% | 8.74 8% | 8.15 14% | 6.35 33% | 11.9 -25% | 10.7 -13% |
| Load Average * | 36.2 | 48.4 -34% | 30.2 17% | 30.6 15% | 29.82 18% | 47.5 -31% | 35 3% |
| Load Maximum * | 65.6 | 67.1 -2% | 32.4 51% | 31 53% | 30.64 53% | 52.5 20% | 31.6 52% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Runtimes
The battery runtimes are not as good as the HP EliteBook 840 G5's competition. The 50-Wh battery is not removable and can sustain the business device for about 7.5 hours during our Wi-Fi test. This is tight if you are hoping to manage a whole workday without having to recharge. The fast charging times offer a little consolation: It only takes just over 2 hours to fully recharge. We noticed that 3D performance is not as good on battery, but this is not very important.
| HP EliteBook 840 G5-3JX66EA i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 50 Wh | Lenovo ThinkPad T480s-20L8S02D00 i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 57 Wh | Fujitsu LifeBook U747 i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 50 Wh | HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 51 Wh | Dell Latitude 7480 i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, 60 Wh | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900 i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 57 Wh | Acer TravelMate P648-G2-M-73T0 i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, 54 Wh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 27% | -9% | 24% | 39% | 11% | 7% | |
| Reader / Idle | 1138 | 782 -31% | 1155 1% | 1662 46% | 1328 17% | 1087 -4% | |
| H.264 | 399 | 721 81% | 490 23% | 591 48% | 566 42% | ||
| WiFi v1.3 | 447 | 537 20% | 430 -4% | 571 28% | 719 61% | 519 16% | 672 50% |
| Load | 156 | 124 -21% | 117 -25% | 184 18% | 171 10% | 106 -32% | 115 -26% |
Verdict - great design, overhauled port selection and a lot of security features
Pros
Cons
The HP EliteBook 840 G5 is a high-quality business device, now in its fifth generation. The successor of the HP EliteBook 840 G4 has been given a new design and an up-to-date Kaby Lake Refresh processor, although this cannot reach its full potential. Buyers should also be aware of which configuration they purchase, as the HP EliteBook 840 G5 is also available with seventh-generation Intel processors.
Our test unit is equipped with an Intel Core i5-8250U, 8 GB of RAM and a 256-GB SSD, and the device provides very good system performance. HP has also decided to only offer IPS panels in this version, which has significant advantages. At a price of $1400, the device offers perfect workmanship, good performance and many security features, which are a must for any business laptop.
The new HP EliteBook 840 G5 is impressive with its fancy design and perfect workmanship. The good input devices are just as important as the many security features the EliteBook 840 G5 has to offer.
The HP EliteBook 840 G5 loses several points in the areas of power consumption and battery runtime. Its competition proves that it could do better. But if you do not have to deal with long stretches of time without access to sockets, you will be very pleased with the HP EliteBook 840 G5. We were a lot more bothered by the missing SD card reader, which does not make any sense. Luckily, the business companion does offer a USB Type-C port that supports Thunderbolt.
HP EliteBook 840 G5-3JX66EA
- 04/03/2018 v6 (old)
Sebastian Bade
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