HP EliteBook 840 G5 review

Where the EliteBook 840 G5 stands

The HP EliteBook 840 G5 is a 2017 business ultrabook positioned in the ultra-budget tier at roughly $217, below the category median of $297. As HP's mainstream 14-inch business offering from that year, it carries a GPU score of 6.8 — 77% above the category median of 3.8 — paired with the reliability trade-offs typical of an eight-year-old chassis. The price reflects its age; the modest GPU surplus reflects a configuration that has aged reasonably well.

Graphics: a steady above-median position

The 840 G5's GPU score of 6.8 places it comfortably above office-class peers, enough to handle casual gaming, video playback, and light GPU-accelerated media work without difficulty. For an ultra-budget business laptop, this is a meaningful differentiator — most competitors in its price band sit at or below the category median. It is not a gaming machine, but the headroom is real.

Reliability: the binding caveat

The reliability index of 28 is 34% below the category median of 42.5, reflecting eight years of cumulative wear on business hardware. The machine is functional today, but buyers should plan for a moderate remaining service horizon. As with other 2017-vintage business laptops in this price tier, the low price is possible precisely because the hardware is no longer new.

Price trajectory

From its original launch price to $217 today, the 840 G5 has depreciated to the flat tail of its curve. The projected price two years out represents a modest further decline. There is little residual value left to erode; what remains is a slow drift toward the price floor typical of decade-old business hardware.

How it compares

In the $200-$240 refurbished business range, the 840 G5 sits among several 2017-2019 alternatives. The Dell Latitude 7490 at $232 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 at $256 are direct competitors from the same era, with similar trade-offs. The 840 G5's distinguishing factor is its GPU surplus — modest, but enough to set it apart from typical office configurations in this band. Buyers prioritizing absolute price will find cheaper options; buyers prioritizing graphics headroom will find the 840 G5 a reasonable pick.

Bottom line

The EliteBook 840 G5 is a competent ultra-budget business ultrabook with a steady above-median GPU and an aging but functional chassis. At $217, it is priced below the category median and offers more graphics headroom than typical office alternatives. The trade-off is reliability — eight years of service limits the remaining lifespan. For a budget office machine with light gaming capability, it earns its asking price.