HP ProBook 450 G1 review

A 2014 budget business laptop with no standout strength and below-par mobility

The HP ProBook 450 G1 is a 2014 business laptop at $152, well below the business median of $297. A 4th-gen Core i7 with 16GB of RAM sounds respectable, but no axis rises above the category median: graphics register zero (integrated), reliability is "low" at 12, and mobility is also "low" at 21 — it is a relatively heavy machine for its class.

No strength stands out in the business field

This ProBook has no top strength. Graphics are absent against a category median of 3.84 (integrated, no discrete GPU), reliability at 12 is "low" (about 72% below median), and the mobility index of 21 is "low" (about 65% below the median of 60). Despite the i7 badge, the 4th-gen dual-core delivers "basic"-era performance by modern standards.

Gaming is out, and it is not portable either

With no discrete graphics, gaming and GPU-accelerated work are off the table. And unlike thinner business peers, this is a heavier machine (mobility 21 is near the bottom of the category), so it does not earn its place on portability either. The realistic role is a desk-bound basic office machine.

Slow, stable residual value

From near $1,300 originally, the 450 G1 has fallen to $152 at about 6.5% per year, with a projected two-year value near $133 — about a 13% further drop. The steep depreciation is already behind it, so value should hold steady.

Where it sits among peers

Priced just below similar business laptops: an HP ProBook 455 G2 ($174) or EliteBook 745 G4 ($172) cost a bit more, while a Lenovo ThinkPad L540 ($137) or HP ProBook 430 G2 ($132) come in cheaper. It is firmly in the ultra-budget business tier.

Bottom line

At $152 this is a budget-friendly pick for basic desk-bound office work only. The compromises are no graphics, "low" reliability, and notably low mobility. Worth it if you want a cheap stationary work machine; look elsewhere for portability or any capability beyond everyday office tasks.