HP ProBook 4740s review
HP ProBook 4740s — from 2012, 3.05 kg, performance 17.
Technical specifications
| Type | Business |
| Release year | 2012 |
| Screen | 17.3" · 1600x900 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 3210M , Intel Core i3 3110M , Intel Core i5 3230M , Intel Pentium 2020M , Intel Core i5 2450M , Intel Core i3 3120M , Intel Core i7 3632QM , Intel Core i7 3630QM |
| Graphics | Radeon HD 7650M |
| Max. RAM | 16 GB |
| Weight | 3.05 kg |
| Battery | 73 Wh |
Performance scores
HP ProBook 4740s — the 17-inch business tank
The ProBook 4740s is a 2012 17-inch business machine: Ivy Bridge Core i5 3210M, a Radeon HD 7650M entry discrete GPU, and 16GB of RAM in this configuration. At $155 it sits 48% below the business-class median of $297. The measured profile is a study in trade-offs: mobility 5 (the bottom of the class, −91.7%), weight 3.05 kg (desktop-replacement tier), against a 73 Wh battery capacity that leads its class.
What the battery figure buys
The 73 Wh pack is 62% above the class median — the top strength, and in this machine's honest role it matters: as a semi-stationary desk unit, the large battery carries it through a working day away from the outlet at light load. The caveat is age: fourteen-year-old cells deliver a fraction of rated capacity, so treat the figure as the design intent rather than a present-day promise.
What the game bars say
The HD 7650M was entry-level in 2012, and the measured bars are categorical: Grand Theft Auto V, Far Cry 5 and Metro Exodus all fail their minimum bars. No gaming claim survives contact with the data — the discrete GPU aided desktop compositing and light GPU work of its era, nothing more.
Price trajectory
From an original $1,300 to $155 today at 5.95% per year, with a further projection to $137 (an 11.55% drop) over two years. Thirteen years of depreciation have flattened; the remaining value tracks the working condition of the specific unit.
Where it sits against peers
Pricier neighbors are the EliteBook 850 G2 ($172) and Vostro 3560 ($174); cheaper options are the ProBook 6465b ($140) and ThinkPad L540 ($137). The rivals at every price point are 14-15 inch machines — if the 17-inch workspace is the requirement, the 4740s faces little direct competition in this band.
Bottom line
A 17-inch desk-bound business unit with a large (aged) battery and no modern gaming capability. Worth it for buyers who want the big workspace at minimum cost and will keep it near an outlet — the mobility score of 5 is the honest number, and no buyer should expect to carry this machine regularly.
🧭 Your context
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⭐ What stands out
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mobility is lower than typical business class (+91.7%) (low tier).
budget segment of category -
weight is higher than typical business class (+90.6%) (desktop replacement).
top 25% of its category -
reliability is lower than typical business class (+74.1%) (low tier).
budget segment of category
🔁 Alternatives
Compromise axis: reliability ↔ price
🎮 What it can run
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration is built for office apps, web browsing, and basic daily tasks.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 42.5) ↔ price (median 297.4).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 60) ↔ overall performance (median 41.5).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 62.5) ↔ battery life (median 3.3).
ProBook 4740s: verdict
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