HP EliteBook 840 G6 Review: A Balanced Work Laptop For 2025

Introduction

The HP EliteBook 840 G6 is a premium business class laptop from HP’s EliteBook line, designed for professionals who require a dependable, secure, and portable device for work. Released with the Intel Core i7 8650U processor, 8 GB DDR4 RAM, and a 256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD, this 14 inch laptop delivers performance tailored towards productivity rather than entertainment or gaming.

Even in 2025, the EliteBook 840 G6 continues to attract interest in the refurbished market. Its combination of durability, strong security features, and corporate friendly design makes it a practical choice for businesses, freelancers, and students seeking value without compromising quality.

In this comprehensive review, we will examine the design, build, display, performance, security, and long term value of the EliteBook 840 G6, while also comparing it with rivals such as the HP EliteBook 840 G5, Dell Latitude 7390, and Dell Precision 7550.

Design and Build Quality

The EliteBook 840 G6 is immediately recognisable as a professional grade laptop. Constructed with a sturdy aluminium chassis, it provides a premium feel while maintaining durability. At 1.35 kg and with dimensions of 32.49 x 22.76 x 1.65 cm, it is slim and lightweight, making it ideal for professionals who travel frequently.

The silver finish adds a modern aesthetic without appearing flashy, ensuring it fits seamlessly into business environments. HP’s attention to detail is clear in the way the laptop feels solid yet lightweight. It passes durability standards, meaning it can withstand everyday bumps and transport without difficulty.

The keyboard is another highlight. Designed with well spaced keys, comfortable travel, and spill resistance, it provides a reliable typing experience even during long work sessions. The trackpad is smooth and responsive, while HP’s inclusion of a pointing stick caters to those who prefer precise control similar to what ThinkPad users enjoy.

Performance and Productivity

Powered by the Intel Core i7 8650U, the EliteBook 840 G6 offers competent performance for business and productivity tasks. The processor, with its four cores and efficient architecture, ensures smooth multitasking across office applications, web browsing, and video conferencing.

The 8 GB DDR4 RAM in the base model handles general workloads effectively, though those managing large datasets or using more demanding software may wish to upgrade to 16 GB or beyond. The 256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD offers rapid boot times and quick file transfers, significantly faster than older SATA based drives.

For typical business needs — spreadsheets, presentations, research, and cloud based tools — the EliteBook 840 G6 performs reliably. While it is not built for gaming or high end creative software, it excels in providing the steady performance expected from a professional work laptop.

Display Quality

The EliteBook 840 G6 comes with a 14 inch Full HD display boasting a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It delivers sharp visuals, making text crisp and easy to read, while images and videos appear clear and well defined.

Brightness is adequate for most indoor settings, although outdoor visibility in direct sunlight may be limited compared to modern high brightness screens. Colour reproduction is decent for everyday use, presentations, and multimedia consumption, but it lacks the wide colour gamut needed for advanced creative work.

For business users, however, this display is more than sufficient. HP also provides configurations with optional features such as an integrated privacy screen, which reduces viewing angles for added confidentiality in public spaces.

Graphics Capabilities

Graphics are managed by the Intel UHD Graphics 620, which is integrated into the system. While not designed for graphically intensive workloads, it is capable of supporting video playback, dual monitor setups, and light multimedia editing.

Professionals relying on high end design or rendering software will find its limitations clear. However, for standard business tasks, the UHD 620 remains competent, and contributes to keeping the laptop slim, energy efficient, and cost effective.

Connectivity Options

One of the strengths of the EliteBook 840 G6 is its versatile connectivity. It comes equipped with the following ports:

• USB C for modern accessories and charging
• USB 3.1 ports for data transfer and peripherals
• HDMI port for connecting to external displays and projectors
• Audio jack for headsets and calls
• Docking support for corporate setups

This comprehensive selection makes it easy to integrate the G6 into office environments, meeting rooms, or home offices. Its inclusion of both traditional USB ports and USB C ensures flexibility for users transitioning to newer peripherals.

Portability and Battery Life

With a weight of 1.35 kg, the EliteBook 840 G6 is highly portable. Its slim profile makes it convenient for professionals who need to move between meetings, campuses, or travel regularly.

Battery life averages 8 to 10 hours depending on usage, meaning a full working day is achievable on a single charge for most professionals. While newer laptops in 2025 may push beyond 12 hours, the G6 still offers dependable performance in this regard. HP also supports fast charging, which is especially useful during busy schedules.

Security Features

As part of HP’s EliteBook family, the 840 G6 incorporates advanced security tools:

• Fingerprint reader for secure login
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for hardware level security
• Optional IR camera supporting Windows Hello
• HP Sure Start BIOS protection to defend against firmware attacks

These enterprise grade features make the G6 appealing to organisations and professionals handling sensitive data.

Comparison with Similar Laptops

Specification Comparison Table

Comparison Analysis

The HP EliteBook 840 G6 refines the formula established by its predecessor, the G5, by shaving weight and improving the overall build without dramatically changing the specifications. Both rely on the same integrated graphics, and performance differences between the i7 8550U and i7 8650U are modest in real world use.

Compared with the Dell Latitude 7390, the EliteBook 840 G6 competes directly as a lightweight business machine. The Latitude offers more RAM in its standard model and a larger SSD, making it more appealing for heavy multitaskers. However, the G6 counters with improved ergonomics, security features, and an elegant design.

The Dell Precision 7550, being a workstation, far surpasses the G6 in raw computing and graphical performance thanks to its dedicated Nvidia Quadro graphics. However, its weight and bulk make it unsuitable for users who prioritise portability, and it also comes at a significantly higher cost.

This places the EliteBook 840 G6 firmly in the business ultrabook segment, delivering balanced performance and security features without the trade offs of excessive weight or high pricing.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Slim, lightweight, and durable design
• Dependable Intel Core i7 8650U performance
• Strong business grade security features
• Comfortable keyboard and responsive touchpad
• Solid port selection including USB C and HDMI

Cons

• Base RAM limited to 8 GB, requiring upgrades for heavy use
• Integrated graphics limit creative workloads
• Display brightness could be higher outdoors
• Storage smaller compared to competitors like the Latitude 7390

Value of Refurbished Models in 2025

In today’s market, refurbished laptops play an increasingly important role for cost conscious buyers. The HP EliteBook 840 G6 remains a valuable purchase in 2025 for businesses, students, and professionals alike.

Refurbished units often receive upgrades such as expanded RAM or larger SSDs, making them more capable than their original configurations. When paired with a fresh battery and HP’s durable build quality, these laptops extend their lifespan significantly.

Furthermore, refurbished purchases contribute to sustainability by reducing e waste, giving well built machines a second life instead of being discarded prematurely.

Conclusion

The HP EliteBook 840 G6 demonstrates why HP’s EliteBook series is respected in the business laptop world. With its durable aluminium body, reliable Intel Core i7 performance, and comprehensive security features, it is well suited to modern professionals.

While it cannot rival high powered workstations for creative workloads, nor ultrabooks with all day battery life, it shines as a balanced, dependable option for productivity. For anyone seeking a secure, portable, and affordable device in 2025, especially in the refurbished market, the EliteBook 840 G6 stands out as a practical investment.

FAQs

Q: Is the HP EliteBook 840 G6 still relevant in 2025?
A: Yes, it continues to provide solid performance for productivity tasks and remains popular in the refurbished laptop market.

Q: Can I upgrade the RAM and storage?
A: Absolutely. The EliteBook 840 G6 supports RAM expansion beyond 8 GB and allows SSD upgrades for greater capacity and speed.

Q: Does it support modern security features?
A: Yes, it includes enterprise grade features such as fingerprint recognition, TPM, and optional Windows Hello support.

Q: How does it compare with the HP EliteBook 840 G5?
A: The G6 refines the design and build quality while offering a slightly newer processor. In practice, both models perform similarly.

Q: Is it suitable for creative professionals or gamers?
A: No, its integrated graphics are limited. It is best suited for business users, students, and professionals with standard productivity needs.