HP ProBook 640 G4 review
HP ProBook 640 G4 — from 2017, 1.93 kg, performance 20.
Technical specifications
| Type | Business |
| Release year | 2017 |
| Screen | 14" · 1366x768 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 6200U |
| Max. RAM | 32 GB |
| Weight | 1.93 kg |
Performance scores
A cheap 2017 ProBook for stationary light office work
The HP ProBook 640 G4 (2017) pairs a 6th-gen Intel Core i5 6200U with 32 GB of RAM and lands at $204, below the business-class median of about $297. It is an honest budget office machine with no standout strength: reliability is low at 13, the CPU scores 20.57 against a median near 53, and there is no discrete GPU. The 32 GB of RAM is more than the processor can fully exploit.
A workmanlike config for the price
The i5 6200U is a competent dual-core processor for email, web, and document work, and 32 GB of RAM is generous for that workload. There is no metric on which this laptop clearly leads its peers — it is a balanced, unremarkable configuration at a low price.
Performance and reliability reflect the age
The CPU score of 20.57 and reliability of 13 are both low for the class, which reflects a decade of platform ageing. Integrated graphics only means gaming and GPU-accelerated tasks are out. This is a machine for genuinely light office duty — anything more demanding will feel slow.
Depreciation tracking the class
From a base near $1300, the laptop has depreciated to $204 at roughly 7.6% per year, with a projected value around $175 in two years — a typical curve for a 2017 budget business model.
Pricier and cheaper peers bracket it
Slightly pricier options include the Dell Vostro 15 3559 ($225) and Dell Vostro 3515 ($235); cheaper alternatives include the HP ProBook 455 G2 ($174) and HP ProBook 645 G3 ($182), which offer similar vintage business hardware for somewhat less.
Bottom line
The ProBook 640 G4 is a defensible pick only if your budget is firmly capped around $200 and your workload is genuinely light — email, documents, browsing. Value-for-money is average for the bracket; buyers who can stretch slightly will find newer peers with stronger processors for not much more money.
🧭 Your context
Stage: Refining requirements
You're refining — compare finalists head-to-head.
🎯 For your profile
You've viewed: You've recently viewed 13 models — compare this model with them in the analogs matrix.
⭐ What stands out
-
graphics performance absent (no data or feature not provided).
-
reliability is lower than typical business class (+69.4%) (low tier).
budget segment of category -
CPU performance is lower than typical business class (+61.2%) (basic tier).
budget segment of category
🔁 Alternatives
Compromise axis: reliability ↔ price
⚙️ 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 640 G4: verdict
➡️ Next step
You're refining — compare finalists head-to-head.