HP Pro c640 Chromebook Review: Should You Buy It or Not?

While it’s a pleasure to type with, this revolutionary product is let down by several weaknesses being really serious

Although Chromebooks have traditionally been regarded as cheaper, more simplistic notebooks, Google has actually in recent years desired to carve a space in the enterprise marketplace for its Chrome devices which are OS-powered. A current partnership with Dell, for example, indicates its desire to develop the Chromebook brand out as a necessity enterprise device.

HP has actually enjoyed a commitment that is historical Google, aided by the maker offering a successful track record in building Chromebooks for users whom aren’t simply seeking a laptop computer that does the fundamentals. In writing, its unit this is certainly latest, the HP Pro c640 Chromebook, looks to be a totally able device, incorporating a top-of-the-range Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB RAM and a 1080p touchscreen display. This will be in addition to several security this is certainly of good use as well as an encouraging number of connection choices. This is cheap laptop.

HP Pro c640 Chromebook Review by

Design Analysis

The Chromebook’s straight-laced silver-coated aluminum outside isn’t exactly ugly, however it doesn’t blend any excitement this is certainly significant. Its sharp color blends well by having a chassis that is sturdy create a product that feels well-constructed. Underneath the lid is an expansive keyboard between two speakers grills, and placed above a fashionable and spacious trackpad this is certainly glass-coated. The two halves tend to be joined from a hinge that is 180-degree let us you put the Chromebook flat for a surface; this sleek lower portion, nonetheless, clashes aided by the dense black border that frames the display.

The HP Pro c640 is let straight down by additionally its weightiness, with all the device beginning with 1.5kg. This makes it heavier than most notebooks in its category, and it is unsatisfactory; a good highly capable 14in laptop like the Asus Chromebook Flip C436F weighs about just 1.2kg whilst it’s not disastrous. You can find devices in the marketplace that are less heavy nevertheless, with the LG Gram 14 in the even more end that is extreme under 1kg.

Meanwhile, although HP describes the Pro c640 as ‘the world’s thinnest 14in business Chromebook’, its depth of 16.5mm is just typical compared to the larger marketplace. More damningly, the Asus this is certainly aforementioned Chromebook C436F is thinner – by having a depth of 13.7mm. There are meatier options available, though, such as the Acer Chromebook 715, that includes a depth of 17.8mm and a body weight of 1.95kg.

HP Chromebook’s 1080p Display

Our very first impressions associated with the Chromebook’s 14in 1080p display were poor, mainly as a result of the hideous thickened edge that is black encases it. Sadly, the caliber of the IPS that is touchscreen panel equally unsatisfactory with a perfect violent storm of poor brightness and color precision.

The matte display appears dimmer in a premium cost bracket, and our testing verified this having an optimum brightness of 255cd/m2 than you’d expect from any device that finds itself. For research, the most recent Dell XPS 13 produced a remarkable score of 411cd/m2, with most decent enterprise machines clearing the hurdle this is certainly 300cd/m2. Similarly, an astonishingly bad 53.3% coverage associated with sRGB color gamut does do the Chromebook not any favors, but isn’t astonishing. The colors appear dulled, and shortage richness or meaning to your naked-eye.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Quickly the component this is certainly most readily useful of this product is its backlit and waterproof keyboard, comprising well-spaced and comfortable chiclet-style keys that prove as soft as these are generally snappy, making word processing a goody.

The c640’s keyboard is amongst the HP this is certainly well has fitted into its devices, benefitting coming from a fully-sized Enter secret as well as Left and Appropriate Arrow tips that aren’t crammed next to PgUp and PgDown features. Not merely does this render the keyboard an enjoyment to use but eliminates the chances of unintentionally tapping the important thing that is incorrect. It is something we’ve needed to adapt to with several of HP’s laptop this is certainly traditional. Admittedly, the left-sided Ctrl and Alt keys tend to be comically oversized but that’s barely a problem that may disrupt the typing experience this is certainly day-to-day.

With all the smooth touchpad this is certainly glass-coated meanwhile, it can often feel like the cursor subtly skids and slides around because the outer lining itself is a touch too slippery. Employing a solitary finger to move the cursor is fine, when it comes to part that is most, but the real issues arise with click-and-drag, and multi-touch functions such as pinch to zoom and Mac-style two-fingered right-clicking. Utilizing the touchpad isn’t made any much easier with a mixture of a looseness this is certainly small the hardware component, therefore the fact that carrying out a click calls for a tad bit more force than you’d expect.

Specs and Gaming Performance

As previously alluded to, this Chromebook is fitted by having an Intel Core i7-10610U CPU, on the basis of the Comet Lake architecture, by way of a base frequency of 1.8Ghz and turbo that is optimum of 4.9Ghz. This might be coupled with 16GB RAM and 128GB drive area that is hard.

While this appears strong on paper, Geekbench 5 screening revealed the overall performance amounts were somewhat disappointing for the Core i7 processor chip, creating a decent outcome that is single-threaded of and a below-average multi-threaded score of 3,601. This is only marginally stronger, for example, as compared to Core i5 processor chip fitted into the Samsung Galaxy Book Ion, though it does outperform the latest Huawei Matebook X Pro on both counts. The unit that is second fitted with all the Intel Core i7-10510U processor chip and scored 854 and 3,436 on single-threaded and multi-threaded evaluation respectively.

Although the HP Pro c640’s performance levels are sufficient, for a notebook this is certainly similarly-sized real qualifications as being a powerhouse unit you will need to turn to the likes of the AMD-fitted Honor MagicBook Pro. This machine smashed our overall performance examinations, registering a monstrous total score this is certainly benchmarking of and Geekbench 5 results of 1,111 and 5,972.

Battery

Lasting 12hrs 38mins inside our looped movie test, the HP Pro c640’s battery this is certainly 60Whr exceptional when stacked against a number of top-of-the-line notebooks, and surpasses the manufacturer’s own claim that it can endure up to 12hrs.

Although the standard for battery capacity in premium and high-power machines has enhanced in the last few years, you’ll still struggle to find one that hits 11hrs let alone exceeds 12hrs. In contrast, the LG Gram 14 and HP Elite Dragonfly lasted 10hrs 17mins and 10hrs 2mins respectively. Only products which are exceptionally long-lived the Samsung Galaxy Book Ion and Asus ExpertBook B9450F lasted longer at 13hrs 3mins and 22hrs 6mins correspondingly.

Ports and functions

Fitted into the HP Pro c640 is a hearty assortment of harbors including two USB-C as well as 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, along with HDMI 1.4 and microSD slot machines, and a headphone jack that is 3.5mm. These devices offers a level this is certainly good of for exterior devices, such as for example hard disk drives and displays, while its help for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 ensures users may benefit from the most effective standard of connection and a healthy dose of futureproofing.

The c640 also comes with a fingerprint that is little beneath the keyboard and to just the right of this trackpad, which works pretty efficiently, too as a 720p webcam which makes a reasonable, albeit noisy, image. Today being a feature that is common HP devices, the webcam normally fitted having a slight switch that brings a shutter on the lens you should definitely being used.

Final Words

The HP Pro c640 boasts a great battery pack life as well as an extremely comfortable keyboard that makes it truly enjoyable to utilize for day-to-day jobs such as for example term handling to its credit. There are many black colored scars, but, mainly taking the form of an undesirable display and a trackpad this is certainly fiddly. This is best laptop for every purposes.

These issues can be mitigated if you use a monitor that is exterior a mouse, but for extent this device costs you ought to certainly be demanding more worthiness. Similarly, although overall performance levels aren’t bad per se, multi-threaded overall performance was found wanting compared with the bar set with a host of similar devices. This Chromebook undoubtedly has its uses, but be hard-pressed we’d to recommend it provided its price. You’re much better off either investing in a heavier duty device having a screen this is certainly good much better performance, or downgrading to a weaker but more economical configuration for the HP Pro c640.