Business-centric laptops are not among the top choices when shopping for a laptop. But I would argue that it should be. After all, they offer some of the best security at a level not found on most mainstream laptops—case in point, the HP ProBook 440 G9, HP’s affordable business-centric laptop.
Design: 4/5
The HP ProBook 440 G9 is a sleek and elegant laptop with a silver aluminum body.
It has a 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display that does not claim a fast refresh rate nor specialized color gamut calibration. Is this a bad thing? Honestly, I don’t believe so. For the target audience of the ProBook series, having faster frame rates and all the color gamut are just good-to-have features but not necessary. My only issue with the display is that I felt it needed a bit of vibrancy since it was a bit too dull for my taste.
The port selection is outstanding on the HP ProBook 440 G9. On the left, you’ll find a Kensington Lock, a full RJ45 Ethernet port, and a USB 3.2 Type-A port. On the right are two more USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a USB 3.2 (Gen 2) Type-C Port, the audio jack, a full HDMI (2.1) port, and the power port. There is also another slot for the optional sim card tray.
Where the HP ProBook 440 G9 really shines is its portability. The laptop is just 1.38kg. For comparison, one of the lightest mainstream options, the Apple MacBook Air is just .08kg lighter. For thickness, the HP ProBook comes in at 19.9mm thin, not the thinnest but still quite portable.
Hardware: 4/5
At the heart of the HP ProBook 440 G9 is either an Intel Core i5–1235U or an Intel Core i7-1255U. Both variants are also paired with either an Intel UHD Graphics or Intel Iris Xe graphics. Our review unit was the Core i7-1255U variant mated to Intel UHD graphics, with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of NVMe SSD as storage.
Benchmarks indicate that the HP ProBook 440 G9 is a fairly good device. The core i7-processor earned 1557 points for single-core performance at Cinebench R23 and 5157 points for multi-core. It scored 2043 for single-core performance in Geekbench 6 and 6147 for multi-core. Finally, it earned 4797 in PCMark 10 with 8943 for essentials. The integrated Intel UHD graphic is not meant for gaming, but still earned a decent 1179 total points in 3Dmark Time Spy, and 10359 for Night Raid. Overall I would say these metrics are more than sufficient for everyday office work.
The Intel Core i7-1255U is also power efficient processor, allowing the 52Wh battery to last for around 6 hours in my use case.
What really makes a business-centric laptop like the HP ProBook stand out from regular laptops is its slew of safety and security features. The laptop’s hardware security features include a TPM 2.0 security chip, HP DriveLock, fingerprint reader, and the camera privacy shutter.
HP also included loads of software security features in the included HP Wolf Security. These include malware blocking, safety browsing, and others.
User Experience: 4/5
The HP ProBook 440 G9 was loaned to us for use as an event streaming laptop. I was initially confused at the choice, as I was expecting a beefier device like a gaming laptop. Perhaps there was a miscommunication about our requirements? I was, therefore, very pleasantly surprised at how the HP ProBook handled streaming a whole week-long event.
Beyond streaming, the HP ProBook 440 G9 is a small and light laptop. As mentioned previously, it is a very portable 14-inch laptop weighing just 1.38kg and 19.9mm thin. The included 45Whr charger is also light and portable, which is great when you need it to keep juiced up.
The HP Wolf Security is also pretty aggressive, which I liked. Whenever I downloaded software online, a pop up would ask if I really wanted to install the downloaded files. I’m not sure if HP has pre-programmed some apps to be recognized, as I was able to initially install Chrome without any pop-ups, but Steam was flagged for some reason. That said, its better to have that double-checking software than unsuspectingly installing malware on your device.
Since the HP ProBook 440 G9 is a business laptop, don’t expect it to be the greatest for media consumption. As I previously said, I wanted the display to be a bit more vibrant. I also found that the speakers, even though they were front facing, were not as loud as expected. It’s good enough for small rooms or contained listening in your office booth, but that’s about it. Even so, the sound was nice without any signs of harshness even at the max level.
Value: 4/5
The HP ProBook 440 G9 starts at PHP63,000 for the Intel Core i5-1235U variant and PHP71,500 for our Intel Core i7-1255U model. This laptop is not meant for everyone. If you’re looking for a powerful editing device, take a look at HP’s Victus-series.
The HP ProBook 440 G9 is a laptop made for those who want peace of mind when it comes to safety and security. For individuals who want to protect their business and themselves. It’s made for the office worker who’s on the go and still makes security the number one priority.
Specifications:
- Screen Size: 14” diagonal FHD display
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1235U Processor (up to 4.4 GHz with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology, 12 MB L3 cache, 10 cores, 12 threads)
- OS: Windows 10 Pro (available through downgrade rights from Windows 11 Pro)
- Camera: 720p HD privacy camera
- Battery: HP Long Life 3-cell, 42 Wh Li-ion
- Ports: 3 SuperSpeed USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate (1 charging, 1 power); 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-C® 10Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort™ 2.1); 1 headphone/microphone combo; 1 AC power; 1 RJ-45; 1 HDMI 2.1b
- Memory and Storage: 8GB memory; 512GB SSD storage
- Dimensions: 32.19 x 21.39 x 1.99cm
- Weight: Starting at 1.38 kg
What’s Hot:
- HP Wolf Security
- Great battery life
What’s Not:
- Display can be better
- Audio is so-so
Bottomline:
The HP ProBook 440 G9 is an excellent business laptop offering top security without breaking the bank.
Reviewed by Gabriel Pe
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE August 2023 Issue