HP's EliteBook 800 Series G5[1] comes in 13.3-inch (830), 14-inch (840) and 15.6-inch (850) models. I was sent a 14-inch EliteBook 840 to evaluate. Whichever of the three sizes you opt for, you'll get a solidly designed business laptop that, although it lacks bells and whistles, has plenty going on under the surface.

The EliteBook 840[2] starts at £1,078 (inc. VAT), which gives you an Intel Core i5-8250U[3] processor with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. HP's UK website has a variant with a Core i7-8550U[4], 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for £1,306.80 (inc. VAT). HP sent me a spec that isn't available off the page in the UK -- Core i7-8550U, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD -- and has not confirmed this model's price at the time of writing.

hp-elitebook-840main.jpgThe 14-inch EliteBook 840 runs on 8th-generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The IPS screen comes in touch and non-touch versions, and LTE mobile broadband is available. Images: HP Inc.

HP's high-end EliteBooks major on functionality rather than styling. So here we have a very solid silver metal and plastic chassis with a little flex in the lid, but not enough to cause concern. The chassis build feels as though it should withstand knocks and bangs, although the lid might be prone to scratches if it travels without a protective sleeve.

The full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixel) touch screen is responsive and delivers good image quality. It's quite reflective though -- something that's particularly noticeable at lower brightness levels. Maximum brightness on the IPS screen, meanwhile, verges on the dazzling. The screen bezels are quite wide, and

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