Laptops Review

HP's EliteBook brand is a far more well-known business notebook among demanding users. It's very reliable and feels truly premium. The EliteBook 650 G9 we have with us today is something that's a bit of a gray area.

Since HP began producing the business 600 series, the company has called it the ProBook . However, in 2022, the model was transferred to the more premium EliteBook family. It remains to be seen whether the notebook belongs to the ProBook family or can truly be called an EliteBook.

Display

The HP ProBook 650 features a 15.3-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The matte surface makes the screen content easy to see from the front. Since HP didn't use an IPS panel, color and contrast loss occur when tilting the display. 

Hardware

The HP ProBook 650 features a power-efficient 6th-generation Intel Core i processor. This is a Core i7-6600U CPU capable of a maximum clock speed of 3.4 GHz. The RAM consists of an 8 GB module, which can be expanded with an additional S0 DIMM module. The ProBook features two graphics solutions for graphics processing: the integrated HD Graphics of the Intel CPU and a dedicated AMD Radeon R7 M365X graphics card with access to 2 GB of VRAM.

Both graphics solutions are well suited for office applications, and you can switch between the graphics cards at any time using the AMD Catalyst Control Center.

However, the AMD graphics card doesn't have enough power to play high-resolution games on the ProBook 650. Usable frame rates can only be achieved at 1280 x 720 resolution. Current games like Battlefield 1 still manage 30 FPS at this resolution.

The operating system, in this case Windows 10 Pro, is installed on an M.2 SSD module. This has a storage capacity of 512 GB, of which 414 GB is still free as shipped. The M.2 module offers good read and write performance, achieving transfer rates of over 520 MB/s (read). It is only slightly slower when writing, achieving transfer rates of 455 MB/s (measured with CrystalDiskMark).

The network connection on this ProBook is either via a fast WLAN (ac standard) or wired via the RJ-45 socket on the side. The integrated battery, which is only screwed into the device, has a very good battery life, lasting almost 6 hours in the PC Mark8 benchmark.

The HP ProBook 650 G2 Y3B47ES is characterized by the following specific product features:

• Display:  39.6 cm (15.6-inch) anti-glare FHD SVA flat panel, LED backlight
• Resolution:  1,920 x 1,080 pixels (Full HD)
• Processor: Intel® Core™ i7-6600U (2x 2.60 GHz, Turbo 3.40 GHz; 4 MB cache)
• Graphic:
  • AMD Radeon R7 M365X, 2GB VRAM
  • Intel® HD Graphics 520
• Memory:  8 GB DDR4 RAM (2133 MHz, SODIMM)
• Hard drive:  512 GB M.2 SSD
• Network:
  • Gigabit Ethernet LAN (10/100/1000 Mbit/s)
  • Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (802.11 ac+a/b/g/n)
  • Bluetooth® 4.2
• Input devices:  Spill-resistant HP Premium Keyboard
• Connections:
  • 1 x USB 3.0
  • 1 x USB 3.0 (charging)
  • 1 x USB Type-C™
  • 1 x DisplayPort
  • 1x VGA
  • 1 x serial port
  • 1 x LAN (RJ-45)
  • 1 x docking connector
  • 1 x Kensington Lock device
  • 1 x AC power connection
  • Audio: Headphone/Microphone combo jack
• Input devices:  Spill-resistant HP Premium Keyboard
• Other:  720p HD webcam, dual array microphones
• Sound:  Two integrated stereo speakers, HD audio with DTS Studio Sound™
• Battery:  HP Long Life Li-Ion battery, 3 cells, 48 Wh, prismatic
• Dimensions (W x D x H):  37.8 x 25.7 x 2.74 cm
• Weight:  approx. 2.31 kg
• Case:  Silver / Gray
• Operating system:  Windows 10 Pro (64-bit, pre-installed)

The various ports on the HP ProBook are almost all located on the right side of the case. Only the DVD burner and smart card reader are located on the left. The ProBook 640 has a total of three USB ports, one of which is Type-C. External monitors can be connected via the rear VGA port or the side DisplayPort. Both graphics solutions can output up to 4K resolution externally via the DisplayPort. The ProBook also has a SIM card slot, which can only be used if a corresponding UMTS or LTE module is installed.

On the right side, the ProBook also features a proprietary docking port. This allows you to connect devices such as the HP 2013 UltraSlim Docking Station . The docking station can also be used to charge the notebook's battery.

Keyboard

For typing, the ProBook 650 features a large, spill-resistant keyboard with a separate numeric keypad. The chiclet-style keys are all a comfortable size; only two directional keys have been reduced in size and share space. In front of the keyboard is the touchpad, slightly offset to the left, with two large mouse-like buttons. The touchpad recognizes gestures and can be disabled if desired.

Security

To protect both data and the notebook, the HP ProBook features a fingerprint sensor, allowing access to be restricted to specific users. A password can also be set in the BIOS. Another security feature is the spill-resistant keyboard.

Interior views

HP's 15.6-inch notebook is quite easy to open. Eight screws must be removed, after which the back panel can be removed without much effort. Inside, the first thing you'll notice is the large battery, which is only held in place by screws. The RAM in this model consists of an 8 GB RAM module. Another slot is still available, allowing the RAM to be upgraded with another module.

The M.2 module is located where the 2.5-inch hard drive would normally be. The M.2 module has a comfortable capacity of 512 GB, so it won't need replacing anytime soon. The ProBook 650 also has a free slot for a UMTS/LTE module. The antenna cables are already installed, and the SIM card slot is located on the side of the case.

Heat measurements

In the stress test, which placed the CPU, graphics, and RAM under particularly heavy strain, the top of the case only heated up in the rear area. A hot spot measured over 47 degrees Celsius. The keyboard and palm rest remained pleasantly cool. On the back, there was only one warmer spot, measuring over 51 degrees Celsius. On the left side, where the fan dissipates waste heat, temperatures of over 62 degrees Celsius were also measured. The ventilation system had to work harder under load and became significantly louder.

The charging adapter, which weighs a mere 200 g, heats up even under load. Temperatures of up to 48.4 degrees Celsius were measured.

Endurance test

What do we show in the video?

The HP ProBook 650 G2 Y3B47ES was first placed in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Using the thermal imaging camera of the CAT S60 smartphone, we were able to measure temperatures of around 2 degrees Celsius inside. In the second test, the ProBook was placed in an oven at 75 degrees Celsius for two minutes. The third test simulated a light rain shower. For this, we sprayed water on the keyboard. The fourth and final test was a drop test from a height of 74 cm. In this test, the HP ProBook was repeatedly pushed off the table. The results will surely impress you, as the ProBook still worked after all tests.

Conclusion

The HP ProBook 650 G2 Y3B47ES is a reliable business notebook with numerous security features. In addition to the fingerprint scanner, which is compatible with Windows Hello, various passwords can be set in the BIOS. It is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor with 8 GB of RAM. The RAM can be easily expanded. For graphics processing, the ProBook features an integrated Intel graphics card and an AMD Radeon R7 M365X. The built-in 512 GB M.2 SSD module is connected via SATA and has an average transfer rate of 520 MB/s (read). The 15.6-inch Full HD display has an average brightness of 215 cd/m² ^, which is sufficient for office work. HP does not use an IPS panel in this model, so color and contrast loss occur when the display is tilted.

HP tested the ProBook 650 G2 according to US Military Standard 810G. This means it's extremely robust and designed to withstand many environmental influences. The notebook can even withstand the occasional drop from the edge of a table. We were able to confirm in several unusual tests that this isn't just a cheap advertising slogan from HP.