Valentina Palladino
We give a variety of consideration to flagship PC households—and for good cause. Gadgets just like the Dell XPS 13 and HP’s Spectre 13 typically get new applied sciences and design perks earlier than different lineups within the OEM’s portfolio. That continues to be true, however Dell, Lenovo, HP, and others are exhibiting their different PC strains some love, too. Now, it is not so unusual to contemplate an Inspiron or an Envy laptop computer even when you often sought out the most recent and biggest machines for his or her cutting-edge tech and processing energy.
HP’s latest Envy 13 laptop computer might trigger Spectre diehards to take one other look. With up to date processors, non-compulsory Nvidia graphics, and a sleeker design, the Envy 13 seems like it could actually maintain its personal in opposition to gadgets like Dell’s Inspiron 13 7000 Black Version, and even its cousins the Spectre 13 and the Spectre x360 13. As with all extra inexpensive laptop computer (this one begins at $799), it makes some sacrifices to maintain prices down, however these might show inconsequential even for essentially the most staunch Spectre lovers.
Feel and look
Specs at a look: HP Envy 13 (as reviewed)
Display
13.Three-inch 4K (3840×2160) IPS touchscreen
OS
Home windows 10
CPU
Intel Core i7-8565U
RAM
16GB LPDDR3
Storage
512GB PCIe SSD + 32GB Optane Reminiscence
GPU
Nvidia GeForce MX250
Networking
802.11ac 2×2 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Ports
2 x USB-C Three.1 Gen 1 (1 x information switch solely, 1 x HP Sleep and Cost), 2 x USB-A, 1 x microSD card, 1 x headphone/mic jack, 1 x energy port
Dimension
12.08×eight.32×zero.57 inches
Weight
2.59 kilos
Battery
65Whr 4C
Beginning worth
$799.99
Value as reviewed
$1,159.99
The Spectre 13 and all of its variants usually are not for everybody, notably those that don’t love making a press release with their laptops. Its metallic edges and accents make it flashy, and its angled corners are a nod to jewellery design. The Envy 13 forgoes all of that and as an alternative seems like an expert, but modern, work machine. I examined a silver mannequin, but it surely’s additionally obtainable in a gold end, which can enchantment to those that need their laptop computer to have only a tad extra persona than the remaining.
Whereas the Spectre 13 and x360 13 pleasure themselves on being skinny and lightweight, the Envy 13 is not as involved with that—though you do get a surprisingly compact laptop computer. I am undecided why I anticipated it to really feel bigger in my arms and in my backpack—possibly its blocky again edge deceived me—however the 12.08×eight.32×zero.57-inch, 2.59-pound laptop computer was a conveniently moveable system.
The Envy 13 has a premium design in its personal proper, it simply wears that premium nature in a different way than the Spectre 13 does. Its premium really feel largely lies in its all-metal chassis, slim bezels, angled edges, and intelligent hinge that lifts the laptop computer barely while you open it. HP took an analogous strategy that Dell used when making the Inspiron 13 7000 Black Version, which focuses on upgrading the laptop computer’s supplies and trickling down some, however not all, high-end design parts.
Just like the Inspiron, the Envy 13 has a fingerprint reader, but it surely lies on the palm-rest space as an alternative of being built-in into the sliver of an influence button that sits on the top-right nook of the keyboard space. Some machines let you energy on and log in on the similar time after they have built-in fingerprint readers on their energy buttons, however Dell’s system would not have that characteristic, and HP’s system can’t, because the two items of hardware are separate. However, the fingerprint reader works as promised and is the one type of Home windows Hiya authentication on the Envy 13.
Added practicality is available in with the Envy 13’s ports: two USB-C Three.1 Gen 1 ports (one for information switch solely and the opposite for HP Sleep and Cost), two USB-A ports with drop-jaw designs, a microSD card slot, a headphone jack, and a barrel charging port. Whereas the Envy 13 comes with a barrel charging cable, it would not include a USB-C cable—that implies that whilst you can cost the system utilizing one port on both facet, you must carry your individual USB-C cable to take action when you favor charging from the left facet.
I recognize the drop-jaw design on the USB-A cables as a result of they allowed HP to maintain the system decently skinny whereas additionally not compromising on connectivity choices. HP additionally introduced over the webcam kill-switch from the Spectre sequence to the Envy 13, permitting customers to electronically disable the webcam every time they please.
Display and keyboard
The 13.Three-inch show might be custom-made a couple of methods: you may get an FHD panel, an FHD contact panel, or a 4K contact panel. Our mannequin had the 4K touchscreen, and it was as beautiful as you’d anticipate. For the reason that Envy 13 is a daily laptop computer, most customers can be served effectively by the bottom FHD panel. Touchscreens add restricted usefulness to plain laptops, however undoubtably there are customers who’ve grown accustomed to touchscreens on all of their gadgets and can need one on this system, too.
The keyboard on the Envy 13 is sort of good—it extends nearly to the facet edges of the chassis because of the speaker grille placement above it, nearer to the hinge. The keys have respectable journey, however they’re additionally quiet—it is like typing on gentle pillows. Some customers just like the clicky nature of most keyboards, however others will recognize this model as a result of it is not going to audibly encroach on the workspaces of these round you. The up- and down-arrow keys are somewhat small, however HP managed to incorporate a column of web page navigation keys on the precise facet of the keyboard.
The one draw back to the stellar keyboard is that the Precision trackpad suffers a bit from the keyboard’s dimension. It is narrower than most trackpads, measuring about 2.25 inches in width, and which will get in the way in which of snug cursor motion, swiping, and gestures.
The brand new and improved HP Envy 13 laptop computer.
Valentina Palladino
It has a slim profile, all steel chassis, and a hinge that lifts the laptop computer barely when opened.
Valentina Palladino
The keyboard is spacious, however the trackpad is a bit too slender.
Valentina Palladino
The fingerprint reader sits on the palm relaxation space, slightly below the arrow keys.
Valentina Palladino
Some gadgets have fingerprint readers embedded of their energy buttons, however this HP machine would not.
Valentina Palladino
The satin steel exterior would not maintain on to fingerprints an excessive amount of.
Valentina Palladino
Drop-jaw USB-A ports let the system keep skinny however don’t compromise connectivity.
Valentina Palladino
One of many two USB-C ports assist charging.
Valentina Palladino
Efficiency
Given its comparable specs, the HP Envy 13’s efficiency was much like that of the Dell Inspiron 13 7000 Black Version. HP’s machine stood out in its graphics scores, although, because of the non-compulsory MX250 GPU in our evaluation unit. We additionally ran a Grand Theft Auto V benchmark on this machine to see the way it may deal with gameplay, and we shortly came upon that the Envy 13 could not run our check as we often run it, with most graphics choices maxed out. So, we maxed out as many attributes as we might earlier than the video reminiscence was exceeded after which ran the benchmark check. The machine performed GTAV at a median of 62.5fps.
In the event you do not spring for the Nvidia graphics card, you will get the identical built-in Intel GPU because the Black Version has, so you may anticipate the Envy’s graphics efficiency to be comparable. Whereas operating our gaming check and a few of our extra intense benchmark assessments, the Envy 13’s followers spun sufficient for me to listen to them whirl. The underside-center portion of the chassis heated up a bit, however not sufficient to make it uncomfortable to make use of on a lap.
You should utilize HP’s Command Middle to decide on the thermal profile that is finest in your utilization, too. By default, HP optimizes the system to steadiness efficiency and temperature, however you need to use Efficiency mode to kick up the fan velocity to chill the CPU extra effectively whereas it gives as a lot energy as attainable or Consolation mode to chill the system down if it begins to get too heat.
Battery life
The Envy 13’s battery life relies upon closely on the display screen configuration you select. HP estimates as much as 18 hours of battery life with an FHD panel and as much as 10 hours with a 4K panel. Our assessments confirmed that to be true, at the least for a 4K show: the Envy 13 lasted a median of 11 hours on our Wi-Fi check and simply over 6.5 hours on our webGL check. These are strong numbers which might be much like these of the Inspiron 13 7000 Black Version, however they’re nowhere close to the distinctive battery lifetime of the latest Spectre x360 13. The Spectre x360 13 has many issues the Envy 13 would not, however essentially the most helpful perk is its extremely lengthy battery life that helps it final at the least a full 24 hours on a single cost.
Simply sufficient luxurious to face out
Whereas I like the thought of a convertible, I am extra of a typical laptop computer woman. My work would not require a variety of sketching or something that might be made simpler if I used a stylus or a tool that twists right into a pill. Convertibles are fairly helpful as multipurpose gadgets, however not everybody wants or desires that versatility. The HP Envy 13 is a strong laptop computer different for these customers, in addition to those that do not wish to drop $1,000 on a brand new PC.
We might have reviewed the top-tier mannequin, however the base $799 mannequin has the identical Core i7 CPU in addition to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of PCIe SSD storage. To place issues into perspective, these are the identical specs discovered within the HP Spectre x360 13 that is at the moment our favourite Home windows ultrabook convertible, however the Spectre prices $1,349. Naturally, that worth consists of many issues that the Envy 13 lacks—a convertible design, an IR digicam, an included stylus, two Thunderbolt Three ports, and the machine’s crazy-long battery life.
If any of these options are vital to you, it is most likely price it to contemplate the Spectre x360 13 or one other flagship ultrabook prefer it. Nonetheless, when you can sacrifice these premium options, the Envy 13 is a strong laptop computer that you would get for a worth that will not break your price range and likewise gives sufficient choices so that you can spec it out as you please.
The Good
Skilled, light-weight design.
Two USB-A ports with drop-jaw design.
Two USB-C ports, one which helps charging.
Webcam kill-switch.
Elective Nvidia graphics card and Optane Reminiscence.
Good battery life.
The Unhealthy
Fingerprint reader not built-in into energy button.
No IR digicam.
No Thunderbolt Three ports.
The Ugly
Wastes area with a barrel charging port.
