HP Envy x360 2-in-1 (2023) laptop review: There are more hits than misses.
The HP Envy x360 2-in-1 is available with 14-inch and 15.6-inch screens. We evaluated the larger version, which has several advantages over the smaller version.
The HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop is a premium laptop with a variety of specs. It supports an Intel Core i7-1355U processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU, and up to 16 GB of LPDDR5-5200 MHz RAM. The laptop can handle difficult work, but so can other options in its price range. But does the Envy x360 provide more than simply impressive specs? Let us investigate.
The HP Envy x360 is available with 14-inch and 15.6-inch screens. We evaluated the larger version, which has several advantages over the smaller version.
Design
The HP Envy x360 has a simple but attractive design. Apart from the new HP logo, there isn’t much branding on the lid. The Envy x360 is small and light for a 15.6-inch laptop. Its dimensions are comparable to those of many 14-inch laptops. The laptop weighs around 1.77 kg. The laptop has good aesthetics that give it a professional appearance.
The laptop’s side bezels are quite narrow, and the top and bottom bezels are also not too noticeable. The screen-to-body ratio of the laptop is decent at 88.34%. The midnight black color of our review unit is not plain black and adds a unique touch to the laptop. However, we found it to be rather fingerprint-prone. Despite the 360-degree hinges, the overall build quality is robust with little flex.
Performance
The Intel Core i7-1355U processor (up to 5.0 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology (2G), 12 MB L3 cache, 10 cores, 12 threads) in the HP Envy x360 15.6 inch 2-in-1 Laptop PC is fairly strong. The laptop also supports up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU (4 GB GDDR6 dedicated) and up to 16 GB of LPDDR5-5200 MHz RAM (onboard), making it a good choice for individuals who want some power as well as the capacity to complete everyday activities. The laptop has a variety of internal storage options, including a 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe TLC M.2 SSD.
Our evaluation laptop was equipped with a Core i5-1335U processor, 16GB of RAM, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. The laptop did not stutter at all during our everyday use. Using MS Office and other professional tools on a daily basis was a snap. We tested some games, including GTA 5, and the laptop delivered more than 50 frames per second in standard (1080p) settings. The bootup timings were fantastic, which is also assured by the Intel EVO badge. You also get Windows Hello functionality through an IR camera, which makes booting up the PC a one-step procedure.
The laptop’s CPU achieved a single-core score of 2291 and a multi-core score of 8718 on Geekbench. The Intel Iris Xe graphics card scored 12323 on OpenCL.
Connectivity and Battery
For general use, the laptop features a sufficient number of ports. On the left, you’ll find an SD card slot, a 3.5 mm socket, and a USB Type-A port. Another USB Type-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports are available on the right. HP might have provided more versatility by adding another Type-C port on the left or distributing them evenly for simpler charging wire access. Wireless technology options on the laptop include Intel Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
In terms of battery life, the laptop can quickly charge for up to 4 hours in 30 minutes. The laptop managed to give more than 10 hours of screen time with moderate to heavy usage.
Display
I was reserving the finest for last. The new HP Envy X360 2-in-1 laptop’s display is bright and colorful. The 15.6-inch display is merely an FHD panel with a 60 Hz refresh rate, but the larger size and OLED bring out deeper black levels. The laptop screen has a brightness of 400 nits, an HDR brightness of roughly 500 nits, and a color gamut of 100% DCI-P3. This is the first time an IMAX Enhanced Certification has been found on a laptop, indicating that the display has been calibrated for greater output while watching movies and programming. However, the 16:9 aspect ratio does not work well with the larger IMAX ratio.
After testing several Windows laptops with OLED panels, I found that the new Envy X360 laptop offers superior calibration compared to most other machines in this category. My only complaint about the display is that it is only 1080p. It may appear enough for most day-to-day tasks; however, the lesser resolution falls just short of ideal in terms of display. The Bang & Olufsen speakers provide an excellent audio experience. Expect less depth than you would find in a MacBook, but the laptop does give plenty of volume and clarity. Another thing to bear in mind is that the speakers are bottom-firing, so they will only work properly if the laptop is placed on a level surface.
Verdict
Overall, the HP Envy x360 15.6 inch 2-in-1 Laptop PC is a capable and adaptable laptop that gets the essentials right while also offering some extras like Intel EVO certification and IMAX Enhanced certification. It is an obvious choice for media consumption and can also serve as a professional partner.
