HP Envy x360 13

MSRP $1,200.00

“The HP Envy x360 13 offers solid productivity performance to go with great battery life for a Windows machine, along with a spectacular OLED display and solid build.”

Pros

• Solid productiveness efficiency
• Surprisingly good battery life
• Excellent construct high quality and aesthetics
• Spectacular OLED show
• Great keyboard
• Affordable

Cons

• Creative efficiency is missing

Dell simply launched its latest XPS 13, a laptop computer that we added to our listing of finest laptops given a lovely worth that targets Apple’s interesting MacBook Air. HP has clearly taken the identical strategy with its 2022 Envy x360 13, however takes issues a step additional.

The Envy x360 13 is a extremely versatile 360-degree convertible 2-in-1, and it presents a stunning OLED show choice that prices lower than the XPS 13’s high-end IPS fashions. Generally, I’ve been a fan of HP’s Envy line as a result of it presents nice efficiency for much less cash than many different premium machines. I’ve hardly ever seen a tool that gives this a lot laptop computer for therefore little cash. It’s an astounding worth.

Specs

Price and configurations

These costs are extraordinarily enticing for a laptop computer with the Envy x360 13’s options and construct high quality. The new Dell XPS 13 is $1,000 for a similar entry-level configuration, which means HP undercuts Dell by $300 on sale ($100 at listing costs). And, the XPS 13 prices $1,549 for a similar configuration because the Spectre x360 13’s maxed-out mannequin however with a WUXGA IPS contact show fairly than 2.8K OLED. That makes the HP a really well-priced laptop computer certainly that’s obtainable for lower than the Apple MacBook Air M1. And as configured, at $1,000 with a stunning OLED show and twice the RAM and storage, the Envy is $400 lower than the MacBook Air M2.

It’s necessary to differentiate between HP’s listing and sale costs when making your buy. But even at listing, the Envy x360 13 is a superb worth.

A high quality laptop computer you’ll love at a worth you possibly can respect

As we famous in our Dell XPS 13 evaluate, the Apple MacBook Air M1 (to not point out the M2 model) is a superior laptop computer to comparable Windows machines. It’s awfully arduous to compete with the MacBook Air’s mixture of construct high quality, efficiency, and battery life. So, it’s affordable to compete on worth. Of course, worth isn’t every little thing, and HP clearly understands that as nicely.

The Envy x360 13 is just not an inexpensive laptop computer; it merely doesn’t value loads. It’s constructed fully of aluminum, and it has a strong chassis and lid with no bending or flexing except you’re downright abusive. The lid, for instance, is extra inflexible than the MacBook Air M2’s, which is saying loads. The MacBook is thinner at 0.44 inches in comparison with the Envy x360 13’s 0.63 inches, as is the 0.55-inch XPS 13, however it’s not just like the HP is overly thick.

At its thickest level, the MacBook Air m1 can be 0.63 inches, so the Envy x360 13 is simply advantageous. Each of those laptops is across the identical weight, with the HP being a number of ounces heavier at 2.95 kilos.

The Envy x360 13’s show bezels are a bit thicker than the XPS 13’s and the MacBook Air M2’s, with a bigger backside chin due to the 360-degree convertible hinges and an total 87% screen-to-body ratio (SBR). So, it’s barely bigger in width and depth than the XPS 13 with its 90%+ SBR, whereas being nearly similar in measurement to the MacBook Air M2 (which has a barely bigger 13.6-inch show).

Overall, the Spectre x360 13 is a snug measurement and it really works nicely in pill mode due to the taller 16:10 show that’s nearer in dimensions to a daily sheet of paper. Notably, HP’s hinge is sort of as well-designed as Apple’s, permitting the lid to open with one hand whereas holding it in place by all 4 modes — clamshell, tent, media, and pill.

Apple’s Magic Keyboard is the perfect obtainable in the present day, however the Spectre x360 13’s keyboard is great for a Windows laptop computer. It has good spacing and enormous keycaps, and lightweight, snappy switches. The touchpad is giant sufficient and good for a mechanical model, however nonetheless inferior to Apple’s haptic touchpad. The show is touch- and pen-enabled, in fact, which is a plus. Inking was clean and exact with HP’s energetic pen.

The Envy x360 13 wins out in connectivity, with as many Thunderbolt 4 ports because the XPS 13 and MacBook Air M2 whereas including in two USB-A ports for legacy assist. HP saved the audio jack, which is a large enchancment over the XPS 13 that inexplicably dropped it.

That doesn’t trouble some people who find themselves absolutely invested in Bluetooth headsets, however I’ve a favourite pair of wi-fi cans and I like having the ability to use them with out problem.

In one other win over the XPS 13, the Envy x360 13 additionally has a 5MP webcam that’s a lot increased decision than the XPS 13 and MacBook Air M1’s 720p variations, and HP bundles in a number of utilities that enhance videoconferencing high quality and efficiency. If you’re a hybrid employee who depends on video calls to remain in contact, you’ll respect the Envy x360 13’s backlight adjustment, look filter, and auto body performance.

The Envy x360 13 additionally incorporates an infrared digital camera for Windows 11 Hello passwordless login by way of facial recognition, and there’s an digital shutter for the webcam. In whole, these privateness options beat out each the XPS 13 and the 2 MacBook fashions.

It’s not all excellent, although

The MacBook Air M2 is a speedy laptop computer due to its second-generation Apple Silicon processor with eight CPU cores and as much as 10 GPU cores. That chip is quicker than the Core i7-1250U in my Envy x360 13 evaluate unit, which is a 9-watt CPU with 10 cores (two Performance and eight Efficient) and 12 threads. The XPS 13 makes use of the identical U-series Intel CPUs, though we reviewed the slower Core i5 model.

In our benchmarks, the Envy x360 13 was extra aggressive than I anticipated. The MacBook was quicker however not by loads, and the HP beat out Dell’s slower CPU by a major margin. That shocked me as nicely, as a result of I didn’t anticipate such an enormous delta between the Core i7 and Core i5. Note that the XPS 13 was a lot quicker when set in Dell’s efficiency mode, whereas the equal HP utility didn’t have as a lot influence. If I needed to guess, the Envy x360 13 with the Core i5 would doubtless outperform the XPS 13 at its quickest.

The Envy x360 13 is a lot quick for demanding productiveness customers.

In most of our benchmarks, the Envy x360 held its personal towards each MacBook Air fashions and it was truly quicker in our Handbrake take a look at that encodes a 420MB video as H.265. The MacBook’s single-core efficiency was typically increased, whereas the Intel chip made up some floor in multi-core checks. Where the MacBook Air M2 would doubtless win out is within the Pugetbench Premiere Pro benchmark that runs in a stay model of Adobe’s Premiere Pro video enhancing utility. Apple Silicon chips carry out nicely on this benchmark thanks to varied optimizations and a GPU that’s tailored for such duties. I didn’t even trouble to run the benchmark on the Envy, as a result of even quicker Intel processors with Iris Xe graphics obtain significantly decrease scores than the Apple M2.

All meaning is that the MacBook holds an edge in inventive duties, however the Envy x360 13 is a lot quick for demanding productiveness customers. None of those laptops are gaming machines, although.

	Geekbench (single / multi)	Handbrake (seconds)	Cinebench R23 (single / multi)	PCMark 10 Complete
HP Envy x360 13 2022 (Core i7-1250U)	Bal: 1,435 / 7,285 Perf: 1,460 / 7288	Bal: 136 Perf: 138	Bal: 1,504 / 7,436 Perf: 1,504 / 7,441	4,907
Dell XPS 13 9315 (Core i5-1230U)	Bal: 1393 / 4,459 Perf: 1,477 / 5,350	Bal: 333 Perf: 192	Bal: 1379 / 3457 Perf: 1,650 / 7,832	4,023
Apple MacBook Air M2 (Apple M2)	Bal: 1,925 / 7973 Perf: N/A	Bal: 151 Perf: N/A	Bal: 1,600 / 7,938 Perf: N/A	N/A
Apple MacBook Air M1 (Apple M1)	Bal: 1,727 / 7,583 Perf: N/A	Bal: 156 Perf: N/A	Bal: 1,479 / 6,680 Perf: N/A	N/A
Dell XPS 13 Plus (Core i7-1280P)	Bal: 1316 / 8207 Perf: N/A	Bal: 170 Perf: 94	Bal: 1311 / 6308 Perf: 1,650 / 7,530	4,309
HP Spectre x360 13.5 (Core i7-1255U)	Bal: 1,566 / 7,314 Perf: 1,593 / 7,921	Bal: 169 Perf: 120	Bal: 1,623 / 5,823 Perf: 1,691 / 7,832	5,203

Where the MacBook Airs, each the M1 and M2, maintain a extra vital benefit is in battery life. The Envy x360 13 did nicely for a Windows laptop computer in our net shopping and video checks, and really nicely within the PCMark 10 Applications battery take a look at — sufficient in order that it’s doable typical customers will get a full day’s work. But the MacBooks have been spectacular, promising nearer to a day and a half of battery life.

To be truthful, my Envy x360 13 evaluate unit outfitted a extra power-hungry OLED show, besides, Apple’s battery life is spectacular. Note that based on HP, the low-power Full HD+ IPS show will get considerably longer battery life and so Apple’s benefit could also be much less with that mannequin, however it’s not one thing we examined.

	Web shopping	Video	PCMark 10 Applications
HP Envy x36 13 2022 (Core i7-1250U)	9 hours, half-hour	14 hours, 34 minutes	12 hours, 48 minutes
Dell XPS 13 9315 (Core i5-1230U)	13 hours, 18 minutes	N/A	N/A
Apple MacBook Air M2 (Apple M2)	17 hours, 59 minutes	21 hours, 9 minutes	N/A
Apple MacBook Air M1 (Apple M1)	15 hours, 31 minutes	18 hours, 28 minutes	N/A
Dell XPS 13 Plus (Core i7-1280P)	8 hours, 0 minutes	9 hours, 20 minutes	6 hours, 52 minutes
HP Spectre x360 13.5 (Core i7-1255U)	9 hours, 58 minutes	13 hours, 59 minutes	10 hours, 52 minutes

Excellent opticals, OK audio

We had our selection of evaluate machines, particularly between the low-priced Full HD+ and the OLED variations. We selected to evaluate the latter, and I’m glad we did. I really like OLED shows, and the Envy x360 13’s panel is simply as spectacular as all the time. It’s a better decision than the MacBook’s Retina show, and it presents loads of brightness with extensive and correct colours and the standard inky OLED blacks. It’s in one other league in comparison with the XPS 13 IPS panel and the MacBook Air M2 show which was improved over the M1’s.

Simply put, the Envy x360 13 will likely be a pleasure to make use of whether or not you’re doing productiveness work, the place textual content will likely be black and sharp on a white background, enhancing photographs with wonderful coloration efficiency, or watching media due to superior excessive dynamic vary (HDR) assist. Apple’s MacBook Air M2 show is sweet, however OLED is significantly better.

The MacBook Air M2 does have superior audio, with its 4 audio system pumping out louder and higher sound than the Envy x360 13’s twin audio system. The MacBook Air M2 can be fanless, which means it stays fully silent whereas the Envy x360 13’s followers do spin up every now and then. Overall, the audio expertise is healthier on Apple’s machines.

An excellent Windows 2-in-1 selection

I beloved the HP Spectre x360 13.5, which enjoys a extra elegant design, quicker efficiency, and an equally good show. But the Envy x360 13 is loads cheaper, and it’s, due to this fact, a extra formidable competitor to the MacBook Air M1 and M2 than its sibling.

In reality, I’m undecided that there’s a midrange 13-inch laptop computer that’s higher than the Envy. The Dell XPS 13 is dearer, and it doesn’t supply the identical show high quality regardless of how a lot you spend. And at $730, no Apple laptop computer can contact it.

Editors’ Recommendations