HP Envy 13 (2021) Analysis

The HP Envy 13 (2020) is doubtless one of many biggest value laptops in the mean time accessible, pinching implausible choices from rivals that worth only a few hundred quid additional. With a stellar effectivity and keyboard and ultra-portable design, the Envy is an efficient alternative for faculty children and causal prospects. thub

Professionals

• Comparatively low value worth
• Good effectivity
• Extraordinarily-portable design
• Good privateness choices

Cons

• Loud followers
• Reflective show display screen
• Not as modern as costlier laptops

Key Specs

• Analysis Price: £850
• Initially reviewed: June 26, 2020
• 13.3-inch Full HD present
• tenth Know-how Intel Core CPU
• 8GB RAM
• 512GB SSD
• Dimensions: 307 x 195 x 16.9 mm
• Weight: 1.3kg

The HP Envy 13 (2020) is an absolute discount of a laptop computer pc, sharing merely as many high-end choices as rivals that worth only a few hundred quid additional. 

Sure, it’s not as eye-catching as a result of the Dell XPS 13 or Ground Laptop computer pc 3, however it’s nonetheless an excellent making an attempt laptop computer pc. And with a 13-inch Full HD touchscreen, tenth Know-how Intel Core processor and a slew of HP privateness choices, it’s arduous to see what you’re missing out on by going with the Envy ahead of pricier choices. 

Design – Unspectacular, nonetheless nonetheless good making an attempt 

• A sturdy and decent-looking laptop computer pc, if a bit bland 
• Abundance of useful ports all through laptop computer pc’s small physique 
• 720p webcam is okay for the widespread client 

The HP Envy 13 lacks that attention-grabbing design quirk found with rival laptops, such as a result of the edge-to-edge show display screen of the Dell XPS 13 or the plentiful colour decisions of the Ground Laptop computer pc 3. If the Envy was a crisp flavour, it could be Ready Salted. 

That’s not a problem though, as HP has nonetheless adhered to modern conventions by sustaining a skinny bezel and minimalist styling. HP has made a number of tweaks to the sooner iteration that make this machine smaller; shunting the audio system to the underside whereas moreover changing into every the power button and fingerprint scanner into the keyboard.  

The Envy comfortably deserves an ultrabook classification, weighing a dainty 1.3kg. That’s not pretty as mild as a result of the Galaxy E-book S or Acer Swift 5, however it’s nonetheless extraordinarily straightforward to chuck in a bag and be in your method. 

HP has borrowed a trick from Asus by having the underside of the show display screen elevate the first chassis up off the desk when completely opened. This not solely positions the keyboard at a additional comfortable angle, however as well as ensures larger airflow to forestall the internals getting too scorching. 

The all-metal physique feels straightforward and sturdy, providing a stage of sophistication that plastic merely can’t match. In relation to assemble prime quality, the HP Envy 13 is just just about pretty much as good as each different ultrabook. 

The Envy incorporates a 720p HD webcam, which does not present the perfect seize prime quality, nonetheless stays to be higher than sufficient for enterprise conferences and buddy catch ups. What’s additional fascinating is the webcam kill swap on the keyboard, allowing you to deactivate the digital digicam so that you just don’t wish to fret about someone spying on you. 

I’m moreover very impressed by the Envy’s port offering, that features USB-C (no Thunderbolt 3), a microSD card reader, headphone jack and 2x USB-A. Which means you shouldn’t need any dongles to hook up your earlier (or new) peripherals which is always an undervalued constructive. That talked about, HP does current a USB-C to HDMI adapter inside the subject if you happen to really need one. 

Keyboard – Oddly positioned keys, nonetheless good normal

• Envy has comfortable keyboard for typing
• Three tiers of brightness for backlight
• Mild indicators for when mic is muted

The HP Envy 13 (2020) keyboard equipped a hassle-free experience as soon as I used to be hammering out evaluations. There’s quite a bit enough journey proper right here for a cosy typing experience, and whereas the keys initially appear small, that’s merely an illusion because of capitalised key lettering. 

There are just a few unusually positioned keys that can infuriate some though, such as a result of the single-row ‘Enter’ key and lack of right-sided ‘ctrl’ enter. There are some additional constructive quirks proper right here too, comparable to mild icons to allow you to notice whether or not or not the laptop computer pc’s audio system and microphone are muted, and devoted privateness keys for HP SureView and the webcam kill swap. 

The Envy affords three tiers of brightness for the keyboard backlight, with a faithful key allowing you to easily crank up the sunshine when it begins to get darkish open air, or flip it off completely to avoid wasting a number of on battery power. 

There’s not quite a bit to say regarding the trackpad, other than it’s responsive, straightforward to the contact and makes an audible click on on everytime you press it down. Primarily, it does the required job with no faff.

Show – Shiny touchscreen with privateness choices

• The touchscreen present is good and intuitive to utilize in most circumstances
• Show sits at 1000 nits of brightness, which could possibly be very spectacular for this worth 
• Distinction is nice and splendid for Netflix and completely different streaming apps 

The HP Envy 13 (2020) incorporates a 13-inch Full HD touchscreen with a relatively distinctive quirk known as BrightView, which sees the brightness climb as extreme as 1000 nits. With most laptop computer pc screens hovering spherical 300 nits, the Envy present is significantly brighter than the opponents.  

The advantage of that’s that it’s most likely the best laptops out there available on the market to utilize in darkish and gloomy areas. Distinction will be glorious at 2248:1, resulting in clear and sharp colours which will be good for the likes of Netflix and Disney Plus. There is a slight crimson tinge to the colour temperature though, which can very properly be irksome for purists. 

There are some necessary drawbacks to BrightView nonetheless, as a result of it leaves the show display screen making an attempt shiny and as well as makes the panel very reflective – you obtained’t want to make use of this laptop computer pc open air on a sunny day. I’ve moreover noticed that the laptop computer pc has poor viewing angles; it appears implausible when thought-about straight on, nonetheless that prime high quality drops significantly if you happen to occur to tilt the show display screen once more too far or check out it from an angle. 

HP has ensured poor viewing angles on purpose to some extent, as a result of it wishes to make it as robust as attainable for onlookers to sneak a have a look at your show display screen. There’s even a HP SureView perform that, when activated, will limit peripheral view even extra. Nonetheless, this moreover turns down the brightness dramatically, so is barely truly steered if you happen to occur to’re displaying private information. 

The Envy boasts surprisingly implausible colour safety scores, scoring 96% for sRGB and over 70% for every Adobe RGB and DCI-P3. This means the HP laptop computer pc can showcase colours exactly enough for ingenious work, making it a worthwhile alternative for entry-level design school college students. The shiny show display screen ground and poor viewing angles shouldn’t be forgotten though. 

Effectivity – Aggressive power at a funds worth

• Choices tenth period Intel Core processor
• Will be utilized for mild gaming, nonetheless don’t depend on one thing foremost
• SSD benchmark is underwhelming, nonetheless nonetheless performs adequately 

Laptops that worth decrease than £1000 usually see successful to effectivity – not so with the HP Envy 13. That features the tenth Know-how Intel Core processor, the Envy sees associated specs to the likes of the Dell XPS 13 and Ground Laptop computer pc 3. 

The underside model, costing merely £850, sees an Intel Core i5-1035G1. The evaluation model despatched my method is a little more pricey and incorporates a additional extremely efficient Intel Core i7-1065G7, which is worth considering for the below benchmark checks.

Outcomes current that the Dell XPS 13 is superior with reference to multi-core CPU effectivity and graphical grunt, nonetheless the reality that the Envy can keep fiercely aggressive no matter being significantly cheaper could possibly be very spectacular. 

It moreover retains a serious effectivity profit over the funds champion Honor MagicBook 14, notably in terms of built-in graphics. The Envy 13 makes use of Intel’s Ice Lake graphics to dabble with casual gaming and entry-level ingenious work. Protect your expectations low though, as a result of it undoubtedly obtained’t be succesful to cope with AAA blockbusters or intensive 3D modelling. 

The one disappointing facet of the HP Envy 13 effectivity is how loud the followers can get, reaching irritating decibels when working benchmark checks or opening positive capabilities. It’s more than likely one in all many loudest non-gaming laptops I’ve examined in newest months. You could reduce the fan noise the HP command centre, nonetheless on the worth of effectivity. 

Whereas the CPU speeds can’t be faltered, the SSD benchmark outcomes have been disappointing. With study speeds of 1750 MB/s and write speeds of 1749 MB/s, the Envy isn’t the quickest with reference to saving and loading data. Storage functionality is a minimum of plentiful, with the underside model seeing a 512GB SSD. 

HP Envy 13 (2020) battery – Increased than widespread effectivity

• Battery life sturdy enough for widespread day of labor
• Battery lasted 8hrs and 4omins in our benchmark checks 

The ten-hour mark is the purpose battery life for ultrabooks as of late, nonetheless few actually deal with to hit it. The HP Envy 13 (2020) lasted 8 hours and 40 minutes in our benchmark test, after lowering the brightness to spherical 50% and dimming down the keyboard mild. 

Such a finish consequence beats the likes of the Dell XPS 13 2020 and Ground Laptop computer pc 3, and should be sure the Envy can merely outlast office working hours and a day’s worth of faculty lectures. 

You’re moreover able to recharge 50% of the laptop computer pc’s tank in merely half-hour, which is useful if you happen to occur to forgot to plug it in by way of the evening time. 

You should buy the HP Envy 13 (2020) if…

• You want an fairly priced regularly laptop computer pc
  The HP Envy 13 is an efficient laptop computer pc for the widespread client, vastly outperforming just a few of its rivals no matter sitting at a less expensive worth. Attributable to this, we’re capable of merely advocate this machine to those in need of a model new laptop computer pc, nonetheless don’t wish to break the monetary establishment.

• An all-around performer is significant to you
  HP has produced a laptop computer pc that isn’t excessive of the highway by any stretch, however combines a formidable present, keyboard and normal design that it’s arduous to not be smitten with the Envy 13. For the value, this shall be a no brainer for some.

• Privateness away from the digital world
  The addition of a webcam kill swap and the SureView show display screen ensure that your privateness is revered even when looking the online or taking part in video conferences. It’s a secure enchancment over associated suppliers equipped by Dell, Microsoft and Samsung.

You should not buy the HP Envy 13 (2020) if…

• You’re after an trustworthy gaming machine
  The HP Envy 13 is ready to conservative gaming effectivity, nonetheless these hoping for one factor to rival specialist laptops shall be very underwhelmed. You’ll should shell out a little bit of more money for such a laptop computer pc, too.

• Small show display screen factors flip you off
  This laptop computer pc has a super-reflective show display screen, which can make using it in vivid environments or by way of the daytime usually just a little little bit of a nuisance. You could flip up the brightness, nonetheless this could eat into the already restricted battery elevate.

• Loud followers aren’t your issue
  No matter its small dimension, the sound that comes from this laptop computer pc could possibly be abrasive, meaning you’ll must placed on headphones or hook it as a lot as a television to steer clear of it drowning out completely different sources of audio.

FAQs

Is the HP Envy 13 good for gaming?

The HP Envy 13 lacks a discrete graphics card, and so is barely extremely efficient enough to play video video games comparable to Fortnite and Minecraft at low graphics settings. We suggest you buy a faithful gaming laptop computer pc if gaming is a priority.

Is the HP Envy 13 RAM upgradable?

No, the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, and on account of this reality not upgradable.

Does the HP Envy 13 have Thunderbolt?

No, the HP Envy 13 does not assist Thunderbolt.

Specs

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UK RRP

CPU

Producer

Show Dimension

Storage Functionality

Entrance Digicam

Battery

Dimension (Dimensions)

Weight

ASIN

Working System

Launch Date

First Reviewed Date

Determination

Refresh Price

Ports

GPU

RAM

Connectivity

Colours

Show Know-how

Contact Show

Convertible?

Bin functionality

HP Envy 13 (2020)

£850

tenth Know-how Intel Core CPU

HP

13.3 Inches

512GB

HP Enormous Imaginative and prescient 720p

51 Whr

195 x 307 x 16.9 MM

1.3 KG

B0877LM5ZH

Dwelling home windows 10 Residence

Oct-20

26/06/2020

1920 x 1080

60 Hz

USB-C, microSD card reader, headphone jack and 2x USB-A

Intel Iris Plus Graphics

8GB

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Pure Silver

IPS

Positive

No

litres

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