HP ENVY 13 review
The HP HP ENVY 13 ranks as the #622 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 68. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #374-ranked features among 307 laptops. Consider the Dell G7 17 or Dell Inspiron 15 7591, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The 2019 HP Envy 13 is a solid laptop with impressive specs at an affordable price point. With a Core i7 quad-core CPU, 8GB RAM, and 256GB NVMe SSD, you get a lot of bang for your buck. The aluminum chassis, light build, and attractive design are added bonuses. However, it's not perfect - the lack of Thunderbolt 3 and limited upgrade options might be drawbacks for some users. Despite these minor issues, the Envy 13 is still worth considering, especially given its lower price compared to competitors like the Dell XPS 13.
Build
The 2019 HP Envy 13 boasts an aluminum chassis with a very light build, making it an attractive option. The laptop's construction is solid, but the rubber strips along the bottom, reminiscent of the Specter series, can be a pain to remove when upgrading or repairing. These strips are designed to stick and require care to detach. Once removed, accessing the interior is relatively straightforward. However, the SSD is a standard M.2 drive, and the RAM is soldered on, limiting upgrade possibilities. Overall, the build quality is good, but some users may find the design of the laptop's underside to be a minor annoyance. You may find HP Pavilion 13 a better fit, thanks to its superior build.
Display
The HP Envy 13's display is a notable aspect of the laptop. The base model comes with a full HD non-touch screen, while an upgrade to touch costs around $40-$50. A further increase to 4k display adds about $150 to the price tag. In terms of metrics, the display covers 100% of sRGB and around 75% of Adobe RGB. It's also surprisingly bright, a departure from HP's previous tendency to run 4k displays less brightly to conserve battery life. Overall, the display is nice enough looking, with good color accuracy and decent brightness. If you’re after a better display, HP Pavilion 13 could be the ideal option.
Performance
The HP Envy 13 delivers strong performance for its price. Powered by a Core i7 quad-core CPU, it handles everyday tasks with ease. The 256GB NVMe SSD provides swift loading times and responsive performance. With up to 16GB of RAM, multitasking is also a breeze. While the dedicated GPU option (NVIDIA MX 250) adds some photo editing and gaming capabilities, it's not meant for demanding games. Overall, the Envy 13's performance is impressive considering its compact size and budget-friendly price. Honor HONOR MagicBook 14 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded performance.
Battery and Charging
The HP Envy 13 boasts a 53Wh battery that provides around 7 hours of productivity and streaming video time with the 4K display enabled. In contrast, a Full HD display can add about 2 hours to this time. The 65W fast charger quickly replenishes the battery's power, making it a great option for frequent travelers. Overall, the laptop's battery life is average for its premium ultrabook category, but its compact size and lightweight design make up for it.
Connectivity
The HP Envy 13 offers USB-A ports, a micro SD card slot, and a USB-C port supporting display out, making it convenient for connectivity. However, it lacks Thunderbolt 3, which may be a drawback for some users. Overall, the laptop's connectivity options are suitable for everyday use, but not ideal for those requiring high-speed data transfer. You might want to check out HP Spectre x360 13, featuring an upgraded connectivity for a superior experience.
Features
The HP Envy 13 boasts an aluminum chassis, weighing in at just 2.87 pounds. It features a Core i7 quad-core CPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB NVMe SSD, making it a capable ultrabook for everyday use. A 13.3-inch Full HD display (or 4K option) is available, as well as a Microsoft Precision Trackpad and HP's hardware webcam kill switch. The laptop also includes a microSD card slot, USB ports, and support for USB-C hubs. Take a look at HP EliteBook x360 1030 G8 - its improved features sets a new standard.
Support and Maintenance
The HP Envy 13's support is respectable, with a dedicated website and customer service team available for troubleshooting and repairs. The laptop also features a physical webcam kill switch and a hardware-based Wi-Fi card, ensuring some level of security and maintainability. However, the rubber strips on the bottom can be challenging to remove, making internal upgrades difficult.
Pros
1. It's a lot of laptop for your money in terms of what you get not in terms of size and weight because it's very thin and very light
2. You get a pretty good deal with the core i7 quad core 15 watt ultrabooks CPU inside, 8 gigs of ram DDR4, and a 256 gig nvme SSD
3. The Microsoft precision trackpad is definitely a plus and it's a nice looking screen that's surprisingly bright, often 4k displays particularly with HP
4. Battery life on this will depend on when you get the full HD or the 4k display option, but it has a 53 hour battery which is healthy for your premium ultra book
5. The laptop has pretty good banging on some branded quad speakers which is a thing that HP has been doing
Cons
1. You can't upgrade the RAM after the fact because it's soldered on
2. The rubber strips along the bottom are difficult to remove and may need to be replaced
3. It doesn't have Thunderbolt 3, but USBC offers an unprecedented display out hubs and all that sort of thing
4. Opening up the laptop is a bit of a pain due to the adhesive self-destructing rubber strips
5. The thermals are not perfect, with the laptop sometimes getting too hot to touch above the keyboard area
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