These days , it ’s not hard to find plenteousness of performance , with child build quality , and even spectacular OLED displays inlaptops under $ 1,000 . It ’s one of the most important developments in laptops over the past yr or so .
The 2024 variation of the HP Envy x360 14 front to connect those rank and file . It ’s priced right , enjoys the Envy ’s usual unanimous build , and has the increasingly common OLED display . However , it also has a dispirited - power processor that does n’t make up for its lusterless performance with good efficiency . That makes it a less attractive alternative that onlymakes me more eager to see HP ’s rebranded lineupwithin theCopilot+ program , which would posit both of these issues .
Specs and configurations
As is often the case , HP has the Envy x360 14 on sale when this review is being written . The entrance - tier configuration costs $ 750 ( down from $ 960 ) with an Intel Core Ultra 5 125U , 16 GB of RAM , a 512 GB SSD , and a 14.0 - column inch WUXGA IPS display . As my review unit of measurement is configured , the 2 - in-1 is $ 1,170 ( down from $ 1,380 ) with a Core Ultra 7 155U , 16 GB of RAM , a 1 TB SSD , and a 14.0 - in 2.8 grand OLED exhibit . The mellow - end configuration with 32 GB of RAM and a 2 TB SSD is priced at $ 1,480 ( from $ 1,690 ) .
The Envy x360 14 ’s list price are effective , but not great . On sale , though , the laptop is competitive with some other smashing machine like theAsus Zenbook 14 OLED Q425 , and it ’s less expensive than HP ’s more premiumSpectre x360 14 .
Design
I ’ve long been a fan of HP ’s Spectre translatable 2 - in-1s , particularly the Spectre x360 14 . It ’s a gorgeous laptop computer with a innovative and elegant design , admit rounded edges and operable notches cut out of the bod ’ rear and showing corners .
The Envy x360 14 is much more pedestrian , with more conservative chassis edge , subordinate color without a hint of chrome , and with the only splash of color being the slightly different - colored gray keyboard . None of that pull in the enviousness an unattractive laptop computer , peculiarly when compare with the equally minimalist Zenbook 14 Q425 , and you may tell that there ’ an drive on HP ’s part to keep the lineup secern .
Build timbre is just as good , with an all - aluminium chassis and lid that are both rigid and resist bending , twist , and twisting . It ’s another testament to the great build quality you could get for less money than ever . I ’ve actually found every laptop in this price range to be equally well built .
Even the Apple MacBook Air , which is more expensive , is n’t a notably higher - lineament laptop computer . I remain impressed . My only complaint is that the Envy ’s flexible joint needs two hands to open , but that ’s not uncommon for convertible 2 - in-1s that need a firm hinge to hold the display in clamshell , collapsible shelter , media , and tab modes .
In term of its sizing , the Envy x360 14 is n’t anything especial . At 0.67 column inch , it ’s not as insanely flimsy as the MacBook Air ( which in the 13 - column inch variety is just 0.44 inches thick and in the 15 - column inch theoretical account 0.45 inches duncish ) . Nor is it as lighting as some others . But , it ’s more than portable enough , including being reasonably wide and deep with little enough bezel .
Keyboard, touchpad, and webcam
As note , the keyboard sticks out by being a slenderly different shade of gray , at least on my revue unit . The lettering is big and bold , make the key easy to read even with the ( very bright ) backlight turn off . The keycaps are large and the spacing is excellent , with a standard layout that requires zero adjustment . Even intimately , the switch were sluttish and snappy with a crisp bottoming action .
While I still favor Apple ’s Magic Keyboard , the Envy x360 14 ’s version was just as well-fixed while I was writing this review . No other laptop computer in the same Mary Leontyne Price image has a better keyboard . The Microsoft Copilot button is present , but for now that just quetch off the swarm - base generative AI .
The touchpad is a practiced mechanically skillful version that ’s turgid enough to be well-off and has light , positive buttons . They ’re a pinch gimcrack , though . I much prefer tactual touchpads , like the excellent interpretation on the Spectre x360 14 , but those are still uncommon at these prices . Hopefully , that will transfer before long enough . Of course , as a transmutable 2 - in-1 , the Envy x360 14 add up standard with a tactual sensation display and funding for HP ’s active playpen . The penitentiary is optional , however .
The webcam is HP ’s in high spirits - resolution 5MP version , which provides a caliber image in videoconferencing . As with all Intel Meteor Lake laptops , there ’s support for a few generative AI feature like Microsoft ’s Studio Effects software for enhanced background prospect and more . HP includes a tryout for Otter.ai , a tool for transcribing and resume videoconferencing session .
The webcam include an infrared camera for Windows Hello videoconferencing and HP ’s user presence - sensing technology that can do various tasks like putting the laptop to sleep when the user walks away and wake it up and logging back in when the user returns .
Connectivity
The Envy x360 14 has a becoming selection of porthole , with both bequest and Thunderbolt 4 . in all likelihood my biggest complaint is that only one of the two USB - light speed ports supports Thunderbolt 4 , and because the laptop is charged via USB - C , that limits tractability a number . Probably the most disappointing omission is that there ’s no Coyote State bill lector . The Envy x360 14 is n’t alone here , but it would have been nice to have .
you’re able to choose between Wi - Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 and the ultramodern Wi - Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 . I would n’t eat into about that too much , because it will be some time before Wi - Fi 7 is a common standard . But for the most future - proofing , opt for the faster connexion .
Performance
The Envy x360 14 is the first laptop we ’ve brush up with the 15 - watt Intel Core Ultra 7 155U. That ’s a 12 - gist ( two Performance , eight Efficient , and two Low Power Efficient ) , 14 - train of thought chipset with Intel Graphics . That ’s a literal tone behind the more democratic 28 - W Core Ultra 7 155H chipset with 16 cores ( six Performance , eight Efficient , and two Low Power Efficient ) , 22 threads , and the faster Intel Arc integrated graphics . On newspaper , those surplus performance essence and threads promise much quicker multi - core functioning .
That ’s exactly what I saw in our suite of benchmarks . Across the dining table , the Envy x360 14 was significantly slower than its primary rivalry .
Battery life
The large reason to use the much slower Core Ultra 7 155U chipset would be enhanced battery life . The Envy x360 14 has a 59 watt - time of day electric battery , which is n’t a sight for a 14 - inch laptop , and my review unit had the more power - hungry organic light-emitting diode showing . In my examination , the 2 - in-1 ’s battery life was underwhelming .
In my comparison group , all of which used higher - powered and fast chipsets , the Envy x360 14 had the spoiled battery biography . A few of those with better battery life also had OLED display , so that ’s no exculpation . That was a surprising termination and a bit disappointing .
Display
While performance and battery life might be a moment disappointing , the optional high-pitched - end show is not . It ’s an excellent 14.0 - inch 2.8 K ( 2880 x 1800 ) OLED panel running at 120Hz , and it ’s just $ 150 more than the FHD+ ( 1920 x 1200 ) IPS show . I suggest stretching your budget , unless you absolutely involve long battery life-time , because the presentation look awesome out of the box .
grant to my tintometer , you ’ll require the OLED display . It ’s shining enough at 385 nits , which does seem a little low when many more displays of late come in at 400 nit or brighter . I recollect when exceeding 300 nits was considered an accomplishment , but those days are in the past tense . Colors were very wide at 100 % sRGB , 98 % AdobeRGB , and 100 % DCI - P3 , making the display colorful enough for every use case . And those wide people of colour were very accurate at a DeltaE of 0.82 , under the 1.0 mark that ’s weigh excellent . Contrast was also fantabulous at 26,940:1 , and like all OLED displays I ’ve tested , inkiness were perfect .
You ’ll love the OLED display , whether you ’re a productivity user , a Divine , or a media consumer . Regarding the latter , HDR performance was good , but not quite at the same level as Apple ’s mini - LED exhibit on the MacBook Pro . That presentation has incredibly high brightness that makes HDR content pop , but the Envy x360 14 ’s is no slouch .
Audio was n’t up to the same measure . There are two down - dismission speaker that were just OK . For natural action - pile TV show and movies or listen to euphony , you ’ll want a near duo of headphones .
One major compromise holds it back
I ’ve usually discover HP ’s Envy laptops to offer an attractive combination of fairish pricing , solid builds , and very good performance . In the Envy x360 14 ’s case , I saw two out of three , which would n’t be spoilt if the challenger were n’t so strong .
As I ’ve noted in several of my late reviews , the Envy x360 14 would have been a lot more attractive just a distich of days ago . But offering importantly slower performance and shortsighted battery life intend the Envy x360 14 just ca n’t be recommended .
