HP ENVY 13 Inch Thin Laptop w/ Fingerprint Reader, 4K Touchscreen, Intel Core i7 review
HP ENVY 13 Inch Thin Laptop w/ Fingerprint Reader, 4K Touchscreen, Intel Core i7 review
FORAttractive, lightweight chassisFast performance
Bright display
Long battery life (on FHD model)
Crisp, powerful speakers
Solid productivity performance
Spectacular battery life
Exotic good looks and an excellent build
Precise and comfortable keyboard
Crisp 4K touchscreen
AGAINST4K model has short battery life
No Thunderbolt 3
No six-core processor or GTX graphics
The new HP Envy 13 is everything I was hoping the new Apple MacBook Air would be: fast, attractive and affordable. That doesn't come as a surprise; the previous model ranked #1 on our best college laptop page for over a year. HP could simply have cloned that model, added new components and re-released it, and it still would have been one of the best Ultrabooks around.
Instead, the company gave us an even better version, with a more elegant design, a bright and vivid display, and top-notch speakers. Combine that with long battery life (on the 1080p version), a comfortable keyboard and a reasonable price and it becomes hard to see why anyone would buy the MacBook Air over the Envy 13. A
Yes, at this point, you should probably consider laptops with 10th Gen CPUs but the 8th Gen-powered Envy 13 is still a great option.
Case & Connectivity - good-looking metal case
Hewlett Packard has again equipped its Envy 13 with an angular aluminum case. The build has hardly changed compared to its predecessor. The fingerprint reader, originally on the right, has been moved to the wrist rest and the card reader is now positioned on the right rather than left side of the case. We did not notice any issues with workmanship on this 13.3-inch device. The gap dimensions were uniform and there were no overhanging edges. We did notice some weaknesses in terms of stability, however. Subjectively, the base unit was a little too easy to warp. We would have appreciated a more solid build. Slight pressure on the back of the display is immediately visible on the panel.
The Envy 13 does not have a maintenance hatch, so users will have to remove the bottom cover to access the insides. This requires removing all the screws on the bottom of the base unit and then lifting the cover off with the help of a flat spatula. But be careful: A lot of the screws are hidden beneath the two rubber feet. These can be removed but only carefully, as a replacement set is fairly expensive.
The HP device offers a fairly limited amount of ports. It has three USB ports that support USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds. The USB Type-C port also supports the DisplayPort-via-USB-C function (this requires an adapter that must be purchased separately) and can also be used to recharge the device.
The microSD card reader is one of the fastest of its kind. It reaches a maximum transfer rate of 81.7 MB/s when copying large amounts of data. It transferred 250 jpg files (each about 5 MB large) at a speed of 77.6 MB/s. We always use our reference card Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64 GB for testing.
The Wi-Fi module in our test unit comes from Intel (Wireless-AC 9560). It supports the usual Wi-Fi standards 802.11a/b/g/n as well as the faster ac standard. We tested the Wi-Fi speed under ideal conditions (no other Wi-Fi devices in the vicinity, short distance between notebook and server) and were pleased with the results.
Design
I can't remember the last time I reviewed an Envy, Spectre or EliteBook that didn't put Apple's MacBook design to shame. Echoing the look of its predecessor, this 2019 Envy 13 has a sleek, silver-metal frame with a stylish chrome HP logo centered on the lid.
Open the lid, and you'll find an interior that resembles that of the gorgeous Spectre x360. The most obvious similarity is the triangular pattern on the speaker grill located just above the keyboard. Some folks might complain about a lack of contrast between the laptop's silver keys and deck, but I quite like the pairing. I do wish HP hid the gray antenna strip underneath the chassis, but that's a small knock on what is otherwise a pristinely packaged notebook.
Given the HP Envy 13’s slim and trim profile, the laptop’s limited selection of ports shouldn’t come as a big surprise. On the left side of the Envy 13, you get a drop-jaw USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port, and a combo audio jack.
On the right side, there’s a second drop-jaw USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, a microSD media card reader, and a barrel-shaped AC port, along with the aforementioned webcam kill switch.
Also on the left side of the Envy 13 is a USB-C port and a headphone jack, while the right side has a microSD-card reader and a power jack.
Display
The 13.3-inch, 1080p non-touch display on the base Envy 13 is just as good as the 4K touch option, if not better. While both touch screen panels are very sharp and bright, the FHD version is even more vivid than the higher-res panel.
Protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass NBT coating, the HP Envy 13’s 4K touchscreen checks most of our boxes. With its IPS (in-plane switching) display technology, the Envy 13’s screen boasts solid viewing angles, dimming only slightly when viewed from the side or top.
The display is also impressively bright, measuring about 395 nits (or candelas) according to our light meter, which is well over our 250-nit minimum standard for comfortable indoor reading.
Of course, the brightness and 4K resolution of the Envy 13’s display will put a dent in the laptop’s battery life, as we’ll see momentarily.
When I watched a trailer for the live-action adaptation of Mulan, I could see the intricate floral pattern in the warrior's traditional robe and the small beads stippled onto her helmet. Mulan's battle garb was a rich red, which stood out against a barren, snowy landscape. While the 4K screen looked plenty saturated, its colors didn't look any more lively than those on the 1080p display.
I found the Envy's 4K touch screen to be quite responsive when I scribbled some notes on a screen grab taken in Microsoft's Snip & Sketch app. I didn't have any problems using the on-screen keyboard to type URLs or draft emails, either.
When I watched a trailer for the live-action adaptation of Mulan, I could see the intricate floral pattern in the warrior's traditional robe and the small beads stippled onto her helmet.
The 1080p panel reproduces 109% of the sRGB color gamut, making it more vivid than the 4K display, which reached only 99.4%. Both displays are less colorful than the 1080p display on the Notebook 9 Pro (118%), the 2256 x 1504-pixel screen on the Surface Laptop 2 (176%) and the 4K display on the Asus ZenBook S UX391UA (116%). The Envy 13's 1080p and 4K displays also fall short of the premium laptop average (130%).
Despite that showing, the Envy 13's FHD and 4K panels look fairly vibrant because of how bright they get. At 411 nits of brightness on the 1080p panel and 397 nits of peak luminance on the 4K display, the Envy 13 handily outshines the displays on the Notebook 9 Pro (254 nits), the Surface Laptop 2 (321 nits), the ZenBook S UX333FA (225 nits) and the average premium laptop (346 nits).
The flat, smooth keys of the backlit chiclet keyboard have a short travel and a noticeable pressure point. The actuation force could be a little crisper for our taste. The keyboard gives way a little while typing, but this didn't really bother us. The backlight offers two brightness levels and can be operated via a function key. All in all, HP has equipped its Envy 13 with a good keyboard.
The ClickPad supports multi-touch gestures and is about 11 x 5.5 cm large. This gives the user plenty of space to use gesture control. The smooth surface of the touchpad makes it easy for fingers to glide over it and inputs are precise even into the corners. The integrated mouse keys have a short travel and a noticeable pressure point.
Keyboard and Touchpad
My fingers appreciated the 1.2 millimeters of key travel on the Envy 13's keyboard, even though it doesn't reach our 1.5mm preference. I didn't bottom out as I wrote this review, which is something I can't say about most other Ultrabooks. The generous size and spacing of the island-style keys on the Envy 13 also make typing a joy.
That said, I'd change a few things about the keyboard. The paint HP used on the key caps has a slightly sticky feel, which slowed down my fingers. As did the weighty 81 grams of force required to actuate each key. Regardless, the Envy 13's keyboard is better than what we find on most slim laptopsThe HP Envy 13’s backlit keyboard is among the comfiest that I’ve tried, with a generous amount of travel (the distance a key sinks into the when it’s struck), a crisp mid-stroke bump, and a springy rebound. The Envy 13’s keys are also remarkably quiet, which your coworkers will likely appreciate.
I did, however, have trouble with the Envy 13’s overly sensitive trackpad, particularly around the bottom corners. With my right palm regularly grazing the trackpad as I typed (given that the trackpad is centered on the main chassis rather than the space bar), the mouse pointer frequently jumped across the screen, occasionally bringing the cursor with it if I happened to nudge the trackpad at the wrong moment. That meant the trackpad sometimes selected and deleted random swaths of text, or moved the cursor from one line to another while I was still typing. The problems persisted even after I fiddled with the laptop's trackpad sensitivity settings.
We reported our issues with the Envy 13's trackpad to HP, and the company was able to replicate the problem. We're told that HP is continuing to investigate whether the trackpad bugginess we encountered was an isolated incident or more widespread, and we'll update this review once we hear back. It's also possible that a firmware update could fix any nagging trackpad issues.
Back on the plus side, I was impressed with the HP Envy 13’s Bang & Olufsen-designed laptop speakers. A sizeable cut above the tinny speakers you usually hear on laptops, the Envy 13’s top-firing drivers deliver solid mid-range sound, with a fair amount of high-end detail and even a little bass. Mind you, the Envy 13’s speakers can’t hold a candle to a decent pair of headphones or external speakers, but we’ve heard worse—much worse.
The HP Envy 13 also boasts a Windows Hello-enabled fingerprint reader near the bottom-right corner of the keyboard, handy for signing into Windows with a swipe of your finger. A switch on the right edge of the laptop electrically disables the webcam (although there's no physical shutter).I typed at 119 words per minute with an accuracy rate of 94% on the 10fastfingers.com typing test, nearly matching my typical 119-wpm, 95% accurate result.
HP finally adopted Precision drivers and the Envy 13's touchpad is better off for it. I had no issues executing Windows 10 gestures, like pinch-to-zoom or a four-finger tap to open the Action Center, on the 4.3 x 2.2-inch surface.
Performance
We tested two versions of the Envy 13: a base model with a Core i5-8265U CPU and 8GB of RAM and a 4K model with an Intel Core i7-8565U CPU and 16GB of RAM.
While the HP Envy 13 doesn’t break any speed records, it does a nice job of balancing performance with portability, serving up solid benchmark numbers considering its impressively slim and light chassis. If you want substantially faster performance from a less-than-three-pound laptop that’s as svelte as this one, expect to pony up twice as much for an Ice Lake-powered model. That said, the biggest compromise we’re seeing in this particular Envy 13 configuration comes in the battery life department, with the bright 4K display being the likely culprit.
Our first test measures how well a given laptop performs day-to-day computing tasks, with PCMark 8 designed to simulate such daily duties as spreadsheet work, online shopping, word processing and video chat. A score of 2,000 or more usually points to silky-smooth Office performance.
While the HP Envy 13’s PCMark 8 score is second to last in our chart (we’ve compared the Envy 13 to a range of similarly priced two- and four-core Intel Core-powered laptops, along with a Dell running on a six-core Ice Lake chip), the laptop still has no trouble dusting our 2,000 low-water mark for the PCMark 8 benchmark. Indeed, if you take a laptop that scored about 3,000 in PCMark 8 (such as the Dell Inspiron 15 at the bottom of our chart) and another that snagged a 3,500 result , you’d be hard-pressed to notice any difference in terms of general computing performance.
It’s also worth noting that the Ice Lake-packing Dell XPS 13’s PCMark 8 score sits almost smack-dab in the middle of our chart, which goes to show that paying extra for Intel’s hottest new CPU won’t pay much in the way of dividends when it comes to web browsing or Office.
The 4K Envy 13 breezed through my real-world performance test, swiftly loading 20 Google Chrome tabs with multiple 1080p YouTubevideos playing in the background. I was then able to download the trailer for Mulan while watching Season 3 of Stranger Things on Netflix, all without any stuttering. The laptop's fans kicked on at this point, but they weren't bothersome.
The Core i5 and Core i7 versions of the Envy 13 did an excellent job on our synthetic benchmark tests, scoring a 15,147 and 15,738 on the Geekbench 4 evaluation, respectively. The Notebook 9 Pro (15,432; Core i7-8565U) falls between those results, while both Envy 13 models topped the Surface Laptop 2 (12,744; Core i5-8250U), the ZenBook S UX333UA (15,110; Core i5-8265U) and the category average (15,085). They also embarrassed the MacBook Air (7,880).
The Envy 13 also did well on our hard drive test. The 256GB SSD inside the base model duplicated 4.97GB of mixed-media files in 13 seconds for a rate of 391 megabytes per second while the 512GB SSD in the Core i7 version took 14 seconds for a rate of 363.5 MBps. That's faster than the Surface Laptop 2 (203 MBps) but slower than most of the competition, including the Notebook 9 Pro (391.5 MBps), the Asus UX333 (424 MBps), the MacBook Air (1,011 MBps) the category average (646.3 MBps).
Graphics
Surprise, surprise -- our 4K Envy 13 came with a discrete graphics card. While the Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU isn't meant for demanding gaming, it is a step up from integrated graphics as proven by comparing it to the UHD 620 GPU in the FHD model.
The MX250-equipped Envy 13 scored a 116,575 on the Ice Storm Unlimited benchmark while the base model scored a 82,270. Upgrading to the discrete graphics gives the Envy 13 better performance than the Notebook 9 Pro (61,662; UHD 620), Surface Laptop 2 (71,647; UHD 620) and the premium laptop average (86,937).
While the Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU isn't meant for demanding gaming, it is a step up from integrated graphics as proven by comparing it to the UHD 620 GPU in the FHD model.
We played the racing game Dirt 3 at 92 frames per second on the MX250 model, which is well above our 30-fps playability, the category average (69 fps) and what the Surface Laptop 2 (82 fps) achieved. The ZenBook S UX391UA (45 fps) fell flat on this real-world test but ran better than the base model Envy 13 (31 fps).
Audio
I had a good ol' time groovin' to the sound of the Envy 13's crisp speakers. HP went all out with the Envy, placing dual speakers on the underside of the chassis along with a third, top-firing driver above the keyboard. Devon Gilfillian's funky jam "Here and Now" boomed smooth, soulful tunes throughout my small apartment. The twang of the electric guitar played nicely with the thudding percussion but never overshadowed Gilfillian or the female backup vocals.
Bang & Olufsen software comes preinstalled on the Envy 13, with equalizer controls so you can adjust the bass, midrange and treble to your liking. But even out of the box, you'll enjoy great sound without having to bust out your headphones.
3D Mark SkyDiver 1.0
With its discrete graphics card, the HP Envy 13 is a thin-and-light laptop that’s actually got some modest game, although “modest” is the key word. While the Envy 13’s Nvidia GeForce MX250 graphics card is a vast improvement over Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 620 core, we’re still only talking entry-level discrete graphics here. In other words, don’t expect to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare at 60 fps on Ultra settings.
Still, taking a quick look at our performance chart, you can see what a difference a discrete graphics card can make. Even with its new, super-charged integrated Iris Plus graphics, the pricey Dell XPS 13 can’t touch the graphics performance of the Envy 13 and the (barely) chart-topping Dell Inspiron 15 7000, each of which boast discrete GeForce MX250 graphics cards. The Inspiron probably gets its (slight) edge over the HP Envy 13 thanks to its larger, easier-to-cool chassis. Far below the Dell Inspiron and HP Envy are all the laptops saddled with integrated graphics, including the new Dell XPS 13 with its 10th-gen Iris Plus integrated graphics core.
While the GeForce MX250 is primarily intended for pro-video users working with (for example) Adobe Premiere, it can play some games provided you keep your expectations in check. Firing up Fortnite, the Envy 13 managed to squeeze out 50- to 60-fps visuals at medium settings for about five minutes or so. That figure fell to a still-playable 30 fps once the Envy’s fans began spinning up.
Battery Life
Get an Envy 13 with the 1080p non-touch display if battery life is important to you.
The FHD model endured for 11 hours and 11 minutes whereas the 4K model lasted only 4 hours and 36 minutes on our battery test, which involves continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightnessWe test a laptop’s battery life by looping a 4K video using the stock Windows Movies & TV app, with screen brightness set at about 250 nits (which, in the case of the HP Envy 13, meant turning the brightness down to about 91 percent) and with the sound dialed to 50 percent, headphones on.
With its 53-watt-hour battery, the HP Envy 13 lands roughly in the middle of the pack, separated from its two closest competitors by only a few minutes. The similarly slim-and-trim Dell XPS 13 squeezed another hour out of its slightly smaller battery, but it also costs a good more than the Envy 13, while the chart-topping Acer Aspire 5 is considerably thicker and heavier.
Of course, one of the Envy 13’s key selling points—its bright, gorgeous 4K display—happens to be its biggest battery drain. If you’re looking for an Envy 13 model with better battery life, consider a configuration with a scaled-back 1920x1080 (Full HD) display resolution.
Competing laptops like the ZenBook S UX391UA (7:05), Surface Laptop 2 (9:22) and Notebook 9 Pro (8:53) outstayed the 4K Envy 13 but powered down long before the 1080p version.
Webcam
The 720p webcam on the Envy 13 is nothing to write home about. A selfie I snapped in my dimly lit room was covered in a haze of visual noise. My beard and hair were unkempt blobs, while my eyes looked like they were drawn on by a pointillist painter. If there's one positive, it's that the lens captures natural colors and even extracted the different shades of gray in my T-shirt.
On the right edge of the Envy 13 is a physical kill switch that cuts the power to the webcam so you can feel reassured that nobody is snooping on you.
Heat
Leave the lapdesk at home - you don't have to worry about the Envy 13 overheating.
After I played a 15-minute, full-HD video in full screen, the touchpad on the HP Envy 13 with a Core i7 CPU rose to only 83 degrees Fahrenheit while the keyboard (87 degrees) and underside (90 degrees) also remained well below our 95-degree comfort threshold. Even the toastiest part of the machine, the lower-left edge on the underside, topped out at 94 degrees.
Software and Warranty
It's a shame that a laptop with such beautiful hardware ships with such ugly software. Pre-installed on this machine are entirely too many programs that could either be packaged together or omitted altogether.
HP provides an app called Audio Switch, which simply lets you switch your audio input/output between the internal speakers and headphones. As the same implies, HP's Command Center is where you can get information about your Envy 13 but also switch the thermal profiles between comfort and performance. Along with support documentation, HP also bundles in a setup program called JumpStart, a program for connecting printers and a redundant system-info app called Event Utility.
Also installed on the Envy 13's Windows 10 Home OS are several Microsoft apps, including Simple Solitaire, Candy Crush Friends and Your Phone. Other third-party apps include Booking.com, Netflix and McAfee Security.
Bottom Line
The Envy 13 has cemented its standing as the ultimate laptop for college students or travelers. Along with 11-plus hours of battery life (on the FHD model), the Envy 13 has a sleek, ultraportable chassis, fast performance, and powerful speakers. Best of all, the Envy 13 starts at a reasonable, which is hundreds less than the competition. In many ways, the Envy 13 is what we wanted the new MacBook Air to be.
Peppy quad-core processor? Check. Bright 4K display? Yup. Slim and light? Double-check. We’ll also go ahead and check off discrete graphics, the comfy keyboard, and more important, the reasonable price tag. So yes, this configuration of the HP Envy 13 has a lot going for it, making it a great companion during a demanding trip to Las Vegas for CES. That said, the niggling trackpad was an annoying pebble in my shoe, and we're anxious to hear what HP's investigation turns up.
The new HP Envy 13 is everything I was hoping the new MacBook Air would be: fast, attractive and affordable.
Just be sure to buy the right model. We strongly recommend the 1080p version over the 4K model because it lasts several hours longer on a charge and costs less. In fact, if we were reviewing the 4K model separately, we'd only give it a 3.5 rating. You should also consider the Envy 13 with a 10th Gen CPU, although we haven't gotten the chance to review it yet.
If you absolutely need a high-res display, the 4K Envy 13 is one of many good options. We also recommend the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro, which has a similarly premium design but much better battery life than the 4K Envy. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 is another recommended alternative, though you might want to wait a few months for the rumored Surface Laptop 3.
Overall, the HP Envy 13 is a fantastic laptop that checks all the right boxes --- as long as you buy the 1080p model.
Spectacular battery life
Exotic good looks and an excellent build
Precise and comfortable keyboard
Crisp 4K touchscreen
AGAINST4K model has short battery life
No Thunderbolt 3
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.0 Brand HP CPU Intel Core i7-8565U Card Slots microSD Company Website https://www8.hp.com/us/en/home.html Display Size 13.3 Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce MX250 Hard Drive Size 512GB Hard Drive Type PCIe NVMe M.2 Highest Available Resolution 3840 x 2160 Native Resolution 3840 x 2160 Operating System Windows 10 Home Ports (excluding USB) USB 3.1 with Type-C, USB 3.1 Always-On, USB 3.1, Headphone/Mic, microSD RAM 16GB RAM Upgradable to 16GB Size 12.1 x 8.3 x .57 inches Touchpad Size 4.3 x 2.2 inches USB Ports 3 Video Memory 2GB Weight 2.8 pounds Wi-Fi 802.11ac Wi-Fi Model Intel Wireless-AC 9560 |
Instead, the company gave us an even better version, with a more elegant design, a bright and vivid display, and top-notch speakers. Combine that with long battery life (on the 1080p version), a comfortable keyboard and a reasonable price and it becomes hard to see why anyone would buy the MacBook Air over the Envy 13. A
Yes, at this point, you should probably consider laptops with 10th Gen CPUs but the 8th Gen-powered Envy 13 is still a great option.
There’s a lot to like about the HP Envy 13, starting with its super-slim design, its bright 4K display, its comfy keypad and impressive quad-core performance. The Envy 13 also manages to pack in a discrete GPU and respectable battery life, all for a very reasonable price tag. That said, we did encounter some issues with the laptop's overly sensitive trackpad (which HP says it's investigating), resulting in a jittery cursor that regularly jumped around the screen and even highlighted and deleted our words by accident.
Overall, that’s an impressive amount of power under the hood for a fairly reasonable price. The 8th-gen Core i7 processor might look like a disappointing downgrade to those thirsting for a 10th-gen Intel CPU, but from what we’ve seen, there’s not much of a performance gap between the 8th-gen Whiskey Lake processor in this configuration and the 10th-gen Comet Lake chip in the pricier Envy 13 models. Both of these quad-core CPUs are built on Intel's 14nm process, for one thing. While the Comet Lake processor has a slightly higher boost clock, you’re probably not going to feel the difference in typical daily desktop duties.
Besides the solid CPU, you’re also getting a generous 16GB of RAM and a roomy 512GB SSD, meaning you’ll enjoy plenty of multitasking headroom, plus enough storage to install plenty of programs and even a decent amount of media. The 4K touchscreen should deliver razor-sharp visuals (although you’ll pay a price in the battery-life department), and then there’s the cherry on top: discrete graphics in the form of an entry-level Nvidia mobile graphics card, handy for working in Adobe Premiere or even playing a little Fortnite.
Overall, that’s an impressive amount of power under the hood for a fairly reasonable price. The 8th-gen Core i7 processor might look like a disappointing downgrade to those thirsting for a 10th-gen Intel CPU, but from what we’ve seen, there’s not much of a performance gap between the 8th-gen Whiskey Lake processor in this configuration and the 10th-gen Comet Lake chip in the pricier Envy 13 models. Both of these quad-core CPUs are built on Intel's 14nm process, for one thing. While the Comet Lake processor has a slightly higher boost clock, you’re probably not going to feel the difference in typical daily desktop duties.
Besides the solid CPU, you’re also getting a generous 16GB of RAM and a roomy 512GB SSD, meaning you’ll enjoy plenty of multitasking headroom, plus enough storage to install plenty of programs and even a decent amount of media. The 4K touchscreen should deliver razor-sharp visuals (although you’ll pay a price in the battery-life department), and then there’s the cherry on top: discrete graphics in the form of an entry-level Nvidia mobile graphics card, handy for working in Adobe Premiere or even playing a little Fortnite.
Case & Connectivity - good-looking metal case
Hewlett Packard has again equipped its Envy 13 with an angular aluminum case. The build has hardly changed compared to its predecessor. The fingerprint reader, originally on the right, has been moved to the wrist rest and the card reader is now positioned on the right rather than left side of the case. We did not notice any issues with workmanship on this 13.3-inch device. The gap dimensions were uniform and there were no overhanging edges. We did notice some weaknesses in terms of stability, however. Subjectively, the base unit was a little too easy to warp. We would have appreciated a more solid build. Slight pressure on the back of the display is immediately visible on the panel.
The Envy 13 does not have a maintenance hatch, so users will have to remove the bottom cover to access the insides. This requires removing all the screws on the bottom of the base unit and then lifting the cover off with the help of a flat spatula. But be careful: A lot of the screws are hidden beneath the two rubber feet. These can be removed but only carefully, as a replacement set is fairly expensive.
The HP device offers a fairly limited amount of ports. It has three USB ports that support USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds. The USB Type-C port also supports the DisplayPort-via-USB-C function (this requires an adapter that must be purchased separately) and can also be used to recharge the device.
The microSD card reader is one of the fastest of its kind. It reaches a maximum transfer rate of 81.7 MB/s when copying large amounts of data. It transferred 250 jpg files (each about 5 MB large) at a speed of 77.6 MB/s. We always use our reference card Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64 GB for testing.
The Wi-Fi module in our test unit comes from Intel (Wireless-AC 9560). It supports the usual Wi-Fi standards 802.11a/b/g/n as well as the faster ac standard. We tested the Wi-Fi speed under ideal conditions (no other Wi-Fi devices in the vicinity, short distance between notebook and server) and were pleased with the results.
Design
I can't remember the last time I reviewed an Envy, Spectre or EliteBook that didn't put Apple's MacBook design to shame. Echoing the look of its predecessor, this 2019 Envy 13 has a sleek, silver-metal frame with a stylish chrome HP logo centered on the lid.
Open the lid, and you'll find an interior that resembles that of the gorgeous Spectre x360. The most obvious similarity is the triangular pattern on the speaker grill located just above the keyboard. Some folks might complain about a lack of contrast between the laptop's silver keys and deck, but I quite like the pairing. I do wish HP hid the gray antenna strip underneath the chassis, but that's a small knock on what is otherwise a pristinely packaged notebook.
Opening the Envy 13’s lid reveals (in the case of this particular SKU) the eye-popping 4K display, which is surrounded by slim bezels on the top and sides but a rather chunkier one on the bottom. Above the keyboard sits a speaker grille with an attractive diamond-cut design. The power button takes residence just above the Escape key, which should help prevent the accidental presses users sometimes experience with side-mounted versions.
Sleek, slim and silver (or “pale gold,” if you cough up an extra on HP’s online configurator), the HP Envy 13 cuts an enviably trim profile. Measuring 12.1 x 8.3 x 0.58 inches and weighing in at just 2.8 pounds (or 3.42 pounds with the AC cord, which comes with a compact power brick), the Envy 13 feels great to hold in your hands, and it’s barely there in your backpack. I should know, because the Envy 13 served as my laptop at CES in Vegas this year. My back is eternally grateful for the Envy 13’s light, wafer-thin shell.
The top of the HP Envy 13’s aluminum lid is featureless save for the HP logo stamped in the middle. When you close the lid, the front lip has an hourglass edge that makes the laptop easier to open, while the L-shaped back edge of the lid covers the hinge, making the rear of the Envy 13 look like the spine of a book. When opened, the hinge props up the Envy 13’s lower chassis, angling the keyboard while also allowing for a cooling airflow beneath the laptop.
Also on the deck is a slim power button with an LED strip, opposite a fingerprint sensor. A chrome trim around the touchpad and some unobtrusive Envy and HP branding give this reasonably-priced notebook a premium aesthetic.
Adopted from HP's pricier Spectre laptops are the Envy 13's slim display bezels. While not as thin as those on some Dell and Asus laptops, the narrow black frame around the Envy's panel provides an immersive viewing experience without sacrificing the webcam.
The Envy 13 sits on its flat back edge, which drops below the base when you lift the lid and angle the deck slightly downward. From what we've seen on Asus and Dell laptops, the feature allows for a more comfortable typing experience and improved airflow.
Another clever feature is the Envy 13's concave edges. If you've ever owned an Ultrabook, then you know how hard it can be to open the lid. Inward-angled edges on the lid and base of the Envy 13 solve this problem by giving your fingers a place to grip.
At 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds, the Envy 13 is about as thin and lightweight as its portable competitors, including the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro (0.6 inches, 2.7 pounds), the Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (0.6 inches, 2.7 pounds) , the Asus ZenBook UX333FA (0.6 inches, 2.7 pounds) and the MacBook Air (0.6 inches, 2.8 pounds).
Ports
HP used a clever expanding-flap mechanism called a "drop jaw" to fit USB 3.1 Type-A ports on each side of the Envy 13. You can use these inputs to connect legacy peripherals -- like mice, keyboards or external webcams -- without a dongle, but we worry about the long-term reliability of this extra moving part.
Sleek, slim and silver (or “pale gold,” if you cough up an extra on HP’s online configurator), the HP Envy 13 cuts an enviably trim profile. Measuring 12.1 x 8.3 x 0.58 inches and weighing in at just 2.8 pounds (or 3.42 pounds with the AC cord, which comes with a compact power brick), the Envy 13 feels great to hold in your hands, and it’s barely there in your backpack. I should know, because the Envy 13 served as my laptop at CES in Vegas this year. My back is eternally grateful for the Envy 13’s light, wafer-thin shell.
The top of the HP Envy 13’s aluminum lid is featureless save for the HP logo stamped in the middle. When you close the lid, the front lip has an hourglass edge that makes the laptop easier to open, while the L-shaped back edge of the lid covers the hinge, making the rear of the Envy 13 look like the spine of a book. When opened, the hinge props up the Envy 13’s lower chassis, angling the keyboard while also allowing for a cooling airflow beneath the laptop.
Also on the deck is a slim power button with an LED strip, opposite a fingerprint sensor. A chrome trim around the touchpad and some unobtrusive Envy and HP branding give this reasonably-priced notebook a premium aesthetic.
Adopted from HP's pricier Spectre laptops are the Envy 13's slim display bezels. While not as thin as those on some Dell and Asus laptops, the narrow black frame around the Envy's panel provides an immersive viewing experience without sacrificing the webcam.
The Envy 13 sits on its flat back edge, which drops below the base when you lift the lid and angle the deck slightly downward. From what we've seen on Asus and Dell laptops, the feature allows for a more comfortable typing experience and improved airflow.
Another clever feature is the Envy 13's concave edges. If you've ever owned an Ultrabook, then you know how hard it can be to open the lid. Inward-angled edges on the lid and base of the Envy 13 solve this problem by giving your fingers a place to grip.
At 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds, the Envy 13 is about as thin and lightweight as its portable competitors, including the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro (0.6 inches, 2.7 pounds), the Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 (0.6 inches, 2.7 pounds) , the Asus ZenBook UX333FA (0.6 inches, 2.7 pounds) and the MacBook Air (0.6 inches, 2.8 pounds).
Ports
HP used a clever expanding-flap mechanism called a "drop jaw" to fit USB 3.1 Type-A ports on each side of the Envy 13. You can use these inputs to connect legacy peripherals -- like mice, keyboards or external webcams -- without a dongle, but we worry about the long-term reliability of this extra moving part.
Given the HP Envy 13’s slim and trim profile, the laptop’s limited selection of ports shouldn’t come as a big surprise. On the left side of the Envy 13, you get a drop-jaw USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port, and a combo audio jack.
On the right side, there’s a second drop-jaw USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, a microSD media card reader, and a barrel-shaped AC port, along with the aforementioned webcam kill switch.
Also on the left side of the Envy 13 is a USB-C port and a headphone jack, while the right side has a microSD-card reader and a power jack.
Display
The 13.3-inch, 1080p non-touch display on the base Envy 13 is just as good as the 4K touch option, if not better. While both touch screen panels are very sharp and bright, the FHD version is even more vivid than the higher-res panel.
Protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass NBT coating, the HP Envy 13’s 4K touchscreen checks most of our boxes. With its IPS (in-plane switching) display technology, the Envy 13’s screen boasts solid viewing angles, dimming only slightly when viewed from the side or top.
The display is also impressively bright, measuring about 395 nits (or candelas) according to our light meter, which is well over our 250-nit minimum standard for comfortable indoor reading.
Of course, the brightness and 4K resolution of the Envy 13’s display will put a dent in the laptop’s battery life, as we’ll see momentarily.
When I watched a trailer for the live-action adaptation of Mulan, I could see the intricate floral pattern in the warrior's traditional robe and the small beads stippled onto her helmet. Mulan's battle garb was a rich red, which stood out against a barren, snowy landscape. While the 4K screen looked plenty saturated, its colors didn't look any more lively than those on the 1080p display.
I found the Envy's 4K touch screen to be quite responsive when I scribbled some notes on a screen grab taken in Microsoft's Snip & Sketch app. I didn't have any problems using the on-screen keyboard to type URLs or draft emails, either.
When I watched a trailer for the live-action adaptation of Mulan, I could see the intricate floral pattern in the warrior's traditional robe and the small beads stippled onto her helmet.
The 1080p panel reproduces 109% of the sRGB color gamut, making it more vivid than the 4K display, which reached only 99.4%. Both displays are less colorful than the 1080p display on the Notebook 9 Pro (118%), the 2256 x 1504-pixel screen on the Surface Laptop 2 (176%) and the 4K display on the Asus ZenBook S UX391UA (116%). The Envy 13's 1080p and 4K displays also fall short of the premium laptop average (130%).
Despite that showing, the Envy 13's FHD and 4K panels look fairly vibrant because of how bright they get. At 411 nits of brightness on the 1080p panel and 397 nits of peak luminance on the 4K display, the Envy 13 handily outshines the displays on the Notebook 9 Pro (254 nits), the Surface Laptop 2 (321 nits), the ZenBook S UX333FA (225 nits) and the average premium laptop (346 nits).
HP ENVY 13 Inch Thin Laptop w/ Fingerprint Reader, 4K Touchscreen, Intel Core i7 review
Input Devices - the Envy has backlit keysThe flat, smooth keys of the backlit chiclet keyboard have a short travel and a noticeable pressure point. The actuation force could be a little crisper for our taste. The keyboard gives way a little while typing, but this didn't really bother us. The backlight offers two brightness levels and can be operated via a function key. All in all, HP has equipped its Envy 13 with a good keyboard.
The ClickPad supports multi-touch gestures and is about 11 x 5.5 cm large. This gives the user plenty of space to use gesture control. The smooth surface of the touchpad makes it easy for fingers to glide over it and inputs are precise even into the corners. The integrated mouse keys have a short travel and a noticeable pressure point.
Keyboard and Touchpad
My fingers appreciated the 1.2 millimeters of key travel on the Envy 13's keyboard, even though it doesn't reach our 1.5mm preference. I didn't bottom out as I wrote this review, which is something I can't say about most other Ultrabooks. The generous size and spacing of the island-style keys on the Envy 13 also make typing a joy.
That said, I'd change a few things about the keyboard. The paint HP used on the key caps has a slightly sticky feel, which slowed down my fingers. As did the weighty 81 grams of force required to actuate each key. Regardless, the Envy 13's keyboard is better than what we find on most slim laptopsThe HP Envy 13’s backlit keyboard is among the comfiest that I’ve tried, with a generous amount of travel (the distance a key sinks into the when it’s struck), a crisp mid-stroke bump, and a springy rebound. The Envy 13’s keys are also remarkably quiet, which your coworkers will likely appreciate.
I did, however, have trouble with the Envy 13’s overly sensitive trackpad, particularly around the bottom corners. With my right palm regularly grazing the trackpad as I typed (given that the trackpad is centered on the main chassis rather than the space bar), the mouse pointer frequently jumped across the screen, occasionally bringing the cursor with it if I happened to nudge the trackpad at the wrong moment. That meant the trackpad sometimes selected and deleted random swaths of text, or moved the cursor from one line to another while I was still typing. The problems persisted even after I fiddled with the laptop's trackpad sensitivity settings.
We reported our issues with the Envy 13's trackpad to HP, and the company was able to replicate the problem. We're told that HP is continuing to investigate whether the trackpad bugginess we encountered was an isolated incident or more widespread, and we'll update this review once we hear back. It's also possible that a firmware update could fix any nagging trackpad issues.
Back on the plus side, I was impressed with the HP Envy 13’s Bang & Olufsen-designed laptop speakers. A sizeable cut above the tinny speakers you usually hear on laptops, the Envy 13’s top-firing drivers deliver solid mid-range sound, with a fair amount of high-end detail and even a little bass. Mind you, the Envy 13’s speakers can’t hold a candle to a decent pair of headphones or external speakers, but we’ve heard worse—much worse.
The HP Envy 13 also boasts a Windows Hello-enabled fingerprint reader near the bottom-right corner of the keyboard, handy for signing into Windows with a swipe of your finger. A switch on the right edge of the laptop electrically disables the webcam (although there's no physical shutter).I typed at 119 words per minute with an accuracy rate of 94% on the 10fastfingers.com typing test, nearly matching my typical 119-wpm, 95% accurate result.
HP finally adopted Precision drivers and the Envy 13's touchpad is better off for it. I had no issues executing Windows 10 gestures, like pinch-to-zoom or a four-finger tap to open the Action Center, on the 4.3 x 2.2-inch surface.
Performance
We tested two versions of the Envy 13: a base model with a Core i5-8265U CPU and 8GB of RAM and a 4K model with an Intel Core i7-8565U CPU and 16GB of RAM.
While the HP Envy 13 doesn’t break any speed records, it does a nice job of balancing performance with portability, serving up solid benchmark numbers considering its impressively slim and light chassis. If you want substantially faster performance from a less-than-three-pound laptop that’s as svelte as this one, expect to pony up twice as much for an Ice Lake-powered model. That said, the biggest compromise we’re seeing in this particular Envy 13 configuration comes in the battery life department, with the bright 4K display being the likely culprit.
Our first test measures how well a given laptop performs day-to-day computing tasks, with PCMark 8 designed to simulate such daily duties as spreadsheet work, online shopping, word processing and video chat. A score of 2,000 or more usually points to silky-smooth Office performance.
While the HP Envy 13’s PCMark 8 score is second to last in our chart (we’ve compared the Envy 13 to a range of similarly priced two- and four-core Intel Core-powered laptops, along with a Dell running on a six-core Ice Lake chip), the laptop still has no trouble dusting our 2,000 low-water mark for the PCMark 8 benchmark. Indeed, if you take a laptop that scored about 3,000 in PCMark 8 (such as the Dell Inspiron 15 at the bottom of our chart) and another that snagged a 3,500 result , you’d be hard-pressed to notice any difference in terms of general computing performance.
It’s also worth noting that the Ice Lake-packing Dell XPS 13’s PCMark 8 score sits almost smack-dab in the middle of our chart, which goes to show that paying extra for Intel’s hottest new CPU won’t pay much in the way of dividends when it comes to web browsing or Office.
The 4K Envy 13 breezed through my real-world performance test, swiftly loading 20 Google Chrome tabs with multiple 1080p YouTubevideos playing in the background. I was then able to download the trailer for Mulan while watching Season 3 of Stranger Things on Netflix, all without any stuttering. The laptop's fans kicked on at this point, but they weren't bothersome.
The Core i5 and Core i7 versions of the Envy 13 did an excellent job on our synthetic benchmark tests, scoring a 15,147 and 15,738 on the Geekbench 4 evaluation, respectively. The Notebook 9 Pro (15,432; Core i7-8565U) falls between those results, while both Envy 13 models topped the Surface Laptop 2 (12,744; Core i5-8250U), the ZenBook S UX333UA (15,110; Core i5-8265U) and the category average (15,085). They also embarrassed the MacBook Air (7,880).
The Envy 13 also did well on our hard drive test. The 256GB SSD inside the base model duplicated 4.97GB of mixed-media files in 13 seconds for a rate of 391 megabytes per second while the 512GB SSD in the Core i7 version took 14 seconds for a rate of 363.5 MBps. That's faster than the Surface Laptop 2 (203 MBps) but slower than most of the competition, including the Notebook 9 Pro (391.5 MBps), the Asus UX333 (424 MBps), the MacBook Air (1,011 MBps) the category average (646.3 MBps).
Graphics
Surprise, surprise -- our 4K Envy 13 came with a discrete graphics card. While the Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU isn't meant for demanding gaming, it is a step up from integrated graphics as proven by comparing it to the UHD 620 GPU in the FHD model.
The MX250-equipped Envy 13 scored a 116,575 on the Ice Storm Unlimited benchmark while the base model scored a 82,270. Upgrading to the discrete graphics gives the Envy 13 better performance than the Notebook 9 Pro (61,662; UHD 620), Surface Laptop 2 (71,647; UHD 620) and the premium laptop average (86,937).
While the Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU isn't meant for demanding gaming, it is a step up from integrated graphics as proven by comparing it to the UHD 620 GPU in the FHD model.
We played the racing game Dirt 3 at 92 frames per second on the MX250 model, which is well above our 30-fps playability, the category average (69 fps) and what the Surface Laptop 2 (82 fps) achieved. The ZenBook S UX391UA (45 fps) fell flat on this real-world test but ran better than the base model Envy 13 (31 fps).
Audio
I had a good ol' time groovin' to the sound of the Envy 13's crisp speakers. HP went all out with the Envy, placing dual speakers on the underside of the chassis along with a third, top-firing driver above the keyboard. Devon Gilfillian's funky jam "Here and Now" boomed smooth, soulful tunes throughout my small apartment. The twang of the electric guitar played nicely with the thudding percussion but never overshadowed Gilfillian or the female backup vocals.
Bang & Olufsen software comes preinstalled on the Envy 13, with equalizer controls so you can adjust the bass, midrange and treble to your liking. But even out of the box, you'll enjoy great sound without having to bust out your headphones.
3D Mark SkyDiver 1.0
With its discrete graphics card, the HP Envy 13 is a thin-and-light laptop that’s actually got some modest game, although “modest” is the key word. While the Envy 13’s Nvidia GeForce MX250 graphics card is a vast improvement over Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 620 core, we’re still only talking entry-level discrete graphics here. In other words, don’t expect to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare at 60 fps on Ultra settings.
Still, taking a quick look at our performance chart, you can see what a difference a discrete graphics card can make. Even with its new, super-charged integrated Iris Plus graphics, the pricey Dell XPS 13 can’t touch the graphics performance of the Envy 13 and the (barely) chart-topping Dell Inspiron 15 7000, each of which boast discrete GeForce MX250 graphics cards. The Inspiron probably gets its (slight) edge over the HP Envy 13 thanks to its larger, easier-to-cool chassis. Far below the Dell Inspiron and HP Envy are all the laptops saddled with integrated graphics, including the new Dell XPS 13 with its 10th-gen Iris Plus integrated graphics core.
While the GeForce MX250 is primarily intended for pro-video users working with (for example) Adobe Premiere, it can play some games provided you keep your expectations in check. Firing up Fortnite, the Envy 13 managed to squeeze out 50- to 60-fps visuals at medium settings for about five minutes or so. That figure fell to a still-playable 30 fps once the Envy’s fans began spinning up.
Battery Life
Get an Envy 13 with the 1080p non-touch display if battery life is important to you.
The FHD model endured for 11 hours and 11 minutes whereas the 4K model lasted only 4 hours and 36 minutes on our battery test, which involves continuous web browsing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightnessWe test a laptop’s battery life by looping a 4K video using the stock Windows Movies & TV app, with screen brightness set at about 250 nits (which, in the case of the HP Envy 13, meant turning the brightness down to about 91 percent) and with the sound dialed to 50 percent, headphones on.
With its 53-watt-hour battery, the HP Envy 13 lands roughly in the middle of the pack, separated from its two closest competitors by only a few minutes. The similarly slim-and-trim Dell XPS 13 squeezed another hour out of its slightly smaller battery, but it also costs a good more than the Envy 13, while the chart-topping Acer Aspire 5 is considerably thicker and heavier.
Of course, one of the Envy 13’s key selling points—its bright, gorgeous 4K display—happens to be its biggest battery drain. If you’re looking for an Envy 13 model with better battery life, consider a configuration with a scaled-back 1920x1080 (Full HD) display resolution.
Competing laptops like the ZenBook S UX391UA (7:05), Surface Laptop 2 (9:22) and Notebook 9 Pro (8:53) outstayed the 4K Envy 13 but powered down long before the 1080p version.
Webcam
The 720p webcam on the Envy 13 is nothing to write home about. A selfie I snapped in my dimly lit room was covered in a haze of visual noise. My beard and hair were unkempt blobs, while my eyes looked like they were drawn on by a pointillist painter. If there's one positive, it's that the lens captures natural colors and even extracted the different shades of gray in my T-shirt.
On the right edge of the Envy 13 is a physical kill switch that cuts the power to the webcam so you can feel reassured that nobody is snooping on you.
Heat
Leave the lapdesk at home - you don't have to worry about the Envy 13 overheating.
After I played a 15-minute, full-HD video in full screen, the touchpad on the HP Envy 13 with a Core i7 CPU rose to only 83 degrees Fahrenheit while the keyboard (87 degrees) and underside (90 degrees) also remained well below our 95-degree comfort threshold. Even the toastiest part of the machine, the lower-left edge on the underside, topped out at 94 degrees.
Software and Warranty
It's a shame that a laptop with such beautiful hardware ships with such ugly software. Pre-installed on this machine are entirely too many programs that could either be packaged together or omitted altogether.
HP provides an app called Audio Switch, which simply lets you switch your audio input/output between the internal speakers and headphones. As the same implies, HP's Command Center is where you can get information about your Envy 13 but also switch the thermal profiles between comfort and performance. Along with support documentation, HP also bundles in a setup program called JumpStart, a program for connecting printers and a redundant system-info app called Event Utility.
Also installed on the Envy 13's Windows 10 Home OS are several Microsoft apps, including Simple Solitaire, Candy Crush Friends and Your Phone. Other third-party apps include Booking.com, Netflix and McAfee Security.
Bottom Line
The Envy 13 has cemented its standing as the ultimate laptop for college students or travelers. Along with 11-plus hours of battery life (on the FHD model), the Envy 13 has a sleek, ultraportable chassis, fast performance, and powerful speakers. Best of all, the Envy 13 starts at a reasonable, which is hundreds less than the competition. In many ways, the Envy 13 is what we wanted the new MacBook Air to be.
Peppy quad-core processor? Check. Bright 4K display? Yup. Slim and light? Double-check. We’ll also go ahead and check off discrete graphics, the comfy keyboard, and more important, the reasonable price tag. So yes, this configuration of the HP Envy 13 has a lot going for it, making it a great companion during a demanding trip to Las Vegas for CES. That said, the niggling trackpad was an annoying pebble in my shoe, and we're anxious to hear what HP's investigation turns up.
The new HP Envy 13 is everything I was hoping the new MacBook Air would be: fast, attractive and affordable.
Just be sure to buy the right model. We strongly recommend the 1080p version over the 4K model because it lasts several hours longer on a charge and costs less. In fact, if we were reviewing the 4K model separately, we'd only give it a 3.5 rating. You should also consider the Envy 13 with a 10th Gen CPU, although we haven't gotten the chance to review it yet.
If you absolutely need a high-res display, the 4K Envy 13 is one of many good options. We also recommend the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro, which has a similarly premium design but much better battery life than the 4K Envy. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 is another recommended alternative, though you might want to wait a few months for the rumored Surface Laptop 3.
Overall, the HP Envy 13 is a fantastic laptop that checks all the right boxes --- as long as you buy the 1080p model.
HP ENVY 13 Inch Thin Laptop w/ Fingerprint Reader, 4K Touchscreen, Intel Core i7 review
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