HP Envy x360 Review: 2-in-1 Done Right

The newest x360 in the x360 series is the HP x360. With a 360-degree hinge and touchscreen capabilities, it is svelte, small, and functions as a tablet as well. This laptop offers a huge 16GB of RAM and a cutting-edge 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor. It’s a terrific alternative for students and business workers alike since you get the power of a laptop yet the convenience of a tablet. This model is excellent for anything from general work to relaxing and watching a movie because it combines an exceptional build quality with potent performance.
HP Envy x360: Display and design
The HP Envy x360 looks stunning. Its well-built, solid aluminium chassis looks and feels expensive. Nonetheless, despite its sturdy construction, it is very light (1.38kg) and portable, making it ideal for commuters or people who frequently work from coffee shops. The 360-degree hinge means that you can flip it into tent mode or even entirely flat into a tablet, and despite it being a hinge, it’s fairly robust and doesn’t seem flimsy. The keyboard doesn’t detach, so it can get in the way if you’re using it like a regular tablet, which might make it seem a little awkward while using it in tablet mode.
The screen is amazing. The bezels surrounding it are tiny and narrow, with the edge-to-edge glass making the screen look considerably bigger than it’s 13.3-inches. The touchscreen display uses a complete OLED panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a maximum brightness of 400 nits to produce vivid, lifelike visuals. Everything I did with this computer, including digital art creation and content streaming, worked perfectly on this screen.
However I must admit that the 16:9 aspect ratio and 100% DCI-P3 color fidelity of streaming video made it quite remarkable. Of course, the integrated Bang & Olufsen speakers provided a powerful audio punch.
There are many ports from which to choose. A microSD card reader, two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, two USB Type-A connectors, and a headphone/microphone jack are all included. It’s unfortunate that there isn’t an HDMI output, but in the broad scheme of things, you won’t really miss it, and if you do, there are several adaptors available to fix the issue.
HP Envy x360: Features
The HP Envy x360 doesn’t have a ton of functionality, but it does have a few tricks under its sleeve. Starting with the webcam, which may seem unimportant but is essential given that everyone is still working from home. Although the 720p camera on this model isn’t the best, it does offer GlamCam, which has an appearance filter, lighting adjustment, and auto frame to make sure you always look your best. A privacy shutter and a light that indicates if the camera is on are two additional features I adore. If you work from home and frequently pop in and out of team meetings, there is no risk of inadvertently leaving your camera on. In addition to sounding fantastic, it also includes a built-in bi-directional, AI noise reduction microphone. Given that I have two dogs running around while I’m trying to work, I was told that this microphone sounded great when I hopped on a zoom call during testing.
The HP MPP2.0 tilt pen, which is included with the HP Envy x360, is likewise quite responsive and comfortable to use; I had no jitters or stutters when doing so. As this pen is an Active pen rather than a Bluetooth pen like some others, you have to tap it on a specific area of the screen to activate it, which made it difficult for me to get it connected at first. Yet once I turned it on, every time I picked it up, it connected without a hitch. The battery will need to be charged more frequently because it is active and thus always on, but happily, it utilizes the same USB-C charging port as the laptop. Another minor concern is that there isn’t a special dock for the pen, but it can be attached to the magnetic strip on the front of the laptop with ease if you have Apple AirPods, which is a good method to keep everything organized.
Even though it is a small computer, it has a full-sized keyboard that also happens to be lighted. The keyboard is really comfortable to type on, with the proper amount of space between the keys. That did take some getting accustomed to, though, because the enter key is so tiny. The keyboard also has a fair selection of shortcut buttons, such as those for volume, the mute microphone button, and the camera kill switch. Nevertheless, these keys are oddly placed apart, so familiarize yourself with their locations if you anticipate ever needing to use them quickly. Although it can first feel a little stiff, the trackpad is a fantastic size and is quite simple to use. It also has a nice click for ASMR enthusiasts.
The touchscreen is very enjoyable to use. Using the pen or tapping and swiping with my hands, it replied promptly. It can also be utilized in laptop mode, which is really helpful if you’re attempting to teach someone something.
HP Envy x360 review: Prices
I examined the HP Envy x360 model, which features a 512GB solid-state drive, 16GB of RAM, and an Intel Core i7 1250U (12th Generation) processor. The processor does an excellent job of handling multitasking. I frequently had many apps open at once, along with a web browser running in multiple tabs, and I never had latency. That laptop, in my opinion, is better suited for simpler tasks like utilizing office software, learning the fundamentals of coding, editing simple photos, and accessing the internet. Anything more complicated causes it to start to wobble a little since, according to my research, power-hungry programs like Adobe Illustrator may lag when loading.
Although the 512GB SSD functions admirably, with quick read and write speeds, I am a little surprised that there isn’t more storage capacity supplied given the premium nature of this computer.
I’m afraid this isn’t the machine for serious gamers. It features integrated Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics, which limits its graphic capability, yet it works just well for simple games. The Xbox program I downloaded to stream games (even simple ones like Overcooked) performed amazingly well; the only slowness was caused by my internet connection. Also, external Bluetooth devices like the Xbox controller may be quickly and easily linked.
Using this machine is quite silent. The fans were remarkably silent, making only the occasional whirring noise when under intense pressure, indicating that HP has obviously improved the efficiency of their heat management technology. During testing, the temperature didn’t rise too high.
This is a pretty pleasant machine to use because of the screen. Because of the OLED display, colors are sharp and clear with excellent pixel response. It has a maximum brightness of 400 nits, which I found to be more than sufficient for working inside, but it wasn’t quite bright enough for working outside in direct sunlight. When paired with the inbuilt Bang & Olufsen speakers, the quality will astound anyone who enjoys using their computer to watch television and movies.
HP Envy x360 review: Battery
According to official statistics, the 4-cell, 66 Wh Li-ion polymer battery powering the HP Envy x360 may last up to 17 hours and 30 minutes. Actually, I thought that was fairly close. Like other batteries, I discovered that it lost about 15% of its charge every hour while streaming or with the brightness turned up all the way. Nonetheless, generally, this device has excellent battery life and would undoubtedly last you the entire workday and beyond on a single charge.
The good news is that even if you’re running short on juice, you can quickly top up when stopping for a coffee or taking a break because it does support rapid charge and can reach approximately 50% in 45 minutes. Also, just like this laptop’s entire design, the charging is portable and small.
Conclude
Consider purchasing the HP Envy x360 if you’re searching for a computer that can work all day and handle multitasking while also converting into an entertainment system when you’re ready to unwind. With its slim design, brilliant display, long battery life, and potent performance, this machine is both lightweight and portable.
The inbuilt Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics will still allow you to have some fun even though it isn’t a gaming computer and can’t handle the newest AAA titles. But, if you are in the market for a gaming laptop, we’ve picked together the finest laptops for gaming to help you make your decision.
Also, a 2-in-1 device’s adaptability is perfect for somebody who enjoys switching between machines but doesn’t want the effort of maintaining two gadgets.