HP Envy 13 (2024) review

HP Envy 13 (2024) review

The HP Envy 13 is the latest laptop to enter the busy ultraportable arena, and it tries to undercut the competition with a tempting price. It has ranked highly in our best laptops chart for a few years so can it maintain that strong record with the 2021 model?

The model we’ve reviewed only costs RRP £899 in the UK and $711 in the US making it very affordable. The Envy’s beefier specifications cost £1,199 and $1,049, though, and so HP’s laptop clearly aims to compete with high-quality ultraportable rivals from Dell and Apple.

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Design & Build

• 17mm
• 1.3kg
• Sleek, tempered design

The Envy 13 doesn’t break the boundaries when it comes to design, but it does look good: it’s made from aluminium and features an unfussy, sleek body. You don’t get fancier features like RGB LEDs, but the HP doesn’t look out of place when lined up alongside the Dell XPS 13 and Apple MacBook Air.

It’s got reasonable connectivity, too. The HP serves up two full-size USB ports that are cleverly hidden behind drop-hinges. There’s a USB-C port that offers power delivery and 10Gbps file transfers, and there’s an audio jack and a microSD card reader. On the inside, there’s dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.

That’s entirely fine for everyday use, but there are omissions too. There’s no HDMI output, and no Thunderbolt 4 either. In fact, there’s not even Thunderbolt 3 as found on the Envy 13 (2020) as the ‘SuperSpeed USB-C’ port is limited to 10Gbps.

Extra USB-C ports would have been welcome, and the USB ports could be faster, too. There’s no wired internet and while the HP does have a webcam, it doesn’t support Windows Hello for easier log in.

Build quality is acceptable for everyday use, but this is another area where the HP is ordinary. The base flexes, the keyboard deck bends a bit and pushing the rear of the display causes a little desktop distortion. It’s not a disaster, but a sleeve would be prudent if you regularly take the HP out and about.

The Envy 13 is 17mm thick and weighs 1.3kg, which are fairly ordinary figures too – not bad, but easily undercut by competitors.

Indeed, the Envy faces loads of strong rivals. The Dell XPS 13’s 11th-gen models start at just £849 and US$729, and that machine is sturdy, slimmer and lighter than the HP, and it has Thunderbolt ports but no full-size USB.

The newer Dell XPS laptops start at £1,069/US$969 and have the same advantages. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo is slimmer and lighter and it does have Thunderbolt, but its build quality is mediocre.

The latest MacBook Air is always a contender, too: prices start at £999 and US$999 and you get its rock-solid chassis alongside similar dimensions to the Envy.

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Keyboard & Trackpad

• Soft, comfortable keyboard
• Large keys and good backlight
• Disappointing trackpad

The keyboard is on the softer side, and that means the buttons are comfortable and quiet – ideal for long typing sessions. They’re impressively large and they’ve got a clear font and a bright, crisp backlight. It’s solid mainstream hardware, but the Dell has a crisper design if a keyboard is high up your priority list.

It’s a good start, but the 13in chassis means there’s no room for a numberpad, and the large buttons means the layout is a bit cramped in places. The power button is installed next to the Delete key, and it’s irritating – you’ll end up pressing it accidentally. The fingerprint reader is slotted next to the cursor keys (two of which are half size), and the Return key is only single-height.

Moving on and the touchpad is mediocre – a little too short and with a plastic surface that’s a little too rough. The built-in buttons are soft. For everyday use it’s fine, but every key rival is better.

Screen & Speakers

• 13.3in IPS touchscreen
• Full HD, 16:9
• Fantastic quality and contrast

The IPS panel on the Envy 13 has a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution, which is solid for everyday use. It’s a touchscreen, too, which adds versatility. It’s a shame that HP hasn’t gone with a 16:10 or 3:2 aspect ratio to deliver some extra height, especially when this machine will so often run web browsers and office apps.

The HP’s 13.3in panel serves up superb quality. The backlight reaches a maximum level of 422 nits, so it’s easily got the punch for outdoor work and the black point of 0.21 nits is fantastic meaning loads of depth. The resulting contrast ratio of 2,009:1 is a stunning figure for any IPS panel and it lends the HP loads of vibrancy and nuance.

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Specs

HP Envy 13 (2021): Specs

• Screen: 13.3in 1,920 x 1,080 IPS
• Processor: 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-1135G7
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce MX450
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR4
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C/power delivery, 1 x audio, 1 x microSD
• Connectivity: Dual-band 802.11ax WiFi, Bluetooth 5
• Dimensions: 319 x 219 x 16mm (WxDxH)
• Weight: 1.3kg
• Warranty: 1yr RTB

At a Glance

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Great display
• Solid everyday speed & battery
• Sleek, good-looking body
• Quiet, comfortable keyboard

Cons

• No HDMI or Thunderbolt
• i7 is too expensive
• Disappointing trackpad

Our Verdict

The HP Envy 13 has a great screen, solid components and a good keyboard. Combine this with lower price of the Core i5 model and you’ve got a decent everyday ultraportable. But several rivals are better in other areas when you hit the higher specs.

CLICK HERE TO BUY HP ENVY 13 FROM OUR STORE AT A LESSER PRICE

CLICK HERE TO BUY HP ENVY 13 FROM OUR STORE AT A LESSER PRICE

CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO START A TRUCK BUSINESS