HP ENVY 13-ab003TU notebook Photos
HP ENVY 13-ab003TU notebook review
Last year, something wonderful happened in the world of Windows laptops. Quality has become affordable. Companies like Dell, HP and Asus have begun to sell smart notebooks made of aluminum and carbon fiber for less than $ 1,000.
HP Envy 13 is the latest of these computers to enter the ring. It starts at just $ 800 (699 pounds) for an uncompromised setup that comes with an Intel Core i5 2.3-watt 15-watt processor, 8 GB memory, 128 GB of solid state storage and A steep 1080p screen. A chassis that weighs only 2.8 pounds and measures 12.9 mm thick. This is one of the thinnest laptops ever made.
But after spending a week with HP Envy 13, I can not recommend it. It's not as good as the competition.
There is not a single giant engraver who ruins the Envy 13. In fact, there is much to love. My favorite feature: a fingerprint sensor that allows me to switch to Windows instead of typing a password. This is one of the most responsive I've used on a consumer PC.
It's not that typing passwords would be a chore. I've hit every word of this review on the backlit keyboard of the Envy 13 and I've always had problems. Same thing for the glass touch pad: even if the extra large mousing surface means that the base of my thumb hits it from time to time, the mouse cursor does not jump as it did with laptops to Reduced speed. (Two-finger scrolling is a Smidge jerkier than with the best touchpad I've used, but it's really okay here.)
While typing, I'm passionate about the quality of the Pandora radio on the Bang & Olufsen speakers from Envy 13. Some pieces may sound very dark, but it's remarkable how great a sonic field, these high Speakers can project. I can clearly hear the distinctions between the instruments and / or feel that the dubstep beats the explosion all around my head.
Although Envy's design definitely looks like a certain Apple laptop, there are enough differences here that the similarities are not too embarrassing. The dark black bezel of the lid does an excellent job highlighting the screen, which has a matte finish that does not produce the distracting reflections that we usually see with glass. It is also very careful to know how the J-shaped lid lifts the laptop up to a comfortable typing angle.
Even the situation of the port is not as serious as expected on such a thin laptop. There is a full size HDMI port, a normal sized SD card reader that does not leave the card on its side, and three large USB 3.0 ports as well as a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. My only complaint is that the USB ports are extremely tight. When I try to pull my thumb, it seems to me that I will break it.
The main weakness of the envy is the battery life. We measured a little over seven hours in our standard battery drain test, and I only saw four and a quarter hours in my daily use.
You may also experience a strange problem if you try to load the Envy 13 and use it at the same time. On three different exam units, I found that the processor often stopped when the machine was plugged into a receptacle with a low battery. Even switching between the browser tabs would take several seconds, and yet the computer would start working at full speed when I removed the cord.
Conclusion of HP ENVY 13-ab003TU notebook review
But the real reason why you should not buy the urge is that you can probably afford better.
For only $ 100 more, the HP Specter x360 is the obvious choice. It's a little thicker and heavier, but has almost double the battery life (12 hours in our test) and a touch screen back, while most other things remain the same. I would probably recommend configuring $ 1,000 (£ 899, AU $ 1,974) to make sure you have enough RAM.
If an anti-glare screen is a priority, you can also get a battery life almost doubled (12 hours) in the excellent Dell XPS 13. Again, you will probably want to use the $ 1000 configuration (£ 949, AU $ 1,999) Avoid having a low performing system.
Finally, if you are really looking for one of the thinnest laptops that money can buy, your choice is clear (at least in the US): the Lenovo Yoga 900 (£ 1,450, AU $ 2,199) of 1,200 $, Which justifies its price with a super high-resolution touchscreen, a Core i7 processor and 256 GB of storage.
The only alternative I would not recommend now: while Apple's MacBook Air also has an excellent battery life and a solid build, it needs a revision. Apple is likely to update it with faster chips and a better screen next month.
The Envy 13 is a quality laptop for about $ 1,000. At one point it was enough, but today it is only one of many very worthy competitors. If I bought the urge, I would be a bit envious of people with even better laptops.
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