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HOTSPOTHP ENVY X13(^2019)all-screen laptops has yet to trickle down to
the 2-in-1 segment.
Subjectively, the HP Envy x360 13 also
feels at least as slim and sleek as the likes of,
say, the Lenovo Yoga 920, despite the fact
that the official numbers say otherwise. That
said, it’s still just thick enough to offer a pair
of full-size USB Type-A ports in 3.1 spec.SOUND AND VISION
Speaking of those Bang & Olufsen speakers,
their performance is pretty disappointing.
The likes of a 12-inch Macbook, which is a
thinner and lighter device, knocks out not
only more volume but also much better
definition. Not all tie ins with audio
specialists, it seems, truly deliver.
As for the HP Envy
x360’s 13-inch touch
screen, it’s about as
good as you could
reasonably expect at
this price point.
Thanks to IPS
technology, colors are
accurate and the
viewing angles of the
panel itself are
excellent, while
maximum brightness
levels are good
though not stellar
and the Gorilla Glass
cover does introduce
some reflections.
The native 1,920 by
1,080 resolution is a
limiting factor in terms of outright detail and
font sharpness. But it’s still a pleasing display
and a higher resolution panel would have an
impact in terms of both price and battery life.PERFORMANCE & BATTERY LIFE
In terms of pure CPU performance, the new
AMD Ryzen 5 3500U doesn’t really move the
game on. Its performance doesn’t set new
standards for a low-voltage quad-core
processor. In fact, Intel’s latest 8th generation
Core chips have the edge.
That’s probably because this new mobile
chip from AMD – known as an APU because
it includes integrated graphics – is actually
based on the original Zen CPU architecture
(Zen+ if you’re being really picky), not the
second generation Zen design recently
announced as part of the new AMD Ryzen
3000 series desktop family. That’s rather
confusing given the 3000 series branding of
this mobile processor.
Nor does the Ryzen 5 3500U shake thingsup from a graphics perspective. Despite
AMD’s reputation for high quality graphics
technology, it’s barely any quicker than
Intel’s integrated graphics.
There’s better news when it comes to
battery life, however. By racking up over nine
hours in our movie playback test, this new
AMD variant of the HP Envy x360 13 gets a
lot closer to the Intel-powered competition.
Admittedly, some 2-in-1s like the Lenovo
Yoga C930 will do over 13 hours in the same
test. But then they’re typically also more
expensive. You pays your money and you
takes your choice, in other words.VERDICT
Thanks to a price that’s currently pretty
punchy, the HP Envy
x360 13 is a
compelling
proposition. The
chassis has a premium
feel and the 2-in-
element works well
even if the screen’s
large chin bezel
ensures you never
forget it’s not a
true tablet.
The performance of
the new AMD Ryzen
APU may not be
anything special, but
it’s competitive with
the Intel quad-core
alternative, especially
given the price point.
The same goes for battery life. It’s not as good
as more expensive Intel-powered systems.
But then it costs less. And if nine hours of
video playback is good enough for you, why
pay more?
Similarly, the HP Envy x360’s 13-inch
1080p screen is another element that falls
into the ‘good enough given the price point’
column. Some might prefer a high resolution
panel, but that’s not hugely realistic without
paying considerably more.
All told, the HP Envy x360 13’s is all about
offering a value proposition without making
you feel like you cheaped out. If you fancy
that premium feel but only want to pay
mid-tier money, you should put the HP Envy
x360 13 on your shortlist.WITH ITS ANODISED ALL-
ALUMINIUM CHASSIS, THE HP
ENVY X360 13 DOES A PRETTY
PASSABLE IMPRESSION OF A
TRUE HIGH-END 2-IN-
PORTABLE.The new Envy boasts very
impressive build quality.