36 PCWorld SEPTEMBER 2020REVIEWS HP ENV Y X360 13
just a single USB-C port, you would have to
juggle any other USB-C devices. We’re in this
middle age where some of us cling to our
USB-A ports, while others yearn for USB-C,
and it’s hard to please everyone.Keyboard and Trackpad
The keyboard has a sensible layout, very
defined two-level backlight, and good key
travel. HP features a dedicated power button
as well as keys for a camera cut-off, mic-off,
and a key to launch HP’s Command Center.
The Command Center gives you instant
access to the Thermal Profile settings, where
you can boost performance or put the laptop
into a near-fanless quiet mode. Most
consumers would never know they could
make these changes, so more exposure is
better. It does, however, sacrifice the
dedicated print screen button, which some
people might miss.The trackpad supports Microsoft’s
Precision drivers. Despite its wider aspect
ratio, it has good palm rejection. The surface,
however, is one of the rougher ones we’ve
fingered in some time. Moving from a butter-
smooth trackpad such as the one in MSI’s
GS66 Stealth to the HP’s feels like you’re
putting your fingers on fine sandpaper. That
could be a matter of personal preference.Display
The HP Envy x360 13 has an interesting
display. It’s a “1-watt” display (go.pcworld.
com/1wtd), which means it can draw as low
as 1 watt of power under some conditions.
(We had thought this technology was
exclusive to Intel platforms, but it appears not
to be.) But as with many lower-cost laptops,
the brightness is sacrificed to save cost. HP
rates the Envy x360 13 at 300 nits’ maximum
brightness, but we measured ours below
that. Most premium
laptops will hit a
minimum of 300 nits,
with many pushing 400
to 500 nits.The unusually good
speakers
We approach most
laptop speakers with
low expectations, but
the Envy x360 13
surprised us. Like most