If you are looking for a powerful and sleek ultrabook that can handle your daily computing needs, the HP Envy 14 might be the perfect choice for you. With its elegant design, high-end specs, and versatile features, this laptop is a true powerhouse that can enhance your productivity, entertainment, and creativity. In this review, we will take a closer look at the key features and benefits of the HP Envy 14, as well as its potential drawbacks and alternatives.
Design and Build Quality
One of the standout features of the HP Envy 14 is its premium design and build quality. The laptop has a sleek and slim profile that measures only 16.9 mm thick and weighs around 1.63 kg, making it easy to carry around and use on the go. The chassis is made of high-quality aluminum with a sandblasted finish, giving it a sophisticated and durable look. The laptop also has a backlit keyboard, which makes typing in low light conditions easier.
Display and Audio
The HP Envy 14 has a 14-inch Full HD IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The screen has excellent color accuracy, brightness, and contrast, making it suitable for tasks such as photo and video editing, gaming, and streaming. The laptop also has an impressive audio system, thanks to its quad speakers and audio tuning by Bang & Olufsen. The sound is crisp, clear, and loud, making it ideal for music and movies.
Performance and Battery Life
Under the hood, the HP Envy 14 packs some serious power, thanks to its 11th Gen Intel Core processors (up to i7) and NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics (optional). The laptop also comes with up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB PCIe NVMe SSD storage, providing plenty of speed and storage for your apps, files, and media. The battery life of the laptop is decent, with up to 11 hours of runtime on a single charge, depending on your usage.
Keyboard, Touchpad, and Ports
The HP Envy 14 has a full-sized keyboard with a numeric keypad, which is comfortable to type on and has good key travel and feedback. The touchpad is also responsive and accurate, with support for multi-touch gestures and Windows Precision drivers. The laptop has a good selection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.0 port, a microSD card reader, and a headphone/mic combo jack.
Software and Security
The HP Envy 14 comes with Windows 10 pre-installed, along with some useful software such as HP Support Assistant, HP Audio Switch, and HP Command Center. The laptop also has some security features, such as a webcam kill switch, a fingerprint reader, and a TPM 2.0 chip, which can help protect your data and privacy.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Sleek and premium design
- Powerful performance and graphics
- Great display and audio quality
- Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
- Good selection of ports
- Decent battery life
- Security features
Cons:
- No SD card slot
- Expensive compared to some competitors
- Limited upgradability
Alternatives
If you are considering alternatives to the HP Envy 14, here are some other ultrabooks that you might want to check out:
Dell XPS 13: This is a popular ultrabook that has a similar design and specs to the HP Envy 14. It has a 13.4-inch display, 11th Gen Intel Core processors, and up to 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. It also has a longer battery life and a slightly lower price than the HP Envy 14.
ASUS ZenBook 14: This is another sleek and powerful ultrabook that has a 14-inch Full HD display, AMD Ryzen processors, and up to 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. It also has a backlit keyboard, a fingerprint reader, and a good selection of ports. The price of the ASUS ZenBook 14 is similar to the HP Envy 14.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon: This is a more business-oriented ultrabook that has a 14-inch display, 11th Gen Intel Core processors, and up to 16 GB of RAM and 2 TB of storage. It also has a durable and lightweight design, a spill-resistant keyboard, and a variety of security features. The price of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is slightly higher than the HP Envy 14.
Conclusion
Overall, the HP Envy 14 is an excellent ultrabook that offers a blend of style, performance, and features. It has a premium design and build quality, a great display and audio system, and powerful specs that can handle a variety of tasks. The keyboard, touchpad, and ports are also well-designed and convenient. However, the laptop is relatively expensive compared to some competitors, and it has some minor drawbacks such as the lack of an SD card slot and limited upgradability. If you are willing to pay the premium price for a high-end ultrabook that looks and works great, the HP Envy 14 is definitely worth considering.
FAQs
- Is the HP Envy 14 good for gaming?
- Yes, the HP Envy 14 has a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX450 graphics card, which can handle some casual gaming and graphic-intensive tasks.
- Can the RAM and storage of the HP Envy 14 be upgraded?
- The RAM of the HP Envy 14 is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded, but the storage can be upgraded through the M.2 slot.
- Does the HP Envy 14 have a touchscreen?
- No, the HP Envy 14 does not have a touchscreen display.
- Does the HP Envy 14 come with a stylus?
- No, the HP Envy 14 does not come with a stylus, but it is compatible with some third-party styluses.
- Does the HP Envy 14 have a webcam?
- Yes, the HP Envy 14 has a 720p HD webcam with a privacy shutter and a physical kill switch