The HP Envy range of devices has traditionally been associated with
high-end prices and luxury finishes, but recently the company has begun
to widen the brand's appeal. Nowadays, an Envy product needn't cost the
earth, as its £649 HP Envy 15 x360 ably demonstrates. It even comes with
a year's subscription to Microsoft Office 365 Personal.
HP Envy 15 x360 review: design and features
Despite the reasonable price, though, this new Envy is a good-looking
machine. It isn't the slimmest or lightest laptop around – at 24mm
thick and 2.4kg without the charger – but the smooth, metallic-coloured
plastic it's wrapped in looks smart. Open it up and the keyboard and
touchpad are surrounded by an attractive, brushed-aluminium plate, with
bevelled edges surrounding the touchpad that glisten and catch the
light. It's no MacBook Pro, but neither does it look cheap.
Build quality is impressive: the keyboard base is unyielding,
remaining immobile even when subjected to heavy-handed twisting, and the
keys are well spaced and feel firm under the fingers. And there's a
reason for the x360's bulk. It has a 360-degree hinge that allows the
laptop to be used in a variety of positions, just like Lenovo's Yoga convertibles.
