A Configuration for Creative Players

According to HP, the Envy 14 targets vloggers and other creative types with its GPU acceleration and high-quality, factory-color-calibrated display. Our test unit will also appeal to those seeking a 14-inch laptop for after-hours gaming. While the $1,069.99 base model relies on its Core i5-1135G7 processor’s Iris Xe integrated graphics, our $1,259.99 Amazon and Best Buy configuration boasts an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q GPU, as well as 16GB versus 8GB of memory plus a touch screen. A $1,699.99 model at HP.com loses the touch panel but steps up to a Core i7-1165G7 and a 1TB SSD.

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The screen is noteworthy because it has a 16:10 aspect ratio rather than the more common 16:9, offering an 11% taller view (1,920 by 1,200 pixels) for a bit less scrolling. The Envy clamshell also shares a few frills with the upscale HP Spectre x360 14 convertible, such as a keyboard that incorporates a fingerprint reader, a webcam privacy shutter, a microphone mute button, and a launch button for the HP Command Center settings utility.

The silver, stamped-aluminum Envy is almost as good-looking as the Spectre laptops, though without their edgy finish and diagonal-cut rear corners. There’s almost no flex if you grasp the screen corners or press the keyboard deck. The machine measures 0.71 by 12.3 by 8.8 inches, which is in line with the Asus Zen Book 14  (0.54 by 12.5 by 8.2 inches) and the MSI Prestige 14 (0.63 by 12.6 by 8.6 inches), though its 3.3 pounds outweigh their respective 2.6 and 2.7 pounds.