HP - ENVY x360 2-in-1 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - AMD Ryzen 7 - 8GB Memory - 512GB SSD - Nightfall Black

I had bad experiences with low/mid range AMD mobile processors 8 years ago - so much so that I swore them off and told myself I would only buy Intel machines going forward. Apparently... lot has changed in 8 years. I was looking to replace an older Intel i7 machine that was starting to show its age. My requirements weren't too high (I have another machine for more processor demanding work), I just wanted the best value-to-performance mid-range machine for daily use, occasional Creative Cloud work here and there, media editing, etc. HP's Envy seemed to fit into that market segment perfectly (it also happened to be the same line of the machine I was trying to replace, so I was already familiar). I was stuck between the i5 and i7 models, determined to shun AMD again, but right there in between them was the Ryzen 7 version - which came with more on-board storage than the i5, and cheaper than the i7. A few short reads later through several PC reviews nudged me to give AMD another try. Worst case scenario I'd learn my lesson again and simply exchange it for an Intel machine. No exchanges necessary, this thing more than meets expectations. I love it. For the past two weeks it's handled everything I've thrown everything at it without as much as a stutter. The only exceptions being some Adobe LR / PS / Premiere workflows that were a bit more intensive than usual and gave the machine a little more than it could chew. It got through them but not without some noticeable resource slowdowns. But then again, Adobe CC is a processing power black hole all on its own and gives machines that are 2X this cost similar troubles. Can't give this laptop fault for this. The design quality is great, significantly better than my older Envy. It's stylish and sleek, and the screen real estate is very good with a moderate bezel that houses the webcam. The keys feel good though I sort of question the power button placement. It's not a physical switch and actually fooled me for a good minute the first time I went searching for it to turn it on. HP decided to place it in the upper function key row just above the backspace button. Kind of odd to me. I figured that was always going to be one-typo slip away from a mid-typing sleep command, but it hasn't happened yet. The one thing I will say is the 15.6" is HEAVY. Let be real, you don't really buy 15" laptops for their ease of portability, but this thing's heft is noticeable. Because of that, I don't really see anyone using the convertible function very often. It becomes a hassle, it's just too big and too heavy to consistently use it in tablet mode. If that's a big selling factor for you, you're going to want to look at 13" models instead. This is more of a "find a semi-permanent desk spot for it and leave it there" type of machine. All in all I'm really impressed with the performance and quality here. Even more so if you can manage to grab it on a weekend sale for $150-200 less - it's an absolute no brainier at that point. I'd definitely recommend it for anyone searching for a new machine in the $700-900 range, and I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better performer.

Absolutely stunning but also so easy to navigate and get used to. First day using it I was already completely comfortable like I’ve used it for years. The touch screen is just an amazing add on!!

Very happy with my purchase. Runs well, is perfect for streaming/podcasting, lite weight, very responsive, and battery life is pretty good.

Great computer for the price. This is the second one of purchased of the hp envy. This one was for mom. The large screen and comfortable keyboard make it easy for her to use

I reviewed and reviewed and reviewed and for all my needs this computer met everyone. I love the sleek compact of it, I can pack it in any purse and go. The matte finish gives it a cute touch for me. It’s fast and quiet. Most definitely the best I’ve owned so far and glad I chose this laptop. Recommend!

The trackpad is not fit for purpose and requires two hands for clicking and dragging because the pad is hinged at the top and is difficult to impossible to click on dependent where you click. Clicking on the trackpad toward the bottom is fine then gets progressively more difficult toward the top. HP engineers should look at a MacBook Pro for how to design engineer and build a trackpad. The HP Envy is heavy in weight compared to the Lenovo it replaced and my MacBook Pro. The under key light sources are visible from a typical sitting position and distracting. The rubber strips on the bottom of the laptop are beginning to fall off. The anodizing on the screen hinges is beginning to rub off. Overall I'm pretty disappointed in the build quality. I like the design, it's the execution that disappoints. To be fair the issue with the trackpad seems to be an issue with all the windows laptops I test drove and windows laptop buyers deserve better than this crap foisted off on us. The positives, battery life is still really good I can work all day no problem, the screen excellent, the tactile feel of the keyboard very good. The speed of the AMD Ryzen 7 processor is disappointing compared to the antique i5 Intel processor in the Lenovo Thinkpad Genesis laptop the HP was purchased to replace. I did not see a meaningful boost in response with the resource hogging appraisal software I have to use, and may very well be the culprit, your mileage may vary. I would probably recommend a friend check it out if they were looking for a laptop, the price point value is good, its the caveats that hold me back from a full throated endorsement.

Love the touch screen laptop. I always want to try expand my knowledge more for something more creative.

Sleek and inexpensive laptop light. Compared to my old laptop, the keys are quite. Simple configuration. Easy set up.