HP Envy x360 2-in-1 15.6" 2023, Core i7-1255U, 32GB, 1TB SSD, Silver

The HP Envy x360 is a 2-in-1 laptop with a generous 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, but it's held back by weak integrated graphics, a mediocre 1080p screen, and a below-average CPU. At $2,394 USD, it's overpriced unless you specifically need the convertible design and included stylus. For most buyers, there are better laptops available for less money. Only consider this if the 2-in-1 form factor is your top priority.

Let's talk about that Core i7-1255U. It's a 10-core, 12-thread chip with a base clock of 1.2GHz and a max turbo of 4.7GHz. The turbo number sounds impressive, but the U-series is designed for efficiency, not sustained performance. In our database, this CPU lands in the 38th percentile for this category, which is mediocre. You'll be fine with web browsing, Office apps, and light multitasking, but don't expect to render video or compile large projects quickly. The 32GB of RAM helps a lot here, sitting in the 73rd percentile, which means you can keep a ton of browser tabs and applications open without the system choking. That's a real strength for developers and anyone who lives in a sea of Chrome tabs.

The storage is another bright spot. The 1TB NVMe SSD ranks in the 80th percentile, which is well above average. Boot times will be quick, and file transfers won't make you want to throw the laptop out a window. But the GPU is where things fall apart. The Intel Iris Xe graphics are integrated, and they rank in the 14th percentile. That's a weak spot, plain and simple. You can forget about modern games, and even some GPU-accelerated creative tasks will feel sluggish. The screen doesn't help either. It's a 15.6-inch 1920x1080 panel, which is fine for basic use, but it ranks in the 21st percentile for this category. Colors won't pop, brightness is likely average at best, and you won't get the sharpness of a higher-res display. For a laptop at this price, that's a tough pill to swallow.

Let's put this thing next to some of the heavy hitters in our database. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max is in a completely different league, with a far more powerful chip, a stunning display, and better build quality. It's also more expensive, but you're getting what you pay for. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a gaming-focused laptop with a dedicated GPU that absolutely destroys the Envy x360 in graphics performance. If you want to play games or do any GPU-heavy work, the G14 is the obvious choice. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 is another gaming powerhouse that offers far better performance for the money, though it's heavier and less portable.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is probably the closest competitor in terms of form factor and target audience. It's a premium thin-and-light with excellent build quality and a better screen, though it doesn't have the 2-in-1 hinge. The MSI Raider is another gaming option that outclasses the Envy x360 in raw performance. The trade-off with all of these competitors is that none of them offer the 2-in-1 convertible design with a stylus. If that's your must-have feature, the Envy x360 has a niche. But for everyone else, there are better laptops available for less money.

Here's where things get uncomfortable. The HP Envy x360 is listed at $2,394 USD, and for that money, you're getting a laptop with integrated graphics, a 1080p screen, and a CPU that's below average for its class. That's a hard sell. The 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD are nice, but they don't justify the price tag when you can find laptops with dedicated GPUs and better displays for less. The value here is really in the 2-in-1 form factor and the included stylus. If you specifically need a convertible laptop with pen support, you're paying a premium for that flexibility. But if you don't need to flip the screen around and draw on it, this laptop is overpriced.

Compared to other options in our database, the Envy x360's price-to-performance ratio is not great. The competitors we track include machines like the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, which offer far more performance for similar or less money. Even the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition, which is also a premium thin-and-light, tends to offer better build quality and screen quality. The Envy x360's only real advantage is the 2-in-1 design, and that's a niche feature that won't matter to everyone.

The HP Envy x360 is one of those laptops that looks great on a spec sheet but makes you scratch your head once you dig into the details. You get a 12th Gen Core i7, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and a 15.6-inch touchscreen in a convertible chassis that weighs 1.64kg. On paper, that's a productivity machine. In practice, it's a bit more complicated. The i7-1255U is a 10-core chip, sure, but it's a low-power U-series part designed for thin laptops, not a performance monster. The 32GB of DDR4 is genuinely nice to see, and the storage lands in the 80th percentile for this category, which is solid. But the integrated Iris Xe graphics sit near the bottom of the barrel, and the 1080p screen doesn't do the rest of the hardware any favors.

Who is this for? Honestly, it's aimed at people who want a flexible 2-in-1 for everyday work, note-taking, and light creative tasks. The included HP stylus and touchscreen make it a decent option for students or anyone who likes to scribble on PDFs or take handwritten notes. Developers get a 48.5 out of 100 in our scoring, which is the best fit here, mostly because of that 32GB of RAM. But compact users and students score lower, and gaming is basically a non-starter at 11 out of 100. This is not a machine for anyone who wants to play anything more demanding than Solitaire or maybe some light indie titles.

The interesting thing is the price. At $2,394 USD, this Envy x360 is asking for a lot of money for what it delivers. You can find laptops with dedicated GPUs and better screens for less. The value proposition hinges entirely on whether you need that 2-in-1 form factor and the stylus, because if you don't, there are far better ways to spend your cash. The 4.1-star rating from just 4 reviews also tells us this isn't exactly flying off shelves, and the social proof ranking is weak at the 21st percentile. We'll get into what that means for you in a bit.

If you're a gamer, skip this laptop entirely. The integrated Iris Xe graphics are a weak spot, and you'll be disappointed the moment you try to run anything more demanding than a browser game. Look at the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or Lenovo Legion Pro 7i instead. If you're a creative professional who needs a color-accurate display for photo or video editing, the 1080p screen here won't cut it. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max or Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition would serve you far better. And if you're just looking for a general-purpose laptop and don't care about the 2-in-1 hinge or stylus, you can find better performance and build quality for less money elsewhere. The Envy x360 only makes sense for a very specific buyer who needs the convertible form factor and pen support above all else.

If you're a student or professional who specifically wants a 2-in-1 laptop with pen support for note-taking and light productivity, the HP Envy x360 is a functional choice. The 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD will handle multitasking and file storage without breaking a sweat, and the touchscreen with included stylus is genuinely handy for annotating documents or sketching. The port selection is also solid, with Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI, and an SD card reader. For that specific use case, it works.

But for almost everyone else, this laptop is a tough recommendation. The integrated graphics are weak, the screen is mediocre, and the CPU performance is below average. At $2,394 USD, you're paying a premium for the 2-in-1 design and not much else. If you don't need the convertible form factor, look at the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition for a better screen and build quality, or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 if you want actual graphics performance. The Envy x360 only makes sense if the 2-in-1 hinge and stylus are non-negotiable.