HP Envy 15 (2017) Review - Performance, battery life and verdict Review
Performance, battery life and verdict
Premium build, lacklustre screen
Sections
- Page 1 HP Envy 15 (2017) Review
- Page 2 Performance, battery life and verdict Review
HP Envy 15 – Performance
The specifications of the HP Envy 15 actually compare favourably with those of the HP Spectre 13, which costs considerably more. It uses the same dual-core 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U seen in the model Trusted tested. This again can boost to 3.1GHz when things are running cool, and is supported by 8GB of RAM.
Video: Intel Core i processors explained
Performance was largely comparable to the Spectre 13, which comes as no surprise. Our Geekbench multi-core test garnered a score of 6,533, which is just a fraction behind the Spectre 13. Our PCMark benchmark managed a score of 2,792.
This is a laptop that can easily cope with standard tasks such as web browsing and photo editing. I even managed to stitch together some 360-degree 4K footage, although this did require some patience. If video editing is something you’ll be doing regularly, you’ll want something more powerful, however. The laptop’s fans can also be relatively noisy under load. It’s an annoying high-pitched whine that’s hard to tune out.
The integrated Intel HD Graphics 520 is never going to set the world alight where it comes to gaming performance. For simple games it’ll suffice, though. Minecraft churned out 60fps without a hint of a struggle.
Where the Envy 15 comes up poorly against the Spectre 13 is the choice of storage. There’s a 128GB M.2 SSD supported by a 1TB 5,400RPM hard disk. The M.2 SSD read and write speeds, as reported by our standard AS SSD benchmark, were not favourable. Its read speed was just 479.2MB/s, whereas write was just 168.2MB/s. While the M.2 SSD is a definite step up from a mechanical hard disk-based boot drive, it’s not as quick as I would have liked.
HP Envy 15 – Battery life
Battery life was respectable. Trusted’s custom Powermark battery benchmark consists of video and web browsing with the display set to 150cd/m2. In this test the Envy 15 managed 7 hours 24 minutes. It’s not quite what you would call ‘all day battery life’ but it’s damn close. An hour of Netflix streaming under the same brightness conditions saw the battery drop by 16%.
Should I buy the HP Envy 15?
Performance-wise, the HP Envy 15 has some good grunt behind it especially considering its price. It’s got the same processor as the more expensive HP Spectre 13 but manages better battery performance. It’s a well-built laptop that has a simple but attractive design. Ultimately, aspects such as its disappointing screen, slow SSD and uncomfortable keyboard let it down, however.
Unless you desperately need a 15.6-inch laptop, the Lenovo Ideapad 710S is arguably a much better choice for around the same money. It has superior performance and more battery stamina, too, while being easier on your shoulder when on the move.
Verdict
The HP Envy 15 is defined by decent performance and build quality but let down by a disappointing display and poor keyboard
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How we test laptops
Unlike other sites, we test every laptop we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Performance 8
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Keyboard 6
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Design 7
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Screen Quality 5
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Build Quality 8
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Value 7
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Touchpad 7
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Heat & Noise 6
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Battery Life 8
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
