HP's answer to Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 falls flat
Intel’s new Broadwell processors are supposed to herald a new era of lighter, more flexible Windows 8.1 laptop-tablet hybrids, but HP has opted for a highly derivative design for its first Broadwell-equipped computer. The Envy x213’s design resembles that of Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3, but not only has HP failed to learn from Microsoft’s mistakes, it’s managed to make plenty of new ones.
The x213 weighs 1.3kg, but attach the included screen cover (which doubles as a keyboard) and the weight balloons to 1.8kg. Throw in the charger and this bulks up further to 2kg. This isn’t overly hefty for a laptop, but it’s heavy for a tablet. This weight, along with its thickset design, makes the x213 uncomfortable to use as a tablet. Thanks to the Intel Core M 5Y10 fan-less processor, there are at least no cooling vents pumping out hot air over your hands and it’s whisper quiet.
The sturdy flip-out kickstand can be adjusted to almost any angle, but the X2 13 is still awkward to operate as a laptop using the included keyboard/ cover. The combined depth of both makes it almost impossible to position comfortably on your lap while typing.
On top of this, the keyboard isn’t great. It’s feels flimsy when attached, so it often bounces and flexes when you’re typing. The keys themselves have sufficient feedback, though we’d prefer a little more resistance. 'Ihe touchpad is spacious but otherwise very poor. Cursor movement is slow, responsiveness to gestures is poor and the buttons built into the touchpad give very little feedback. Bizarrely, even though the keyboard attaches magnetically to the bottom of the computer it needs Bluetooth to work. This magnetic connection is also weak -it’s therefore very easy to inadvertently detach the keyboard.
Battery life is lengthy at 11 hours 24 minutes in our light-usage test, but we’ve seen computers with Intel’s older Haswell processors last longer. The 800MHz Core M processor can temporarily up its speed to 2GHz when needed, so the x213 is certainly fast enough for use as your main computer. The 4GB of memory will be limiting in future though, as newer software inevitably demands more memory.
The 13in touchscreen is very responsive, while text looks sharp thanks to the screen’s 1080p resolution. It’s bright with good colour accuracy and contrast, but the screen’s backlighting is uneven and viewing angles are narrow, both of which are especially noticeable when used as a tablet in portrait mode.
The HP Envy x213 uses some quality technology - resulting in lengthy battery life, a sharp, bright screen and quiet operation. But it’s let down by several usability problems. Although the Surface Pro 3 isn’t perfect either, it’s still a far better hybrid than this poorly designed shambles.
A horribly flawed laptop-tablet hybrid that's impossible to recommend.
SPECIFICATIONS
800MHz Intel Core M 5Y10 dual-core processor • 4CB memory • 128CB SSD • Intel HD 5300 integrated graphics • 13.3in 1920x1080-pixel screen • 802.11ac/ a/b/g/n • Windows 8.1 • 1.3kg (2kg with keyboard and charger) • 14x355x216mm (HxWxD) • One-year warranty