Overview and design
When we reviewed the original HP Envy x2 more than a year and a half ago we were awed by the hybrid laptop/tablet's industrial design and incredible power. We felt it was a bit awkward to hold and manipulate, and we thought a smaller form factor might benefit the user. Our reviewer at the time said the product would "improve over time" and move the hybrid computing industry forward.
Since that review posted, Intel launched its slim, speedy and self-cooling Core M Broadwell processor, which is currently revolutionizing the laptop, tablet and hybrid markets by enabling manufacturers to run fast machines fanless and relatively noiseless. Most of the elite devices hitting the market, such as the Dell Venue 11 Pro 1740 and the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, feature Core M processors.
HP's updated Envy x2 ($1049.99, £670, AU$1200), which is generally available, combines the same computing power of the previous iteration with Core M technology. Unfortunately, the same flaws we noticed in the previous Envy x2 have found their way onto the new Windows 8.1-powered device as well.
Design
The first thing you'll notice about the Envy x2 reboot is its overhauled design. Whereas last year's iteration featured a plastic chassis with a black front and a silver back that was eerily similar to the original iPad, the new Envy x2 aims for a more unique, albeit less-pleasing design.
The tablet's chassis is metallic silver with dual, front-facing Beats-powered speakers that line both sides of the 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch full HD LED backlit 1920 x 1080 touchscreen displays (I conducted this review with the standard 13.3-inch model).
A full HD widescreen webcam sits at the top of the display. The chassis is supported by a horizontal kickstand that was sturdy, but stiff. Your device won't topple over when you set it up to watch old West Wing episodes on Netflix, but you'll have to grapple with the device to get the kickstand open.
HP decided to get rid of the rear-facing 8.0MP flash-capable camera. We thought the back camera on the previous Envy x2 took good quality stills and video. Now it's gone. I suppose HP felt the pin-hole for the addition camera ruined the ruggedized aesthetic of the full metal bottom. This is a huge loss.
Best keyboard ever
Keyboard
The Envy x2 comes with two detachable keyboard options at no additional cost. The standard chiclet keyboard is the same as the original Envy x2 and features the same metallic silver design as the tablet itself. By choosing this option you'll be creating a uniform 2-in-1 that looks similar to most hybrids on the market.
The alternative keyboard is a thing of beauty. Built with a leather exterior and palm base, the "mocha brown with biscotti tan cover" keyboard is reminiscent of a leather-bound journal. It is so thin that it takes up less than an inch of space on your desk and the soft plastic chiclet keys are a pleasure to press.
The touchpad is smooth and large: it takes up half the height of the keyboard, so your fingers won't ever get lost no matter how clumsy they might be. As a nice final touch, the Hewlett-Packard logo is stitched into the bottom in a gorgeous white font.
Because the leather keyboard doesn't match the design of the tablet you will look like you cobbled the two devices together separately rather than having purchased a single unit. Never you mind! I'm pretty sure you'll thank me when your palms touch the leather base for the first time.
Both keyboards come with a Stylus holder that sits in the middle of the right-hand side. Unfortunately the Stylus is optional so you'll have to purchase one at an additional cost if you need one.
Each keyboard connects to a magnetic strip that seamlessly locks onto the tablet. This was the most flawless detachable keyboard connection I've ever encountered. Once locked on, the keyboard is solidly fixed onto the tablet and you don't have to worry about losing your connection.
Specs and display
Specs
The HP Envy x2 is available with 256GB of solid state storage. It runs at 2.7 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology and offers 8GB of RAM. It is supported by Wi-Fi 802.11 ac to connect to long-range devices via Bluetooth v4.0, HDMI, USB and LTE.
Unlike the original model, which required an attachable keyboard for inputs, the new Envy x2 features two USB 3.0 ports and an HDMI input. This is extremely important for those of you who plan to use this device as your primary laptop and require an external storage device.
As I mentioned earlier, the processing speed is impeccable. You'll hardly notice any lag as you flip from application to application. One of the unit's biggest pluses is how well it performs and how quietly it will run. With up to 7 hours and 30 minutes battery life (according to HP), you should have more than enough juice to make it through the day.
The display
I'm not sure why HP decided to go with such the pedestrian 1920 x 1080 display. The Yoga Pro 3, which features a staggering 3200 x 1800 display and the Galaxy Note Pro, which features a 2560 X 1900 resolution, crush all other competition. I don't expect HP to surpass either of these devices, but I can't understand the merit of creating a powerful device that produces dark images that lack depth.
I'm also not a fan of the front-facing speakers that line the outer sides of the display. I think they take away from the aesthetic quality of the device. Not to mention the sound quality was pretty awful, especially for something that so proudly advertises its Beats craftsmanship. This was also a major problem for the previous model.
Because it has been watched more than 600 million times on YouTube, I like to test Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video on all of the speakers I use. With most other devices I've tested, the speakers provide solid support for the heavy bass that blasts in at the 0:38 second mark. Unfortunately, the new HP Envy x2 couldn't handle the power of Gaga - the bass produced a rattling that reminds me of the speakers on a My First Sony.
Handling and early verdict
Clumsy
When we complained about the awkward weight and length of the previous iteration of the Envy x2, hybrids were relatively new to the marketplace. We gave HP a pass and expected future designs to remedy this problem. We were wrong.
The new Envy x2 is as clumsy and awkward to hold as its predecessor. The term tablet comes from the tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed. Unfortunately, this device weighs exactly what the stone tablets probably weighed.
At a whopping 4.05 pounds, the Envy x2 weighs more than double the Dell Venue 11 Pro 1740 (1.55 pounds), and the Surface Pro 3 (1.75 pounds). It weighs 1.4 pounds more than Lenovo's Yoga 3 Pro, and it is 4 pounds heavier than the iPad Air 2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, which weigh 0.96 pounds and 1.03 pounds, respectively.
That's ridiculous.
Forget holding this thing up with one hand - you're lucky if you can manage to hold it up with two hands for more than a minute at a time. Mass transit commuters beware: you will not be watching old episodes of the Simpsons on the Envy x2 while holding onto a subway pole with your free hand.
Early verdict
The original HP Envy X2 was an early hybrid laptop/tablet model. Because of how new the market was, we were able to overlook some of its design flaws. However, given how mature the market has become and how many quality hybrids are available, it's hard to justify a device whose best feature is its alternative detachable keyboard.
When you factor in the Envy x2's cost, which is significantly more than the high-end Surface Pro 3 (starting at $799, £495, AU$900) and more than double the iPad Air 2 (starting at $499, £399, AU$620), I just can't make a solid argument for purchasing this device.
from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://ift.tt/1uuZgTI
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