While exploring laptops for creative work, I noticed a scarcity of options catering to those seeking a slim, lightweight device capable of handling graphically intensive tasks. The majority lean towards gaming laptops. However, amidst the choices, the HP Envy 15 stands out. Having received the HP Envy 15 ep0123tx for review, I was genuinely eager to examine its capabilities. Priced at ₹1,49,999, this laptop promises substantial features. After a week of usage, here’s my assessment.
Specifications of HP Envy 15 EP0123TX
Design and Build
The HP Envy 15 embodies HP’s Envy series design ethos. It boasts sleek curves and a sophisticated color scheme that’s easy on the eyes.
The lid is clean, bearing the new HP logo in polished chrome. Despite its size, the logo enhances the overall appearance. The design of the HP Envy 15 ep0123tx is universally impressive; its aesthetic is consistently striking.
The laptop opens easily with just one hand, a rarity among Windows laptops. The hinge, while not the absolute best in terms of resistance and feel, surpasses the average.
Upon opening, the laptop maintains its appeal. Thin bezels frame the display, with an HP logo adorning the chin. The dark grey bezels complement the silver laptop, which extends seamlessly to the keyboard.
Grilles flank the sides, appearing oddly, almost like a deceptive design. Speakers reside beneath the laptop, while side grilles seemingly serve solely aesthetic purposes, adding detail I don’t favor. However, I admire HP’s font choice for keycaps and the Bang & Olufsen branding on the palm rest; they’re visually appealing.
Display
The 15.6-inch Full HD panel impresses, rated at 300 nits for brightness, delivering ample luminance in my experience. Additionally, the anti-glare coating ensures comfortable usage, even with a light behind my work desk that could otherwise cause glare issues.
The thin bezels, as mentioned earlier, enhance its aesthetic appeal. The top bezel slightly exceeds the side ones, likely due to the integrated webcam. HP thoughtfully includes a webcam shutter for privacy, activated via a keyboard shortcut. While some may question the absence of a hardware shutter, it exists—pressing the key physically blocks the camera with a sliding piece of plastic. This hardware solution offers tangible reassurance, which I personally prefer over software-based disconnection.
Webcam Covered
Webcam Uncovered
Regarding the display, I’ve spent extensive time observing it during work and leisure activities. It’s a reliable screen with pleasing colors, adjustable brightness, and satisfactory viewing angles. Overall, it’s a crisp, bright, and appealing display for a laptop, which I appreciate.
Performance
Underneath, HP incorporates a 10th-gen Intel Core i7-10750H CPU running at 2.6GHz, accompanied by 16GB 2933MHz RAM, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and GTX 1660Ti GPU. The RAM isn’t 3200MHz due to limitations of the 10750H processor; it supports a maximum of 2933MHz, which HP adheres to here.
The RAM is already in dual channel configuration, so you don’t need to worry about adding another stick for a slight performance boost (as I recommended with the Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3i).
Unsurprisingly, the HP Envy 15 performs exceptionally well for any task. I use it for work, including editing images in Photoshop and writing articles. Additionally, it serves as my primary entertainment machine, and I’ve even played games on it. It excels in all areas.
In synthetic benchmarks, the HP Envy 15 ep0123tx achieves 5,099 in 3DMark Time Spy and 4,768 in PCMark 10, both excellent scores.
Similarly, in games, the laptop handles everything well. In PUBG, with graphics set to High, it achieves upwards of 70FPS consistently. Even at Ultra, it maintains around 60 FPS throughout gameplay, which is impressive. Interestingly, the laptop defaulted to a custom mix of low graphics, and at those settings, it reached frame rates around 90FPS.
In Far Cry 5, the HP Envy performs admirably. At 1080p Ultra, the in-game benchmark showed FPS ranging from 70 to 92, averaging at 78FPS. At High settings, the average FPS increases to 82. Clearly, the HP Envy 15 can handle gaming.
Testing V-Ray and SketchUp Pro on the laptop yielded excellent results. The HP Envy 15 scored 7902 ksamples and 146 mpaths in the V-Ray benchmark. In SketchUp Pro, I navigated a detailed project file smoothly, performing actions such as zooming, panning, orbiting, and adjusting lighting without encountering any lag.
Keyboard
Moving on to the keyboard, I’ve always appreciated HP’s recent keyboards, and this one is consistent with that experience. It features a backlit design, toggled via the F4 key. The backlight is a single white color, which complements the laptop well. Adjustments for brightness are available with two levels, controlled by the same F4 key. Personally, I prefer the backlight at maximum brightness.
Regarding the keyboard itself, it’s excellent. The keys are spacious with ample spacing between them, preventing any sense of crowding. Typing offers plenty of response, ensuring a comfortable experience.
HP has kept all special buttons within the keyboard layout, giving the laptop a cleaner look. The power button is at the end of the function keys line, next to the camera cover button. The fingerprint scanner isn’t on the palmrest or within the trackpad, unlike some other HP laptops. It’s placed next to the right alt key, which I personally prefer.
Trackpad
The trackpad on the HP Envy 15 is excellent. It’s a Precision touchpad, providing access to all Windows gestures. Plus, it’s highly responsive and remains comfortable to touch even after prolonged use. That’s fantastic.
The touchpad isn’t very large, but it isn’t small either. I was able to use gestures on it comfortably. As a creative professional, you’ll likely connect a mouse for better cursor control, but this trackpad can still get the job done.
Ports, I/O, and Connectivity
HP provides plenty of ports on the Envy 15 ep0123tx. You get two USB 3 Type-A ports, HDMI out, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a microSD card reader, and a headphone/mic combo jack.
Glad to have both Type-A and Type-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports. Connect legacy Type-A accessories without dongles and future-proof with Thunderbolt 3 for additional ports via dongle, if needed. Personally, didn’t attach a dongle, but good to know laptop has Thunderbolt 3 ports.
For wireless connectivity, laptop includes Bluetooth 5.0, expected at this price point. Additionally, HP Envy 15 supports WiFi 802.11ax (WiFi 6), taking full advantage of bleeding-edge WiFi technology or future-proofing if not.
Audio
While discussing the laptop’s design, I noted the speakers are located on the bottom, despite grilles on the keyboard sides which may mislead you.
The Envy 15’s bottom firing speakers are decent. In my experience, they reach satisfactory volume levels, though not comparable to my 2017 MacBook Pro. Fortunately, they maintain clarity even at high volumes. Don’t anticipate robust bass performance, but they suffice for movies, TV, and basic video editing.
Battery
Despite its sleek design, HP has incorporated a substantial 83Wh battery into this laptop. The company asserts a remarkable 16-hour battery life, a claim that, if accurate, is impressive. Admittedly, I didn’t use the laptop continuously for 16 hours without charging it. Realistically, with a laptop of this caliber, gaming tends to take precedence over work. However, during a few hours of continuous work, the laptop efficiently manages its battery life.
With Photoshop and Microsoft Edge open, 7 to 10 tabs, brightness at 50%, and Apple Music playing, the battery lasted around 14 to 15 hours. Of course, actual usage and brightness affect this. Yet, it’s fair to say HP’s claims hold.
With this battery life, you’re set for a workday without needing the charger, although I suggest bringing it along, especially if you tend to game during breaks. But shh, let’s keep that between us.
Pros and Cons
Too lazy to read the entire review? We’ve distilled the pros and cons of the HP Envy 15 ep0123tx here.
Pros:
- Beautiful design
- Excellent performance
- Great battery life
- Crisp, bright display
HP Envy 15-ep0123tx Review: Should You Buy It?
The HP Envy 15 ep0123tx is an amazing laptop, priced competitively with premium looks, top-notch performance, and almost everything you could want, including the power to play high-end games effortlessly. HP seems to have hit the mark with the Envy 15.
If you seek a Windows laptop in this price range and aren’t particular about a touchscreen (which I’m not), this laptop won’t disappoint. It effortlessly handles work and gaming, seamlessly transitioning to your next CEO meeting without missing a beat. A sleek machine with ample power to impress.
Buy the HP Envy 15-ep0123tx from HP.com (₹1,49,999)
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
