HP Envy 13 Laptop 2022 13.3” Review

So you're looking at the HP Envy 13, a 13.3-inch laptop that's trying to be a solid all-rounder. It packs an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a full 1TB SSD, which is a nice amount of storage for the price. For under $500, it's aimed at students or anyone who needs a portable Windows machine for basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and streaming. If you're searching for a cheap laptop that's easy to carry, this one will definitely come up.

Performance is exactly what you'd expect from these specs, which is to say it's fine for everyday stuff but not much more. The Intel Iris Xe graphics land in the 18th percentile, so don't even think about gaming. The CPU is in the 17th percentile, so it'll handle a dozen Chrome tabs and Microsoft Office, but it might start to chug if you try to do heavy multitasking or light photo editing. The 8GB of RAM is a real bottleneck here and is in the bottom 10th percentile. It's enough for basic use, but you'll feel the limits quickly. The 1TB SSD is a bright spot, making the system feel snappy for booting and opening apps.

At $419, the value proposition is simple: it's a budget laptop. You're getting a functional Windows machine with a good amount of storage. The main trade-off is the 8GB of RAM, which really holds the system back. For a similar price, you might find refurbished models with better specs, or you could spend a bit more on a newer base model with double the RAM, which would be a much better long-term investment.

Let's be clear, this isn't competing with the MacBook Pro or high-end gaming laptops on that list. A more direct competitor would be something like a base model ASUS Zenbook or a Lenovo IdeaPad in the $500-$700 range, which often offer 16GB of RAM and better screens. Compared to those, the Envy 13's low RAM and weaker overall performance scores make it hard to recommend unless your budget is absolutely fixed at this $419 point. It's a basic tool, while those others are more capable machines.

Should you buy this? Only if your budget is extremely tight and your needs are incredibly basic. It's a laptop for checking email, writing papers, and watching Netflix, and not much else. The 8GB of RAM is its biggest flaw and will make the machine feel outdated fast. If you can possibly stretch your budget by another $100-$150, you'll get a significantly better experience with a laptop that will last you years longer. This is a stopgap, not a long-term solution.