HP ENVY 14 (2021) review
HP ENVY 14 (2021) — from 2021, 1.6 kg, performance 34.
Technical specifications
| Type | Ultrabook |
| Release year | 2021 |
| Screen | 14" · 1920x1200 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 1135G7 , Intel Core i7 1165G7 |
| Max. RAM | 16 GB |
| Weight | 1.6 kg |
| Battery | 63.3 Wh |
Performance scores
HP ENVY 14 (2021): the premium badge on entry silicon
The HP ENVY 14 (2021) pairs a Core i5 1135G7 with 16GB of memory at $739 — premium-branded, modestly engined. The CPU score of 70 sits 17 percent above the ultrabook-class median, top quartile and the sheet's named strength; the memory ceiling of 16GB against a class median of 32 is the named weakness, and performance at 33.66 lands in the low band.
Where it holds up
Portability at 65.3 is high-band, and the CPU figure of 70 top-quartile is a real if narrow strength — 11th-generation i5 silicon holds its class percentile. Photo at 37 is mid-tier, and the 9.44 percent annual class-level depreciation rate is among this batch's gentler families. The ENVY chassis quality is the argument the numbers only imply.
Where it falls short
Four axes land low-band: performance at 33.66, gaming at 23, modeling at 19, and CAD at 22. Office at 62.75 is mid-tier, photo at 37 mid-tier, and value at 48.5 mid-tier. The structural critique writes itself: its own ENVY 15 sibling at the same $739 carries an i7 and an RTX 3050 with performance at 70.4 — the badge is the same, the sheets are not.
Price and depreciation
At $739 with an empty dollar ledger, the 9.44 percent annual class-level rate erodes slowly, but the value reading of 48.5 mid-tier declines to defend the price. The gentle curve is real; the entry sheet under it is what depreciates in capability terms, and no rate can slow that.
Alternatives to consider
The HP ENVY 15 (2021) at the same $739: the i7-plus-3050 route with performance at 70.4, gaming at 66, photo at 93, and value at 76.3 — the same-money rebuke. The HP Pavilion Aero 13 (2021) at the same price offers portability at 89.2 and photo at 83. The HP Pavilion 13 (2021) at the same $739 is the lighter, equally modest sibling.
Bottom line
Fairly priced for the class, at best. The ENVY 14 carries high-band portability, a top-quartile CPU figure, and a gentle depreciation family — against four low-band axes, a 16GB ceiling, and an identically priced sibling that beats it nearly everywhere. The badge deserves better silicon than this configuration carries.
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⭐ What stands out
-
memory capacity is lower than typical ultrabook class (+50%) (comfort).
below class average -
overall performance is lower than typical ultrabook class (+19.1%) (low tier).
budget segment of category -
CPU performance is higher than typical ultrabook class (+17%) (high tier).
top 25% of its category
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration handles modern AAA games at high settings, video editing, and heavy multitasking.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 52.5) ↔ price (median 373.2).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 65) ↔ overall performance (median 41.5).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 50) ↔ battery life (median 4.5).
ENVY 14 (2021): verdict
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