HP Envy 17 vs HP Spectre x360 14

The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a higher quality CPU and RAM compared to the HP Envy 17, translating into smoother and faster performance for a variety of tasks, along with a superior screen quality for crisp visuals, all in a more portable design with longer battery life. However, the Envy 17 might provide more storage space and a larger screen, which could be important for those who prioritize these aspects despite a trade-off in portability and battery efficiency.

The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a superior combination of CPU, RAM, and GPU, enhancing performance for demanding engineering tasks, and its high-quality screen is particularly advantageous for design work. While the HP Envy 17 has capable specs that suit engineering and design, its larger screen and potentially lesser portability could make the Spectre more appealing for those prioritizing a balance between powerful specs and the ability to easily carry their device.

PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.

PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.

The HP Envy 17 offers a vibrant and precise display with adequate resolution and brightness for general activities and detailed work in engineering and design, but its lower refresh rate could lead to less fluid visuals in fast-paced gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 14 provides an exceptional visual experience in terms of resolution and color accuracy crucial for both general use and professional design tasks, further enhanced by a versatile form factor; however, like the Envy, its refresh rate falls short for gaming and 3D work that typically benefits from a more responsive screen. The discrepancy in screen quality for gaming and 3D between these models and dedicated gaming laptops stems from their focus on color reproduction and clarity over the high refresh rates that are less critical for general use and professional design applications.

PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.

The HP Envy 17, with its larger screen and dedicated GPU, offers decent graphics performance suitable for gaming and 3D tasks; however, the refresh rate might not be optimal for high-end gaming which requires smoother visuals. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 14, while having a good-quality screen and capable CPU, lacks a powerful dedicated GPU, thus providing a fair but not top-tier gaming and 3D experience due to limited graphics horsepower and refresh rate capabilities.

Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.