Display, Keyboard & Trackpad

The HP Green-eyed thirteen comes with two display options: ane features a resolution of 1920 ten 1080 (Total HD 1080p) and another is 3200 x 1800 (QHD+). Both are 13.3-inch white-LED-backlit IPS LCD panels without touchscreens, with pixel densities of 165 and 276 ppi respectively. For this review, I received an Envy xiii equipped with the cheaper 1080p option, although upgrading to QHD+ volition only prepare you lot back $50.

I'll start with the positives. The lack of a touchscreen has led to the display receiving a matte cease, which means fingerprints and reflections are a non-issue. It also helps the panel remain visible in most conditions, despite a relatively low maximum effulgence of 280 nits, although don't expect to do a whole lot of work in direct sunlight. Viewing angles are pretty decent as you lot'd await from an IPS display.

Unfortunately, that's where the positives stop. The display itself is rather lacklustre from a colour reproduction perspective. Accurateness isn't smashing, falling well behind higher-end models such as the Dell XPS 13 and Microsoft Surface Book in saturation, greyscale and general accurateness tests. This isn't the worst display I've ever seen, but even only looking at images reveals that something is 'off'.

On top of that, HP has implemented some sort of dynamic display aligning in the firmware, which shifts brightness and color reproduction depending on what is beingness displayed. I believe this is so the laptop can reduce white levels to relieve battery life, and as far every bit I tin tell, at that place is no way to disable this feature. Subsequently even a short period of usage it'due south somewhat obvious that colour reproduction is being adjusted on the wing, and that just compounds issues with subpar accuracy and undersaturation.

I'm not certain how the QHD+ model fares in terms of accuracy, but it's probably worth getting anyway merely because it only costs $l, and yous get a significant increase in resolution and sharpness.

I was very impressed with the keyboard on the Green-eyed 13. Typing is a breeze thanks to superb, clicky tactile feedback and splendid travel for a thin ultraportable, as well equally acceptable key size and spacing. The layout is great, with no of import keys getting truncated, and in that location'south a good range of system functions that tin can be easily modified through the elevation row of keys. The only downside would be smaller than average upwardly and downward arrow keys.

The trackpad on the Envy is decent without being outstanding. The Synaptics unit of measurement is responsive and generally smooth to use, with expert detection of gestures like scrolling and zooming. Right clicking is a little catchy on this laptop due to a weak concrete click machinery, merely left-clicking is fine as y'all tin can merely tap on the trackpad with ease.