HP ENVY x360 15t Laptop: A complete review

If you’re searching for a versatile, high-performing laptop that doubles as a tablet, it’s time to consider the HP ENVY x360 15t. It’s becoming a popular choice for students and business professionals who want the convenience of a workstation and the portability of a laptop.

With so many features and options to customize, this device has something for everyone. Read on to learn if it's the best choice to handle all your computing needs in our HP ENVY x360 15t review.

Plug-and-play ready

Right out of the box, the HP ENVY x360 15t stands out for being super-easy to get started. You can plug it in, turn it on, and set it up without even glancing at the user manual.

Since it comes preloaded with Windows 10 Home, the laptop includes Microsoft’s digital assistant, Cortana. She can talk you through the process of customizing the OS to your needs and getting HP’s proprietary software systems in place. You can even register your device by chatting with Cortana.

As long as you’re connected to the internet, you can get up and running within 10 minutes or less - and that includes updates and customization.

Once you’re logged-in, you can also bring all of your favorite apps and programs to life with ease. HP® has created special shortcuts to incorporate other HP products into your workflow, too, including HP printers that can help keep your workflow moving.

For consumers who use their HP ENVY x360 15t for business, an upgrade to Windows 10 Pro is also possible. This provides even more ways to secure the computer with special networking tools and security features not available on the Home version.

Speaking of security, this laptop has it all. Your purchase includes Computrace LoJack for laptops at one-to-three-year contract lengths, and you can activate built-in facial recognition upon setup if desired.

The laptop itself is encased in a sturdy shell, giving it a bit more protection than some other laptops made from plastic casings.

Pleasing aesthetics

HP® has continued the tradition of creating beautiful-looking laptops in their HP ENVY line. The HP ENVY x360 15t is a powerful laptop that has wowed users for some time with its brilliant brushed silver finish and minimalist keyboard design, with the option to upgrade with a numeric keypad.

Most users will find the size and spacing of the HP ENVY x360 15t’s full-size keyboard to be more than enough for every task; work, gaming, or creation.

HP® also put the power button on the side of the laptop, which provides even more room for typing.

Designed for life

With an exterior designed toward an active lifestyle, this innovative laptop brings a true balance between portability and power.

The HP ENVY x360 15t weighs just a little under 5 pounds, yet still offers a full-sized keyboard with impressive backlighting. This allows users to game, create, or edit in low light with error-free efficiency and a less-cramped experience. In fact, the hinges are set back in a way to allow for even more typing space than other laptops, giving even those with big hands room to maneuver.

The display on this convertible model measures at 15.6 inches from corner to corner, and the slightly beveled edge-to-edge glass emphasizes amazingly rich color and contrast from the Full High Definition (FHD) display behind it. The resolution is above standard (1920 x 1080) and makes movies pop and photos easier to view and edit.

You also have the option to upgrade to 4K screen technology for an even crisper experience. Since it’s also a touchscreen, you will likely end up smudging it from daily use, but the surface is easy to clean per manufacturer’s instructions and resumes its shiny look with little effort. The touch function is responsive with even the lightest touch as well.

This review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the incredible effects of the Bang & Olufsen speakers, which are standard equipment on many HP models. Where the HP ENVY x360 15t really impresses is the volume and clarity of these speakers, which take up a much smaller space on the interior than the larger model.

The sound isn’t small, though. At full volume, YouTube videos and streaming audio easily fills up a reasonably-sized room. It’s impressive to get that much sound from a 15-inch notebook.

More options with the HP ENVY x360 convertible laptop

You may already be familiar with the features of a convertible laptop. Sometimes referred to as 2-in-1 laptops, these devices can be folded over to change from a laptop configuration to something that resembles a tablet.

The HP ENVY x360 15t is especially impressive because it can convert from a laptop to a tablet with various positions in between that display the screen in either tablet or laptop mode. But it’s not just the physical design that’s intuitive.

When folding the screen over from laptop to tablet, the HP ENVY x360 15t asks if you also want to operate the software in tablet mode. Upon approval, it disables the keyboard and touchpad so they don’t interfere with tablet functionality.

The screen configuration then changes to a more familiar tablet layout with larger program and app icons and touch screen priority. When the screen is folded back into laptop position, the software will ask if the user would like to exit tablet mode.

There’s no need to toggle settings to get the best experience for the configuration of this HP ENVY x360 convertible laptop. It does it for you.

Speedy delivery for all tasks

It can be difficult to believe that a portable notebook can really keep up with a desktop, but this model is almost flawless in its multi-tasking potential.

Equipped with the reliable and outperforming Intel® Core™ i7-8550U quad-core processor, it can keep several memory-draining programs going steady at once while handling all the necessary background tasks you need such as antivirus, software updates, and file backups.

The laptop also stays quiet and cool when handling several heavy-duty programs thanks to the Intel Optane™ memory, an integrated accelerator that works alongside the processor. This is responsiveness at its peak.

For memory and storage, the HP ENVY x360 15t offers two reliable options. Basic users can easily get by with the standard 1TB 7200 rpm SATA and 16 GB PCIe® NVMe™ Intel Optane. However, power players and video editors may want to customize this model to the 16GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (2x8GB) and 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD.

Gaming innovation

Are you wondering how the HP ENVY x360 15t works for entertainment needs?

For starters, the casual gamer will find most online games and multiplayer games like Fortnite are handled well by this model.

For an improved experience, you have the option to move up from the Intel UHD Graphics 620 to the NVIDIA® GeForce® MX150, which has 4GB of dedicated graphics memory. If you go this route, you can also upgrade to a Full HD or 4K monitor.

It’s a comfortable laptop for long gaming sessions, too. It comes with a backlit keyboard that’s a bit wider, in addition to numerous ports that allow you to connect multiple monitors, a mouse, or other gaming peripherals.

Even better, this laptop has a reliable battery life. Measured at just about 9 hours and 15 minutes with the Full High Definition (FHD) display (less if you upgrade to 4K) and 7 hours and 45 minutes for video playback, you can most likely get through the day on a single charge. The 3-cell, 52.5 Wh Lithium-ion prismatic battery also stays cool, unlike some laptops that suffer from battery warmth after long video playback sessions.

Well-rounded portability for everyone

Students, in particular college students, will find this laptop especially appealing because it has the right software and accessories to bring superior performance to work and play.

Whether you’re lounging with friends over a movie, creating your next animated project using the touch screen, or transferring data to the cloud, the HP ENVY x360 15t is poised to give you speed and reliability in a very portable package.

The 2-in-1 configuration also just makes it a better deal considering that most students and professionals don’t want to carry around both a laptop and a tablet. Add in a few laptop accessories, such as an HP monitor, printer, and mouse and you’ll have everything you need to make this your home or dorm-based workstation, too.

The HP ENVY x360 15t has you covered whether you’re looking for a work device, entertainment center, back-to-school laptop, or a combination of all of them. If you need a thoughtful, stylish, and secure notebook that makes your business travels less stressful and more productive. With its upgraded 8th Generation i7 processor combined with a large keyboard and innovative Windows features, you get amazing value in a truly portable laptop.

About the Author: Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.