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HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 in review: Elegant convertible with a highly reflective display

Windows on ARM. The HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 has a high-quality build and is versatile to use. With Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2, it's also one of the few devices that run Windows as an ARM version. Our review will clarify what that means in everyday use.
ARM Windows Touchscreen Convertible / 2-in-1
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA

With devices like the EliteBook Dragonfly Max, the Elite Dragonfly, or the EliteBook x360 1040 G7, HP has several more expensive convertibles in its lineup. This range is now expanded by the HP EliteBook Folio 13.5, which has the particularity of using an ARM processor. Besides the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2, the configuration in review has 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. The integrated Qualcomm Adreno 680 is responsible for displaying image content.

There are also other high-quality convertibles available for the price of approximately 2,600 Euros (~$3,052), and we'll use the selection below for comparison purposes in this review. However, since these are equipped with x86 CPUs, we'll also include the Samsung Galaxy Book S, which is equipped with the predecessor SoC of the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 installed in the EliteBook Folio 13.5.

Further devices from our database can also be added under each section.

HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA (EliteBook Folio Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G 8 x 3.2 GHz, Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 495)
Graphics adapter
Qualcomm Adreno 680
Memory
16 GB 
, LPDDR4-4266 MHz
Display
13.50 inch 3:2, 1920 x 1280 pixel 171 PPI, LGD0663, IPS, Corning Gorilla Glas 5, glossy: yes
Storage
Toshiba XG6 KXG60ZNV512G, 512 GB 
, 420 GB free
Soundcard
Qualcomm Aqstic
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 2 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm audio jack
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.0, LTE Cat 16, LTE
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 16 x 298 x 230 ( = 0.63 x 11.73 x 9.06 in)
Battery
46 Wh Lithium-Ion
Charging
fast charging / Quickcharge
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.9 MP, 16:9 (1280x720)
Additional features
Speakers: 4 speaker, stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, power adapter, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.32 kg ( = 46.56 oz / 2.91 pounds), Power Supply: 312 g ( = 11.01 oz / 0.69 pounds)
Price
2 Euro
Links
HP homepage
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Possible contenders in comparison

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
84 %
08/2021
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
SD 8cx Gen 2 5G, Adreno 680		1.3 kg16 mm13.50"1920x1280
86.2 %
06/2020
Samsung Galaxy Book S
SD 8cx, Adreno 680		951 g11.8 mm13.30"1920x1080
86.9 %
06/2020
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
i7-1065G7, GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q		1.6 kg23 mm13.50"3000x2000
87.7 %
06/2021
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
i7-1180G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs		782 g8.44 mm13.00"1920x1280
88.5 %
04/2021
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
i7-1160G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs		1.1 kg14.5 mm12.30"1920x1280

Case - Convertible with faux leather cover

HP has made the case of the EliteBook Folio 13.5 from a high-quality imitation leather and, according to the company, from 90% recycled aluminum. This makes the outer surfaces feel a bit soft, while the display, which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, and the base unit dominate on the inside.

In laptop mode, the maximum opening angle of the Folio 13.5 is around 140 degrees. However, the screen can also be moved forward, so that it's positioned directly behind the ClickPad. The third option is tablet mode, where the back of the screen rests on the keyboard.

HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA

With a weight of 1.3 kg, HP's convertible is one of the heaviest devices in our test field. Only the Surface Book 3 13.5 from Microsoft is heavier. Compared to the latter, the Folio 13.5 isn't quite as wide, and it's also much slimmer, but it has a similar depth.

Size comparison

❌
312 mm / 12.3 inch 232 mm / 9.13 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 1.6 kg3.62 lbs305.2 mm / 12 inch 203.2 mm / 8 inch 11.8 mm / 0.4646 inch 951 g2.1 lbs298 mm / 11.7 inch 230 mm / 9.06 inch 16 mm / 0.63 inch 1.3 kg2.91 lbs283.3 mm / 11.2 inch 203.5 mm / 8.01 inch 14.5 mm / 0.571 inch 1.1 kg2.44 lbs288.4 mm / 11.4 inch 207.9 mm / 8.19 inch 8.44 mm / 0.3323 inch 782 g1.724 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity - Only USB-C ports

The HP EliteBook Folio 13.5's connectivity is very modest. Apart from the two USB-C ports and the headset port, there are no other interfaces. Furthermore, one of the two USB ports is blocked by the power adapter when it's connected.

Nevertheless, the DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery support enables the use of additional interfaces when the corresponding adapters or docking stations are attached.

Left side: 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 (incl. PD and DP)
Left side: 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 (incl. PD and DP)
Right side: 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 (incl. PD und DP), 1x headset port
Right side: 1x USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 (incl. PD und DP), 1x headset port

Communication

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 chip integrates Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and 5G as wireless connectivity options. Instead of the latter, however, mobile connections are only available via LTE in the EliteBook Folio 13.5. With LTE Cat 20, download rates of up to 2,000 Mb/s and upload speeds of up to 300 Mb/s are possible in theory. The SIM card slot is integrated into the stylus compartment.

Once again, the wireless connection with our Netgear test router is expectedly weak, and this didn't improve in any of the multiple subsequent test runs. The Folio lags behind all contenders here.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1402 (1295min - 1517max) MBit/s +193%
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1371 (716min - 1466max) MBit/s +186%
Average 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
  (405 - 1750, n=103)
787 MBit/s +64%
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
670 (651min - 692max) MBit/s +40%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
606 (307min - 618max) MBit/s +27%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
479 (314min - 586max) MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1471 (1155min - 1602max) MBit/s +418%
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1421 (1323min - 1494max) MBit/s +400%
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
913 (853min - 932max) MBit/s +221%
Average 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
  (284 - 1414, n=103)
765 MBit/s +169%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
535 (503min - 564max) MBit/s +88%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
284 (169min - 380max) MBit/s
0501001502002503003504004505005506006507007508008509009501000105011001150120012501300135014001450150015501600Tooltip
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G, Qualcomm Adreno 680; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø284 (169-380)
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5 Intel Core i7-1065G7, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø912 (853-932)
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 Intel Core i7-1160G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1470 (1155-1602)
Samsung Galaxy Book S Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx, Qualcomm Adreno 680; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø535 (503-564)
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G, Qualcomm Adreno 680; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø478 (314-586)
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5 Intel Core i7-1065G7, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø670 (651-692)
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 Intel Core i7-1160G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1347 (716-1466)
Samsung Galaxy Book S Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx, Qualcomm Adreno 680; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø596 (307-618)

Webcam

HP uses a webcam with a resolution of only 0.9 MP, which is common in most current devices. The image quality is correspondingly low as can be seen in our sample pictures.

ColorChecker
12.5 ∆E
10.6 ∆E
15.5 ∆E
15 ∆E
16.9 ∆E
15.6 ∆E
10.5 ∆E
14.1 ∆E
12.7 ∆E
8.9 ∆E
13 ∆E
11 ∆E
10.1 ∆E
10.7 ∆E
11.3 ∆E
9.1 ∆E
13.9 ∆E
15.9 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
9.3 ∆E
10.6 ∆E
10.6 ∆E
9.1 ∆E
6.1 ∆E
ColorChecker Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00: 11.47 ∆E min: 2.33 - max: 16.93 ∆E
ColorChecker
22.7 ∆E
17.2 ∆E
12.3 ∆E
13.5 ∆E
5.8 ∆E
10.1 ∆E
8.1 ∆E
10.8 ∆E
8.4 ∆E
6.8 ∆E
8.6 ∆E
9.7 ∆E
11.2 ∆E
7.3 ∆E
2.7 ∆E
13.2 ∆E
8.1 ∆E
5.8 ∆E
2.5 ∆E
10.8 ∆E
9.8 ∆E
10.8 ∆E
11 ∆E
10.8 ∆E
ColorChecker HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA: 9.91 ∆E min: 2.47 - max: 22.73 ∆E

Accessories

The EliteBook Folio 13.5 comes with the convertible itself, a 65-watt power adapter, and a stylus. Carrying cases and various docking stations can be purchased separately from the manufacturer. 

Warranty

HP provides a 12-month warranty period for the EliteBook Folio 13.5.

Maintenance

The HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 lacks standard maintenance options. However, as shown in the embedded video from HP, the interior can be accessed with the right knowledge, and the SSD can be replaced here, for example.

Input devices - No stylus included in the box

Keyboard

The Folio 13.5's keyboard offers clear feedback and is well suited for typing longer text. A two-stage backlight ensures that the characters are easy to identify even in low-light conditions. The up and down arrow keys are slightly smaller, which makes using them more difficult.

Touchpad

HP uses a ClickPad as mouse replacement; it's well-suited for navigating the mouse pointer, and it responds reliably both to touch as well as to click inputs. The touchscreen also responds reliably and immediately to touches. It's also less susceptible to fingerprints and can also be used for drag-and-drop motions.

Although there's a slot for a compatible stylus from HP, it wasn't available to us for this review.

HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 - Keyboard
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 - Keyboard
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 -Stylus slot
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 -Stylus slot
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 - Backlight
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 - Backlight

Display - HP convertible is highly reflective

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid
Screen bleeding
Screen bleeding

The display of the HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 consists of a 13.5-inch IPS panel in the 3:2 format that offers a resolution of 1920x1280 pixels. The maximum brightness of 250 cd/m² on average is comparatively low, and the brightness distribution of 82% is also below the values of our test field.

HP specifies a brightness of 400 cd/m², but we weren't able to achieve this. No PWM is used for brightness control, which benefits users with sensitive eyes. No other display variants are offered.

221
cd/m²		209
cd/m²		222
cd/m²
249
cd/m²		250
cd/m²		254
cd/m²
211
cd/m²		213
cd/m²		209
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LGD0663 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 254 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 226.4 cd/m² Minimum: 20 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 82 %
Center on Battery: 252 cd/m²
Contrast: 1163:1 (Black: 0.215 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.59 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.99 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.98
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
LGD0663, IPS, 1920x1280, 13.50		Samsung Galaxy Book S
BOE, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30		Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
Panasonic MEI96A2, IPS, 3000x2000, 13.50		Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Sharp LQ130N1, IPS, 1920x1280, 13.00		Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
N123NCA-GS1, a-Si IPS LED, 1920x1280, 12.30
Display
Display P3 Coverage
63.5
79.5
67
sRGB Coverage
95.1
100
99.2
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
65.7
78.4
68.8
Response Times
-8%
-36%
-21%
-39%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
44 ?(19, 25)
48.8 ?(22, 26.8)
-11%
57 ?(28, 29)
-30%
53.2 ?(26.4, 26.8)
-21%
63.2 ?(30, 33.2)
-44%
Response Time Black / White *
27 ?(14, 13)
28.4 ?(16.4, 12)
-5%
38 ?(22, 16)
-41%
32.8 ?(16.4, 16.4)
-21%
36 ?(18, 18)
-33%
PWM Frequency
9524 ?(20)
2451 ?(42)
Screen
9%
32%
25%
51%
Brightness middle
250
383
53%
391
56%
521.8
109%
419
68%
Brightness
226
355
57%
367
62%
504
123%
406
80%
Brightness Distribution
82
88
7%
86
5%
93
13%
94
15%
Black Level *
0.215
0.36
-67%
0.19
12%
0.35
-63%
0.23
-7%
Contrast
1163
1064
-9%
2058
77%
1491
28%
1822
57%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.59
3.1
14%
3.07
14%
3.83
-7%
1.1
69%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
5.9
5.3
10%
4.74
20%
5.51
7%
2.2
63%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.99
3.6
10%
3.6
10%
4.4
-10%
1.5
62%
Gamma
2.98 74%
2 110%
2.29 96%
2.02 109%
2.06 107%
CCT
6765 96%
6743 96%
6330 103%
6494 100%
6524 100%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1.52
1.97
0.5
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
61
62.8
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
95
99.2
Total Average (Program / Settings)
1% / 6%
-2% / 19%
2% / 16%
6% / 33%

* ... smaller is better

According to our measurements, the Folio 13.5's display shows a good contrast ratio of 1,163:1 and an equally good black level of 0.215 cd/m². The color-space coverage could not be determined due to the incompatible measuring software.

However, the CalMAN analysis shows that colors are already reproduced with a small deviation out of the box. Therefore, performing a calibration is not necessary.

CalMAN - Color accuracy
CalMAN - Color accuracy
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Saturation
CalMAN - Saturation

The HP EliteBook Folio 13.5's display brightness isn't high enough to compensate for the screen's strong reflections outdoors.

HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 in outdoor use (sun behind the convertible)
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 in outdoor use (sun behind the convertible)
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 in outdoor use (sun behind the convertible)
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 in outdoor use (sun behind the convertible)

Display Response Times

ℹ
Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
   ↔    Response Time Black to White
27 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 13 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 63 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms).
   ↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 19 ms rise
↘ 25 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 70 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

ℹ
To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17900 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The IPS panel of the Folio 13.5 is very viewing-angle stable. This allows viewing image content even from very flat angles without it becoming distorted or showing inaccurate colors.

Viewing-angle stability
Viewing-angle stability

Performance - Sufficient for everyday use

HP orients the EliteBook Folio 13.5 towards the use as an office device and for representative purposes. Our test device's configuration is a bit more powerful due to the increased RAM and storage capacity, but a model with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD is also available.

Processor

The EliteBook Folio 13.5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2, which is an ARM-based SoC like the ones used in current smartphones and tablets. Consequently, you can't run all the applications that are available for Windows, and you should check before buying whether the required x64 applications are also available as versions that can be run on an ARM processor. Nevertheless, most x32 applications should work.

Due to the problems mentioned above, it's not possible to run all the usual benchmarks. Therefore, we will focus on the executable tests for the comparison. These show that the performance of the Folio 13.5 is below comparable devices with Intel CPUs. Graphics performance is also significantly lower and consequently only suitable for simple photo editing and the like.

A comparison with the Samsung Galaxy Book S reveals that the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 offers about 10% to 15% higher CPU performance compared to the 8cx in most tests. Only in Geekbench 4.1 does the 8cx perform better.

The Adreno 680's graphics performance increases by over 40% compared to the predecessor, which is considerably higher. Compared with current internal graphics units, such as the Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, its performance is much lower, though.

In our CPU Benchmarks article, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 can be compared with other processors. The Adreno 680's graphics performance can be compared with other GPUs in our GPU Benchmarks article.

Geekbench 5.5: Single-Core | Multi-Core
Geekbench 4.4: 64 Bit Single-Core Score | 64 Bit Multi-Core Score
WebXPRT 3: Overall
JetStream 1.1: Total Score
Jetstream 2: Total Score
Mozilla Kraken 1.1: Total
Octane V2: Total Score
3DMark 11: 1280x720 Performance GPU
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core
Average of class Convertible
  (319 - 1981, n=68, last 2 years)
1617 Points +102%
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Intel Core i7-1180G7
1525 Points +90%
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Intel Core i7-1160G7
1409 Points +76%
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
Intel Core i7-1065G7
1294 Points +62%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
801 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
  (793 - 801, n=2)
797 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
700 Points -13%
Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core
Average of class Convertible
  (663 - 14016, n=68, last 2 years)
8265 Points +163%
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Intel Core i7-1180G7
5304 Points +69%
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Intel Core i7-1160G7
4843 Points +54%
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
Intel Core i7-1065G7
4060 Points +29%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
3143 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
  (3088 - 3143, n=2)
3116 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
2760 Points -12%
Geekbench 4.4 / 64 Bit Single-Core Score
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Intel Core i7-1180G7
6260 Points +166%
Average of class Convertible
  (1989 - 6801, n=7, last 2 years)
4552 Points +93%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
3313 Points +41%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
2355 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
  ()
2355 Points 0%
Geekbench 4.4 / 64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Average of class Convertible
  (3462 - 30452, n=7, last 2 years)
24695 Points +229%
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Intel Core i7-1180G7
19898 Points +165%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
11047 Points +47%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
7502 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
  ()
7502 Points 0%
WebXPRT 3 / Overall
Average of class Convertible
  (84.2 - 366, n=64, last 2 years)
268 Points +103%
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Intel Core i7-1180G7
242 Points +83%
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Intel Core i7-1160G7
222 Points +68%
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
Intel Core i7-1065G7
198 Points +50%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
132 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
  ()
132 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
116 Points -12%
JetStream 1.1 / Total Score
Average of class Convertible
  (338 - 443, n=4, last 2 years)
393 Points +162%
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
Intel Core i7-1065G7
205.4 Points +37%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
149.8 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
  ()
149.8 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
134.1 Points -10%
Jetstream 2 / Total Score
Average of class Convertible
  (157.5 - 435, n=37, last 2 years)
245 Points +187%
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Intel Core i7-1180G7
157.1 Points +84%
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Intel Core i7-1160G7
155 Points +81%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
85.4 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
  ()
85.4 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
73.5 Points -14%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 / Total
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
1464 ms * -14%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
1284 ms *
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
  ()
1284 ms * -0%
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
Intel Core i7-1065G7
821 ms * +36%
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Intel Core i7-1160G7
722 ms * +44%
Average of class Convertible
  (472 - 3989, n=66, last 2 years)
697 ms * +46%
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Intel Core i7-1180G7
662 ms * +48%
Octane V2 / Total Score
Average of class Convertible
  (70338 - 92146, n=14, last 2 years)
80018 Points +143%
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Intel Core i7-1160G7
57394 Points +74%
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
Intel Core i7-1065G7
38842 Points +18%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
32979 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
  ()
32979 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
29364 Points -11%
3DMark 11 / Performance GPU
Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
Intel Core i7-1065G7
10800 Points +374%
Average of class Convertible
  (471 - 40768, n=66, last 2 years)
7853 Points +245%
Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
Intel Core i7-1180G7
5483 Points +141%
Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Intel Core i7-1160G7
5128 Points +125%
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
2278 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2 5G
  ()
2278 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy Book S
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx
1593 Points -30%

* ... smaller is better

Storage

HP uses a 512 GB Toshiba/Kioxia XG6 SSD in the Folio 13.5. It achieves good read and write rates in the storage benchmarks, which lie at the bottom of our test field. Only the SSD in the Samsung Galaxy Book S shows a lower result.

Our HDD/SSD Benchmarks article shows how other mass storage devices perform in comparison.

HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
Toshiba XG6 KXG60ZNV512G		Samsung Galaxy Book S
256 GB NVMe		Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG		Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
WDC PC SN530 SDBPMPZ-265G		Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZNT512G		Average Toshiba XG6 KXG60ZNV512G
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-3%
200%
332%
181%
313%
Write 4K
21.61
30.59
42%
88.4
309%
177.5
721%
72.8
237%
112.8 ?(21.6 - 209, n=14)
422%
Read 4K
16.77
20.26
21%
39.53
136%
47.45
183%
26.35
57%
42.7 ?(16.8 - 56.8, n=14)
155%
Write Seq
750
421.4
-44%
691
-8%
971
29%
823
10%
1489 ?(750 - 1897, n=13)
99%
Read Seq
899
1232
37%
1032
15%
1544
72%
1169
30%
1771 ?(899 - 2202, n=13)
97%
Write 4K Q32T1
63.1
39.17
-38%
279.6
343%
295.3
368%
112.6
78%
345 ?(63.1 - 606, n=14)
447%
Read 4K Q32T1
30.94
41.14
33%
261.6
746%
394.1
1174%
327.2
958%
359 ?(30.9 - 792, n=14)
1060%
Write Seq Q32T1
1742
420.9
-76%
868
-50%
977
-44%
1039
-40%
2257 ?(853 - 2966, n=14)
30%
Read Seq Q32T1
998
1047
5%
2075
108%
2482
149%
2176
118%
2926 ?(998 - 3511, n=14)
193%
AS SSD
-40%
27%
-10%
-0%
78%
Seq Read
2376
1069
-55%
1707
-28%
1918
-19%
1760
-26%
2456 ?(1837 - 2961, n=14)
3%
Seq Write
881
382
-57%
510
-42%
357.6
-59%
761
-14%
1493 ?(802 - 2562, n=14)
69%
4K Read
25.86
16.64
-36%
38.77
50%
38.97
51%
47.68
84%
44.1 ?(22.3 - 54.4, n=14)
71%
4K Write
55.6
35.99
-35%
100.9
81%
195.5
252%
176
217%
119.3 ?(28.9 - 195.8, n=14)
115%
4K-64 Read
453.2
415.1
-8%
630
39%
390.9
-14%
581
28%
980 ?(416 - 1414, n=14)
116%
4K-64 Write
529
229.5
-57%
707
34%
103.9
-80%
118.5
-78%
1180 ?(199.5 - 1502, n=14)
123%
Access Time Read *
0.148
0.085
43%
0.122
18%
0.155
-5%
0.08057 ?(0.029 - 0.148, n=14)
46%
Access Time Write *
0.07
0.093
-33%
0.035
50%
0.189
-170%
0.188
-169%
0.055 ?(0.026 - 0.143, n=14)
21%
Score Read
717
539
-25%
839
17%
622
-13%
805
12%
1269 ?(667 - 1719, n=14)
77%
Score Write
672
304
-55%
859
28%
335
-50%
371
-45%
1449 ?(345 - 1899, n=14)
116%
Score Total
1685
1086
-36%
2077
23%
1209
-28%
1551
-8%
3326 ?(1300 - 4424, n=14)
97%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-22% / -23%
114% / 100%
161% / 134%
91% / 76%
196% / 177%

* ... smaller is better

CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
AS SSD
hddimg
Toshiba XG6 KXG60ZNV512G
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 998 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1742 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 30.94 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 63.1 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 899 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 750 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 16.77 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 21.61 MB/s

Gaming performance

The performance of the internal Qualcomm Adreno 680 is only suitable for very simple games from the Windows Store. Other games, even older titles with lower graphics performance requirements, can only be run to a very limited extent or not at all.

Emissions - Silent Windows convertible

Noise emissions

The EliteBook Folio 13.5 is cooled passively and is consequently silent. We weren't able to detect other noises, such as coil whine or the like, in our test model.

Temperature

According to our measurements, the surfaces of the Folio 13.5 heat up to 35.4 °C (~96 °F) under load. As a result, the device only feels a bit warm, but it never gets hot. The palm rest temperatures always remain moderate, which allows the Windows convertible to be used at all times.

Max. Load
 32.8 °C
91 F		34.3 °C
94 F		34.1 °C
93 F		 
 30 °C
86 F		30.5 °C
87 F		30.9 °C
88 F		 
 27.3 °C
81 F		26.8 °C
80 F		26.7 °C
80 F		 
Maximum: 34.3 °C = 94 F
Average: 30.4 °C = 87 F
35 °C
95 F		35.4 °C
96 F		34.1 °C
93 F
31 °C
88 F		31.5 °C
89 F		30.9 °C
88 F
28.5 °C
83 F		28.8 °C
84 F		28.4 °C
83 F
Maximum: 35.4 °C = 96 F
Average: 31.5 °C = 89 F
Power Supply (max.)  35.1 °C = 95 F | Room Temperature 23.6 °C = 74 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.4 °C / 87 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.3 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 35.4 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.8 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 27.3 °C / 81.1 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (+0.8 °C / 1.5 F).
Heat map in idle usage - Top
Heat map in idle usage - Top
Heat map in idle usage - Bottom
Heat map in idle usage - Bottom
Heat map under load - Top
Heat map under load - Top
Heat map under load - Bottom
Heat map under load - Bottom

Speakers

Speakers
Speakers

The speakers in the HP convertible offer comparatively low volume and a sound spectrum with pronounced mids. This makes them quite suitable for playing media content in quiet environments, but external speakers or headphones are still recommended in the long run.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.730.134.72535.331.935.33139.736.939.74029.128.729.15031.629.931.66335.634.435.68029.119.529.110039.418.139.412543.817.943.816044.916.244.920040.415.640.425048.714.848.731556.614.956.640065.213.965.250066.613.466.66306712.86780070.912.270.9100071.212.371.2125066.712.466.7160073.412.473.4200068.912.568.9250062.512.962.5315065.713.365.7400069.113.369.1500060.113.660.1630059.813.759.8800058.413.758.41000055.513.655.51250052.713.452.71600054.512.754.5SPL79.825.379.8N45.10.745.1median 60.1median 13.4median 60.1Delta81.2834.634.524.32829.332.228.828.831.331.723.425.72225.42627.624.531.526.226.82334.821.540.71846.315.351.513.658.612.46211.362.91266.411.367.510.666.810.764.811.162.611.461.91261.11257.112.460.212.556.612.651.412.749.311.65225.175.10.733median 12.4median 57.13.69.6hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseHP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EALenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (71.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 8.6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 42% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 51% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 43% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 50% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (75.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.8% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 70% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 25% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 68% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 25% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy management - Extreme battery life with Windows on ARM

Energy consumption

HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 - Power adapter
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 - Power adapter

The HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 is a very frugal device with an average power consumption of 3.5 watts in idle operation and a maximum of 25 watts under load. Compared with the rest of our test field, only the Samsung Galaxy Book S is more frugal.

The included charger offers an output power of 65 watts, which is a sufficiently high capacity.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.2 / 0.88 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.3 / 3.7 / 5.6 Watt
Load midlight 13 / 25 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
SD 8cx Gen 2 5G, Adreno 680, Toshiba XG6 KXG60ZNV512G, IPS, 1920x1280, 13.50		Samsung Galaxy Book S
SD 8cx, Adreno 680, 256 GB NVMe, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30		Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
i7-1065G7, GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, SK Hynix BC501 HFM512GDJTNG, IPS, 3000x2000, 13.50		Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
i7-1180G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, WDC PC SN530 SDBPMPZ-265G, IPS, 1920x1280, 13.00		Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
i7-1160G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, Toshiba BG4 KBG40ZNT512G, a-Si IPS LED, 1920x1280, 12.30		Average Qualcomm Adreno 680
 		Average of class Convertible
 
Power Consumption
10%
-215%
-67%
-90%
5%
-155%
Idle Minimum *
2.3
1.61
30%
4.8
-109%
2.5
-9%
4
-74%
1.955 ?(1.61 - 2.3, n=2)
15%
5.44 ?(10.1 - 16.6, n=59, last 2 years)
-137%
Idle Average *
3.7
4.3
-16%
9.4
-154%
4.8
-30%
5.9
-59%
4 ?(3.7 - 4.3, n=2)
-8%
8.27 ?(16.9 - 20.7, n=59, last 2 years)
-124%
Idle Maximum *
5.6
5
11%
11.2
-100%
6
-7%
8.3
-48%
5.3 ?(5 - 5.6, n=2)
5%
10.8 ?(4.7 - 29.9, n=58, last 2 years)
-93%
Load Average *
13
13.2
-2%
72
-454%
31.9
-145%
30.1
-132%
13.1 ?(13 - 13.2, n=2)
-1%
46.7 ?(7.6 - 101.3, n=58, last 2 years)
-259%
Load Maximum *
25
18.3
27%
90
-260%
61
-144%
59
-136%
21.7 ?(18.3 - 25, n=2)
13%
65.4 ?(10.5 - 155.7, n=58, last 2 years)
-162%
Witcher 3 ultra *
26.2
30.8

* ... smaller is better

Battery life

The EliteBook Folio 13.5 achieves a runtime of 14:34 hours in our real-world Wi-Fi test. This is significantly longer than comparable devices with Intel CPUs and is only surpassed by the Samsung Galaxy Book S.

HP's convertible supports fast charging, which means that 90% of the 46 Wh battery's charge is available again after 90 minutes.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
14h 34min
WiFi Websurfing max. Brightness
12h 37min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 11min
HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA
SD 8cx Gen 2 5G, Adreno 680, 46 Wh		Samsung Galaxy Book S
SD 8cx, Adreno 680, 42 Wh		Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5
i7-1065G7, GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, 69 Wh		Dell Latitude 13 7320 Detachable, i7-1180G7
i7-1180G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 40 Wh		Lenovo ThinkPad X12 20UVS03G00
i7-1160G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 42 Wh		Average of class Convertible
 
Battery Runtime
28%
-40%
-37%
-49%
-44%
WiFi v1.3
874
953
9%
396
-55%
661
-24%
492
-44%
567 ?(329 - 876, n=64, last 2 years)
-35%
Load
251
369
47%
188
-25%
126
-50%
119
-53%
121.7 ?(53 - 219, n=47, last 2 years)
-52%

Pros

+ very long battery life
+ high-quality case
+ LTE-capable
+ good input devices

Cons

- comparatively low system performance
- highly reflective display
- lower brightness than specified
- only a few ports
- slow Wi-Fi

Verdict - Low performance but long battery life

In review: HP EliteBook Folio 13.5. Test device provided by: HP Germany
In review: HP EliteBook Folio 13.5. Test device provided by: HP Germany

The advantages of a Windows-on-ARM device are clearly the frugal operation and the resulting long battery life. The HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 can be operated for a very long time of over 14 hours on Wi-Fi, and it has a high-quality build. The input devices are very good as well. We would have appreciated that there's an extra storage slot for the stylus, had it been included in the package in the first place.

The HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 convinces above all with its high-quality case and long battery life. However, we would have liked the included accessories to be more generous.

If we look at the system performance, the EliteBook Folio 13.5 can handle office applications, Internet usage, and possibly even minor image-editing tasks without issues. The system runs smoothly and responds immediately to inputs. Compared with similarly priced Intel convertibles, however, the available performance is clearly inferior to what these devices offer with their x64 CPUs. Nevertheless, the latter only achieve about half of the EliteBook Folio 13.5's battery runtimes.

If more performance is required, devices like the Microsoft Surface Book 3 13.5 or the Dell Latitude 13 7320 are recommended. If the longest possible battery life is preferred, though, and all the necessary applications can also be run on an ARM processor, the EliteBook Folio 13.5 is a good choice.

Price and availability

You can find the EliteBook Folio 13.5 in the manufacturer's online store starting at around $1,500 for the base configuration (128 GB of storage, 8 GB of RAM, 300-nit display, no LTE). You can also customize the device extensively here and max out the storage space, RAM, and the display brightness, as well as add LTE connectivity.

Alternatively, there are also a couple of listings of the device on Amazon and newegg, for example.

HP EliteBook Folio 13.5-3G2L2EA - 08/09/2021 v7
Mike Wobker

Chassis
86 / 98 → 88%
Keyboard
80%
Pointing Device
88%
Connectivity
51 / 75 → 68%
Weight
71 / 20-75 → 93%
Battery
90%
Display
80%
Games Performance
51 / 78 → 66%
Application Performance
66 / 85 → 77%
Temperature
95%
Noise
100%
Audio
62 / 91 → 68%
Camera
31 / 85 → 36%
Average
73%
84%
Convertible - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > HP EliteBook Folio 13.5 in review: Elegant convertible with a highly reflective display
Mike Wobker, 2021-08-10 (Update: 2021-08-20)