HP Envy 15
Specifications
Price comparison
Average of 19 scores (from 22 reviews)
Reviews for the HP Envy 15
They are around us. With the new Envy notebook HP finally dares to enter the premium multimedia segment, which is only sparsely populated by some brands so far. Here a hiqh-quality case with premium design and most up-to-date, powerful hardware are always high on the wish list. The price plays only a minor role and if it does, only to further strike the exclusivity of many a products. We point out how much value the HP Envy 15 offers for your money.
Source: T3 Archive.org version
It looks like the MacBook Pro, but performance doesn't quite match its rival. When HP refreshed its Envy range earlier this year, we were struck its design. The generous might suggest HP has borrowed a leaf from Apple's design book, the cynical might not be so kind, with the resemblance between this notebook and the MacBook Pro pretty obvious.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 06/18/2010
performance: 50%
Source: Star Techcentral Archive.org version
The HP Envy 15 is a classy notebook that has a lot going for it. It is a multimedia powerhouse that’s great for running all sorts of applications, watching movies, surfing and even playing games. Plus, its stereo speakers are pretty good as it delivers crisp, clear tunes. However, the Envy isn’t very portable and the battery life suffers due to its demanding processor and graphics chip. But the biggest issue with the notebook is the amount of heat it generates.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/08/2010
Rating: performance: 90% mobility: 40% emissions: 40%
Source: Good Gear Guide Archive.org version
There is potential for high performance in this laptop with its interesting processor, but there's also enough niggles to make us cautious before making a recommendation. Given the high power demands of the CPU, this is still more of a desktop replacement, a static desk design which makes the separate optical drive an satisfactory solution over a regular integrated unit. And professional users may be turned off by the glossiness of the screen, its low resolution, or both.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/07/2010
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Techradar Archive.org version
The Envy laptops represent HP's latest premium range, and the Envy 15 is an extremely stylish laptop that successfully marries excellent performance with usability and portability. Nevertheless, this is a small blemish and the HP Envy 15 impressed us enormously with its style, performance and portability – the price is also competitive.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/09/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: PC Pro Archive.org version
With the arrival of its new high-end range of laptops, one manufacturer would have us believe that imitation truly is the most sincere form of flattery. Lightweight, slender and sheathed in aluminium – no, we’re not talking about Apple’s metal-framed MacBooks - HP’s Envy range comes dressed to impress. HP's Envy 15 takes on Apple at its own game, but proves sinful in all the wrong ways
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/20/2009
Rating: Total score: 50% price: 50% performance: 83% features: 50%
Source: Pocket Lint Archive.org version
The HP Envy 15 has some real strengths: the design is sensational, the keyboard is excellent and the power on offer makes this a really versatile machine. This has to be balanced against the lack of internal drive and poor battery life, which means that this is a PC that will complement your plush office or home better than it will accompany you on your travels. There is no doubting the style on offer however and it will look good wherever you put it and whatever competitor you sit it next to.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/19/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version
While it offers a brilliant screen, awesome performance, and a unique design, the Envy 15’s short battery life (with the standard battery), hot temperatures, and awkward keyboard will turn many buyers off. If you’re a graphics designer or video editor, the Envy 15 is more powerful than a 15-inch MacBook Pro, but you’ll probably prefer the Apple machine’s longer endurance and more comfortable keyboard and touchpad. And if you want to play games, the ASUS G51J, which is $300 less expensive, will be more to your liking. Overall, the Envy 15 has the guts to be a MacBook killer, but we’d like to see HP provide longer battery life—without adding 2 pounds of weight—and cooler temperatures.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/17/2009
Rating: Total score: 50%
Source: Reg Hardware Archive.org version
It might be more accurate to refer to HP’s latest laptop as the ‘Apple Envy’, as the design of the machine so closely mimics that of Apple’s MacBook Pro range. But, to be fair to HP, it hasn’t simply copied Apple. Yes, the battery life is disappointing, but the Envy 15’s powerhouse performance and competitive price make this an impressive desktop replacement system.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/16/2009
Rating: Total score: 85%
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
As I worked my way down the list of parts, everything about the HP Envy 15 ($1,800 direct) seemed as if it were a dream come true. An Intel Mobile Core i7 processor, 6GB of DDR3 memory, and midrange ATI graphics card are parts that you would find in an extremely large media center or gaming rig—not in a 15.6-inch aluminum frame that bears a strong resemblance to the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (SD Slot). Every component that powers the Envy 15 is what performance dreams are made of, but heat, unfortunately, is an aggravating side effect.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/13/2009
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Computer Shopper Archive.org version
The HP Envy line's name is wonderfully cheeky. While the intention is to imply that others will "envy" people who own these stylish, high-end laptops, the line's similarity in design to Apple's MacBook series makes for an amusing double meaning. Stylish enough to take on Apple's MacBook, the Envy 15 backs up its good looks with excellent performance, superb audio, and great ergonomics. If you don't need an all-day battery, this is a dream machine.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 93%
Source: Digital Versus Archive.org version
"Artistically and technically superior. The HP Envy 15 Notebook PC combines Quad Core performance, a subtly engineered design, and a superior user experience for substance over flash discerning users will recognize." When HP goes after Apple's MacBook Pro, the result is a very handsome notebook that exudes quality, even if it lacks originality. While not the equal of its model--for battery life, noise level or display quality--the HP Envy 15 does offer excellent performance, unparalleled user comfort, and high-quality audio.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/30/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Mobile Tech Review Archive.org version
We can't help but be smitten with the HP Envy 15. It's a gaming powerhouse, a desktop replacement and more than powerful enough to keep us away from shopping notebooks for a few years. Yet it's gorgeous, very thin and light. Its unique looks and Apple-chic design make this one of the few gaming notebooks that you can take to a meeting without looking like boy-gamer redux. The machine's portability is somewhat compromised by the large power brick and is seriously compromised if you do indeed need an optical drive on the road and lots of battery power.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
There is potential for high performance in this laptop with its interesting processor, but there’s also enough niggles to make us cautious before making a recommendation. Given the high power demands of the CPU, this is still more of a desktop replacement, a static desk design which makes the separate optical drive an satisfactory solution over a regular integrated unit. And professional users may be turned off by the glossiness of the screen, its low resolution, or both. Ultimately it’s a brave attempt to catch up with the MacBook Pro range, but like the 13in HP Envy, the Apple original pips it in many ways.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 01/04/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% features: 80% workmanship: 90%
Foreign Reviews
Source: Netzwelt DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 04/22/2010
Rating: performance: 80% display: 40% mobility: 40%
Source: c't - 4/10
Comparison, , Very Long, Date: 02/01/2010
Rating: performance: 85% features: 70% display: 55% mobility: 40% ergonomy: 80% emissions: 40%
Source: PC Go - 2/10
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/01/2010
Rating: Total score: 75% price: 70%
Source: Notebookcheck DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/06/2009
Rating: Total score: 83% performance: 91% display: 73% mobility: 73% workmanship: 94% ergonomy: 90% emissions: 76%
Source: PC Welt DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/19/2009
Rating: Total score: 69% price: 40% performance: 100% features: 80% mobility: 19% ergonomy: 52%
Source: T-Online DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/19/2009
Rating: Total score: 69% price: 40% performance: 100% features: 80% mobility: 19% ergonomy: 52%
Source: Jambitz ES→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/17/2009
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Sohoa VN Express VN→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/26/2009
Rating: Total score: 75%
Source: Komputer for alle DA→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 02/04/2010
Rating: Total score: 50% price: 30% display: 40% workmanship: 80%
Comment
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4830: Slower clocked Mobility Radeon HD 4860 and therefore also based on the 40nm RV740 chip (desktop HD 4700 series). Supports only DDR3 and GDDR3 instead of GDDRR5 in the HD 4860.
Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.
720QM: The Core i7-720QM is the slowes Core i7 Quad Core in 2009 and clocks between 1.6 and 2.8 GHz (due to the Turbo Mode). Therefore, it combines the advantages of a slow quad core CPU with a fast single core one. Compared to the faster Core i7 mobile CPUs, the 720QM only features 6MB L3 Cache.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
15.60":
15-inch display variants are the standard and are used for more than half of all laptops.
The reason for the popularity of mid-sized displays is that this size is reasonably easy on the eyes, often allows high resolutions and thus offers rich details on the screen, yet does not consume too much power and the devices can still be reasonably compact - simply the standard compromise.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.HP: Founded in 1939, the US company is a major server and printer manufacturer and one of the leading IT companies in the world. Until 2015, the company was called Hewlett-Packard Company. After a split, the computer division was renamed HP Inc.
In 2023, HP had an approximate market share of 22% of global PC sales, making it number 2 after Lenovo.
73.26%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.