HP Envy x2 2014 review

Clumsy

When we complained about the awkward weight and length of the previous iteration of the Envy x2, hybrids were relatively new to the marketplace. We gave HP a pass and expected future designs to remedy this problem. We were wrong.

The new Envy x2 is as clumsy and awkward to hold as its predecessor. The term tablet comes from the tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed. Unfortunately, this device weighs exactly what the stone tablets probably weighed.

At a whopping 4.05 pounds, the Envy x2 weighs more than double the Dell Venue 11 Pro 1740 (1.55 pounds), and the Surface Pro 3 (1.75 pounds). It weighs 1.4 pounds more than Lenovo's Yoga 3 Pro, and it is 4 pounds heavier than the iPad Air 2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, which weigh 0.96 pounds and 1.03 pounds, respectively.

That's ridiculous.

Forget holding this thing up with one hand - you're lucky if you can manage to hold it up with two hands for more than a minute at a time. Mass transit commuters beware: you will not be watching old episodes of the Simpsons on the Envy x2 while holding onto a subway pole with your free hand.

Early verdict

The original HP Envy X2 was an early hybrid laptop/tablet model. Because of how new the market was, we were able to overlook some of its design flaws. However, given how mature the market has become and how many quality hybrids are available, it's hard to justify a device whose best feature is its alternative detachable keyboard.

When you factor in the Envy x2's cost, which is significantly more than the high-end Surface Pro 3 (starting at $799, £495, AU$900) and more than double the iPad Air 2 (starting at $499, £399, AU$620), I just can't make a solid argument for purchasing this device.