When we’re talking about affordable laptops, there genuinely isn’t that many options out there for us to choose from. More and more people are turning to Macbooks and more expensive premium laptops to fulfil all of their needs.
Even within the HP brand there are different series that they offer depending on how much you’re looking to spend on a laptop. For those who are looking for a relatively cheap laptop, then the HP Envy series is one of the better choices if you’re looking for a good value laptop.
If you’re looking for a good drawing laptop to use with your stylus pen, then immediately the Envy x360 springs to mind. It’s a touchscreen laptop that you can use for pretty much everything. And, it’s considered to be a low to medium budget option.
But how does the HP Envy x360 measure up in compared to a more expensive alternative, like the Microsoft Surface Pro? Well, that’s what we’re going to look at today.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 vs HP Envy x360
In terms of value for money, it is very hard to beat the HP Envy x360, which offers a lot for a low cost. It is powerful, well designed and all of this is wrapped up into a durable chassis. It’s above average in terms of performance and usability.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 may actually be a little bit better than the x360. It’s thinner, undoubtedly more attractive and Microsoft have put a whole lot of effort into making it one of their best releases yet. The only downside? It’s pretty expensive, and may be a little too much for some people.
And when you’re comparing them to one another, the difference in build quality is pretty noticeable. But, these two are definitely more similar to each other than they are different. We’re going to look at them a bit more now.
Microsoft Surface Pro 7
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is one of the more recent releases from Microsoft, and for those looking for a great 2-in-1 laptop, it’s often the first to be recommended. There are various reasons why you might want to consider the Surface Pro 7 over other laptops like the x360.
There’s a lot of debate over whether the Surface Pro 7 is a tablet or a laptop. Microsoft release the device as a laptop, but as it’s fully detachable, it’s actually more like a high powered tablet. The increased memory (RAM) gives it all the power of a laptop, though.
One of the best things about this laptop is its sleek design, which makes it stand out from the crowd. It’s very portable and at only 12 inches in length, it’s easy to pack up into your backpack. This might mean that the screen is a little too small for some people though.
Like most Surface laptops, it’s generally quite a good option for artists (it’s featured in our list of the best drawing laptops). The screen is responsive, and the HD screen is made to a decent quality. Bear in mind that it’s not a massive improvement over previous Surface options, so if you’ve used a Microsoft Surface for drawing before, then this will be the same.
Overall, it’s one of the better 2-in-1 laptops that’s currently available out there on the market. However, it is pretty expensive, which might price some people out of purchasing this laptop.
Pros
Cons
HP Envy x360
For those looking for a cost effective convertible laptop, then the Envy x360 might prove to be a good choice. In the UK, it usually comes with an Intel Core i5 processor or an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and a Radeon Vega 8 graphics card.
You can find the base model of the Envy x360 for a pretty decent price online. This laptop is also easily upgradeable, so you can choose to get a 16GB version if you want to as well.
The 8GB version of the x360 is similarly priced to that of the Surface Pro 7 with 4GB of RAM, so it’s easy to see which one provides more power for your cash.
The build quality is decent for an affordable laptop, and the screen quality is pretty solid too. Whilst it doesn’t have the best battery life ever, it can definitely hold its own for those who are looking for something that can last all day.
Overall, it’s a solid laptop that’s perfect for those who are looking for something convertible. When compared to the rest of the market, it’s easy to see the value in this Envy x360 13 inch laptop.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
All in all, both of these laptops offer a good experience for those looking for a good 2-in-1 laptop. For my money, I’d rather pick up the Envy x360 as I think it provides better value in terms of cost to performance.
However, the Surface series does have its fans too, and I won’t argue as it’s still a decent enough convertible laptop. But it’s difficult to argue its case when you look at the price, which is often double that of laptops like the Envy x360.
