HP’s premium laptop makeover: More OLED displays, 12th-gen Intel CPUs

While you probably haven’t done the housecleaning, HP certainly has. Today, the company is essentially updating its entire portfolio of premium laptops — including clamshells and 2-in-1s — with a new line of Envy and Spectre laptops.

Two stars for the updated Envy lineup are the Envy x360 13.3-inch and Envy 16-inch. Both systems can be configured with OLED displays or more traditional LCD panels. All new Envy laptops also feature an upgraded 5-MP webcam with head tracking and beamforming microphones to help you look and sound your best during video calls. You even get native handwriting recognition and a hidden magnetic stylus mount on the side of the system. And, unlike many other PC makers, HP’s pens actually come in a box.

Starting at $900, the Envy x360 13 seems like a good option for people on the move, thanks to its flexible 2-in-1 design and a battery that HP claims can last up to 20.5 hours on a single charge. You also get support for fast charging via USB-C, and HP promises you can recharge half the battery in 45 minutes. For those who want to be more discreet when working away from home, HP has also introduced a quiet performance mode designed to keep fan noise to a minimum.

However, for those who want more powerful specs, HP claims the Envy 16 is the most powerful Envy yet. Starting at $1,400, it not only supports refresh rates up to 120Hz, but also has a slightly taller 16:10 display for increased productivity. It can also be equipped with up to 32GB of RAM and an NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU or Intel’s new .

So while it may not be as powerful as a beefed-up gaming laptop, its performance is still impressive. HP says the Envy 16 is designed to support video output from up to three external 4K monitors on top of its default monitor. When I had a chance to test the setup myself, everything felt snappy and responsive. I was able to switch Photoshop from one monitor to the other without a hitch, even with a video editing app and a bunch of other files open in the background.

HP also upgraded the Envy 16’s sound system with a fairly powerful four-speaker setup. Meanwhile, other handy upgrades include an infrared sensor for quick face unlock, and even a sensor that detects when the laptop is tucked away in a bag to help prevent unnecessary battery drain.

That said, if the Envy x360 13 and Envy 16 don’t quite meet your needs, there’s a newer Envy x360 15.6-inch 2-in-1 that supports 12th Gen Intel CPUs or AMD’s 5000-series Ryzen chips. If you need a laptop with a bigger screen, there’s also the Envy x360 17.3-inch, which can be equipped with a display up to 4K. But it’s worth noting that its GPU peaks at the NVIDIA RTX 2050, so it’s not as powerful as the Envy 16. That said, starting at $1,100, it’s a bit cheaper.

Finally, rounding out the slew of updates that round out the HP are the revamped Spectre x360 13.5 and Spectre x360 16, which feature slightly curved, rounded edges in addition to updated components. That might not sound like a big deal now, but the previous Spectre often felt too sharp and edgy to their own advantage. That’s because while these sleek lines look great in photos, they tend to dig deep into your palm or wrist when typing, which can quickly become uncomfortable.

Both models are part of the Intel Evo platform, so you can expect bright screens, near-instant wake-up times and support for dual Thunderbolt 4 jacks, as well as some luxury features like Gorilla Glass screens that are featured in all new Envy None on the machine. For those who really care about productivity, the two new Spectre also feature 3:2 aspect ratio displays with either LCD or OLED panels to make multitasking easier.

Of course, the latest Spectre has updated internals, including 12th Gen Intel CPUs, and support for the ARC A370M GPU on the 16-inch model. However, HP’s most premium laptops start at $1,250 and $1,650, respectively, and they do cost a bit more than comparable Envy laptops.

All of HP’s new Envy and Spectre laptops are on sale today, either directly from HP or from select third-party retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.