HP Envy 17-cr0031nf, a productive, quiet and fast 17-inch ultrabook with good autonomy – LaptopSpirit

Our take on the HP Envy 17-ch0082nf

The HP Envy 17-cr0031nf is the ideal laptop PC for those who can’t choose between the convenience of a big screen and mobility. Installed in an ultrabook-compliant box (19 mm thick), it is intended for users looking for flexibility and convenience. It packs no less than 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage around a 12th generation Core i5-1240P (12 cores) powered by an integrated Iris Xe graphics chip. This package allows for lightweight general and versatile use, provided you’re not asking too much in the build (processor limited) of a Full HD IPS sRGB display. Connections don’t vary too much but it has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a backlit keyboard with numeric keypad and an IR webcam supports Windows Hello, but the PC still weighs quite a bit.

HP Envy 17-cr0031nf against the competition

Sleek and elegant, the HP Envy 17-cr0031nf has relatively few more powerful non-gaming PC competitors in our comparison, where its sleek silver design and decent battery life allow it to score points.

Features of the HP Envy 17-cr0031nf

HP Envy 17-cr0031nf chassis, connectors, display

Without changing the elegant and simple formula, HP updated the HP Envy 17 in detail for 2022, to continue to seek compactness. It opts for a simple and chic appearance, comfortable without being too bulky. Thus, the PC takes place in one container entirely metallic which provides some angles for a slightly more rounded silhouette compared to 2019’s Envy 17-cg. In this quieter direction, we observe that HP has removed the “back” at the base of the lid but has kept it ingenious hinge system : the screen when opened will tilt the keyboard slightly to optimize air circulation under the mat and provide comfortable typing. The rather original loudspeaker grille design has been replaced by the classic grille above the keyboard. The keyboard is backlight is white and has a numeric keypad.

On the measurement side, HP returns to change almost nothing with a 19.6mm thick, which lets him bring his 17 inches into the ultrabook clan, is impressive. Attempts have been made on its weight changing from 2.7 kg to 2.5kg here, but still large enough to transport it regularly, limiting its mobility effectively.

In keeping with the trend, HP chose to surround its Envy 17’s screen with a thin border. He took advantage of a Full HD definition (1920 x 1080 px) which offers more viewing space allowing you to take full advantage of High Definition content (video, games) and colorimetry which includes 100% SGB, perfect for photo rendering. Also note that the screen is installed on a IPS panels, more comfortable than TN thanks to its wider viewing angle. That brightness 300 nits also welcome, like the surface Corning Gorilla Glass impact- and scratch-resistant and anti-reflective treatment here, to limit discomfort when used in strong ambient light.

Let’s continue with a tour of the connector that underwent case enhancements head-on by removing the DVD reader/burner and Ethernet port, which few people won’t regret. There’s an HDMI 2.1 output, an SD card reader, as well as three USB 3.2 ports and two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 multipurpose. This last point is valuable if you’re on the go and don’t want to carry multiple chargers with you, all you need is a universal USB-C charger. In addition, the latest Wifi AX (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.1 modules are also in the menu and Windows Hello takes place at the webcam level with facial recognition. Big strong point.

Performance, autonomy HP Envy 17-cr0031nf

Inside, the HP Envy rests on a Core i5-1240P The 12th generation Alder Lake brings some interesting advancements, starting with a hybrid configuration based on 12 cores (4 performance cores / 8 efficient cores). This leads to better performance on software that takes advantage of multicore (Lightroom, Capture One Pro, Davinci Resolve, 7Zip, etc.), slightly less on basic everyday tasks (Office, surfing the Web, streaming, etc.). Let’s be clear, the tasks are perfectly supported by ultrabooks but when it comes to missions that involve few resources, the difference between the generations is insignificant. And keep in mind that we’re still dealing with a low-power Core i5, so it’s not enough to deliver the performance-intensive builds that non-low-power (-H) processors do. In front of, RAM provides 16 GB of RAM, a generous total that ensures perfect fluidity in multitasking. Namely that the RAM is soldered and thus not scalable on this device so welcome.

Integrated, integrated graphics chip Iris Xe (80EU) lets you play many games in 1080p under good conditions and tackle tasks that consume a fair amount of graphics power (Lightroom) without delay. We’re not at the dedicated GPU level but the small integrated chip is more than enough for day-to-day use and for some occasional graphics tasks.

For its part, storage is entrusted to a 512GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD which will bring a welcome dose of response to the system. Compared to standard mechanical drives, they are quieter, more powerful, and more energy efficient and allow Windows to achieve extraordinary levels of fluidity with fast loading times and zero-latency execution. What’s more, the capacity isn’t ridiculous and can hold a large part of your toy library although some may find it insufficient.

Finally, the autonomy is served by a fairly decent battery capacity (55 Whr, 4 cells) which should offer good autonomy over 9 hours of use in Web browsing under Wifi.