HP – Envy 16″ Wide Ultra XGA Touch-Screen Laptop – Intel Core i7 – 16GB Memory – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 – 1TB SSD – Natural Silver

You might find other reviews online showing that this is heavy…it is. But its a desktop replacement with a lot of value packed into it so its a fair tradeoff. In this price range there was one other laptop (think it was an Asus). The problem is the other one looks like an Alienware knockoff and I wanted something that doesn’t make me look like I live in my mom’s basement. The other problem was the screen. The other one was ok…until you looked at the screen on the HP. It wasn’t even close. The crispness and brightness of this screen outperforms everything in this price range. That coupled with identical graphics/processor and a bump up in storage made this a no brainer. So yes, its a hefty boy that needs a diet. Yes the “speaker grills” next to the keyboard are about as useful as a rear view mirror in a hummer, but the computer as a whole is solid for this price point and better than anything else at this price point if a top end screen, maximum storage, and top notch specs (for this price point) are what you want.

I had previously been using an Omen 16 with almost identical specs but traded it in for the Envy. The Envy beats the Omen by a long shot for my purposes. I use this laptop mainly for productivity, 3D renderings, CAD, and occasional gaming. Pros (VS the Omen) – The keyboard and track pad feel a lot more crisp and responsive – Aluminum body feels more sturdy than plastic and is easier to keep clean. – The higher resolution glass touch screen seems more durable, easier to clean, and looks way more crisp. I didn’t think I needed a touch screen but find myself using it frequently for scrolling. – The facial recognition is incredibly convenient. I didn’t realize the laptop had it when I bought it so that was a pleasant surprise. – It doesn’t have that “gamer” aesthetic so it looks more professional, which is a pro for me. – The laptop is thinner overall. Cons: – The fan noise under load is louder than the Omen, but if you only game occasionally, it’s not a big deal. If you’re just doing light work it’s not super audible.