HP Envy 16 2023 vs. Dell XPS 15

Dell’s XPS 15 has discovered its place on quite a lot of our best-of lists, together with finest laptops and finest 15-inch laptops. There are a variety of causes for these accolades, together with a strong, but comparatively skinny and light-weight design, in addition to robust efficiency and beautiful shows.

However that doesn’t imply it faces no competitors. HP’s Envy 16 2023 is a 16-inch laptop computer that provides the XPS 15 a run for its cash. It’s across the similar worth and affords comparable or higher efficiency. Is that sufficient to interchange the XPS 15 on our lists?

Specs and configurations

Proper now, HP solely lists one configuration of the Envy 16 2023 on its web site. However once I reviewed the laptop computer, there have been a number of configurations accessible. The fundamental mannequin value $1,350 with a Core i5-13500H, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, an Intel Arc A370M GPU, and a 16-inch WQXGA IPS show working at 120Hz. On the excessive finish, you’ll spend $2,685 for a Core i9-13900H, 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, and a 2.8K OLED panel additionally working at 120Hz. We reviewed a midrange configuration, priced at $1,750 for the Core i9, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, an RTX 4060, and the IPS show.

The XPS 15 additionally has a variety of configurations. As of when this comparability is being written, the low-end mannequin is $1,299 for a Core i7-13700H, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, an Intel Arc A370M GPU, and a 15.6-inch FHD+ IPS panel. Totally configured, it’s $4,349 for a Core i9-13900H, 64GB of RAM, an 8TB SSD, an RTX 4070, and a 3.5K OLED show. We reviewed the laptop computer with a Core i7-13700H, 16GGB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, an RTX 4070, and the OLED panel, and it prices $2,399.

You may spend extra on the XPS 15 as a consequence of greater RAM and storage choices, however the Envy 16 you’ll wish to purchase is dearer than the equal XPS 15. That’s a little bit of a shock for the reason that Envy 16 falls in HP’s midrange lineup whereas the XPS 15 is a premium laptop computer by way of and thru.

Design

The XPS 15’s design hasn’t modified in a number of generations. That’s not a foul factor, actually, as a result of it’s a beautiful laptop computer with its aluminum lid and backside chassis, in addition to a carbon fiber keyboard deck. It’s additionally constructed extremely effectively, with no flexing, bending, or twisting, plus a hinge that’s dual-clutched and clean as butter when opening the lid. Its hinge additionally opens easily, though not fairly as properly because the XPS 15’s, and there’s a bit extra wobble within the show while you’re working exhausting.

The Envy 16 can be strong, though it doesn’t give off fairly the identical really feel of high quality because the XPS 15. It’s a easy design that’s engaging and doesn’t stand out, which is the pattern amongst mainstream laptops immediately.

The XPS 15 has among the finest keyboards on a Home windows laptop computer, with giant keycaps and loads of key spacing to go together with switches which might be snappy and exact. The Envy 16’s keyboard is nearly pretty much as good, however simply doesn’t present fairly the identical assured really feel when typing very quick. The XPS 15 additionally has a bigger touchpad that takes up all accessible house on the palm relaxation, whereas the Envy 16’s is smaller than it could possibly be. Each work effectively, with fairly, assured clicks, so most customers doubtless wouldn’t be capable to inform the distinction between them.

Connectivity favors the Envy 16, which has a number of legacy ports to go together with its Thunderbolt Four ports. The XPS 15 has simply USB-C and Thunderbolt 4, so that you’ll admire the dongle that Dell contains within the field. The XPS 15 does have a full-size SD card reader versus the Envy 16’s microSD card reader, in order that’s a plus. The Envy 16 additionally has the most recent wi-fi connectivity whereas the XPS 15 is a era behind.

One other win for the Envy 16 is its 5MP webcam, which gives a a lot better picture for videoconferencing than the XPS 15’s 72op model. Each laptops have infrared cameras for Home windows 11 Whats up password-less login, and the XPS 15 additionally has a fingerprint reader embedded within the energy button.

Efficiency

Each laptops equip variants of Intel’s 13th-gen 45-watt CPUs. The Core i7-13700H and Core i9-13900H are each 14-core (six Efficiency and eight Environment friendly), 20-thread processors, whereas the Core i7 maxes out at 5.0GHz and the Core i9 at 5.4GHz. On the similar time, the Envy 16 used the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 whereas the XPS 15 used an underpowered model of the RTX 4070 working at simply 40 watts.

The upper velocity of the Core i9 within the Envy 16 gave it a leg up in our CPU-intensive benchmarks, though the distinction in efficiency wasn’t drastic. Within the PugetBench Premiere Professional benchmark that runs in a reside model of Adobe’s Premiere Professional and makes use of the GPU to hurry up quite a lot of processes, the laptops have been evenly matched of their efficiency modes. The XPS 15 would have been quicker if its GPU wasn’t underclocked so severely.

Because it stands, each can deal with probably the most demanding productiveness duties whereas additionally assembly the wants of creators. Neither stands out.

Show and audio

Dell despatched us a assessment unit sporting its 3.5K (3,456 x 2,160) OLED show, which gives phenomenal colours and deep, inky-black distinction. It’s a lot better than the IPS panel that HP despatched us on our Envy 16 2023 assessment unit. You will get a 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800) OLED show with the Envy that received’t be as sharp, however will present comparable efficiency in colours and distinction.

It’s value the additional cash to get the Envy 16 2023 with the OLED panel, and if you happen to do, then its near evenly matched with the XPS 15. Stick to the IPS panel, although, and also you’ll be pleased with the way it performs along with your productiveness duties, however dissatisfied with inventive work and media streaming.

Each laptops have quad-speaker setups, with two downward-firing and two upward-firing audio system. However Dell’s implementation is a lot better, providing the very best audio you’ll discover in a Home windows laptop computer. Mids and highs are crystal clear, and there’s sufficient bass to make a distinction in sure musical genres and motion TV reveals and flicks. Solely Apple’s newest MacBook Professionals have higher audio than the XPS 15.

Portability

The XPS 15 is thinner and lighter than the Envy 16 2023, making it barely simpler to hold round. However each are giant laptops that you simply’ll discover in your backpack.

By way of battery life, the XPS 15 managed a lot better longevity, even with a extra power-hungry OLED show. Each laptops have equally sized batteries, and so Dell simply did a greater job of optimizing effectivity. Sure, the Envy 16’s CPU is clocked greater, however that’s not sufficient to account for the hours of distinction in battery life.

The Envy 16 places up a great combat, however the XPS 15 wins out

The Envy 16 is simply as quick because the XPS 15, even whereas utilizing a lower-end GPU, however that’s it’s solely actual win on this shootout. The XPS 15 is extra solidly constructed, it’s extra engaging, and it has a greater keyboard and touchpad. It additionally will get higher battery life and has a sharper OLED show.

If the Envy 16 have been inexpensive than the XPS 15 with the identical configuration, then it might be a extra compelling choice. As it’s, the XPS 15 is solely a extra refined laptop computer that’s higher value its funding.

Editors’ Suggestions