Just like netbooks, slim laptops in the 13-inch to 14-inch range tend to be slightly underpowered compared to their larger 15-inch siblings. However, this is certainly not the case with the HP Envy 14 as it offers the ability to scale all the way up to a quad-core processor. Even its standard components are better than other laptops in its class, with an Intel Core i5 450M processor and a larger 14.5-inch glass covered display. With 4GB of memory and 500GB of storage it is very stable.
However, what really marks it apart from the rest is its ATI Radeon HD 5650 discrete graphics that is mid-range gaming model in its own right. Coupled together with an upper scale 1600 x 900 pixel resolution and the larger glass covered display and you get awesome graphics both for 720p HD video as well as excellent gaming performance. Rounding up great graphics and a fast processor with a Beats Audio system, the laptop sounds as good as it looks.