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There might only be a few Ultrabooks currently available, but HP has already launched its second Ultrabook-certified model. Unlike the consumer-oriented HP Envy 14 Spectre, the feature-packed Folio 13 is aimed at business users, but that shouldn’t put you off – it’s one of the better Ultrabooks we’ve seen.
The clean design might use copious amounts of brushed aluminium, but it still stands out compared to the MacBook Air 13in clones we’ve seen from other manufacturers. The black keyboard tray and touchpad contrast nicely with the silver finish, and although the chassis is rather angular, it’s still an incredibly compact 18mm thick. Despite its size, HP has still managed to squeeze in a full-size Ethernet port, as well as two USB ports, a multi-format card reader and an HDMI output. One of the USB ports is a USB3 model.
A low-voltage Intel Core i5-2467m processor provides ample performance, even at a low clock speed of just 1.6GHz. Using Turbo Boost it can reach 2.3GHz, but only when in a certain thermal range. It managed an overall score of 36 in our multimedia benchmarks, which is about right for an i5-powered Ultrabook. You should have no trouble running everyday applications with some intensive work thrown in. A 128GB SSD also makes file transfers and start up times incredibly quick, and helps make Windows feel very responsive.
Intel’s processor also provides graphics power using the integrated HD 3000 GPU. It’s well equipped to play high definition video, at 720p on the laptop or 1080p on an external display, but it struggles with modern games. Our Dirt 3 test chugged along at 13.5fps, proving you’ll need to turn down the detail settings to sub-console levels to get a playable frame rate.
The saving grace of integrated graphics is the relatively low impact it has on battery life. In our light use test, the Folio 13 managed to last a very impressive nine and a half hours away from the mains. As long as you stick to light tasks, you shouldn’t have to take a power adaptor with you to get a full day’s work done.
Frequent flyers should appreciate the laptop’s backlit keyboard – we had no trouble typing in the dark, so there’s no reason to stop working when the cabin lights are dimmed. The keyboard itself is comfortable to use, thanks to a full-size layout and responsive, springy keys. The touchpad is also surprisingly good, considering it uses an all-in-one design that doesn’t feel as natural as having physical buttons.
The one area that failed to impress us was screen quality. The Folio has a 13.3in screen with a fairly standard 1,366×768 resolution, putting it a step behind some of the more expensive Ultrabooks already available. Image quality was hardly breath-taking, with average brightness and contrast, although there was at least plenty of screen tilt to make up for the limited viewing angles. We were also surprised to find a glossy screen finish, as matt is more commonly found on business machines. Light reflections were troublesome, particularly in our brightly lit office.
Unsurprisingly, sound quality was also disappointing. Laptop speakers have never been able to blow us away, and the Folio 13’s are no exception – volume was lacking and there was no depth to our test tracks, with an overly sharp high end and no audible bass. We would definitely recommend using a pair of headphones to listen to music or watch video, as they will both sound much better and help cover up the surprisingly loud internal fan. It spins up occasionally during normal use, and is particularly whiny during intensive tasks such as video-encoding.
We think it’s a real shame that HP is aiming the Folio squarely at business users – the reserved looks and sturdy build quality are sure to appeal to home users just as much as professionals. It’s also very reasonably priced for an Ultrabook – £800 will currently buy the Samsung Series 5 14in, which despite having an optical drive, simply isn’t as well built as this. The Folio is not without its faults, but to get a much classier Ultrabook, such as Samsung’s Series 9, you’ll need to spend around £400 more. If your budget won’t stretch any higher, this is a great entry-level Ultrabook.
