The new HP Envy 14 2021 has all the makings of a serious competitor to the MacBook Pro M1, including Intel's powerful new 11th generation Intel Core processors, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti graphics, a pro-level 14" display with more room than Apple's 13" panel, built-in color and calibration, and more, all the qualities of a serious competitor to the MacBook Pro M1.

The HP Envy 14 (starting at $999), introduced at CES 2021, offers a lot of control over both the display and the entire system, so you can decide when you need full power or more quiet.

Perhaps the coolest feature of the HP Envy 14 is HP Enhanced Lighting, which takes advantage of the display's lighting controls to enhance your appearance during video calls. Kind of like a built-in ring light, HP invented QuickDrop to replace Apple's AirDrop and facilitate file transfers between mobile devices and PCs.

According to HP, the HP Envy 2021 will be available in January, with prices starting at $999. Specs include an 11th generation Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, plus Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650Ti graphics.

The HP Envy 14 is a bit on the heavy side at 3.53 pounds compared to the 13-inch MacBook Pro's 3 pounds. However, the display is large at 14 inches and is a touchscreen; the 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution is lower than the MacBook Pro's Retina display, but HP's 16:10 aspect ratio allows users to view 11% more content than before.

In addition, the Envy 14's panel provides color calibration right out of the box for color accuracy that should be better than a Delta-E of less than 2 (0 is perfect). In addition, the HP Display Control software allows users to customize display settings for different scenarios. Choose from default, photo and video, native, and auto color.

With many of us now spending more time on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams calls, HP is focused on creating a better audio and visual experience. The new Envy 14 has on/off buttons for both the webcam and the microphone on the keyboard to ensure privacy, but there is more going on here.

The resolution of the webcam is only 720p, but HP has included a selfie light on the display designed to make you look better during video calls. There is a simple toggle on the screen that says light on.

In addition, the HP Envy 14 uses AI to identify human voices and can automatically filter out background noise so other callers can hear you clearly.

The new HP Envy 14 is powered by Intel's latest 11th generation Core i5-1135G7 processor with 16GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 TI GPU for when you need more powerful graphics. 256GB NVMe SSD is also included.

But HP goes further than most laptops by giving you more control over your performance profile. You can choose from Balanced, Performance, Cool, and Quiet. The Envy 14 also uses an infrared thermopile sensor to support performance control modes. The cooling system uses two thin-blade fans and two heat pipes to improve airflow and keep knees cool.

HP claims that the Envy 14 can be used for up to 16.5 hours on a single charge. This is a lofty claim, so we'll have to see how well this laptop performs in our web-surfing battery test.

HP's fast charging feature promises to bring the laptop from 0 to 50% capacity in about 30 minutes, which is quite impressive.

The new HP Envy 14 2021 may be the ultimate MacBook Pro alternative for Windows fans. Promising fast performance, long battery life, and a large 14-inch touchscreen that is color-calibrated with the highest possible precision, HP also paid special attention to features that home office workers really care about, including the video calling experience.

The Envy 14 is a bit on the heavy side, and the screen resolution could be a bit sharper. But overall, this laptop appears to have a lot of potential; stay tuned for our review of the HP Envy 14 2021.