If you use the identical device for work and your private life, as increasingly more of us do as of late (although that will not be the perfect concept!), you want it to do every part effectively. Few obtain that. However the HP Spectre x360 13.5 ($1,249.99 to begin; $1,749.99 as examined) is the uncommon jack-of-all-trades that cuts few corners as a do-it-all machine.
It is not essentially the most highly effective laptop computer on the market — in actual fact, HP is utilizing a 15W Intel U-series processor right here, which appears to assist with battery life. However those that use spreadsheets and textual content paperwork, browse the net and do nothing extra strenuous than some picture modifying needs to be tremendous.
The slim design boasts its justifiable share of ports (not together with the dongle that comes within the field), a crisp OLED show, a high-resolution webcam and respectable battery life (contemplating that show, anyway). Frankly, there’s little or no for me to say negatively about it. Within the premium area, this Spectre x360 is likely one of the greatest ultrabooks that I’ve examined prior to now few months.
Design of the HP Spectre x360 13.5
HP has made one good-looking laptop computer. The Spectre x360 13.5 is straightforward and clear, with a number of prospers to make it really feel like a trend merchandise, not simply {hardware}.The Spectre’s recycled aluminum chassis feels premium within the fingers.
We examined it in “dusk black” with brass accents, although you may also get it in silver or a darkish blue. HP’s emblem displays off the lid within the gentle gold coloration, which additionally highlights the perimeters of the machine. It is particularly noticeable on the again edges of the laptop computer, that are reduce flat to suit ports.
If you open the laptop computer, you will see that the 13.5-inch, 3:2 show has skinny bezels on the aspect, although HP left extra room on the highest and backside, presumably to suit the 5 megapixel digital camera. Contemplating how a lot display screen actual property you get with the taller facet ratio, I can take a little bit of bezel. The correct aspect of the display screen is magnetized so you’ll be able to connect an included stylus for storage.
The backlit keyboard has a big, hanging font on it, apart from an empty area for the fingerprint reader. That fingerprint reader labored rapidly and precisely once I could not use facial recognition as a result of I used to be carrying a masks. The spacious touchpad additionally has the identical brass trimming as the remainder of the pocket book.
With a pair of 360-degree hinges, the Spectre might be folded all the way in which again right into a pill. You can too put it in tent mode or steadiness it on the keyboard with the rise up to make use of as a show. The three:2 facet ratio helps right here. I discover it much more pure to make use of that form display screen as a pill in comparison with a typical 16:9 show.
Regardless of how skinny the Spectre is, HP has crammed a number of ports into it. On the fitting aspect, there are a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports — one on the aspect and one on the reduce off nook. The left aspect has a USB Kind-A port, which HP slot in with a drop-jaw hinge, in addition to a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the nook. I like HP for cramming USB Kind-A in there, as many skinny laptops have gone solely to USB Kind-C. That being stated, it may be finicky to get peripherals in there.
HP additionally features a surprisingly premium USB-C hub, with two extra USB-A ports and an HDMI port in addition to a USB-C for pass-through charging. It has a brief, braided cable (The facility provide additionally has a braided cable, which feels premium. It needs to be at this worth level!)
The Spectre weighs 3.01 kilos and measures 11.74 x 8.68 x 0.67 inches. It felt completely cheap in my backpack (in HP’s included sleeve, a pleasant contact). The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7, a rival convertible, is 3.09 kilos and 12.5 x 9.06 x 0.6 inches. The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (7420), a mid-range convertible with the identical processor because the Spectre, Â is 12.36 x 8.95 x 0.7 inches and three.46 kilos. Apple’s MacBook Air, a clamshell laptop computer with a fanless design, is 2.7 kilos and 11.97 x 8.45 x 0.44 inches.Â
HP Spectre x360 13.5 Specs
| CPU | Intel Core i7-1255U |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe (built-in) |
| Reminiscence | 16GB DDR4-4266 |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Show | 13.5-inch, 3000 x 2000, 3:2, OLED touchscreen |
| Networking | Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, microSD card slot, USB Kind-A, 3.5 mm headphone jack. |
| Digicam | 5MP with privateness shutter, IR |
| Battery | 66 WHr |
| Energy Adapter | 65 W |
| Working System | Home windows 11 Professional |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 11.73 x 8.68 x 0.67 inches (297.94 x 220.47 x 17.02 mm) |
| Weight | 3.01 kilos (1.37 kg) |
| Worth (as configured) | $1,749.99 |
Productiveness Efficiency on the HP Spectre x360 13.5
We examined the HP Spectre x360 with an Intel Core i7-1255U, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD. HP’s alternative of a U-series processor right here means that the corporate is concentrated on maintaining the Spectre cool and quiet. This is similar CPU we noticed within the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, whereas the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7, which can be a slim 2-in-1, went with a higher-wattage Intel Core i7-1260P. We’re additionally tossing in Apple’s MacBook Air with M2 into the check pool, which can be quiet, as a result of that system would not have a fan in any respect.
On Geekbench 5, an general efficiency check with an emphasis on the CPU, the Spectre notched a single-core rating of 1,668 and a multi-core rating of seven,243. The Lenovo Yoga 9 Gen 7 Â with a Core i7-1260P traded blows with the Spectre, scoring barely increased on single-core (1,722) and barely decrease on multi-core (7,150). The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, with the identical processor because the Spectre, was very related on single-core (1,693) however behind on multi-core efficiency (6,527). Apple’s M2 confirmed off, successful on each single-core (1,932) and multi-core (8,919) efficiency.Â
HP’s convertible copied 25GB of information at a price of 1,363.29 MBps. The Yoga was quicker right here (1,506.89 MBps). The MacBook Air was a bit slower (958.85 MBps), whereas the Inspiron, at 404.86 MBps, dragged compared.
We use Handbrake to have laptops transcode a 4K video to 1080p. It took the Spectre 10 minutes and 33 seconds to finish the duty, popping out forward of the Yoga and its higher-wattage CPU (12:18), however in a uncommon victory, the cheaper Inspiron was quicker (9:59) than its Home windows counterparts. The MacBook Air, with its M2 chip, gained out at 7:52.
To emphasize check the Spectre, we ran the demanding Cinebench R23 benchmark 20 instances on a loop. The laptop computer began by placing up a rating of 6,619.97, earlier than dropping to the low 6,000s, the place it will spend a lot of the check. There have been a number of drops to the mid-to-low 5,000’s, which probably coincided with once I heard the followers ramp up.
The Core i7-1255U’s two efficiency cores ran at a median of two.36 GHz, whereas the eight effectivity cores averaged 1.84 GHz. The CPU bundle measured a median of 67.08 levels Celsius.
Show on the HP Spectre x360 13.5
The Spectre x360 has a 13.5-inch show with a 3:2 facet ratio to point out as a lot of your work as doable. It is nice if, like me, you write lots and wish to see extra of your work. It additionally means much less scrolling as you learn. We examined HP’s 3000 x 2000 OLED show which is brilliant and vivid, although the corporate additionally has 1080p contact screens.
The display screen is not fairly 4K, however I used it to look at one among our check movies, the 4K brief Tears of Metal. A really early scene options two characters, one wearing darkish garments, the opposite in neon blues and pinks. These colours stood out in opposition to the deep blacks, in addition to out-of-focus greens from leaves within the background.
HP’s panel covers 124% of the sRGB coloration gamut, and 87.7% of the DCI-P3 gamut besting the non-OLED rivals, although falling in need of the exceptionally vivid Yoga 9i (198% and 140.1%, respectively).
However the Spectre, at 355 nits of brightness, beat the Yoga’s 352 nits. The MacBook Air, nevertheless, was essentially the most luminous at 489 nits. Once we put a white sq. on a black background, which sometimes boosts brightness in choose areas on OLED screens, the Spectre’s choice climbed to 362 nits.
Keyboard, Touchpad and Stylus on the HP Spectre x360 13.5
The Spectre has clicky, responsive keys, however I want the journey had been a bit deeper. Nonetheless, on the Monkeytype typing check, I reached 114 phrases per minute with 98% accuracy. That is about nearly as good as I are inclined to do.
The facility button is on the keyboard, to the left of the delete key. A easy faucet will not flip the machine off, fortunately. Maybe the one different large concern is that HP has opted for half-height up and down arrow keys. I a lot favor an inverted-T form, which I’ve seen HP use on different laptops, like its Victus gaming lineup.
HP’s 4.9 x 3.1-inch touchpad, surrounded by brass accents, is large and easy. There’s loads of room to comfortably carry out Window’s four-finger gestures, like swipes between digital desktops. It is snug, and correct. The stylus has a brand new house on the fitting aspect of the show. (On this laptop computer’s predecessor, the Spectre x360 14 that we reviewed in 2021, it connected magnetically to the left aspect of the keyboard). This jogs my memory a little bit of Microsoft’s Floor Professional 8.
The pen, the HP Rechargeable MPP 2.0 Tilt Pen (opens in new tab), is respectable. It is spherical with a flat edge (that is the one which attaches to the display screen) with two barrel buttons. The highest slides as much as reveal a USB-C port for charging, which is way extra handy than changing batteries. As somebody who takes notes greater than drawing, I might favor one thing a bit thinner. However you want little or no strain to get a response (HP claims 9 grams on its web site), and in sketching apps, tilting the pen permits for shading.
Audio on the HP Spectre x360 13.5
The audio system on the Spectre x360 proceed HP’s lengthy partnership with Bang & Olufsen. It has been fruitful, and I really feel the Spectre continues on pattern.
Arlo Parks’ “Softly” was crisp and clear on the Spectre. It bought loud sufficient to fill my residence (others get louder, however that is a lot for once I’m sitting in entrance of it and utilizing it), and the vocals, keys and synths had been all clear. The drums might use a bit extra kick, although the low-end is commonly a problem on laptops.
There are some equalizer modifications you may make within the included Bang & Olufsen audio management app, and a few persistence with the bass part did enhance the percussion just a little bit.
I most popular the sound of the underside firing-speaker hitting my desk versus being in pill mode, when the audio system fireplace in opposition to the lid, however the distinction is not terribly stark.
Upgradeability of the HP Spectre x360 13.5
Take into account me pleasantly shocked. I’ve reviewed numerous HP laptops that had been successfully unrepairable with out skilled assist as a result of screws had been positioned beneath adhesive strips. After I checked the Spectre x360 13.5’s service guide (opens in new tab), I used to be shocked to search out these strips (that are nonetheless there on the Spectre x360 14) needn’t come off to open the laptop computer.
4 Torx screws safe the underside cowl to the pc. (The service information says that they are Phillips head screws. They aren’t). The screws nearer to the hinges are longer than these close to the entrance of the laptop computer, so you should definitely hold them separate and keep in mind what goes the place.
With these eliminated, you should utilize a pry device to softly separate the bottom from the remainder of the laptop computer.
If you’re in, you will see that the m.2 2280 SSD might be eliminated and changed, as can the community card and the battery. The SSD is beneath a copper heatsink held down by a pair of Phillips head screws, whereas the networking card is beneath an adhesive, papery warmth defend. HP has gone with soldered reminiscence on this laptop computer.
There’s a small little bit of empty area to the fitting of the battery. It makes me ponder whether this might have been designed with both a bigger battery, or maybe a motherboard with room for one more storage drive. However hey, a minimum of you may get into this Spectre in any respect.
Battery Life
The Spectre x360 ran for 10 hours and 12 minutes on our battery check, during which we now have laptops browse the net, stream video over Wi-Fi and run OpenGL checks, all with the display screen set to 150 nits of brightness.
This was greater than two hours longer than the Lenovo Yoga 9i, which I think could also be partially due to the Spectre’s lower-wattage processor. That is additionally a reasonably robust quantity for an OLED laptop computer, as these screens actually suck up juice. Dell’s funds Inspiron 14 2-in-1 lasted solely 7:52. The MacBook Air did the perfect on our check at 14:06.
Warmth on the HP Spectre x360 13.5
In any place, the Spectre should not be too scorching to deal with. We took our pores and skin temperature measurements whereas working our Cinebench stress check to see how scorching the Spectre x360 will get beneath an intensive workload.
On the middle of the keyboard, between the G and H keys, the laptop computer measured 37.4 levels Celsius (99.5 levels Fahrenheit). I might really feel the warmth on my fingers, however I would not say the laptop computer was unusable. The touchpad was chillier at 31.8 levels Celsius (89.24 levels Fahrenheit).
On the underside of the laptop computer, the most well liked level measured 42 levels Celsius (107.6 levels Fahrenheit), in the direction of the again, although a lot of the laptop computer was cooler.
Webcam on the HP Spectre x360 13.5
HP appears severe in regards to the webcam on the Spectre x360. It is a 5MP lens with devoted software program for making changes. HP calls this “GlamCam,” and it is nestled within the HP Command Heart app.
The digital camera works fairly effectively. At my workplace desk, which is well-lit from close by home windows and fluorescent lights, I might make out a ton of element within the digital camera, from particular person hairs on my head to baggage beneath my eyes from not sleeping nice the evening earlier than.
GlamCam has an auto-frame function that is designed to maintain you within the digital camera body whilst you transfer round, just like Apple’s Heart Stage on the iPad. I do not have a tendency to maneuver from my desk a lot throughout calls, however in testing it out, I did discover that whereas it sometimes labored, the movement might be a bit jarring. It was additionally much less more likely to comply with me round whereas I used to be carrying a facemask and utilizing the laptop computer in public — I think it is in search of a complete face.
There’s additionally lighting correction, which made extraordinarily delicate modifications at my well-lit workplace desk. At house, I’ve some brilliant home windows behind my desk. Whereas HP’s software program could not cease that gentle from showing harsh, it did regulate the tone a bit in order that the distinction wasn’t so intense.
The one which made essentially the most distinction was the looks filter, which “retouches” your face. I discovered that on steps two and three (the first step gave the impression to be my common face), it noticeably eliminated small wrinkles and baggage beneath my eyes. Actually, the third step appeared a bit pretend. The step was additionally excessive, and smoothed out different particulars, like hairs. I even regarded like I had fewer eyelashes.
I am of two minds about this. If it makes somebody really feel extra snug, nice, however I additionally am undecided that it needs to be as much as laptop computer corporations to perpetuate these requirements of look. That being stated, nobody is making you utilize any of those options, and so they’re off by default.
There is a built-in digital camera shutter, which you’ll be able to activate by urgent a devoted button on the keyboard. The infrared sensors allow you to log in with Home windows Hi there facial recognition, which labored flawlessly for me aside from the instances I forgot to disengage the privateness shutter.
Software program and Guarantee on the HP Spectre x360 13.5
There are over 13 items of software program with the title “HP” in it preinstalled on the laptop computer, and that is on high of promotional trials for Dropbox, ExpressVPN, McAfee LiveSafe, McAfee WebAdvisor and others. A few of these even have bookmarks within the Edge browser, which is one thing you sometimes see on less expensive notebooks, not premium ones.
A few of it, just like the HP Command Heart might be helpful. It allows you to decide from totally different energy plans and has some digital camera customizations beneath the HP GlamCam tab. I feel different apps, like an app to regulate pen settings to and to choose between totally different show modes needs to be inbuilt right here.
Different apps embody HP Quickdrop to maneuver information between your laptop computer and telephone, Ideas for drawing and sketching, Duet to place your PC display screen on one other machine and Palette, which helps type and match images. A few of these, like Ideas, have in-app purchases for extra instruments (in that app, it is a greater diversity of brushes). It is successfully a complete artistic suite between your telephone and the Spectre, but it surely’s lots to be preinstalled.
HP sells the Spectre x360 with a one-year guarantee. Prolonged providers might be bought in case you purchase the laptop computer from HP’s web site.
HP Spectre x360 13.5 Configurations
We examined the HP Spectre x360 13.5 in black with an Intel Core i7-1225U, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD and a 3000 x 2000 OLED touchscreen. That runs for $1,749.99 at Finest Purchase and can be accessible as a customized configuration from HP’s web site.
The laptop computer begins at $1,249.99 (although is on sale for $1,199.99 as of this writing) in silver with an Intel Core i5-1235U, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and a 1920 x 1080 touchscreen.
Different choices embody a “nocturne blue” chassis (altering colours from the default silver on HP’s web site prices an additional $10), as much as 32GB of RAM, a 1080p display screen with privateness options and as much as 2TB of storage. It prices $2,029.99 maxxed out.
Backside Line
The HP Spectre x360 13.5 is an aesthetic, succesful 2-in-1 with an honest variety of ports, a colourful OLED display screen and a pointy, high-resolution webcam. Whereas HP opted for Intel’s 15W U-series processors slightly than the extra highly effective 28W P-series possibility in some rivals, most customers will not need for efficiency
Amongst premium Home windows ultraportables, the Spectre’s greatest competitors is the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 7, a 14-inch convertible 2-in-1, which makes use of the 28W elements and in some use instances outpaces the Spectre in efficiency. The Yoga additionally has a brighter, extra vivid OLED show. However the Spectre comes with a stylus, which the Yoga would not, has longer battery life and is surprisingly simple to improve storage with down the road. The Spectre, for the time being, appears a bit simpler to purchase. A number of configurations, together with the Yoga 9i we reviewed, have been out of inventory at Lenovo and different retailers as of late.
Apple’s MacBook Air reigns on battery life and in some efficiency use instances, and in case your precedence is thinness, it might make sense for you. However the Spectre x360, with its convertible design and contact display screen, has numerous options that laptop computer lacks. If the Spectre x360’s $1,299.99 beginning worth is an excessive amount of to your pockets, the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is cheaper, and we favored it.
However pound-for-pound, the HP Spectre x360 13.5 is among the many greatest ultrabooks we have examined of late. If you wish to steadiness efficiency, battery life and ports with a pointy webcam and a beautiful show, the Spectre has all of it unequivocally.
