HP Spectre x360 13 (2017) - Review 2022

The original HP Spectre x360 was a hit when it debuted back in 2022, and we liked the 2022 model even more. It'southward back again this yr, keeping much of what we love, but adding a refined design and a super sharp 4K bear upon screen. In addition to the UHD brandish, the latest HP Spectre x360 thirteen (starts at $ane,199; $i,599 as tested) packs USB-C with Thunderbolt 3, plenty of fast SSD storage, and a chichi new color scheme. Given the upgrades to what was already our tiptop choice for high-end convertible laptops, the 2022 model is an like shooting fish in a barrel Editors' Selection pick.

Ghost in the Shell

Retaining the slim shape of its predecessor, the new Spectre x360 thirteen adopts the stylish artful of the not-convertible HP Spectre 13. On our test unit, this means a very modern anodized aluminum body with a steely gray and copper colour scheme. The copper trims the edges of the system and is used equally an accent in several places. HP uses the same design arroyo with the 15-inch Spectre x360 nosotros tested earlier this year, and it looks really sharp in both cases. HP offers two less expensive x360 models ($i,199 and $1,349) that utilise silver trim around the edges instead.

A truthful ultraportable, the Spectre x360 13 is seriously slim and light. The same was true of the get-go iteration, and its only slimmed down from there. The 2022 model measured 0.63 by 12.79 past eight.half dozen inches (HWD) and weighed three.26 pounds, the 2022 model was 0.five by 12 by eight.half-dozen inches and 2.8 pounds, and this year'southward version is minimally slighter at 0.5 past 12 past 8.5 inches and 2.eight pounds. This compares well with the Lenovo Yoga 910 (0.56 by 12.72 by eight.84 inches, iii.01 pounds) and the Dell XPS 13 two-in-1 (0.54 by eleven.98 by 7.8 inches, two.7 pounds), and means information technology'll barely annals in your briefcase, shoulder purse, or backpack. Overall, the new design and color scheme with the slender profile brand for a killer expect.

Convertibility is where the Spectre x360 separates itself from the Spectre 13. The laptop is able to fully transform into a Windows x tablet cheers to its hinge. Some systems are a bit as well big, thick, or unwieldy to be used as in Tablet mode (the Samsung Notebook seven Spin comes to listen), simply since the x360 is and then thin and minor, it feels natural to concur that way. This makes it easier to bear effectually in one mitt, skillful for quickly showing off a design to a colleague nearby, or handing over to a coworker to get a better expect at some data. Y'all can as well flip it into Tent or Brandish mode to show off the screen on a desk-bound or table to a gathered group, though the xiii-inch screen is a chip pocket-sized to see if you're as well far away.

I brought the Spectre x360 on multiple trips with me, and tin say information technology's very well suited to aeroplane travel. Between its weight and thickness, it's piece of cake to bring in a carry-on or under-seat bag, and its convertibility is perfect for an airplane tray. My preferred method is rotating the keyboard face up downwardly on the tray with the screen pointed out toward me from the forepart, since I can view information technology at a skillful bending without information technology butting up against the seat dorsum in front of me. If you think you tin can get away without the convertability, there are some even slimmer and lighter options out there, similar the Asus ZenBook 3 Palatial (UX490UA) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop, only I do find the Spectre'due south course shifting (and dainty build) useful for travel.

The keyboard cuts a fairly depression contour, which prevents information technology from feeling bad-mannered when you grip the backside of the laptop in Tablet style. Despite the thin build, the keys still feel proficient to type on, offering more travel than, say, the Razer Blade Stealth's keyboard, which feels a bit shallow. The keyboard offers satisfying feedback, like terminal year's model, but the new color scheme avoids the previous greyness-on-gray keycap lettering issue, which made information technology hard to read in some instances. The keys are also backlit with white lighting, and you lot tin can toggle the lights on or off as needed.

The touchpad tracks very smoothly, and while it'south not too tall considering of express space, information technology'due south nice and wide and all the same feels roomy. The Blindside and Olufsen speakers provide admirable book and sound quality, particularly given the laptop'south size. It's no abode theater setup, of course, but you lot can comfortably play video or music and hear it beyond the room, with little to no baloney at maximum volume.

Our review unit has a 13.3-inch 4K brandish with touch capability, while both the $one,199 and $1,349 versions feature 1080p total Hd touch on screens. The picture on the 4K screen is seriously sharp with rich colors. The resolution isn't necessary on a display this size, but information technology's a pretty drastic difference in clarity when compared with a 1080p screen of similar size. The resolution adds to the expense, but the actress clarity is obvious, and you tin enjoy 4K content in native resolution. Plus, you get actress space to view and edit full HD videos with room for for toolbars and editing windows. The 4K resolution does make some menus and their text appear quite tiny, and then you might want to pump up the scaling and then you don't have to squint through each job.

You don't get a ton of connectivity options given the X360's size, but the essentials are covered. The left panel holds the Power push, a USB 2.0 port, and the headphone jack, while the right side has the Volume rocker and two USB-C ports, each with Thunderbolt 3 and capable of charging the laptop. There's no base of operations video ports like HDMI or DisplayPort, but with adapters for the USB-C ports you can connect any display you'd like. One more USB 3.0 port would have been useful so you can connect an additional peripheral, but once more, an adapter in the USB-C port should have you covered. At the same fourth dimension, including whatever USB three.0 ports at all is appreciated, given some of the recent super-thin laptops that limit y'all to USB-C only, like the latest Apple MacBook.

For storage, at that place's a 512GB SSD on board, which means very speedy boot and load times. All three models have SSD drives: our examination unit and the $one,349 version offering 512GB capacities, while the to the lowest degree expensive $one,199 model has 256GB. The same holds true for memory: The two most expensive versions include 16GB of RAM, while the entry-level unit gives you 8GB. For wireless connectivity, the Spectre x360 uses dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth four.ii. HP offers a base 1-twelvemonth warranty, with up to 3 years depending on configuration.

Spectral Speed

Despite its small-scale size, the x360 is quite fast. The 2.7GHz Core i7-7500U processor, SSD, and 16GB of memory make for snappy load times across the board. The PCMark 8 Work Conventional test shows a score slightly low than like competition, mainly considering the 4K brandish is more than demanding that most. That does reflect some power loss in existent-world use, but it's fairly negligible in twenty-four hour period-to-day piece of work. The multimedia scores back up those claims, showing fast times that compare favorably with the competition. Since the processor (and by extentsion, the integrated graphics) is the same every bit in final year's Spectre x360 13, the performance numbers are virtually identical, save for where the 4K screen adds extra strain.

Given the lack of discrete graphics, the x360 thirteen doesn't have much in the manner of 3D power or gaming chops. You could get away with some Depression- or Medium-setting games at a low resolution, only even playing at HD with modern titles is out of reach. That's not unique past any ways—about every ultraportable or two-in-ane packs integrated graphics, since the emphasis is on slim and light form over gaming prowess. The expensive Microsoft Surface Book is an exception here, just you'll have to pay a pretty penny for the discrete graphics version.

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The Spectre x360's bombardment lasted 8 hours and 18 minutes in our rundown exam. Most laptops in this category fare better: The previous x360 lasted for 14 hours, the XPS 13 2-in-1 managed 11:46, while the Yoga 910 hitting an amazing 21:28. The blame falls squarely on the power-draining 4K screen (call back though, yous tin can gild this system with an HD display instead), so information technology's a affair of personal preference equally to whether a higher-resolution display or longer-lasting battery is more of import. With this kind of battery life it lasted through those aforementioned plane trips while playing downloaded Netflix videos, though you'll come close to running it down when going coast-to-declension in the Us.

Sharper Than Always

The HP Spectre x360 13 fulfills its mission very well, coming together equally a slick, versatile, travel-friendly convertible laptop that performs admirably. The 4K display looks first-class, making it very highly-seasoned even if it comes with some drawbacks. You'll turn heads with the Spectre X360 xiii'southward stylish design, and there are few machines I'd rather travel with more given the whole parcel. Save for the reduced bombardment life, the 2022 Spectre x360 improves on its predecessor, making information technology our tiptop pick for high-end convertible laptops. If you'd similar to spend less for a speedy, well-designed convertible laptop with long battery life, the Lenovo Yoga 910 is our top midrange option, though opting for a 4K screen brings the price up to the same as the Spectre's x360 13.