The HP Spectre X360 is one of the best looking convertible laptop we’ve seen so far in 2021, and since it features the latest 11th gen Intel Core processor, we knew we just had to give it a go for review. Lucky for us, Intel reached out, and we’re glad they could give us the opportunity. Featuring a convertible design, with some modern, edgy design cues, let’s go through the specs to see what else the Spectre x360 has to offer.
HP Spectre x360 (2021) – Specifications
- CPU: 2.8GHz Intel Core i7-1165G7 (Quad-core, 8MB Intel Smart Cache, up to 4.7GHz with Turbo Boost)
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe (Integrated)
- RAM: 16GB LPDDR4 (3200MHz)
- Screen: 13.3-inch FHD Touch (1,920 x 1,080)
- Storage: 512GB SSD (PCIe NVMe M.2)
- Ports: 1 x USB Type-A 3.1, 2 x USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 4, microSD card reader, 3.5mm audio jack combo
- Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 (2×2), Bluetooth 5
- Camera: HP TrueVision HD 1080p IR Webcam
- Weight: 1.3KG
- Size: 30.6 x 19.45 x 1.69cm (W x D x H)
Design
The HP Spectre x360 exudes a heightened sense of premium, which is expected with its premium price. It’s almost identical with its predecessor, and we like that, because you don’t fix what’s not broken, right?
It features a brushed-metal design, and it has these tapered edges all around, and to be honest, I’m a fan. It gives the laptop a sense of mystery, and it gives it a cut from the rest. It also comes in different color options, and ours came in a silver variant. There’s the 360-degree hinge which allows the screen to be folded all the way back completely. That essentially converts it from a laptop to a tablet, in less than 3 seconds.
In terms of connections, on the left you’ll find the 3.5mm audio jack, and the full-sized USB Type-A port that is very cleverly minimized using the collapsible style laptop RJ-45 Ethernet ports used. On the right, there’s the microSD card reader, webcam on/off toggle, as well as the USB Type-C port. And you may not notice this at first, but at the angled edges on rear, there’s the power button on the left, and another USB Type-C port on the right.
Opening up the laptop, the edgy design is further translated into the top lid, where the monitor has very thin bezels. And speaking of the display…
Display
Thanks to the thin bezels, the display actually looked more immersive when you’re watching movies or shows in full-screen. It has a 13.3-inch FHD panel, that is also touchscreen compatible. While the display does have vivid colours, it kind of lacks in brightness. Sometimes when working near the window, it can be quite hard to see what’s on the screen. And because the screen has a glossy finish, reflections can get pretty bad too.
That being said, if you’re using the laptop indoors most of the time, this won’t be an issue at all. The display shows very nice visuals, great for Netflix sessions, and the touchscreen is also very responsive. When folded back in tablet mode, it felt more of tablet than a laptop. The only thing reminding me it’s a laptop is the keyboard on the bottom side of the device.
User Experience
When I first unboxed the HP Spectre x360, I thought it would be heavier on the hands. So, I was surprised when I lifted it up for the first time. It was lightweight, and could very easily slip into any backpack or handbag. Another thing that baffled me was the power button, it took me a good 10 minutes to find where it is, and it’s on the rear left end right on the angled corner. Pretty smart design to put it there, but HP could’ve made the button have a red, black, or gold accent to make it more obvious.
The HP Spectre x360 passed the one finger test, but the bottom lid was flopping up and down while trying to open the laptop. The hinge is especially good, because there’s no wobble at all when the laptop is open and you’re tapping away on the screen. It’s pretty nice having a touchscreen laptop that doesn’t wobble every time you touch it.
The keyboard is really nice to type on, as the keys are large and well isolated from one another. The travel is great, and each key has a nice tactile feedback to them. The trackpad on the other hand is large and wide enough, with a smooth surface making navigation nice and easy. There’s also the fingerprint sensor on the right, which makes logging into your laptop a faster, and more secure process.
When it comes to the I/O ports, I think HP made a good call of what to include in the HP Spectre x360. They’ve managed to fit a full-sized USB Type-A port while still maintaining the device’s overall look, and even included a physical webcam kill switch to turn off the webcam when it’s not in use. This is a strong point HP is making, showing that a laptop can still have full-sized ports without compromising on design. There’s even the additional Type-C port, and the microSD card reader for creatives. These are all well positioned, accessible, and does not get in the way of your hands.
Performance
With the HP Spectre x360 being an Intel EVO certified laptop, I had no doubt the laptop would have offered great day-to-day performance. Daily work tasks like document processing, web browsing, and even light photo editing face no issues at all. I’ve had Chrome open with a screen full of tabs, Photoscape X open in the background, Spotify playing music, Microsoft Powerpoint with a slide open, it still didn’t slow down the laptop at all.
When it comes to gaming, the Intel Iris Xe graphics could also handle games, if you don’t mind setting the graphics settings to “medium” or “low”. After all, this isn’t a gaming laptop, so don’t expect too much gaming power out of it. Another thing is, the laptop’s fans will kick in even with the most random of actions, like downloading an app, or launching Spotify. It’s not loud, but noticeable, so it’s quite annoying when it happens.
Our unit came with the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7, paired with 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for storage. Here’s how it performed in our benchmark tests:
Audio
In the audio department, the HP Spectre x360 has a dual speaker stereo system, which are downward firing on the bottom of the laptop. It doesn’t get very loud, but the details are amazing. It sounds spatial, and the mids sounds impressive, giving a lot of clarity to vocals. This is especially great for video calls, and acoustic songs which involve a lot of vocal performance.
The highs are bright as well, but it lacks in bass. When the speakers can’t handle the low frequencies, it tends to vibrate the speakers and you can actually hear it. That being said, the best volume level for me, is at the 70% mark.
Battery
With the laptop being Intel EVO certified, I was excited to see how much battery life I squeeze out of the HP Spectre x360, and I was satisfied with my findings. Looping a 1080p video at 50% brightness with Wi-Fi on, the laptop managed to last 11 hours and 12 minutes.
On everyday usage, the laptop can last the entire day, with enough battery to last another half a day the next day. We’re confident you can bring the HP Spectre x360 out and about with you, without packing the power adapter.
Conclusion
The HP Spectre x360 is an amazing convertible laptop, one of the best we’ve used so far in 2021. It has performance you can count on, since it’s an Intel EVO certified laptop. It has great design, with a lightweight chassis, and the flexibility to go from laptop to tablet, and back anytime you wish. It gives you more freedom and control in how you work.
Of course, all that comes with a price, a premium price. If you’re on a budget or all you want is a tablet, this laptop isn’t for you. This laptop is for you, if you want a laptop that can keep up with the work you’re doing daily, and if battery life is your main concern. The HP Spectre x360 looking stylish is just bonus points, and we’d recommend spending a little extra to get something that will last you longer.
