20 Jan
Blog

HP Spectre x360 14 Review: The 2-in-1 Convertible, Perfected

HP ghost

"The HP Specter x360 14 is the perfect balance between performance and portability."

  • Spectacular 3: 2 OLED display

  • Pretty fast in performance mode

  • Surprisingly good battery life considering the display

  • Great keyboard and touchpad

  • Elegant and modern look

  • Requires some management to balance performance and fan noise

The HP Specter x360 13 has been my favorite laptop for a while. With its OLED screen and beautiful design, it was everything I wanted from a convertible 2-in-1 laptop.

However, given the tough competition, HP couldn't rest on its laurels. Expectations for performance, portability, and size are constantly changing, and the latest Specter 2-in-1 from HP seeks to drive its design into the future.

The Specter x360 14 uses a larger 13.5-inch display with an aspect ratio of 3: 2, two trends that promise improved productivity. The company sent me a test device with an 11th generation Intel Tiger Lake Core i7-1165G7, 16 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB solid state drive (SSD). It also has a 3,000 x 2,000 resolution OLED display and is priced at $ 1,700 at Best Buy. I've spent some time with the Specter x360 14 now, you know what? HP may have perfected the 2-in-1 convertible.

design

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP hasn't dealt with the general design theme of the Specter – and why should it? The gem-cut aesthetic remains the boldest design you'll find outside of gaming laptops, though the Specter is more sleek than ostentatious. The Specter x360 14 is a beautiful laptop without looking over the top, whether in the color Nightfall Black with copper accents, which I received, or in the alternatives Poseidon Blue or Natural Silver.

The Dell XPS 13 is a good looking laptop too, but it's a simpler aesthetic that goes unnoticed. Which is better depends on taste, of course, but I prefer the polite Specter x360 14.

It's also very well built with no need to bend, bend, or twist it anywhere in the lid, case, or keyboard deck. In this respect, the Specter x360 14 fits the XPS 13 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13, which is highly praised. There are few other laptops in the class that can match these three. The XPS 13 scores some points for its two-zone hinge, which can be easily opened with one hand and then held firmly in place, but the Specter x360 14 is not far behind.

The Specter's hinge is almost light enough to open with one hand, and it holds the display in place in any of four modes – clamshell, tent, medium, or tablet. The 3: 2 aspect ratio makes tablet mode much more comfortable, as the panel fits better to an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper – thanks to Microsoft here, as its Surface line has had the same aspect ratio for several generations.

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The display changes the dimensions of the Specter x360 14 and is thus slightly deeper (8.67 inches) than the 13-inch model (7.66 inches), but not quite as wide (11.75 inches compared to 12.08 inches) . Compared to the tiny XPS 13 with a width of 11.64 inches and a depth of 7.82 inches, the Specter x360 14 is again deeper, although it has its own small bezels.

It's the larger chin compared to the XPS 13 that makes the Specter x360 14 appear so much larger when opened (beyond the sheer height of the 3: 2 aspect ratio). The 14-inch is the same as the 13-inch, 0.67-inch thick, both of which exceed the XPS 13's 0.58-inch, and the Specter x360 14 is also the heaviest at 2.95 pounds over the 13-inch and the XPS 13, both of which weigh 2.8 pounds.

Since I used the Specter x360 14, I appreciate its extra size. Both the Specter x360 13 and XPS 13 felt small at times, especially in terms of the palm rest and touchpad – both are slightly larger on the Specter x360 14. I find this model to be a solid compromise between the tiny 13-inch laptop and the hefty Specter x360 15.

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

As with the Tiger Lake version of the Specter x360 13, the 14-inch version has two USB Thunderbolt 4 ports on the right, one on the edge and one in the notch under the display. On this side of the case there is also a 3.5 mm audio jack and a miniSD card reader. On the other side is the single USB-A 3.1 port. One difference to the 13-inch model is that the power switch is no longer in the other notch – this time on the keyboard, which is a bummer for anyone using their laptop with an external display closed.

Now you need to open the lid to turn on the laptop. Although some people may prefer to have all of the keys on the keyboard available, this is a regression in my book. Wireless connectivity is modern with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.

software

Before I dive into the performance of the Specter x360 14, let's talk a little about software. Most manufacturers have developed utilities that allow users to adjust the CPU clock and fan speed to adjust the performance versus heat and fan noise. In some cases, these utilities don't do much – run a benchmark in quiet / cool mode and then in performance mode and you will see at most a negligible improvement in speed. And quite often, you can't tell the difference between fan noise and heat.

The HP Command Center differs at least on the 13- and 14-inch models (the utility doesn't help much with the 15-inch Specter). Toggle the "Balanced" mode and the Specter x360 14 is noticeably quieter and cooler, and it's pretty slow too. In this mode, it falls behind other Tiger Lake Core i7 laptops (and some 10th generation laptops), but it runs noiselessly and can be used comfortably on a lap. However, if you toggle the "Performance" mode, the Specter x360 will sprout 14 wings and become quite competitive – and significantly louder and hotter at the same time.

I only mention these utilities in my reviews if they make a significant difference in performance. I mention the HP Command Center specifically because I don't want to make anyone think it's a slow laptop. This is not the case. You just need to use the utility wisely. It can be either a hassle or a blessing, depending on how much attention you want to give to such things. I like Command Center because I don't need super-fast performance most of the time, and I appreciate the cool and quiet performance more – but when I need sheer speed, it's just a click away.

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

I will also notice that HP added some new folds to the Utility Suite. For example, the Command Center itself has a new "Smart Sense" mode that does things automatically based on the application, the location of the laptop, and the battery status. I didn't think it was particularly smart – the "Balanced" mode kept things quieter and the "Performance" mode was faster. HP also added a focus mode that highlights the active application and dwarfs the rest of the display. This is an interesting effect, but so far I've only found it annoying. Next, the system can tell if it's in a bag and prevent you from waking up. I carried it around in my backpack for a while and it was sleeping, but that's not a big test.

Then there are a couple of utilities to control the display. One of them is a standalone display control utility that allows you to set the color profile for your use. In addition, there is a system setting in the display area that allows you to enable Adaptive Color, which adjusts the color profile based on ambient lighting. It's like automatic brightness, only for colors. Whether any of these utilities are of value or add fluff depends on individual taste.

performance

Now let's get down to performance and begin our handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265. It took the Specter x360 14 just under four minutes to complete the test in balanced mode and a little over three minutes in performance mode. That's almost a full minute of difference just by flipping the switch. Compared to other Tiger Lake laptops, the balanced mode is slower – for example, the Dell XPS 13 9310 took 30 seconds less in its own quiet mode, while it was three seconds faster than the Specter in both performance modes. The Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 with a Core i5-1135G7 was also about 30 seconds faster in balanced mode, and the Acer Swift 5 matched the results of the Performance mode on the Specter x360 14.

Cinebench R23 was similar. The Specter x360 14 achieved a strong multi-core value of 4,847 in performance mode compared to an anemic 3,941 in balanced mode. In performance mode, only the Porsche Design Acer Book RS (a strangely fast Core i5-1135G7 with 4,973 points) and the MSI Prestige 14 Evo with a Core i7-1185G7 (5,789) achieved higher scores among the Tiger Lake laptops. The Apple MacBooks with the Apple M1 chip were much faster (6,680 or higher), as were machines with 45-watt Intel H-series CPUs.

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

I also ran the PCMark 10 Complete test where, interestingly, Command Center was much less important. The Specter x360 14 scores 4,728 in balanced mode and 4,795 in performance mode, as well as the basics (web browsing, video conferencing, app launch), productivity (spreadsheet and word processing), and creation (photo editing, video playback and playback, and video editing) scores similarly close.

Even so, the Specter was competitive with other Tiger Lake laptops, beating the Porsche Design Acer Book RS and losing just short of the MSI Prestige 14 Evo. The Specter x360 14 performed particularly well in the creation area of ​​this benchmark. Note that the Dell XPS 13 9310 would not complete the test.

In short, the Specter x360 14 is a fast Tiger Lake laptop in performance mode. It will run loud and hot, but it will keep up with most of the field – which, by the way, also tends to run loud and hot when fully tilted. I want to point out here that the fans of the Specter x360 14 have a wonderfully comfortable pitch at full force – the Specter avoids the annoying whining that some laptops do when the fans boot up.

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Can the Specter x360 14 play? Yes, about as good as other Tiger Lake laptops with Intel Iris Xe graphics. The 3DMark Time Spy score of 1,709 in performance mode is higher than any other Tiger Lake laptop we tested, and even the 1,457 score in balanced mode is competitive. Under Fortnite, the Specter x360 14 achieved 36 frames per second (fps) at 1080p and high graphics, which exceeded all but the MSI Prestige 14 Evo with 42 fps. This is of course in performance mode, but here too, even the 26 fps in balanced mode were competitive with the rest of the field.

The same goes for Epic graphics turned on, which makes the Specter x360 14 a decent entry-level slot machine that is on par with computers with discrete low-end graphics like the Nvidia GeForce MX350.

display

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Specter x360 14 features the first OLED display with an aspect ratio of 3: 2 (3,000 x 2,000 resolution) and is a beauty. Like all OLED displays, it offers a spectacular contrast of 374,200: 1 – in comparison, the contrast of the 4K IPS display of the Dell XPS 13 9310 is 1,360: 1, which is well above our threshold of 1,000: 1 and particularly good for is an IPS display. However, the Specter x360 14's display gives you the deepest blacks in contrast to brilliant whites, which really makes black text pop on white backgrounds (which I love as a writer).

The brightness was good at 374 nits, but not great compared to the 420 nits of the XPS 13 and the 405 nits of the OLED display of the Specter x360 13.

This is an excellent display that is a pleasure to use.

The color gamut was also excellent at 100% of sRGB and 96% of AdobeRGB – ideal for creatives who need a lot of color – and the color accuracy was excellent at a DeltaE of 0.69 (anything below 1.0 cannot be differentiated with the human eye and is considered excellent). The XPS 13 managed 100% of sRGB but only 79% of AdobeRGB, placing it in a lower display class.

The XPS 13's color accuracy was 1.21, good, but nowhere near as good as the Specter's. The OLED display on the Specter x360 13 achieved a wider color gamut of 100% sRGB and 98% AdobeRGB, but the color accuracy wasn't as good at 1.29.

I get to the point here and say that this is an excellent display that is a sheer delight in real life. The only display that I like better is the OLED display of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3, which performs similarly to the Specter display, but has a Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range (HDR), which the Lenovo does when playing Netflix makes HDR content so much better.

With the HP, you'll want to turn off HDR because Netflix isn't particularly good at handling it. However, this isn't such a terrible thing as the non-HDR OLED display is still better than most IPS displays with HDR (except for those that benefit from Dolby Vision). Also, the Specter x360 cannot manage 14 4K while streaming video. You have to be satisfied with a letterbox of 2,560 x 1,440.

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

In terms of audio, the Specter x360 14 has quad speakers, two under the display on top and two under the case on the bottom. The volume is ample without distortion, and the mids and highs are excellent.

There's not much bass, however, which puts the Specter well below the MacBook Pro models that set the standard for laptop audio. You can certainly enjoy Netflix with a few friends without external speakers, but as always, I recommend good headphones for music.

Keyboard and touchpad

HP's Specter keyboards have long been my favorite on Windows 10 laptops. They offer keys that are the perfect size, wide spacing, and a lightweight but precise mechanism that allows me to type at maximum speed with minimal fatigue.

Dell's latest XPS 13 keyboards come very close, and the Magic keyboard on the latest MacBooks is the only one that can beat it. However, if you're a touch typist who needs accurate feedback when typing, you'll love the Specter x360 14's keyboard. The two-level backlight is also perfectly executed and outlines the letters without causing much, if any, bleeding under the keys.

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Thanks to the 3: 2 aspect ratio display, HP fits into a much larger touchpad on the Specter x360 14 than the 13-inch model and XPS 13. The extra space is appreciated – it's not a MacBook-like giant – but it's big enough that I don't feel cramped anymore. Of course, it supports Microsoft's Precision Touchpad protocol, making it incredibly responsive to all of Windows 10's multi-touch gestures. It feels nice too, with solid but quiet keys.

The touch display responds equally and supports the various active pens from HP. The pen in the box supports tilt and 4,095 pressure sensitivity levels, is charged via USB-C and, in the case of a Specter, is initially attached magnetically to the left side of the case.

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Windows 10 Hello support is provided by both a tiny infrared camera above the display and a fingerprint reader conveniently located next to the arrow keys. Both worked perfectly and signed me up without any fuss. Additional security is provided by a key on the keyboard that slides a cover electronically over the webcam, and a key to turn off the microphone.

Battery life

HP ghostMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Specter x360 14 has a high-resolution OLED display, which usually means reduced battery life. I'm sure my test unit had a worse battery life than the Full HD + version (1,920 x 1,280), but thanks to a 67-watt-hour battery, the life was better than expected.

In our web browser test, the Specter x360 14 lasted almost seven hours, which is not a bad score considering the display. It was about an hour less than some other Tiger Lake laptops with Full HD displays like the Acer Swift 5 and Dell XPS 13 9310, and only 20 minutes less than the MSI Prestige 14 Evo.

In our video test of a Full HD Avengers trailer, the Specter x360 14 lasted a little over 10 hours. Again, this isn't a bad score for an OLED display – it's only 16 minutes less than the Dell XPS 13 9310 with its IPS 4K display and about 90 minutes less than the Acer Swift 5. The XPS 13 9310 with Full HD has two additional minutes lasted hours

The Specter x360 14 is one of the few OLED laptops that can work a full day on a single charge.

I also ran the PCMark 10 application test to see how long the Specter x360 14 could handle a typical productivity load, and it lasted a little over nine hours. It is no coincidence that this is exactly what is required for Intel to become Evo. The XPS 13 9310 4K lasted about 30 minutes less, while the XPS 13 9310 Full HD version lasted about 90 minutes longer.

I then ran the PCMark 10 gaming test, which is a significant workload on both the CPU and GPU, and the Specter x360 14 couldn't quite make it to three hours, which is about 40 minutes less than the XPS 13 9310 4K and more than an hour less than the Full HD version of this laptop. The MSI Prestige Evo 14 was more than an hour behind the Specter.

The large battery capacity pays off here, as the Specter x360 14 is one of the few OLED laptops that can work a full day on a single charge. It's nowhere near our longest-lasting laptops, but it's a strong performance for a machine with such a beautiful and performance-hungry display.

Our opinion

The HP Specter x360 14 may not be the best laptop you can buy. The Dell XPS 13 likely retains this top spot for various reasons. But I'll say this: The Specter is pretty damn close, and if I were forced to choose between the two, I would go for the ultra-flexible and oh-so-beautiful 2-in-1 from HP.

Seriously, this latest Specter is Goldilocks' choice – not too small like the Specter x360 13 and not too big like the 15-inch variant. The 3: 2 aspect ratio makes a real difference when viewing long web pages and documents, the OLED display is fantastic, and the build quality is superb. Yes, you have to be a little fussy to get the highest performance. However, this is offset by the ability to run with almost zero noise and heat. The choice is yours, and the choice is a good thing.

Are there alternatives?

The HP Specter x360 13 is a desirable choice for someone who likes 16: 9 (these folks exist) and a smaller chassis. It can also be purchased with Tiger Lake and an OLED display. It's a little cheaper, and while we haven't tested the Tiger Lake versions, we suspect they perform well.

The Dell XPS 13 9310 is a great alternative if you don't want a 2-in-1 device. It's also incredibly well built and attractive, has a great keyboard, and performs well. You don't get such a high quality display or performance with the XPS 13, but when it comes to overall cohesive design, Dell's offering is unbeatable. You'll spend a little more money climbing the configuration ladder.

Finally, you might consider the MacBook Air M1, which features Apple Silicon’s M1 CPU that is completely changing the ARM and Intel landscape. It's fast, lasts forever, and is built Apple-style. And it's a cheaper laptop to boot into.

How long it will take?

The Specter x360 14 is well built and should provide years of reliable service. It's also fully cutting-edge in its components, including pioneering the move away from 16: 9 aspect ratios. There is only a one year warranty which is industry standard and, as usual, disappointing.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Specter x360 14 is the best Specter you can buy and by far the best convertible notebook out there.

Editor's recommendations




10 Oct
Blog

HP Spectre x360 15 2020 Review: Less Size, More Power

HP Specter x360 15 2020 review p1012378

"The Specter x360 15 offers a lot of performance and a nice display in a smaller case."

  • Tiny for a 15-inch 2-in-1

  • Spectacular appearance

  • Excellent keyboard

  • Solid productivity performance

  • Excellent OLED display

  • Modest performance in creative apps

  • Bad battery life

The 2020 HP Specter x360 15 is a 360-degree convertible 2-in-1 that is considerably smaller than its predecessor, but still offers the option for reasonably powerful components and a beautiful OLED display.

I have the high-end model with a sixth generation Intel Core i7-10750H CPU with six cores, 16 GB RAM, a 1 TB solid-state drive (SSD), an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max Q and a 4K OLED tested display. This configuration is priced at $ 1,850 at HP.com and is intended for creatives who want the power of a 15-inch laptop with the flexibility of a 2-in-1. Let's dive in.

design

HP put the Specter x360 13 under a scalpel in 2019 to shed the fat and get a really small 2-in-1 ratio with a screen-to-body ratio of 90% thanks to tiny bezels. Earlier this year, HP did the same with the 2019 Specter x360 15, resulting in a much less unwieldy 15-inch 2-in-1. It also has a screen-to-body ratio of 90% and is significantly smaller than its predecessor. It looks a lot more modern and retains the gem aesthetic that makes the Specter line one of the best looking and most distinctive you will find.

I will find that the size difference is not as noticeable as it is on the 13-inch model. While this laptop feels tiny when in use, the 15-inch Specter x360 only feels smaller. HP says they built a 15-inch 2-in-1 into the chassis of a 14-inch model, but that seems a bit difficult to me – especially since 14-inch laptops are falling off too. I like the size of the Specter x360 15, but it still feels like I'm using a bigger laptop.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Part of it has to do with thickness. It's 0.79 inches thick, more than the 0.75 inches of the 2019 model, and it doesn't match the 0.71 inches of the Dell XPS 15, which feels a bit thinner. The HP, however, weighs 4.24 pounds, which is less than the XPS 15's 4.5 pounds and much less than last year's 4.81 pounds. Of course, any laptop over four pounds will come across as a large laptop. I emphasize this point to make sure no one thinks they are getting a thin and light 2-in-1 device that is convenient to use as a tablet – unless it rests on a surface.

One thing that hasn't changed is the build quality of the Specter x360 15. It's made from machined aluminum, as before, and HP makes sure that it exudes quality. The Specter x360 15 has no bend, bend, or twist in the lid, keyboard deck, or case. It's as solid as a laptop. The hinge is a bit stiff, which means you open it with two hands, but it stays in place in whatever mode you choose – clamshell, tent, medium, or tablet.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Connectivity also remains a strength. The Specter x360 15 has a competent mix of old and modern connections, so dongles are reduced to a minimum. On the left is a full-size HDMI 2.0 port and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the right side are two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3, a USB-A 3.1 port, and a microSD card reader (though a full-size reader would have been preferable for the creative types). As with previous designs, one of the Thunderbolt 3 ports is in a corner notch on the case so you can connect it without a cable in the way. It remains a nice gesture. The wireless connection is via Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

performance

The Specter x360 15 is another laptop targeting creatives. Still, it doesn't emphasize creative power as much as some other 15-inch laptops. The Dell XPS 15 and HP Envy 15 offer faster CPUs (and GPUs in the case of the Envy 15), more RAM, and more storage. In essence, the Specter x360 15 is a fast 2-in-1 device, but it's not in the same class as today's fastest 15-inch clamshell laptops.

I'd like to directly compare the Specter x360 15 to the XPS 15, but we tested the Dell with a Core i7-10875H, which means it benefits from two additional cores and four additional threads. The XPS 15 had the same Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, although the HP uses the Max-Q version. The Envy 15 is a more direct comparison in terms of its CPU, which is identical to the Specter, but our review unit was equipped with an Nvidia RTX 2060 Max-Q.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Looking at Geekbench 5, the Specter x360 15 scored 1,237 in single-core tests and 5,013 points in multi-core tests. That's well behind the Envy 15's 1,274 and 5,542 points, and in fact, most of the laptops we tested with the same CPU are faster than this HP.

The same applies to our handbrake test, in which a 420 MB video is converted to H.265. Here the Specter x360 15 took a little over 2.5 minutes. The Envy 15 finished the test 21 seconds faster and 40 seconds less in performance mode with the HP Command Center utility. Note that this utility had virtually no effect on the Specter x360 15's performance as I saw in the previous version. The Specter x360 15 didn't perform badly here, but it doesn't quite match the standard of other laptops with similar equipment.

The Specter x360 15 achieved 469 points in the single-core test and 2523 points in the multi-core test in Cinebench 20. Here, the Specter was almost the same as the Envy 15, which scored 436 and 2593 (487 and 2830 in performance mode). That was a surprising result and could have something to do with the extensive work HP has done to improve the thermal design of the Specter x360 15.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, I also ran our Premiere Pro test, which rendered a two-minute 4K video. In this test, which uses the GPU to speed up the process, the Dell XPS 15 took five minutes to complete compared to the Specter x360 15's nearly 7.5 minutes – those extra cores are important. The Envy 15 was done in under four minutes in performance mode and showed the performance of the RTX 2060.

Overall, the Specter x360 15 is a fast productivity laptop that can do creative work on the side. It is not as fast as its 15-inch competitors for demanding creative tasks like editing photos and videos. However, it's still a capable machine if you're not looking for the absolute best performance for creative applications.

Play

Of course, with a GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q on board, you'll be tempted to play with the Specter x360 15. I've gone through our series of gaming tests, and in general, it's a step or two behind other laptops with the same GPU.

For example, the Specter x360 15 achieved 2,963 points in the 3DMark Time Spy test. Compared to the Dell XPS 15 at 3860 (although the Dell may have the standard GPU, this is not always clear). The Microsoft Surface Book 3 13 achieved 3,214 points in the test with the GTX 1650 Max-Q from Nvidia.

When playing real world games, the Specter x360 15 managed 89 frames per second (FPS) in Civilization VI at 1080p and medium graphics, compared to the XPS 15 at 114 FPS and the Surface Book 3 13 at 68 FPS. The Specter kept 60 fps in Ultra graphics compared to the XPS 15 at 64 and the Surface Book 3 at 41. In 4K, the Specter x360 15 reached a high 55 fps in medium graphics and 30 fps in Ultra, with the XPS 15 at 51 fps and the Surface Book 3 reached 30 fps.

Ultimately, the Specter x360 can play 15 modern titles with 1080p and medium to high graphic details at reasonable frame rates.

In Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the Specter x360 reached 15 playable 40 fps at 1080p and high graphics, but dropped to 25 fps at ultra high. The XPS 15 was at 47 fps and 26 fps. None of the laptops in this title are fast enough for 4K.

When switching to Fortnite, the Specter x360 15 ran at 67 fps with 1080p and high graphics and 47 fps with the epic graphics preset. This is comparable to the XPS 15 with 74 fps and 60 fps and the Surface Book 3 with 55 fps and 43 fps. Here, too, the laptops fell significantly at 4K.

In Battlefield V, the Specter x360 15 finally managed 55 fps in 1080p and medium graphics and 44 fps in Ultra. The XPS 15 hit 60 fps and 50 fps, and the Surface Book 3 hit 41 fps and 32 fps. As before, 4K was out of reach.

Ultimately, the Specter x360 can play 15 modern titles at 1080p and medium to high graphic detail at reasonable frame rates, which is not bad for a 2-in-1 device. Overall performance on the Dell XPS 15 is poor, but the Specter x360 15 generally outperforms the Surface Book 3 in real world games.

display

HP offers the Specter x360 15 with three display options, all 4K. The entry-level model is the same 340 nit display that they have been providing on the 2-in-1 device for a few cycles. The middle option is a new 400 nit panel with low power consumption (2 watts). The premium option is a 400 nit OLED display. I checked the latter, and like all of the OLED displays we tested, it was largely excellent.

First, according to my colorimeter, it was very bright at 426 nits and exceeded HP's specifications. That's not as bright as the Dell XPS 15's excellent IPS display, which shipped at 442 nits. However, HP uses anti-reflective glass, so the Specter x360 15 makes optimal use of its brightness. Next, as always with OLED, the contrast of 426.180: 1 compared to the XPS 15 (excellent for an LCD screen) 1480: 1 was unfamiliar. The difference isn't as dramatic as it seems on paper, but the OLED display offers significantly better black tones and punchy contrast.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The color gamut of the Specter x360 15 was very wide with 98% of AdobeRGB and 100% of sRGB and was close to 100% of both color gamuts of the XPS 15. However, the HP fell slightly behind in color accuracy and achieved DeltaE 1.21 (the human eye can see in the Generally not perceive an error below DeltaE 1.0), while the XPS 15 achieved a value of 0.65. Both laptops are great for creatives who crave broad and accurate colors, but the Dell is a bit better.

In real use, the OLED display is a dream. Colors pop, but they're not unnatural. Black text on a white background is crystal clear, and movies are a great experience. However, I will find that it does not support Netflix HDR as well as the Dolby Vision enabled Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2, which also has an OLED display. This laptop is the king of Netflix HDR.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Audio was incredibly loud and undistorted at full volume. The mids and highs were excellent and there was even a hint of bass. The Specter x360 15 benefits from its two upward and two downward facing speakers as well as the Bang & Olufsen tuning. You don't have to use headphones or external speakers to binge Netflix, although, as with all but the MacBooks' superior speakers, you'll want to plug something in for the best music performance.

Keyboard and touchpad

If you've read any of my other reviews, it should come as no surprise that the Specter x360 has one of my favorite keyboards. I love the spring travel, the size and the distance between the keycaps and the light mechanism, which still ensures a precise floor effect. It's the same keyboard on all Specter models, and HP has apparently started adding it to the Envy lineup too. The only keyboard that I like better is Apple's new Magic keyboard on the latest MacBooks.

The touchpad isn't that great, mostly because of its small size. Dell managed to fit a bigger touchpad onto the latest XPS 15, and I'd love to see HP do the same. Dell benefited from the extra keyboard deck space thanks to its 3: 2 aspect ratio, but I still think HP could manage to fit into a larger version. The Specter x360's touchpad works well, however, as after so many years of using Synaptic drivers, it's a Microsoft Precision touchpad and supports Windows 10 multitouch gestures with aplomb.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touch display is precise as always. Windows 10 laptop manufacturers have this one slap. The 2020 Specter x360 15 also benefits from a welcome anti-fingerprint coating. I've found it stays cleaner than most other touch displays. The display supports HP's active pens, which provide 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt assistance. However, on this model, this is an option and I haven't received one to test.

Finally, Windows 10 Hello is provided by both an infrared camera for facial recognition and a fingerprint scanner. I prefer the latter, but both worked quickly and accurately during my tests. Further security is provided by a physical switch that electronically removes the webcam from the system, making it invisible to hackers, and a special keyboard key to turn off the microphone.

Battery life

One stat that has suffered from the downsizing of the Specter x360 15 is the battery capacity, which has dropped from 82 watt hours to 73 watt hours. Throw in some powerful components and a very power hungry OLED display, and battery life expectations should be tempered from the get-go.

First, the Specter X360 15 lasted little more than two and a half hours in our demanding Basemark web benchmark test, which was 42 minutes less than the XPS 15, and one of the worse results we've seen from a productivity laptop. If you plan to do CPU-intensive or GPU-intensive work with this 2-in-1, you should carry your power supply with you.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In our web browser test, the Specter x360 15 shut down after just six hours. That's an hour less than the XPS 15 and again a bad score for a productivity laptop. This test gives an idea of ​​how long the laptop will run for less demanding tasks, and it is unlikely to last a day even just browsing the web and running Office apps.

After all, the Specter x360 15 lasted just under six and a half hours in our video test, which grinds a Full HD Avengers trailer until the battery is empty. The XPS 15 lasted an hour longer, and that score is again lower than what we're used to from productivity machines.

If you want the form factor of the Specter x360 15 with better battery life, go for the version with a quad-core Intel Core i7-10510U 10th generation CPU and a 4K display with low power consumption. Each of these tests get you hours longer, but of course you give up on the power and great OLED. As it is, our test device is not a good choice for street fighters.

Our opinion

The HP Specter x360 15 is smaller and more powerful. It's the most powerful 2-in-1 you can buy, and while it can't quite compete with the fastest 15-inch laptops for creative professionals, it can meet the needs of everyone but the most demanding of users. HP has succeeded in developing a 2-in-1 system that is characterized by productivity tasks and also offers some creative possibilities.

The laptop is well built, beautiful, and has one of the best displays you can buy today. It's also cheaper than some other laptops like the Dell XPS 15, so the HP is a good choice.

Are there alternatives?

The Dell XPS 15 is the most straightforward alternative to the Specter x360 15 as there has been no other 15-inch 2-in-1 that matches HP's pace for speed recently. The Dell can be configured as a much faster laptop and has its own great display. It is an excellent choice for the more discerning creative type. It's also more expensive, costing over $ 2,000 for similar specs, and only going up in price from there.

Another option is HP's own Envy 15, which is cheaper than the Specter but much more powerful. In fact, it's difficult to choose the XPS 15 over the Envy 15. So if a clamshell suits your needs and you're a creative power user, the Envy 15 is a great choice.

How long it will take?

The Specter x360 15 is durable and has relatively modern components. It should be productive for years. However, we would like the guarantee to be longer than a year.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you want a powerful laptop with the flexibility of a 2-in-1 device, the Specter x360 15 is your best bet.

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