HP Spectre X360 14 (2023) Review: 2-in-1 Convertible

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The HP Spectre X360 14 convertible laptop got a boost in 2023 with the addition of a 13th generation Intel processor, specifically the core i5 1355u. While keeping its sleek design from before, it now boasts more power.

Design and Build

HP Specter X360 14 Laptop Design

The HP Spectre X360 14 comes with the laptop a sleeve, documentation, a power cord, a 65-watt charger with a braided cable, a pen, and extra pen tips. It is available in Nocturne Blue, Nightfall Blac and Natural Silver. Designed for portability, the Spectre X360 14 weighs approximately 1.343kg. The lightweight design makes it easy to carry and use on the go.

As far the ports on the left side, you’ll find a 3.5-mm combo jack and a USB-A port; on the right, there’s a MicroSD card reader and two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, which support data transfer, charging, and display output. Note that there is no HDMI port.

The robust hinges allow smooth transitions between modes and the backlit keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience with well-spaced keys. The large, responsive trackpad supports multi-touch gestures for easy navigation.

For video conferencing and multimedia, the Spectre X360 14 features a 5-megapixel infrared webcam for clear video calls and a dual-array microphone for crisp audio. You also have a fingerprint reader for secure and convenient biometric authentication.

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Display and Audio

HP Spectre X360 features 13.5-inch OLED display with a sharp 3K by 2K resolution delivering vibrant colors, deep blacks and excellent contrast. And it provides immersive viewing experience whether you’re watching movies, editing photos or working on creative projects. The responsive touchscreen works seamlessly with the included stylus which has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity making it ideal for note-taking, sketching and precise input.

The 360-degree hinge allows versatile to use in laptop, tablet, tent and stand modes adapting to various needs from everyday tasks to media consumption and presentations.

For audio, the laptop features Bang & Olufsen-tuned quad speakers that offer impressive sound quality. The midrange and bass are particularly noteworthy providing a rich audio experience for a Windows laptop.

Benchmarks and Performance

PCMARK 105,607
GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core)2,362
GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core)8,813
CINEBENCH R203,131
CINEBENCH R151,312 CB | 98.87 FPS
CINEBENCH R23,1.79 Single-Core | 7.858 Multi-Core
3DMARK Fire Strike4,745
3DMARK Time Spy1,754
Benchmarks

The HP Spectre x360 14 features the Core i7-1355U, a 15-watt CPU with 10 cores (eight efficient and two performance). Delivers strong single and multi-core performance for a U-series processor excelling in everyday tasks like Microsoft Office, email and web browsing. Compared to last year’s 1255U, it shows noticeable improvements in performance.

However, the Spectre x360 14 uses the same integrated Iris XE Graphics as its predecessor, resulting in similar 3DMark Time Spy and Fire Strike scores. In the Cinebench R23 test, it achieved a single-core score of 1797 and a multi-core score of 7858. For gaming, it falls short compared to laptops with H or P series processors but can handle some popular titles at lower settings. It also offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports for external GPU connectivity though adding an external GPU will increase costs. While the Spectre x360 14 isn’t designed for gaming but it can manage occasional gaming with adjusted settings.

Efficient thermals are key to maintaining both performance and user comfort with an advanced cooling system that keeps temperatures in check. During regular use the laptop stays cool with surface temperatures remaining comfortable. The fan is usually quiet, ensuring a pleasant and distraction-free experience.

Battery Life

HP Spectre X360 14 features the same 66-watt hour battery as last year’s model but shows notable improvements in battery life. It lasted 11 hours and 36 minutes on the PC Mark 10 Modern Office test, up from 8 hours and 2 minutes previously. For video playback, it achieved 9 hours and 48 minutes, slightly better than the 9 hours and 44 minutes of last year. The biggest improvement is in everyday use, where the Modern Office test simulates typical usage.

Final Thought

The HP Spectre X360 14 impresses with its outstanding OLED display and improved battery life, keyboard and touchpad enhance the user experience and the 5-megapixel IR webcam performs exceptionally well. The included pen and sleeve add extra value and the quad speakers deliver rich sound making it stand out among Windows convertibles.

But, it does have drawbacks. The lack of a high refresh rate option may be disappointing for some, and the use of LP DDR4X RAM instead of the newer LP DDR5X could impact performance slightly. The Nightfall black finish tends to collect fingerprints, and there is noticeable fan noise under heavy usage

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HP Spectre X360 14 (2023) Review: 2-in-1 Convertible

by

The HP Spectre X360 14 convertible laptop got a boost in 2023 with the addition of a 13th generation Intel processor, specifically the core i5 1355u. While keeping its sleek design from before, it now boasts more power.

Design and Build

HP Specter X360 14 Laptop Design

The HP Spectre X360 14 comes with the laptop a sleeve, documentation, a power cord, a 65-watt charger with a braided cable, a pen, and extra pen tips. It is available in Nocturne Blue, Nightfall Blac and Natural Silver. Designed for portability, the Spectre X360 14 weighs approximately 1.343kg. The lightweight design makes it easy to carry and use on the go.

As far the ports on the left side, you’ll find a 3.5-mm combo jack and a USB-A port; on the right, there’s a MicroSD card reader and two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, which support data transfer, charging, and display output. Note that there is no HDMI port.

The robust hinges allow smooth transitions between modes and the backlit keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience with well-spaced keys. The large, responsive trackpad supports multi-touch gestures for easy navigation.

For video conferencing and multimedia, the Spectre X360 14 features a 5-megapixel infrared webcam for clear video calls and a dual-array microphone for crisp audio. You also have a fingerprint reader for secure and convenient biometric authentication.

There is an issue displaying Amazon products. Please contact the administrator to check that.

Display and Audio

HP Spectre X360 features 13.5-inch OLED display with a sharp 3K by 2K resolution delivering vibrant colors, deep blacks and excellent contrast. And it provides immersive viewing experience whether you’re watching movies, editing photos or working on creative projects. The responsive touchscreen works seamlessly with the included stylus which has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity making it ideal for note-taking, sketching and precise input.

The 360-degree hinge allows versatile to use in laptop, tablet, tent and stand modes adapting to various needs from everyday tasks to media consumption and presentations.

For audio, the laptop features Bang & Olufsen-tuned quad speakers that offer impressive sound quality. The midrange and bass are particularly noteworthy providing a rich audio experience for a Windows laptop.

Benchmarks and Performance

PCMARK 105,607
GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core)2,362
GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core)8,813
CINEBENCH R203,131
CINEBENCH R151,312 CB | 98.87 FPS
CINEBENCH R23,1.79 Single-Core | 7.858 Multi-Core
3DMARK Fire Strike4,745
3DMARK Time Spy1,754
Benchmarks

The HP Spectre x360 14 features the Core i7-1355U, a 15-watt CPU with 10 cores (eight efficient and two performance). Delivers strong single and multi-core performance for a U-series processor excelling in everyday tasks like Microsoft Office, email and web browsing. Compared to last year’s 1255U, it shows noticeable improvements in performance.

However, the Spectre x360 14 uses the same integrated Iris XE Graphics as its predecessor, resulting in similar 3DMark Time Spy and Fire Strike scores. In the Cinebench R23 test, it achieved a single-core score of 1797 and a multi-core score of 7858. For gaming, it falls short compared to laptops with H or P series processors but can handle some popular titles at lower settings. It also offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports for external GPU connectivity though adding an external GPU will increase costs. While the Spectre x360 14 isn’t designed for gaming but it can manage occasional gaming with adjusted settings.

Efficient thermals are key to maintaining both performance and user comfort with an advanced cooling system that keeps temperatures in check. During regular use the laptop stays cool with surface temperatures remaining comfortable. The fan is usually quiet, ensuring a pleasant and distraction-free experience.

Battery Life

HP Spectre X360 14 features the same 66-watt hour battery as last year’s model but shows notable improvements in battery life. It lasted 11 hours and 36 minutes on the PC Mark 10 Modern Office test, up from 8 hours and 2 minutes previously. For video playback, it achieved 9 hours and 48 minutes, slightly better than the 9 hours and 44 minutes of last year. The biggest improvement is in everyday use, where the Modern Office test simulates typical usage.

Final Thought

The HP Spectre X360 14 impresses with its outstanding OLED display and improved battery life, keyboard and touchpad enhance the user experience and the 5-megapixel IR webcam performs exceptionally well. The included pen and sleeve add extra value and the quad speakers deliver rich sound making it stand out among Windows convertibles.

But, it does have drawbacks. The lack of a high refresh rate option may be disappointing for some, and the use of LP DDR4X RAM instead of the newer LP DDR5X could impact performance slightly. The Nightfall black finish tends to collect fingerprints, and there is noticeable fan noise under heavy usage