The HP Spectre X360 14 convertible laptop has received an upgrade for 2023, featuring a 13th gen Intel processor, the core i5 1355u. The laptop retains the sleek design of its predecessor while packing more power under the hood. With its stunning 3K by 2K OLED display, this laptop promises an immersive visual experience. In this review, we will delve into the details of the HP Spectre X360 14 and evaluate its performance, display quality, user experience, and more.
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Unboxing and Design
The Specter X360 14, you will find the laptop itself, accompanied by a sleeve, documentation, a power cord, a 65-watt charger with a braided cable, a pen, and additional pen tips. The laptop comes in various colors, including Nocturne blue, Nightfall black, and natural silver.
In terms of size and weight, the HP Spectre X360 14 is designed to be portable. It weighs approximately 1.343 kilograms (2 pounds 15.4 ounces) without accessories. When including the charger and sleeve, the weight increases to around 1.639 kilograms (3 pounds 9.8 ounces). The laptop’s weight make it easy to carry and use on the go.
Specs & Pricing
| Display | 13.5″ 3kx2k (3000 x 2000) OLED, Multitouch UWVA, Low Blue Light, SDR 400 nits. |
| CPU | Intel® Core™ i7-1355U (up to 5.0 GHz. 12MB L3 cache, 10 Cores , 12 threads) |
| Graphics | Intel® Iris Xe Graphics |
| Memory | Up to 32GB RAM |
| Storage | Up to 2Tb PCIe NVMe™ TLC M2 SSD (4×4 SSD) |
| Battery | 4 Cell 66Wh Li-ion polymer |
| Connectivity | Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2×2) and Bluetoooth 5.3 wireless card |
| Camera | HP True Vision 5MP IR Camera with Camera Shutter |
| Audio and Speaker | Audio by Bang and Olutson: Quad Speakers HP Auto Boost |
| Ports | 1x USB-A 10Gbps Signaling rate 2x Thunderbolt 4 with USB Type-C 40Gbps 1x microSD 1x Headphone/microphone Combo |
| Build, Size and Weight | All Metal Chassis, 11.73 x 8.68 x 067 in and 3.01 lb / 1.37kg |
| Price | $1,709 AT AMAZON |
The base price for HP Spectre X360 14 laptop starts at $1,399.99 on HP’s official website.
HP Spectre X360 14 Ports and Connectivity
The X360 14 offers a decent selection of ports and connections. On the left side, you’ll find a 3.5-millimeter microphone headphone combo jack and a USB-A port. On the right side, there is a Micro SD card reader and two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. These Thunderbolt 4 ports support data transfer, charging, and display output. Notably, there is no HDMI port on this laptop.
User Upgradeability
The HP Spectre X360 14 offers some user upgradeability options. The SSD is user-upgradable, providing flexibility for storage expansion or replacement. The laptop supports up to 16GB RAM, which can be upgraded to enhance overall performance and multitasking capabilities.
Display
The display of the HP Spectre X360 14 is undoubtedly one of its standout features. A 13.5-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 3K by 2K, providing stunning visuals with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. Whether you’re watching movies, editing photos, or working on creative projects, the display delivers a captivating viewing experience. The touchscreen functionality is highly responsive and works seamlessly with the included pen, allowing for effortless navigation and precise input.
Pen And Modes
The HP X360 14 comes with an included stylus pen that supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. The pen is well-suited for note-taking, sketching, and creative tasks. It integrates smoothly with the laptop’s touch display, offering a natural and intuitive writing experience. Spectre X360 14 features different modes, including laptop mode, tablet mode, tent mode, and stand mode, thanks to its 360-degree hinge. These versatile modes enable users to adapt the laptop to their preferred usage scenarios, whether it’s traditional laptop usage, multimedia consumption, or presenting content.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The hinges of the HP Spectre X360 14 are robust and well-built, allowing smooth and stable transitions between the different modes. The backlit keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience, with well-spaced keys and good key travel. The trackpad is large and responsive, supporting multi-touch gestures for effortless navigation and productivity.
Audio and Speaker Test
Now, when it comes to audio, we have Bang and Olufsen tuned speakers on this laptop, and there are four quad speakers, providing a pretty good sound experience. The mids and bass are quite impressive for a Windows laptop, and I was genuinely impressed with the audio quality.
Webcam, Mics and Fingerprint Reader
The HP Spectre X360 14 prioritizes the importance of video conferencing and multimedia content creation with its 5-megapixel infrared (IR) webcam. This webcam offers improved clarity and quality for video calls, making virtual meetings more engaging. The laptop also features a dual-array microphone setup that captures clear audio, reducing background noise for better communication. And a fingerprint reader is integrated into the laptop for secure and convenient biometric authentication.
Performance, Benchmarks and Gaming
| PCMARK 10 | 5,607 |
| GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core) | 2,362 |
| GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core) | 8,813 |
| CINEBENCH R20 | 3,131 |
| CINEBENCH R15 | 1,312 CB | 98.87 FPS |
| CINEBENCH R23 | ,1.79 Single-Core | 7.858 Multi-Core |
| 3DMARK Fire Strike | 4,745 |
| 3DMARK Time Spy | 1,754 |
It features the Core i7-1355U, a 15-watt CPU with 10 cores, including eight efficient cores and two performance cores. In terms of single and multi-core performance, we’re seeing really good results, especially considering it’s a U-series processor. It performs well in everyday tasks like Microsoft Office, email, and web browsing. Additionally, there has been an improvement in both single and multi-core performance compared to the 1255U from last year.
However, when it comes to graphics, the Spectre x360 14 utilizes the same integrated Iris XE Graphics as the previous year’s model. Consequently, we’re getting very similar numbers in the Time Spy and Fire Strike scores from the 3DMark tests. In the Cinebench R23 test, it achieved a respectable single-core score of 1797 and a decent multi-core score of 7858. It’s important to note that there are better choices available if gaming performance is a priority. The x360 14, being a U-series processor, won’t offer the same level of gaming performance as an H or P series processor.
While it’s not designed as a dedicated gaming laptop, it’s still capable of running some popular titles at playable frame rates if you lower the settings. Additionally, the laptop features two Thunderbolt 4 ports, which allow for external GPU connectivity. However, it’s important to consider that adding an external GPU will increase the overall cost.
In summary, I wouldn’t classify the HP Spectre x360 14 as a gaming laptop, but it can handle occasional gaming with adjusted settings. Its performance in everyday tasks is impressive, and while there are better options available for gaming, the x360 14 offers versatility as a convertible laptop.
Surface Temps and Fan Noise
Efficient thermals are crucial for maintaining optimal performance and user comfort. The Spectre X360 14 incorporates a sophisticated cooling system to regulate temperature effectively. During regular usage, the laptop remains relatively cool, with surface temperatures that don’t become uncomfortably hot. The fan noise is generally minimal, and the laptop operates quietly in most situations, ensuring a pleasant and distraction-free experience.
Battery Life
When X360 14 comes to battery life, it has the same 66-watt hour battery as last year’s model. It achieved 11 hours and 36 minutes on the PC Mark 10 Modern Office battery test, whereas last year’s model managed 8 hours and 2 minutes on the same test, showing a nice improvement year over year. As far as video playback is concerned, it lasted for 9 hours and 48 minutes on that test, compared to 9 hours and 44 minutes from last year. However, where we are seeing a really good improvement is in everyday use, specifically on the Modern Office test, which provides a good simulation of typical battery usage. So overall, the battery performance has been pretty good.
Pros and Cons
Firstly, I’m a big fan of the amazing OLED display—it truly stands out. HP Spectre X360 14 improved battery life is also a notable improvement, and the keyboard and touchpad offer an excellent user experience. The 5-megapixel IR webcam is top-notch, and HP has done a great job with their camera technology. Additionally, the inclusion of the pen and sleeve adds value to the package. The quad speakers provide a rich and full sound, which is impressive for a Windows convertible since it’s not something we usually see.
Moving on to the negatives, there are a few areas of improvement. Firstly, there is no high refresh rate option available, which could be a downside for some users. Additionally, it uses LP DDR4X RAM instead of LP DDR5X RAM, which may affect performance to some extent. Furthermore, the Nightfall black finish tends to collect fingerprints easily, which can be noticeable. Lastly, under heavy usage, there can be noticeable fan noise.
Overall, the HP Spectre x360 14 has many positive aspects, including the fantastic display, improved battery life, excellent input devices, and impressive camera quality. However, there are a few drawbacks to consider, such as the lack of a high refresh rate option, the RAM type, fingerprint smudges on the Nightfall black finish, and fan noise under heavy usage.
Final Thought
The HP Spectre X360 14 is an impressive convertible laptop that excels in several key areas. Its sleek design, high-quality display, versatile modes, and capable performance make it a strong contender for professionals, content creators, and those seeking a premium computing experience. With its array of features and user-friendly functionality, the X360 14 is poised to meet the demands of modern users who value style, versatility, and productivity in a single package.
Sleek design, high-quality display and capable performance make it a strong contender for professionals, content creators, and those seeking a premium computing experience.
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Design10
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Display10
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Ports9
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Keyboard and Touchpad10
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Hardware10
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Audio9
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Performance9
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Thermals / Fan Noise9
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Webcam9
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Battery9
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Price Value8
