Hp Specter x360 13 3. Rich colors for outdoor work

In our testing, the HP Specter x360 delivered solid performance, a high-quality design, and outstanding portability. In addition, he delights us with two simple yet ingenious design ideas. In other categories, as well as in terms of value for money, the Specter was also very good. The ergonomics, despite the high quality of workmanship and pleasant tactile sensations caused by the keyboard, turned out to be only satisfactory. Thus, with the Specter 13-4100, HP presents a convincing device that can shine not only as an office laptop.

Advantages

High quality housing
More productivity than required for office work
Thoughtful design

Flaws

Keyboard layout takes some getting used to
A bit noisy under full load

HP Specter x360 13-4100 Test Results

• Price-quality ratio
  Great

• Price/quality ratio: 89
• Mobility (25%): 91.9
• Equipment (25%): 83.4
• Productivity (15%): 73
• Ergonomics (15%): 67.8
• Display (20%): 86.8

Editorial rating

User rating

You have already rated

More than an office workhorse

In heart HP Specter x360 installed Core processor i5-6200U generation Skylake and 8 GB random access memory. Data can be stored on a 256 GB SSD drive. In addition to three USB 3.0 Typ-C ports, as well as HDMI and Mini-DisplayPort outputs, there is also a module for reading data from SD cards. In addition, buyers will find a USB-Ethernet adapter in the package.

In terms of performance, this device has nothing to be shy about either. In particular, it managed to get 6023 points in the 3DMark: CloudGate benchmark. For comparison: with the same processor - only 5864 points. Thus, the performance of the HP Specter will be quite sufficient not only for office work and web surfing, but also for basic image processing or casual gaming.

HP Specter x360 13-4100: The "tent" position is especially suitable for a relaxing movie night.

Almost perfect design

With a "satisfactory" rating, the Ergonomics test category is where the Specter x360 struggles. However, even here the device managed to demonstrate some strong qualities: in particular, this laptop is convincing, first of all, very high quality performance and rigidity.

Even the hinged display mount, which is quite often the weak point of transformers, fixes the desired position HP Specter x360 really good. The tactile feel of the keyboard and remarkably large touchpad is also very good and provides pleasant feedback.

Unfortunately, the display is very difficult to open. It is simply impossible to open it with one hand without tricks, and even with two hands it can sometimes be quite difficult to do this. In addition, the keyboard layout requires serious getting used to and often provokes errors, mainly due to the very small Enter button and different sized cursor keys.

Two small design features

As we know, little things make a big difference. So in HP Specter x360: Even if special design ideas do not affect the device's position in our ranking, they bring joy during testing - especially if in the end they are associated with thoughtful functionality.

For example, the power on/off button, which is usually located on the front side of transformers, is located on the right side. In addition, there are no additional buttons in the immediate vicinity, that is, incorrect presses are practically eliminated.

Another well-thought-out feature: the keyboard backlight button glows constantly, separate from all the others. However, it burns quite brightly, which can be a little disturbing in the dark. However, if desired, the corresponding LED can be turned off through the settings in the BIOS.

Rich colors for outdoor work

The 13.3-inch IPS display has high color accuracy and rich color display. Full HD resolution (1920x1080 pixels) checkerboard contrast reaches a level of 196:1, and the maximum brightness is 328.6 cd/m2. These are good but not outstanding values.

With a weight of 1.47 kg and a duration of time battery life in operating mode with office programs up to 12 hours 21 minutes, and with video playback - up to 10 hours 58 minutes, HP Specter x360 also suitable for outdoor work.

Alternative options

Stylish transformer: Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UA

It costs less than Specter, but with almost identical hardware, it demonstrates slightly worse performance indicators. He also has the ability to transform and is pleasant Feedback from the keyboard. Also in terms of office battery life, which is only 10 hours 39 minutes, the Zenbook performs slightly worse.

Transformer at a low price: Asus Transformer Book Flip TP200SA

The test was very convincing: the display, portability and ease of use of the compact 11-inch device are exemplary. However, in order to achieve such an attractive price, the manufacturer, of course, had to save on something.

For example, the equipment here is very meager: in particular, the built-in memory is represented by an eMMC drive with a capacity of only 32 GB, and the processor (Intel Celeron N3050) is designed more for working with office programs and web surfing, and not for games or video editing.

The battery life is first class: up to 12 hours 25 minutes on a single charge you can use this Asus laptop as an office.

HP Specter x360 13-4100 Specifications and Test Results

Price-quality ratio	89
operating system	Windows 10 Home
Dimensions	32.5 x 21.9 x 1.7 cm
Weight	1.5 kg
CPU	Intel Core i5-6200U (2.3 GHz)
RAM capacity	8 GB
Video card type	integrated
Video card model	-
Video memory capacity	-
Display: diagonal	13.3 inches
Display: resolution	1.920 x 1.080 pixels
Display: surface	brilliant
Display: max. brightness	329 cd/m²
Display: staggered contrast	196:1
Display: Pixel Density	166 dpi
Display: brightness distribution	89,7 %
Storage capacity	256 GB
Drive type	SSD
Optical drive	-
Battery: capacity	55 Wh
Autonomous operation: office suite	12:13 h:min
Autonomous operation: video playback	10:59 h:min
Noise at mask. load	acceptable noise level
USB ports	3 x USB 3.0
Bluetooth	Yes
WLAN	802.11ac
LAN connector
UMTS	-
Dock station	-
HDMI	HDMI
Other digital video outputs	Mini-Display-Port
Analog video outputs	-
Card reader	SDXC
Webcam	Yes
Optional equipment	keyboard backlight
Test: PCMark 7	4.872 points.
Test: 3DMark (Cloud Gate)	6.023 points

Flagship hybrid laptop 2 in 1 with updated style.

Verdict: HP Specter x360 2016, almost completely new laptop, which has received improvements in all areas. It features an even thinner, more premium design, it's faster, and it's one of the longest-lasting laptops we've ever tested.

• pros: Ultra-thin and lightweight | Keyboards | Operating time and charging;
• Minuses: No SD card reader | Thick bottom rim;

While all the improvements are superior to the older model in all areas, there are a few sacrifices made in the upgrade process, including a high starting price.

HPSpecterx360 13 (2016): Price and availability

Costing from 70,000 rubles, the new Specter x360 is subject to an increased price compared to laptops and tablets previous generation even if he offers Intel processor Core i5-7200U, 256 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM. However, upgrading the hybrid won't cost much at all. The package with Core i7-7500U, 512 GB SSD and 16 GB of RAM costs about 85,000 rubles.

In order to get a similar configuration from a new one on Kaby Lake or processors, you will have to spend significantly more, 120,000 rubles and 90,000 rubles, respectively. Of course, the 4K panels on this pair of laptops also play a role in pricing.

HP also offers a 13-inch Specter x360 with a 4K display and a stylus included, costing 98,000 rubles. In most stores in Russia, a hybrid tablet with a 4K panel is available only with 1 TB of memory, which significantly increases the price tag of the device.

Design

The original Specter x360 felt like you were holding a pizza box rather than a tablet due to its width and weight. Luckily, HP is trimming down the chassis size of the new model significantly.

At 13.8mm thick, the laptop is significantly thinner than the previous model (16mm). The new design also shrinks the device's annoyingly wide 12.79-inch frame to a more reasonable 12.03 inches.

Both changes are due to HP's new bezel - more on that later in the HP Specter x360 review.

Shrinking the size by more than half an inch and weighing 1.3 kg, the new hybrid makes the device much more convenient to use in tablet mode. Another effect of the slim body is the new shape, which is similar to the 3:2 ratio of the Google Chromebook Pixel - however, the HP laptop retains the 16:9 screen.

Besides the obvious visual changes, HP has also modernized almost every aspect of the laptop. The gear loop has changed its shape in favor of a shorter mechanism that fits better into the design. HP also reduced the keyboard's key travel from 1.5mm to 1.3mm, but we liked the change for the added stiffness of the keys.

—
Unfortunately, there are also some less favorable sacrifices required for a slim laptop waist. The reader is no longer used by the laptop, as well as the HDMI output, in exchange for two USB port-C.

The good news is that the new ports support charging, dual 4K monitor support, and data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps. Plus, you also get one full-size USB 3.1 port for older mice, flash drives, and other peripherals.

The glass-covered trackpad remains relatively unchanged, and that's not a bad thing. It still responds well to commands, but again, we wish HP had used a narrower option since the current one is easy to get caught in while typing.

By the way, HP is using their new slick logo if you care about such things.

Last but not least, HP is offering a copper version of the Specter x360 4K. In addition to giving the 13-inch hybrid a dark and stylish appearance, the dark brown tones of this model set it apart from any other black or silver laptop.

New picture...

In addition to the aesthetic changes, the updated Specter x360 offers a remarkable display with an ultra-thin bezel that reduces the bezels on the sides of the screen down to 5.4mm. Compared to the thick bezels of its older model, HP takes a huge step forward, even if the Dell XPS 13 still holds the top spot with a 5.2mm bezel.

Unfortunately, the top and bottom bezels haven't received the same reduction, but at least HP is using the space above the screen to position new webcam TrueVision FHD. Not only does the IR camera allow you to log in using facial recognition via Windows Hello, it also offers a 12% wider field of view.

In addition to the edge-to-edge (on the sides, at least) display, the manufacturer is offering a new display optical design that makes the image appear as if the pixels are occupying the top of the touchpad.

This solution also makes the screen a little brighter, so you don't have to constantly crank the screen brightness to maximum - something we often did with its predecessor during our review - and will help save some battery life.

HP initially showed the Specter x360 with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) screen resolution. However, in February, HP added several configurations with 4K panels, which certainly add shine to UHD video streaming.

Our editors, however, missed the updated 4K models, especially since we were quite impressed with the overall image quality of the original Specter x360.

The colors seem to jump off the screen, they are very accurate, thanks to the ability hybrid tablet reproduce 70% color range. Viewing angles are good, even at extreme angles, allowing you to see the image even from the side while you're impressed by the thinness of the panel.

HP has also redesigned the flagship hybrid's sound with 4 speakers. Above the keyboard, you'll see a new speaker grille, underneath which are two powerful speakers, supported by two downward-facing speakers on the bottom of the laptop.

The idea of ​​installing four speakers is that the device will always project sound towards you, no matter how you use the device, as a tablet or a laptop. Secondly, this is the first HP machine equipped with four speakers that sound simultaneously.

Thanks to new feature sound amplification, the speakers will work together to produce louder and fuller sound. The maximum volume turned out to be quite clear, even the bass is present, but even with all these improvements, a couple quality headphones will provide best quality sound.

CharacteristicsHPSpecterx360 (2016)

• Screen: 13.3-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS UWVA WLED-backlit + multi-touch display;
• CPU: Intel Core i7-7500U 2.7 GHz (2-core, 4 MB cache, 3.5 GHz with Turbo Boost);
• Graphic arts: Intel HD Graphics 620;
• RAM: 16 GB LPDDR3 SDRAM;
• Built-in memory: 512 GB PCIe NVMe m.2 SSD;
• Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Type-C (Thunderbolt 3), 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 3 mm jack;
• Connection: 802.11ac 2×2 WLAN and Bluetooth;
• Camera: HP TrueVision FHD IR camera (1080p);
• Weight: 1.29 kg;
• Size: 305.6 x 127.9 x 13.7 mm (W x D x H);

Performance

Don't be fooled by the ultra-thin form factor of the Specter x360, the laptop's performance remains the highest level. This is a fast laptop for your tasks, be it running programs or loading over ten sites at the same time. The laptop doesn't slouch when editing video either.

Continuing to look at the machine's characteristics, we come to the Kaby Lake processors, which become worthy Skylake successors. Compared to some of the latest 6th generation laptops like Acer Aspire S 13, we see noticeable improvements in almost every test. We see the greatest effect in multi-core tests and mid-level graphics tests.

As a result, you can expect improved performance for everyday tasks, watching high-definition videos, or editing large media files.

Here's how the HP Specter x360 (2016) from the review performed in tests:

• 3DMark: Cloud Gate: 6254; Sky Diver: 3993; Fire Strike: 875;
• Cinebench (CPU): 349 points; Graphics: 46.19 FPS;
• GeekBench: 3699 points (Single core); 7955 points (Multi-core);
• PCMark 8 (HomeTest): 3016 points;
• PCMark 8 (Battery):4 hours and 48 minutes;
• : 8 hours and 45 minutes;

4K performance

Increasing the resolution certainly has an impact Negative influence on Specter x360 performance. And while at first glance it might seem that the UHD version of HP's hybrid tablet can offer the graphics performance of its FHD counterparts, the fact is that 3DMark graphics tests are mostly run at 1080p resolution, so both configurations play on the same playing field.

Here's how the HP Specter X360 4K performed in tests:

• 3DMark: Sky Diver: 3902; Fire Strike: 961; Time Spy: 372;
• Cinebench (CPU): 334 points; Graphics: 42 FPS;
• GeekBench: 3668 (Single core); 7764 (Multi-core);
• PCMark 8 (Home Test): 2526 points;
• PCMark 8 (Battery): 3 hours and 32 minutes;
• Battery life (video test): 5 hours and 50 minutes;

The processing power is more or less similar between the laptops as Geekbench and Cinebench scores are close. Given this information, PCMark does a much better job of telling the story of how taxing a 4K panel is on the graphics performance of Intel-based systems.

—
Battery life

Battery life is the biggest and most outstanding feature of this laptop, thanks in large part to the massive 57.8Wh battery. The battery also looks quite impressive, HP gave us a look inside the Specter x360 and the battery takes up more than half of the internal cavity.

According to HP, the updated hybrid should last up to 15 hours on a single charge - 25% longer than older models that were equipped with 52 Wh batteries.

In our testing, as usual, we didn't see the stated numbers, but the results are impressive nonetheless. Given our standardized video test, the Specter x360 was able to play Guardians of the Galaxy on loop for 8 hours and 45 minutes. Meanwhile, the PCMark 8 battery test was a tougher task, with the HP 13-inch hybrid lasting 4 hours and 48 minutes.

Overall, it performs significantly better than most Skylake-based laptops. You'll get seven to 10 hours of battery life even under intense work conditions. The best thing is that you can charge your laptop from zero to 90% charge in just 90 minutes, thanks to USB-C fast charging.

With the 4K Specter x360 model, you'll see a noticeable (and inevitable) drop in battery life. If the FHD panel was able to offer about nine hours of local video playback, then the UHD screen reduces this time to six hours. Likewise, the high-resolution configuration only lasted 3 hours and 30 minutes on the grueling PCMark 8 tests.

If battery life is your priority, we'd recommend sticking with the standard Specter x360 screens.

Summing up

Unlike most new Kaby Lake laptops, the updated HP Specter x360 offers much more than just a processor upgrade. HP has gone back to the drawing board to redesign and redesign every part of its flagship 2-in-1 laptop to make it thinner, lighter and more durable.

The new design and even the dimensions of the device take on the premium qualities of the Specter ultrabook series. The hybrid inherits many of the qualities we've come to love about ultra-thin laptops, including a more responsive keyboard. However, we are not fans USB-C limitations port with the subsequent refusal of the SD card reader, which will not go unnoticed.

Overall, we like the new styling of the hybrid laptop. While the old model was always overly wide and heavy, the new HP Specter x360 looks much more modern, making it easier to use as a tablet, among other things. It's also one of the longest-lasting laptops out there, but that's common with all new laptops with Intel Kaby Lake processors until you step up to a 4K screen.

However, as a result of all these changes, the HP Specter x360 13 (2016) raises the price of the entry-level model. If you're looking for an affordable laptop-tablet hybrid, this isn't it. However, if you are looking good characteristics, extra memory and a faster processor, the new 2016 Specter x360 suits you much better and offers great value for money compared to the competition.

HP Specter x360 13 (2016) review

Be careful, Apple MacBook Pro has a new competitor.

HP Specter x360 15 (2017) may be simple update last year's same name, but do not confuse the iteration with the new product. This is a completely revised Specter x360 15 compared to previous years' models.

• pros: Flawless Keyboard | Efficient Design | Stylus;
• Minuses: Battery life | The trackpad interferes with typing;

From its sleek and modern design replete with gold accents to its perfect keyboard, the 2017 HP Specter x360 15 has a lot to offer its users.

It's not as thin as previous model, is only 17.8mm thick instead of the 16mm of last year's laptop, but the HP Specter x360 15 retains an excellent form factor, despite having full-size ports and a more traditional membrane keyboard than, say, a . Not to mention its ability to accommodate multiple foldable form factors, which is unheard of in most laptops, and a cutting-edge (albeit bulky) Windows 10 tablet.

HPSpecterx360 15: Price and Availability

HP Specter x360 15 is available in different configurations of RAM and built-in memory in Russian stores, but in any case, the remaining characteristics are predetermined. The model we came to review is equipped with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal PICe memory. This HP Specter x360 15 configuration is estimated at 98,000 rubles, although basic model A hybrid laptop starts at 82,000 rubles for 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD.

Design

The HP Specter x360 15 laptop boasts appearance, who is guaranteed to attract envious glances while working at the café on a Tuesday afternoon.

Yes, it's massive compared to the small, ultra-thin laptops we're used to seeing these days. However, the manufacturer boasts attention to detail in almost everything, from the hinges to the formation of the grilles that surround the pair of Bang & Olufsen speakers located on either side of the keyboard.

From the back to the front of the HP Specter x360 15, the thickness of the laptop varies from 17.8 mm to 12.7 mm.

WITH right side laptop you will find two ports USB Type-C, one of which is supported. There's also an HDMI port nestled between the USB-C twins and the air vent, which even manages to be stylish. Next, you see a physical volume switch in case function keys F6 to F8 is not enough.

On the left side of the Specter x360 15, HP has included a single USB 3.1 port, a headphone jack, and even a slot for (bless you). Along with the second ventilation hole, you can see the power button. Both sides of the HP Specter x360 15 laptop, like other parts of it, are inlaid with gold accents.

The trackpad is also lined in gold, but it might have been worth avoiding the embellishment if it would have provided the ability to move the trackpad away from the keyboard. Even though the keyboard has great format, the proximity of the touchpad makes typing much more difficult.

While this doesn't happen often, as you get used to the HP Specter x360 15's trackpad (and perhaps the new palm position), you may find your cursor moving around when you don't expect it.

It's hard to avoid positioning your thumbs in the top left and right corners of the touchpad when you're typing, which makes us wonder if it might have made sense to move the pad a little further away from the spacebar?

Four functions 2 in 1…

The HP Specter x360 15 (2017) has a matte black, all-aluminum finish that feels very natural to the touch. And speaking of laptop touches, the 360-degree hinge means you can flip the screen in any direction to suit your needs. Like most 2-in-1 laptop/tablet hybrids of this type, the Specter x360 15 has four modes: laptop, tent, tablet, and tablet on a stand.

No matter which form factor you place the HP Specter x360 15 in, it will look damn good, not only because of HP's design prowess, but also because of the stunning picture quality of its eye-popping Ultra HD display.

You also won't have to worry about drowning out your machine's speakers when changing form factors, since there's a third speaker on the back designed to prevent that from happening. Despite some exceptions to the rule, as a rule, Bang & Olufsen produces high quality sound.

Fortunately, after careful testing, the HP Specter x360 15 speakers retained the high-quality sound expected from the company whose name the speakers are branded with. It's no AudioTechnica, but as laptops go, the speakers exceed all expectations.

The HP Specter x360 15 sets a pretty high standard for what a 2-in-1 hybrid laptop should look and sound like. Whether you're using it in stand or tablet mode, you get a consistently bright and colorful screen with deep blacks and great sound.

Considering that the laptop offers a full touch screen and the ability to change the form factor, the HP Specter x360 15 is objectively better than the 15-inch MacBook Pro(about 150,000 rubles). Which simply cannot offer these functions.

Considering the significantly lower price, you still get a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and discrete graphics with 2GB of VRAM. However, you also get access to a full range of ports, both new and old. While the MacBook Pro is limited to four USB-C ports The HP Specter x360 15 uses two ports, but offers full-size HDMI, a "normal" USB port, and even an SD card slot.

Compare the HP Specter x360 15 with a more affordable one, and you will see an increase in resolution to UHD, additional SSD memory than even the most expensive configuration Samsung laptop. Sure, you'll be able to buy the Notebook 7 Spin for significantly less than HP's ambitious rival, but the Specter x360 15 offers advantages that make it worth the price.

CharacteristicsHPSpecterx360 15 (2017):

Here is the configuration of the HP Specter x360 15 that we received for review:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-7500U 2.7 GHz (2-core, 4 MB cache, up to 3.5 GHz);
• Graphic arts: Nvidia GeForce 940MX (2 GB GDDR5) | Intel HD Graphics 620;
• RAM: 16 GB DDR4 (2 x 8 GB SDRAM, 2.133 MHz);
• Screen: 15.6" UHD (3,840 x 2,160) UWVA eDP BrightView;
• Built-in memory: 512 GB PCIe SSD (NVMe, M.2);
• Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Type-C (1 x Thunderbolt 3), 1 x USB 3.1, 1 x HDMI, 3.5mm headphone/mic jack, SD card slot;
• Connection: Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2x2); Bluetooth 4.2;
• Camera: HP Wide Vision IR camera + dual matrix and digital. microphones;
• Weight: 2 kg;
• Size: 355.6 x 251 x 17.8 mm (W x D x H);

Performance

The HP Specter x360 15 may have an Intel Core i7 with Nvidia GeForce 940MX discrete graphics, but it's not gaming laptop. you will find in this rating. It is clear that additional graphics performance is aimed more at creative users who want to take advantage of graphically intensive tasks like photo editing and video processing. A laptop is suitable for this purpose.

As expected, while the HP Specter x360 15 performed well in the Sky Diver and Fire Strike tests, it struggled with 3DMark's new Time Spy stress test. However, it managed to double the results of the recent Acer Spin 7 in some sections.

As for Sky Diver, the laptop scored 6,648 compared to last year's HP Specter x360 15's 3,452. In the Fire Strike test, the laptop scored 1,925 compared to its predecessor's 848.

This is a significant difference from what we've seen before, and you can also compare the test results to the latest, which showed 3993 points in Sky Diver and 875 points in Fire Strike.

—

Benchmarks

Here's how the HP Specter x360 15 (2017) performed in our review tests:

• 3DMark Time Spy: 548; Sky Diver: 6 648; Fire Strike: 1,925;
• Cinebench (CPU): 346 points; Graphics: 63 FPS;
• GeekBench 3: 3771 (Single core); 8017 (Multi-core);
• PCMark 8 (Home Test): 2550 points;
• PCMark 8 (Battery): 3 hours and 47 minutes;
• Battery life (video test): 5 hours and 31 minutes;

As expected, the laptop not only outperformed last year's Skylake version, but also seriously challenged the latest x360 on Kaby Lake in a 13-inch format.

But this takes into account the performance of the GPU (video card), CPU The HP Specter x360 15 offers relatively the same performance as the 13-inch model, which makes sense considering they use the same processors.

One thing that stands out is that the laptop doesn't get too loud under load. The processor fan is virtually silent even when running multiple programs at the same time, ideal for working in public places.

Battery life

Keep in mind that the Core i7-7500U featured in the HP Specter x360 15 is mobile processor, designed for ultra-thin laptops. And while it offers decent performance, the decision to go for the smaller chip is driven by its power efficiency, hence you can expect extra battery life.

Unfortunately, in reality things are somewhat different. Compared to the 13.3-inch HP Specter x360, which easily passed PCMark 8 battery testing, the new HP Specter x360 15 offered only an hour of extra battery life from last year.

Our own video test, which consisted of looping Guardians of the Galaxy at 1080p until the battery drained, gave up three hours of battery life to the HP 13-inch hybrid. It's not the end of the world, but battery life certainly is. weakness laptop you should keep in mind.

Given the battery size of 79.2 Wh, the reduction in battery life was a surprise. We're also not sure how to feel about the laptop charger. On the one hand, the charger supports HP Fast Charge, which promises charging from 0 to 50% of the battery in 30 minutes, on the other hand, Charger bulky and inconvenient, especially considering that you're already carrying around a bulky 15-inch laptop.

However, most of the battery shortcomings can be chalked up to Nvidia's discrete graphics chip, which projects four times as many pixels onto the screen as Full HD laptops like the 13-inch Specter x360.

We liked: The HP Specter x360 15 is a prime example of what a 15-inch laptop should be. It sparkles with potential, with gold accents throughout and comfortable keyboard with backlight.

Unlike many other laptops bearing the Bang & Olufsen brand name, the HP Specter x360's speakers are loud and clear, whether you're listening to hip-hop or watching Guardians of the Galaxy for 5 hours and 31 minutes.

The screen with Ultra HD resolution also deserves attention, which is also beyond praise, as is the sound. The bright and rich colors of the HP Specter x360 15 screen are a sight worthy of the laurels of a living flame in a fireplace. The laptop also uses Windows Ink, which is a nice addition as it allows you to use a stylus.

We didn't like it: Of course, the HP Specter x360 15 is difficult to criticize, except for the disappointment in the battery life department. Three to five and a half hours (or so) for a laptop with a 79.2W battery and an Ultrabook processor isn't much, but that's the price you pay for the GeForce green mark and a super-sharp screen.

Also, since the trackpad is so wide, it sometimes gets in the way of typing because it sits too close to the resting position of your palms. This is a more critical error, but otherwise there is nothing to criticize the Specter x360 15 for.

To sum it up...

For about RUB 100,000, you can buy a 13-inch MacBook Pro without Touch Bar, with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM and just two USB-C ports with a headphone jack.

For the same price, you can get the HP Specter x360 15, which comes with a touchscreen, 360-degree hinge, Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics, and a 15-inch UHD screen. And all this comes before you get access to full-size USB ports and the upcoming Thunderbolt 3 interface.

For its price, the HP Specter x360 15 boasts high-end specs, a luxurious design, and a wealth of functionality that's hard to beat. And while it may struggle a bit with battery life and trackpad placement, it's best laptop 2017, which will be an excellent choice for editors and media content creators.

HP Specter x360 15 (2017) review

Anton Zim

06.04.2017 And while battery life isn't that great, the HP Specter x360 has high performance, versatility and stunning design that will surely attract a sea of ​​compliments.

8 Overall Score

Verdict:

While battery life isn't great, the HP Specter x360 delivers powerful performance, versatility, and a stunning design that's sure to get lots of compliments.

“The guys from HP came knocking on the door and offered to test some of their popular products for free.

A few days later, a 13-inch HP Specter x360 convertible laptop based on the 7th Intel generation(Kaby Lake) in one of the top configurations (model 13-w001ur).

Without exception, all specialized technical publications abroad highly rate the HP Specter x360:

• Fifth place in the ranking of the best laptops of 2017 according to CNET.
• First place in the ranking of the best 2 in 1 laptops according to CNET.
• Fourth place in the ranking of the best laptops of 2017 according to TechRadar.
• First place in the ranking of the best 2 in 1 laptops according to TechRadar.
• Second place in the ranking of the best laptops of 2017 according to PC Mag.
• First place in the ranking of the best 2 in 1 laptops according to PC Mag.
• First place in the ranking of the best 2 in 1 laptops according to Laptop Mag.
• First place in the ranking of the best 2 in 1 laptops according to PC World.

At first glance, the HP Specter x360 is no different from an ordinary ultrabook from the highest price segment: 14 mm thick aluminum body, weight 1.44 kg, cool display, powerful filling and the cost is more than 100 thousand rubles.

The magic begins when you open the laptop. The HP Specter x360 literally turns 360 degrees. It turns out to be a real tablet with the performance of a premium laptop.

HP Specter x360 Specifications (Model 13-w001ur)

CPU	Intel Core i7 7500U 2.7 GHz
Video	Intel HD Graphics 620
RAM	16 GB LPDDR3 1 866 MHz
SSD	512 GB, NVMe
Display	13.3 inches, IPS, Full HD (1,920 × 1,080), 165.6 ppi, touch, multi-touch
Cameras and microphone	Front Full HD for video calls, IR for Windows Hello, two microphones
Sound	Bang & Olufsen, four speakers
Connection	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2×2, Bluetooth 4.1
Interfaces	1 USB 3.0 Type-A, 2 USB 3.1 Type-C Thunderbolt 3, 3.5 mm mini-jack
Battery	Li-Ion, 57.8 Wh
Housing material	Aluminium alloy
Color	Grey
Dimensions	306 × 218 × 14 mm
Weight	1.44 kg
Set	Case, charger, Ethernet - USB C adapter.
Price	"Yandex Market "

Design

Absolutely all modern ultrabooks are similar to each other.

No bells and whistles unnecessary elements, because manufacturers are fighting for every gram and tenth of a millimeter.

Everything is strict, uniform and thin enough to accommodate the necessary filling. The results of this size race can only be seen in comparison.

Two generations of HP Specter x360 in comparison / TechRadar

Here are two HP Specter x360 models. Above last generation, below - the previous one. Everything seems to be the same, but the difference in size is obvious.

In practice, a device with dimensions of 306 × 218 × 14 mm and a weight of 1.44 kg seems incredibly light and compact, especially if you switch to it from a regular laptop.

Ports

The HP Specter x360 has just one USB 3.0 Type-A port, located on the left. If you want to connect more than one external device you will have to get or buy an adapter.

In addition to USB, on the left side there is a headphone jack, a power button and a grille for removing air from the cooling system.

On the right, the HP Specter x360 has a volume rocker and two USB 3.1 Type-C Thunderbolt 3 ports. One connector (either of the two) is supposed to be used to charge and power the laptop from an outlet, and to the second to connect all kinds of peripherals.

The disadvantage of the laptop is the lack of HDMI and an SD card slot, which is why potential users who have not yet updated their peripheral fleet may experience inconvenience.

USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt 3 are truly wonderful technologies that will allow you to replace absolutely all other ports in the future, but try to find one in your external storage or a monitor for this connector. Of course, switching to a single interface is the dream of any technoesthete, but in practice the financial factor will all come down to the purchase of several more adapters.

Considering that the HP Specter x360 kit includes an adapter only for Ethernet, you will have to look for and purchase other adapters yourself and at your own expense.

The lack of a slot for SD cards will upset not only photographers and cameramen, but also all those who are used to using a memory card as a memory expansion that is undemanding in terms of read and write speed.

Performance

The combination of Intel Core i7 7500U, 16 GB of RAM and a very fast PCIe SSD allows the HP Specter x360 to solve absolutely any non-specific tasks and ensure impeccable performance and stability.

You can open 20 or 30 tabs in Chrome, run the entire office suite of applications, and still have a lot of resources left.

Processor rating

Geekbench 4 Single-Core	4 191
GeekBench 4 Multi-Core	7 914
GeekBench 3 Single-Core	3 610
GeekBench 3 Multi-Core	7 612
CineBench R15 CPU Test Single-Core	144
CineBench R15 CPU Test Multi-Core	326

SSD rating

The NVMe drive provides some fantastic read and write speeds. Until recently, SATA-SSD seemed incredibly fast, especially compared to HDD, but now it’s already a thing of the past.

Graphics rating

Obviously, the HP Specter x360 will not replace professional computer for design or working with graphics and video, but ultrabooks, it seems, never pretended to do such things.

GFXBench 3.0 T-Rex	94
GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan	47
3DMark Firestrike	864
3DMark Cloud Gate	6 051
3DMark Ice Storm	59 486
CineBench R15 GPU Test	45

Absence discrete video card does not allow us to call the HP Specter x360 an acceptable option for advanced gamers, but the power of the Intel Core i7 7500U in combination with Intel HD Graphics 620 is quite enough for most popular games.

This is what Battlefield 1 looks like. Graphics are at a minimum, but still beautiful (1,366 × 768, 29 FPS).

FPS in other games (low/medium settings, 1366 × 768)

Overwatch	40
CS GO	112
Far Cry 3	27
Battlefield 4	36
Metro: Last Light	28
Bioshock Infinite	36
Rainbow Six Siege	26

Noise and heat

HP Specter x360 is a fairly quiet and cool ultrabook for its performance. Thanks to Intel Core i7 7500U with TDP 15 W. When working in the browser, the noise of the cooling system is not detected at all. After several minutes of watching high-definition streaming video, the area near the air exhaust grille becomes slightly warm. Most of the heat goes into back cover laptop. To feel the heating, you need to place the device on your lap.

It was possible to really warm up the laptop with heavy 3D games. In such an extreme mode for a non-gaming device, there is a whistle from the turbine and heat bordering on discomfort in the area where the cooling system is located. The HP Specter x360 successfully handled a 30-minute gaming session of Battlefield 1. There were no performance hitches during this time.

Screen

The 13.3-inch Full HD IPS touch display of the HP Specter x360 provides a very bright, rich and clear picture. The difference in quality will be especially noticeable to owners of typical budget laptops with TN panels. At 166 ppi, it is almost impossible to see the pixels.

The unusually thin side frames also attract attention. The distance from the display to the edge of the cover is only 6 millimeters.

The glossy screen does not add comfort when working on sunny summer days, but there are simply no other options for a touch screen.

Keyboard and touchpad

Typing on the HP Specter x360 is pleasant and convenient, not least thanks to the dedicated navigation keys on the right.

The keys are placed very well; they do not wobble or play, even if you make a swiping movement, lightly touching the surface of the keyboard. The glass touchpad of the HP Specter x360 has dimensions of 120 × 60 mm and is equipped with physical left and right click buttons. There were no complaints about it during the work process.

The key stroke length is only 1.3 mm, but the pressing itself is very obvious and somewhat reminiscent of the behavior of mechanics. At the beginning of pressing there is a tiny resistance, and at the end there is a clear click. You can evaluate the keyboard backlight yourself from the photo.

Battery

HP Specter x360 is equipped with lithium-ion battery 57.8 Wh capacity with technology fast charging(from 0 to 90% in 90 minutes). The laptop's operating time on one full charge, declared by the manufacturer, is 12.5 hours with constant surfing.

In reality, with active work in Chrome and screen brightness at 70% of the maximum (recommended default power settings), the HP Specter x360 lasted 10 hours and 4 minutes. The time obtained by the Laptop Mag laboratory under similar conditions turned out to be almost identical (10 hours 6 minutes). Judging by other tests available on the Internet, one full charge of a laptop lasts on average 10–11 hours.

Sound

Towards creation speaker system The HP Specter x360 was produced by Bang & Olufsen, a well-known company in audiophile circles, as the corresponding inscription on the case clearly hints at.

The laptop has four speakers in total: a pair under the grille on top, and another pair under the bottom cover. In this way, a more voluminous sound is achieved, which, however, is still devoid of expressive lows due to the small diameter of the drivers.

In total, the acoustics of the HP Specter x360 sound an order of magnitude better than any laptop with no-name speakers. Separately, it is necessary to note the absence of wheezing when listening at close to maximum volume.

Tablet mode

A convertible laptop takes some getting used to, especially if this is your first device of this format. At first, it’s hard for your brain to realize that right now, while you’re lying on the couch or sitting in a chair, you can turn the screen out and work with much greater comfort. But after a couple of days everything returns to normal. For example, the embarrassment of accidentally pressing keys when they are on the back side of the screen disappears. The keyboard always turns off in tablet mode, but it’s not easy to not be afraid of “accidentally pressing something and breaking everything.”

The obvious advantage of a transformable laptop over a tablet is that there is no need for a stand. All you need to do is turn the HP Specter x360 inside out and place it anywhere.

Unlike its predecessors, Windows 10 is much better optimized for touch screens. If you fundamentally reject Transformers and tablets on Windows only because of the unpleasant experience of working with them on the “eight”, then just try the “ten” once. With a high degree of probability, your opinion will change for the better.

Conclusion

HP Specter x360 deservedly takes first place in the ratings of ultrabooks and transformables. Returning after it to your laptop, bulky, heavy, plastic, creaky, with a screen from which your eyes are now bleeding, is very unpleasant.

It's hard to believe that such power fits into such compact and sophisticated forms. It's even harder to believe that Windows laptops have finally caught up and surpassed their Apple counterparts in terms of battery life.

If you still think that Ultrabooks aren't worth the money, you've either never used one, or you've been dealing with some bad model.

Lifehacker thanks HP for providing the device for testing.

Recently, the form factor of laptops that can turn into a tablet and back has begun to be in great demand. HP Specter X360 belongs to this category of devices and is updated every year by the manufacturer so that you can get top-end specifications, high-quality display and a number of new technologies. HP Specter X360 13-inch convertible laptop is built on the basis powerful processor Intel i7 ULV-series and equipped powerful battery at 56 Wh. Let's carry out full review HP Specter X360 and let's see how successful the laptop turned out.

Specifications:

• Type: convertible laptop
• Housing: plastic, aluminum
• Screen: IPS matrix, 13.3", 1920x1080, glossy, touch, capacitive
• Processor: Intel Core i7–7500U, 1.7–3.5 GHz
• Video card: Intel HD 520
• RAM: 8 GB, DDR3–1600
• Storage: SSD 512 GB, M.2
• Interfaces: USB 3.0, 2x USB 3.1 (Type C), combined with Thunderbolt, 3.5 mm audio
• Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2
• Multimedia: microphone, Bang&Olufsen speakers, HD webcam
• Operating system: Windows 10
• Battery: 56 Wh, built-in
• Dimensions: 325x218x16 mm
• Weight: 1.45 kg

Equipment

The delivery package turned out to be as follows:

• Charger and power supply for it;
• Case made of neoprene.

The HP Specter X360 2018 laptop with a silver case comes with a black power supply and charger, which is not entirely clear. It would be more correct and aesthetically pleasing if they were painted the same color. Complete case is fast

HP Specter X360 convertible laptop design

The design turned out to be very successful and most importantly, it stands out among the mass of similar competitor solutions. You can feel it as soon as you take the laptop out of the box. The body feels high-quality and monolithic, and tactile metal was used for its manufacture. But it is different from what was used in the MacBook. It is not so smooth and rather rough tactilely.

When you look at the HP Specter X360 convertible laptop from the back, you get the impression that it is a sandwich whose two halves seem to be not connected to each other. Although, of course, in reality this is not the case. Hinges are used for fixation, which allows you to rotate the display a full 360 degrees.

There are many ports throughout the body, allowing you to connect everything you need for work and entertainment. It will be easier to list them in a list.

The following elements were installed on the right side:

• 3.5 mm headset jack;
• Pair of USB ports;
• HDMI 2.0;
• MiniDP 1.2
• Windows key and rocker, which is used to control the volume.

By left side we observe the following:

• Socket for connecting a charger;
• Ventilation grill;
• USB port;
• Power key, which has an integrated indicator light;
• SD card slot.

An additional grille for air exhaust and a pair of speakers were left at the bottom, which gives a full stereo effect. The HP Specter X360 review showed an excellent volume reserve and decent sound quality, but more on that later.

The laptop has a 13.3-inch LED-backlit matrix and a high resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. With these parameters we get 221 pixels per inch. Using the screen at this resolution is a pleasure - the picture looks juicy and well detailed, although there are also opponents of this. The backlight is uneven - at the bottom it is 19% dimmer than at the top.

The brightness reserve is sufficient, although for an ultrabook it could be higher, because sometimes you are faced with the need to work outdoors. In this case, you will have to look for shade. Otherwise, the picture remains legible, but fades greatly when exposed to direct sunlight.

Viewing angles are maximum. The display itself is touch-sensitive and has a glossy surface, so working with it is not particularly convenient. You will have to look at the image through the image of your loved one; after all, a matte screen would be much more practical. Another disadvantage is the wide frames that surround the entire perimeter of the screen. This is not a critical moment, but still in 2018 you expect minimal frameworks or no framework at all.

Sound

On the body of the HP Specter X360 13 2018 there is the inscription BANG & OLUFSEN, which hints at the use of an advanced audio system created by real professionals. But in reality the sound is nothing special. In general, the quality is good, but as soon as you turn the sound up to maximum volume, the speakers almost start to wheeze. Pre-installed software for adjusting sound does not change the situation much. It only contains minimal capabilities to personalize the sound.

HP Specter X360 Laptop Performance and Specifications

In 2018, the HP Specter X360 convertible laptop is available in two modifications, which differ in processor power. I received a model with an Intel Core i7-6500U processor for review. The two processor cores are capable of overclocking to 3.1 MHz and what is surprising is the ventilation system. Even in such a compact case with a thickness of only 16 mm, the laptop does not overheat, and its coolers do not make noise like helicopter blades. Even with the CPU and GPU under full load, we only managed to heat it to 64 degrees during testing of the HP Specter X360.

True, as a further review showed, for this the manufacturer resorted to a little trick, which clearly cannot be called an advantage of the model - it resets the processor frequency to 1500 MHz and cuts performance graphics core by 20%. This is clearly visible in the results of synthetic tests, where the laptop produces more modest results than other models with similar technical characteristics. Our review of the HP Specter X360 2018 showed that this becomes even more noticeable in games.

The laptop has 8 GB of RAM, which is still enough to solve any problems. But considering the cost of over $1500, you don't expect to get DDR3 with a frequency of 1600 MHz. This is not what you expect from a 2018 model. The difference in operating speed with DDR4 is not so great, but in the future it may be difficult to replace a RAM stick, since the DDR3 standard is gradually leaving the market.

A review of the HP Specter X360 laptop showed that it should not be considered as a gaming device, even if you are willing to play on minimal graphics. This is not his strong point; at 23 fps in Tanks and 18 in Dirt Rally it is simply impossible to play. This is an exceptionally basic work laptop for graphics and text work, although it is very expensive for its features.

Partially the cost of the device pays for its use solid state SSD 512 GB drive. Such a disk is expensive, but it provides good system performance, high speed reading and writing. I think we chose the optimal volume so that all files can be stored directly in the laptop’s memory, rather than carrying an external drive.

2018 HP Specter X360 battery life

Failed to install on laptop good system cooling, sacrificing performance, but at least enough space was allocated for the battery. It provides up to 9 hours of movie playback at near maximum brightness. In games you can count on 3 hours of battery life, but as noted above, you can only play simple arcade games.

If you leave the HP Specter X360 convertible laptop unattended for a long time, then after 15 minutes it goes into hibernation mode. Therefore, upon your return, the battery charge level will not change.

Keyboard and touchpad

Review of the HP Specter X360 13 ae008ur laptop I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the keyboard and the comfort of working with it. Honestly, I rarely experience such emotions in modern models. First of all, the location of the keys is pleasing - nothing is cut off, there was even a place for the letter “E”, which almost no one uses anymore. Typing text on this keyboard is very convenient. The keys have a short travel, which you quickly get used to. The only thing I would like to see is full-fledged arrows.

The keys are backlit, so the keyboard is pleasant to use even in the dark. The brightness level cannot be adjusted. The backlight can be turned off. In this case, only the last key pressed will be highlighted.

The HP Specter X360 has a huge touchpad - one of the largest in modern laptops. This makes its use as comfortable as possible, although at first you may accidentally touch it.

Conclusion

The HP Specter X360 convertible laptop can be bought in two modifications - a more productive, but expensive version or a cheaper one. In the first case, you get a 7th generation Intel processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. The more affordable laptop uses an i5 paired with 4GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

The difference in price is clearly visible - 78,000 rubles versus 117,000. In my opinion, it’s not worth overpaying, since you won’t feel much of an increase in productivity. Of course it is, but the laptop is still not suitable for gaming, and the basic version copes well with everything else.

Advantages:

• Spectacular design and metal as the main body material;
• There are all the necessary connectors for connecting external devices;
• Comfortable keyboard;
• Good battery life;
• Transformer mode with the ability to rotate the screen at least 360 degrees;
• Silent operation of coolers.

Flaws:

• Terrible performance. The performance of the processor and video core is specially reduced so that the laptop does not overheat. As a result, you can forget about games;
• Glossy screen;
• Overpriced.

Subscribe to our Zen channel, there are many more interesting things waiting for you.

Your rating for the smartphone: