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The HP Spectre x360 14 is a premium convertible laptop that offers a stunning design, powerful performance, and versatile features. It is one of the best laptops for professionals who need a device that can handle multiple tasks, from productivity to creativity. In this article, we will review the HP Spectre x360 14 and compare it with some of its competitors in the market.
Design and Display
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a sleek and elegant design that stands out from the crowd. It has a gem-cut aluminum chassis with angular edges and corners, giving it a distinctive look. The laptop is available in two colors: Nightfall Black with Copper Luxe accents, and Poseidon Blue with Pale Brass accents. The laptop weighs 1.34 kg and measures 29.7 x 22 x 1.69 cm, making it portable and easy to carry around.
The laptop features a 13.5-inch touch screen display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, which gives more vertical space for web browsing, document editing, and multitasking. The display has a resolution of either WUXGA+ (1920 x 1280) or 3K2K (3000 x 2000), depending on the model. The display also supports HDR and has an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and eye strain. The display is bright, sharp, and vibrant, with excellent contrast and color accuracy.
The laptop also has a 360-degree hinge that allows it to transform into four modes: laptop, tablet, tent, and stand. This gives the user more flexibility and convenience to use the device in different scenarios. The laptop also comes with an HP Rechargeable MPP2.0 Tilt Pen that can be used for writing, drawing, and navigating on the touch screen.
Pros
- Stylish and premium design
- High-quality touch screen display with HDR support
- Versatile 360-degree hinge and pen support
Cons
- Relatively heavy and thick compared to some competitors
- Limited color options
Performance and Battery Life
The HP Spectre x360 14 is powered by either a 12th or 13th generation Intel Core processor, depending on the model. The processor options range from Core i5-1135G7 to Core i7-1275G7, with up to 4.7 GHz of turbo boost frequency and up to 16 GB of LPDDR4x memory. The laptop also has either Intel UHD Graphics or Intel Iris Xe Graphics, depending on the processor.
The laptop delivers fast and smooth performance for various tasks, such as web browsing, video streaming, photo editing, and light gaming. The laptop can also handle more demanding applications, such as video editing and 3D rendering, thanks to its powerful processor and graphics. The laptop also has a dual-fan system and an IR thermal sensor that optimize the performance and temperature of the device.
The laptop has a battery life of up to 17 hours of HD video streaming or up to 11.5 hours on OLED display models, according to HP. The battery life may vary depending on the usage, settings, and configuration of the device. The laptop also supports fast charging, which can charge the battery up to 50% in 30 minutes.
Pros
- Powerful processor and graphics
- Long battery life and fast charging
- Thermal management system
Cons
- Fan noise may be noticeable under heavy load
- Battery life may be shorter on OLED display models
Features and Connectivity
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a range of features and connectivity options that enhance its functionality and usability. Some of the notable features are:
- HP Sure View integrated privacy screen that blocks prying eyes from viewing the screen in landscape mode
- HP True Vision HD IR camera with dual array digital microphones that enable face recognition login and clear video calls
- Camera shutter button that physically covers the camera lens for extra privacy
- Fingerprint reader that allows quick and secure login
- Audio by Bang & Olufsen with quad speakers that deliver rich and immersive sound quality
- Backlit keyboard with large touchpad that support multi-touch gestures
- Windows Hello facial recognition that lets you unlock your device with just a glance
- Windows Ink that lets you write and draw on the screen with the pen or your finger
- Windows 10 Home or Windows 11 Home operating system that offers a familiar and intuitive user interface
The laptop also has various ports and wireless connectivity options, such as:
- Two Thunderbolt 4 ports with USB4 Type-C support that allow data transfer, power delivery, and external display connection
- One USB Type-A port that supports USB Power Delivery
- One HDMI 2.0b port that supports 4K output
- One 3.5 mm headphone/microphone combo jack
- One microSD card reader that supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC formats
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 that enable fast and stable wireless connection
- Miracast that allows wireless screen mirroring to compatible devices
Pros
- Privacy features such as Sure View, camera shutter, and fingerprint reader
- High-quality camera, microphone, and speakers
- Multiple ports and wireless options
Cons
- No Ethernet port or RJ-45 adapter included
- No dedicated numeric keypad
Comparison with Competitors
The HP Spectre x360 14 is not the only convertible laptop in the market. There are some other models that offer similar or different features and performance. Here are some of the competitors of the HP Spectre x360 14 and how they compare:
- Dell XPS 13 2-in-1: This laptop has a similar design and display as the HP Spectre x360 14, with a 13.4-inch touch screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and either FHD+ or UHD+ resolution. It also has a similar processor and graphics options as the HP Spectre x360 14, with either Intel Core i5 or i7 and Intel Iris Xe Graphics. However, it has a smaller battery capacity of 51 Wh compared to the HP Spectre x360 14’s 66 Wh, which may affect its battery life. It also has fewer ports, with only two Thunderbolt 4 ports and one headphone/microphone jack. It does not have a privacy screen, a camera shutter, or a fingerprint reader, but it does have a Windows Hello IR camera. It also comes with a Dell Active Pen that can be attached magnetically to the laptop.
- Lenovo Yoga 9i: This laptop has a slightly larger display than the HP Spectre x360 14, with a 14-inch touch screen with either FHD or UHD resolution. It also has a similar processor and graphics options as the HP Spectre x360 14, with either Intel Core i5 or i7 and Intel Iris Xe Graphics. However, it has a unique feature called the Rotating Sound Bar, which is a hinge that houses four speakers that rotate with the screen to deliver optimal sound quality in any mode. It also has a leather cover option that adds a touch of luxury to the laptop. It does not have a privacy screen or a camera shutter, but it does have a fingerprint reader and a Windows Hello IR camera. It also comes with a Lenovo Active Pen that can be stored in the laptop.
- Microsoft Surface Book 3: This laptop has a different design than the HP Spectre x360 14, with a detachable keyboard that allows the screen to be used as a standalone tablet. It also has a larger display than the HP Spectre x360 14, with either a 13.5-inch or a 15-inch touch screen with either PixelSense or OLED technology. It also has different processor and graphics options than the HP Spectre x360 14, with either Intel Core i5 or i7 and either Intel Iris Plus Graphics or NVIDIA GeForce GTX or Quadro RTX graphics. It also has a longer battery life than the HP Spectre x360 14, with up to 17.5 hours of video playback on the 13.5-inch model and up to 17 hours on the 15-inch model. It does not have a privacy screen, a camera shutter, or a fingerprint reader, but it does have a Windows Hello IR camera. It also comes with a Surface Pen that can be attached magnetically to the laptop.
Conclusion
The HP Spectre x360 14 is an excellent convertible laptop that offers a stunning design, powerful performance, and versatile features. It is ideal for professionals who need a device that can handle multiple tasks, from productivity to creativity. It has some advantages over its competitors, such as its privacy features, its HDR display, and its thermal management system. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as its relatively heavy weight, its limited color options, and its lack of an Ethernet port. Overall, the HP Spectre x360 14 is one of the best laptops in its category and deserves consideration from anyone looking for a premium convertible laptop.
