You are presently studying our evaluation of the 2016 model of this laptop computer. If you wish to know concerning the newest mannequin, learn our 2017 HP Spectre x360 evaluation now.

We’re not going to lie, when the primary HP Spectre x360 debuted, we had been awestruck. On the time, it appeared preposterous hybrid pocket book would look this good, and but it was a roaring triumph. 

Two years later, the HP Spectre x360 hasn’t ceased to impress. That features the 2017 mannequin, whereby we see a 13% thinner and 11% lighter design complemented by a battery that lasts 25% longer on a single cost. It’s uncommon to see, however the introduction of Kaby Lake to the HP Spectre x360 feels extra like a superb print element given the opposite enhancements.

Between the amped up show and the infinite variety of additional time hours you possibly can spend engaged on it with out it dying on you, the HP Spectre x360 is a worthy contender to among the best laptops in the marketplace, even when it didn’t fairly make the rankings itself.

Nonetheless, it’s not a faultless overhaul. The HP Spectre x360 could appear like an all-around improve you possibly can’t resist, however there have been just a few reduce corners to maintain the worth inside motive. Sadly, not even these compromises might forestall the upper beginning value enacted.

Pricing and availability

Beginning at $1,049 (£1,199, AU$2,299), the brand new Spectre x360 comes at the next premium than earlier generations, even when this US-only SKU does contains an Intel Core i5-7200U processor, 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM. That stated, it’s fairly cheap to improve this machine. Our personal Core i7-7500U, 512GB and 16GB of RAM configuration prices $1,299 (£1,499, AU$2,899).

 To get the identical configuration on the Kaby Lake refreshed or anticipate to web page considerably extra with the 2 priced at $1,899 (£1,549, AU$2,999) and $1,349 (£1,749, AU$2,799), respectively. In fact, the 4K show panels on these two Ultrabooks additionally performs an element within the larger value tags.

HP additionally presents the Spectre x360 with a 4K display and bundled pen for $1,499. Within the UK and Australia, the Extremely HD-flavored hybrid is just obtainable with 1TB of storage at the next £1,899 premium, in the meantime this mannequin isn’t but obtainable in Australia.

Design

We at all times felt like utilizing the unique Spectre x360 was extra like dealing with a pizza paddle than a pill, as a consequence of it being overly large and heavy. Fortunately, HP has dramatically trimmed the brand new mannequin’s chassis.

Measuring 13.8mm skinny, it’s considerably thinner than the outgoing zero.63-inch thick mannequin. The brand new design additionally trims the convertible’s annoyingly large 12.79-inch physique to a extra smart 12.03 inches. 

Each of those modifications stem from the brand new micro edge show HP has applied – extra on that shortly.

That’s greater than a half-inch discount, and stacking it with the brand new hybrid’s 1.3kg weight makes the gadget way more comfy to make use of in pill mode. One other impact of the narrower physique is that it provides the laptop computer a boxier form, just like the three:2-aspect ratio and – nonetheless, this gadget nonetheless includes a 16:9 display.

Except for the obvious form change, HP has additionally re-engineered virtually each side of the laptop computer. The geared hinges have been reshaped right into a shorter – and wider – mechanism to coincide with the thinner design. Likewise, HP has diminished the keyboard journey from 1.5mm to 1.3mm, however we really choose this variation due to a stiffer pressure curve on the keys.

Sadly, there have additionally been just a few much less favorable sacrifices made within the title of thinness. The SD card reader has kicked the can, as has the HDMI video-out, in change for 2 USB-C ports.

The excellent news is that these ports help Thunderbolt Three for charging, twin 4K monitor help and 40Gbps information transfers. Plus, you continue to get one full-sized USB Three.1 port for legacy mice, thumb drives and different peripherals.

The glass-coated precision trackpad stays comparatively unchanged, and that’s no unhealthy factor. It’s nonetheless as responsive ever, however once more we wished HP had gone with a narrower possibility that wasn’t really easy to set off whereas typing.

Oh, and HP has utilized its new smooth brand as properly – in the event you actually care about that form of factor.

Final however not least, HP introduced again its copper trim paint job to the 4K Spectre x360. Except for giving the 13-inch hybrid a darker look, the darkish brown on copper coloration scheme differentiates it from each different black or silver pocket book on this planet.

Popping off

Except for the aesthetic modifications, the up to date Spectre x360 makes an enormous splash with new micro edge show that reduces the bezels on the perimeters of the display to a a lot squatter zero.54mm. In comparison with the thick bars on the older mannequin, HP has made an enormous enchancment, even when the Dell XPS 13 nonetheless comes out on prime with 5.2mm bezels.

Sadly, the highest and backside bezels haven’t seen the identical dramatic discount, however no less than HP is utilizing the area above the display to good use with a brand new TrueVision FHD webcam. Not solely does the IR digital camera allow you to log in together with your face via Home windows Good day, it additionally gives you with a 12% wider area of view.

Along with stretching from edge-to-edge (on the perimeters no less than), the micro edge show can also be options an optically bonded design, so the pixels appear like they’re sitting proper on prime of the contact panel.

This additionally makes the display a bit brighter, so that you received’t need to always bump up the display brightness to max – which we did usually with the predecessor – and might save a little bit of battery life in addition.

HP initially rolled out the Spectre x360 with a show decision restricted to just one,920 x 1,080, or Full HD. Nonetheless, in February HP added just a few 4K variants that undoubtedly add an additional splash of sharpness for watching domestically saved and streamed Extremely HD films and TV.

Personally, although, we might skip the 4K improve, particularly since we had been already impressed with the general picture high quality of the unique Spectre x360. 

Colours pop off the display, they usually’re correct due to it with the ability to reproduce 70% of the colour gamut. Viewing angles are additionally beneficiant, even at excessive angles, permitting us to learn components of the display even when simply attempting to admire the acute thinness of the brand new show panel.

HP has additionally redesigned the audio on its flagship hybrid with quad-speaker system. Simply above the keyboard you’ll discover a new speaker grille, beneath that are two top-firing tweeters that go along with one other pair of bottom-facing audio system positioned on the laptop computer’s underside.

The concept behind the quad-speaker setup is that you simply’ll have at all times sound projected in direction of you, whether or not you’re utilizing the gadget as a pill or laptop computer. Secondly, it’s the primary of HP’s quad-speaker geared up machines to have all 4 firing off on the identical time.

Because of a brand new audio increase function, the audio system work collectively to supply a louder and fuller sound profile. Highs come out clearly and bass is extra current, however even with all these enhancements a superb pair of headphones nonetheless ship a superior listening expertise.