HP Spectre x360 13.5 (2023) review: HP wins again

The HP Spectre x360 is likely one of the laptops I stay up for reviewing yearly. It is constantly top-of-the-line laptops in the marketplace, being HP’s premium model for over a decade now. The 2023 mannequin of the product is a spec bump, which is not stunning in any respect on condition that the 2022 model was a whole redesign. However when you’re coming from one thing that is three or extra years outdated, you will see some fairly vital modifications.

Finally, it is only a nice product. HP has a number of the finest keyboards in client laptops, the three:2 OLED show is gorgeous, and the general laptop computer design is attractive. It is not excellent; it’s kind of heavy for a convertible, and there is no mobile mannequin, one thing I consider HP hasn’t been specializing in as a lot currently in its client merchandise. However so long as you are linked to Wi-Fi, it is robust to beat the Spectre x360.

About this overview: HP despatched us an HP Spectre x360 13.5-inch mannequin for the needs of this overview, and it had no enter into its contents.

HP Spectre x360 (2023)

Our favourite convertible

The 2023 HP Spectre x360 13.5 packs Thirteenth-generation Intel Core processors in a smooth and trendy design, and it comes with upgraded Intel processors and non-obligatory Intel Arc graphics for workloads that require extra GPU energy.

Working System

Home windows 11

CPU

Thirteenth-generation Core i7-1355U (14 inches); Thirteenth-generation Core i7-1360P, Core i7-13700H (16 inches)

GPU

Iris Xe (14 inches); Intel Arc A370M (16 inches)

RAM

16GB LPDDR4 (14 inches); 16GB or 32GB (16 inches)

Storage

1TB (14 inches); As much as 2TB (16 inches)

Battery

66Wh (14 inches); 83Wh (16 inches)

Show (Dimension, Decision)

1920×1200 IPS or 3000×2000 OLED (14 inches); 3072×1920 IPS or 3840×2400 OLED (16 inches)

Digital camera

5MP IS

Audio system

Quad audio system by B&O

Ports

1x USB-A, 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 1x headphone jack (14 inches); 1x USB-A, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x HDMI, 1x Sensible pin, 1x headphone jack (16 inches)

Community

Intel Wi-Fe 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

3.04 kilos (14 inches); 4.74 kilos (16 inches)

Execs

• Lovely design
• 3:2 show continues to be a rarity in convertibles
• Nice keyboard

Cons

• A bit on the heavy facet
• No 5G possibility

HP Spectre x360 13.5 (2023): Worth and availability

HP’s Spectre x360 13.5 is accessible now beginning at $1,399, which is unquestionably expensive. Certainly, that is the perfect of what HP has to supply, and it is truthful to say that its high-end Envy lineup has every little thing that most individuals want. That value does get you respectable specs, although, with an Intel Core i5-1355U, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The display is 1920×1280, which is best for battery life than the OLED panel on my overview unit, nevertheless it’s not as fairly.

Packing a Core i7-1355U, 16GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an OLED show, this unit is priced at $1,749 at Finest Purchase, though on the time of this writing, it is $500 off.

The HP Spectre x360 13.5 (2023) can also be obtainable in three colours: Pure Silver, Nocturne Blue, and Dusk Black. The unit that HP despatched for overview is Dusk Black.

Design

It is smooth, as anticipated

Final yr’s mannequin was a whole redesign, so this yr’s is understandably a spec bump. Like another PC producers, HP dropped its sharp corners in favor of softer curves. The corporate used to make use of the time period “gem-cut,” and also you would not say that now.

The accents are much more delicate, too. The Dusk Black coloration used to come back with copper accents all alongside the borders, nevertheless it now has silver accents in a really skinny line alongside the sting. It is nonetheless stunning; it simply does not stand out as a lot anymore. I at all times appeared on the Spectre x360 like a murals, however now it is only a actually well-designed, premium convertible laptop computer.

Truthfully, I really feel like I needs to be praising the design greater than I’m. The present design solely suffers from dwelling within the earlier design’s shadow. It is a good looking machine in its personal proper.

The ports have not modified from final yr. On one facet, you will discover twin Thunderbolt 4 ports, considered one of which is on a flat nook. It is a neat little trick that HP carried out years again in order that cables will not get in your approach. On the opposite facet, there is a headphone jack on the flattened nook, an ideal place to place it that makes it handy when utilizing the machine as both a laptop computer or a pill. Subsequent to it, there is a USB Sort-A port with a dropjaw hinge, so you’ll be able to nonetheless use your legacy peripherals.

The general design of the HP Spectre x360 is exclusive, as at all times. It is the sort of laptop computer that does not mix in with the pack.

Show

You’ll be able to’t beat a 3K OLED show

In the event you’re in search of a laptop computer with a 13.5-inch display and a 3:2 facet ratio that is not made by Microsoft, you will land on the HP Spectre x360. I do not know why HP is the one different firm that makes use of this panel, nevertheless it’s a win. The three:2 facet ratio is just about universally beloved by individuals who use them, particularly on convertibles for the reason that display is wider when you’re holding it vertically.

To make issues even higher, you may get the convertible with a 3000×2000 OLED panel, though there’s an possibility for an everyday outdated 1920×1280 LCD, too. OLED is the place it is at, although. The blacks are near life, and the colours are vibrant. Furthermore, HP solved the issue of colours being too vibrant a number of years in the past with its HP Show Management software. By default, it does come optimized for coloration vibrancy, however you can too optimize it for coloration accuracy in case you are doing one thing like enhancing photographs.

The HP Spectre x360 13.5 (2023) helps 100% sRGB, 96% NTSC, 98% Adobe RGB, and 100% P3. You actually do not get numbers that prime except you are utilizing an OLED display or super-high-quality LCD panels just like the 4K ones on Dell XPS laptops.

Brightness got here in at 413.1 nits, which is typical for an OLED panel like this. Additionally, black got here in at 0.00 in any respect ranges of brightness. It is a first for me, frankly, as a result of I assume there’s normally some margin of error. Black on an OLED display ought to be 0.00, making the distinction ratio infinite.

The highest bezel suits a 5MP webcam, which continues to be among the many finest in a laptop computer. It is not packing the identical options discovered on the HP Dragonfly G4, like the flexibility to change between a number of webcams, in all probability as a result of that is extra of a client product. The extra decision can reframe your video, mechanically zooming in on you when you transfer round. There’s additionally a cool Enhanced Lighting app, which basically brightens up your display, so that you look higher on calls.

Keyboard

Probably the greatest on a client laptop computer

As at all times, HP included a best-in-class keyboard on the Spectre x360. It is comfy and correct, though I am spoiled by the HP Dragonfly G4, which was the final product I reviewed. Both approach, the keyboards HP places in its enterprise merchandise are unmatched.

HP’s newest design rules are to incorporate all buttons on the keyboard, in order that’s the place you will discover the facility button. You may additionally discover a button that internally disconnects the digital camera, working as a privateness guard. You may additionally see a bodily blocker when you use it.

The touchpad is good and large, taking over many of the obtainable actual property. That is the good factor a couple of 3:2 display. Because it’s taller, it makes for a bigger palm relaxation and, due to this fact, extra room for a touchpad.

Efficiency

Intel Thirteenth-gen is a good enchancment

The HP Spectre x360 13.5 that was despatched for overview comes with a Core i7-1355U and 16GB RAM, and it is the configuration I might select for most individuals. Whereas Lenovo and Dell selected 28W P-series processors of their Yoga 9i and XPS 13 Plus flagships, respectively, HP caught with 15W U-series chips. In truth, it did the identical in lots of its enterprise PCs, too.

It is sort of fascinating as a result of till Intel’s Twelfth-generation shipped, there was no 28W tier for laptops. You simply acquired a high-end 28W SKU that basically solely shipped in MacBooks (again when Macs shipped with Intel). Now, you may get a bit extra efficiency from some further wattage, however you will both have to sacrifice battery life to get it, or the OEM wants to incorporate a bigger battery to compensate. Thermals are a difficulty, too.

I feel the query that must be answered right here is how a lot efficiency you really want. I do not know the final time I considered efficiency in a productiveness laptop computer. HP prioritized battery life and guess that you just would not be capable of inform the distinction between this and if it included a 28W processor, and it was proper. So long as you are not enhancing video or gaming, you will do exactly effective with the Spectre x360. In fact, when you’re doing any of these issues, you in all probability need devoted graphics, too, such as you discover within the 16-inch Spectre x360 or the bigger HP Envy fashions.

Battery life was strong throughout. As standard, I ran my assessments by working usually with the facility slider set to balanced and the show brightness set to 200 nits, and I timed how lengthy it took for the battery to expire. At finest, I acquired eight hours and 20 minutes, and at worst, I acquired 5 hours and 36 minutes. Over eight cycles, the common battery life was six hours and 59 minutes, which is nice for a productiveness laptop computer.

Must you purchase the HP Spectre x360 13.5 (2023)?

You can purchase the HP Spectre x360 13.5 (2023) if:

• You desire a laptop computer that stands out from the gang
• You desire a premium expertise
• Your workflow depends on coloration accuracy

It is best to NOT purchase the HP Spectre x360 13.5 (2023) if:

• You’d profit from mobile connectivity
• You care so much about getting the lightest laptop computer
• You are a gamer

HP at all times checks off the three large packing containers. The Spectre x360 14 (2023) has a design that’ll stand out, an OLED show that may be adjusted for various workflows, and an amazing keyboard. On high of that, the corporate at all times delivers nice battery life.

Clearly, you will want one thing somewhat beefier when you’re into gaming since you will need devoted graphics and a extra highly effective CPU. And, in fact, if you’d like one thing lighter, there’s at all times the HP Dragonfly to contemplate. However general, if you’d like the perfect, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2023) is likely one of the high two.

HP Spectre x360 (2023)

Our favourite convertible

The 2023 HP Spectre x360 13.5 packs Thirteenth-generation Intel Core processors in a smooth and trendy design, and it comes with upgraded Intel processors and non-obligatory Intel Arc graphics for workloads that require extra GPU energy.