HP’s Command Center is different, at least in the 13- and 14-inch models (the utility doesn’t help much with the 15-inch Spectre). And quite often, you can’t tell the difference in fan noise or heat. In some cases, those utilities don’t do much - run a benchmark in the quiet/cool mode and then run it in performance mode, and you’ll see at most a negligible improvement in speed. Most manufacturers have developed utilities that let users adjust the CPU clock and fan speed to dial in performance versus heat and fan noise. Softwareīefore I delve into the Spectre x360 14’s performance, let’s talk a little about software.
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Wireless connectivity is modern, with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5. Although some people might prefer having all the buttons readily available on the keyboard, that’s a regression in my book. Now, you must open the lid to turn the laptop on. One difference from the 13-inch model is that the power button is no longer in the other notch - this time, it’s on the keyboard, which is a bummer for anyone who uses their laptop closed with an external display. On the other side is the single USB-A 3.1 port. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack and miniSD card reader on this side of the chassis. Mark Coppock/Digital TrendsĪs with the Tiger Lake version of the Spectre x360 13, the 14-inch version has two USB Thunderbolt 4 ports on the right-hand side, one on the edge and one embedded in the notch underneath the display. I find this model to be a solid compromise between the diminutive 13-inch laptops and the hefty Spectre x360 15. Both the Spectre x360 13 and the XPS 13 felt small at times, particularly when it comes to the wrist rest and touchpad - both of which are quite a bit larger on the Spectre x360 14. The 14-inch is equal to the 13-inch at 0.67 inches thick, both of which exceed the XPS 13’s 0.58 inches, and the Spectre x360 14 is also the heaviest at 2.95 pounds versus the 13-inch and XPS 13, both of which weigh 2.8 pounds.Īs I’ve used the Spectre x360 14, I’ve come to appreciate its extra size. It’s the larger chin compared to the XPS 13 that makes the Spectre x360 14 seem so much taller when opened (beyond the sheer height of the 3:2 aspect ratio). Compared to the tiny-bezeled XPS 13 at 11.64 inches wide and 7.82 inches deep, the Spectre x360 14 is again deeper, even though it has its own small bezels. The display does alter the Spectre x360 14’s dimensions, making it quite a bit deeper (8.67 inches) than the 13-inch model (7.66 inches) but not quite as wide (11.75 inches versus 12.08 inches). The 3:2 aspect ratio display makes tablet mode much more comfortable, with the panel more closely matching an 8.5- x 11-inch piece of paper - credit Microsoft here, given that its Surface line has enjoyed the same aspect ratio for several generations. The Spectre’s hinge is almost light enough to open with one hand, and it does a commendable job of holding the display firmly in whichever of its four modes - clamshell, tent, media, or tablet - you choose. The XPS 13 does score some points for its dual-zone hinge that can be opened easily with one hand and then holds firmly in place, but the Spectre x360 14 isn’t far behind. There are only a few other laptops in the class that can equal these three.
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The Spectre x360 14 matches the XPS 13 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 in this regard, which is high praise. It’s also very well-built, with zero flexing, bending, or twisting anywhere in the lid, chassis, or keyboard deck. Which is better comes down to taste, of course, but I prefer the suave Spectre x360 14.
The Dell XPS 13 is a good-looking laptop as well, but it’s a simpler aesthetic that doesn’t seek to attract attention. The Spectre x360 14 is a beautiful laptop without being over the top, whether in the Nightfall Black color with copper accents that I received or the Poseidon Blue or Natural Silver alternatives. HP didn’t mess with the Spectre’s overall design theme - and why would it? The gem-cut aesthetic remains the boldest design you’ll find outside of gaming laptops, although the Spectre is more elegant than ostentatious. I’ve now spent some quality time with the Spectre x360 14, and you know what? HP just may have perfected the 2-in-1 convertible. It also has a 3,000 x 2,000 resolution OLED display and is priced at $1,700 at Best Buy. The company sent me a review unit with an 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake Core i7-1165G7, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB solid-state drive (SSD). The Spectre x360 14 leverages a larger 13.5-inch, 3:2 aspect ratio display, two trends that promise improved productivity. Expectations around performance, portability, and size are constantly in flux, and HP’s latest Spectre 2-in-1 attempts to push its design into the future. With its OLED screen and gorgeous design, it was everything I wanted in a convertible 2-in-1 laptop.īut with the competition fierce, HP couldn’t rest on its laurels.
The HP Spectre x360 13 has been one of the top laptops for a while.