HP Specter x360 14 (2024) evaluation: Lastly, a Home windows laptop computer with nice battery life

The most recent HP Specter x360 14 has melted my chilly, icy traitor coronary heart. On the finish! We've bought a Home windows laptop computer that gained't preserve you plugged into an outlet all day.

It's no secret that I've lately turned my again on Home windows laptops. As a former Home windows stan, I've been open about my transition to the MacBook world (I'm annoyed with PC battery life).

i don't essentially want Home windows laptops to match the runtime of the most recent MacBooks, which may prolong as much as 19 hours. However on the very least, they need to last as long as 10 hours on a single cost – and I wasn't seeing that in my testing for fairly a while.

However right here comes the Specter x360 14, On the finish Breaking Home windows' poor battery life pattern with a suitable runtime that makes it probably the greatest – if not the The very best Home windows laptops you should buy (for now).

hp specter x360 14 worth

The Specter x360 14 I examined is priced at $1,888.99 by way of HP's official web site (beginning worth: $1099.99) and has the next options:

• Intel Core Extremely 7 155H CPU

• Intel Arc Graphics

• 32GB RAM

• 2TB SSD

• 14-inch, 2,880 x 1800-pixel, 120Hz show

most cost-effective The configuration you get is $1,099, which downgrades you to an Intel Core Extremely 5 125H CPU (with Intel Arc graphics), 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. You continue to get the identical 14-inch, 2,888 x 1800-pixel, 120Hz show.

What I like in regards to the HP Specter x360 14

The Specter x360 14's lasting battery life (for a Home windows laptop computer) gained my coronary heart, however after all, there's extra to a pocket book than simply its energy effectivity.

an addictive keyboard

There are only a few keyboards that take my breath away. Even my present every day driver, the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air, doesn't prime my “laptops with greatest keyboards” record.

Nonetheless, once I first examined the Specter x360 14, I couldn't cease typing on it. It was very participating, in one of the best of how, taking me from one key to the subsequent with rhythmic ease. When you didn't know higher, you’d suppose I used to be a pianist.

I additionally seen that, in comparison with the earlier era laptop computer (2022 HP Specter x360 13.5), the keys really feel bigger. Because it seems, HP elevated the scale of the keycaps (by 12 % to be particular).

The Microsoft Floor Laptop computer Go 3, regardless of its quirks, as soon as held the throne as offering one of the best typing expertise ever, however now the Specter x360 14 has snatched that crown.

As a cherry on prime, the brand new Specter x360 14 has a bigger touchpad; In comparison with the earlier era mannequin, it’s 19 % bigger. Testing it out for myself, I discovered it to have the fitting steadiness of smoothness and resistance — and it responded nicely to Home windows 11 gestures like pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scrolling.

You possibly can modify brightness and quantity instantly from the touchpad, by dragging down the left and proper sides of the trackpad respectively. Nonetheless, this characteristic just isn’t on by default. To show it on it is advisable navigate to the myHP app.

an interesting efficiency

In comparison with its predecessor, with the brand new HP Specter x360, you’re getting a bigger 14-inch show with a 16:10 side ratio. This can be a step up from the earlier era's 13.5-inch, 3:2 panel.

What does this imply for you? Extra vertical and horizontal display screen actual property in your viewing pleasure.

I noticed monkey man The YouTube trailer performed on the Specter x360's 14K 2,880 x 1800-pixel panel – and the wealthy, colourful visuals coming off the display screen had been gorgeous. From vivid explosions to shiny orange and crimson colours to textures like fur and mustaches that really feel fairly tangible to the touch, streaming your favourite motion pictures and reveals on this HP pocket book is leisure heaven.

an excellent webcam

I like that the laptop computer trade is leaving the struggling period of 720p and 1080p webcams behind. Say hiya to the HP Specter x360 14's 9-megapixel webcam.

It’s glorious at reproducing colours; It represented my complexion precisely. Plus, for higher or worse, it picked up some facial blemishes that wouldn't be seen on different webcams with worse decision.

I additionally seen that the webcam had a large viewing angle, giving me a variety of the view behind me whereas I used to be sitting in a big convention room.

crisp sound

The predecessor to the Specter x360 14 has bottom-firing audio system. Odour! tomato, tomato,

Nonetheless, HP modified issues with its new refreshed pocket book. it’s High-The audio system are actually on, which implies music will not be muffled from the underside of the laptop computer. woo hoo!

I performed Dua Lipa's “Don't Begin Now” on Spotify. If sound had been audible, the singer's voice on the Specter x360 14 would definitely be a beautiful instance of the Apple Pie. The funky pop music gave the impression of candy honey to my ears.

versatile as a deformer

Because the identify suggests, the HP Specter x360 14 can flip into a number of totally different postures, together with pill mode and my favourite, tent mode.

I've at all times discovered pill mode a bit awkward for a 2-in-1 PC, particularly because the keys are annoyingly positioned the place one's fingers would naturally relaxation. Nonetheless, I discovered myself having fun with tent mode whereas watching a few of my favourite Netflix reveals love is blind — I like having the keyboard out of sight for distraction-free viewing.

nice battery life

As talked about originally, the HP Specter x360 14 gives one of the best runtime we've seen in a Home windows laptop computer to this point this 12 months, with greater than 11 hours on a single cost.

This is probably not spectacular within the MacBook world 15 inch m2 macbook airfor instance, can run for over 19 hours), however inside the scope of Home windows, a runtime that goes past the 10-hour mark is considerable.

What's “eh” in regards to the HP Specter x360 14?

You gained't discover any main modifications to the design with the HP Specter x360 14, which, on the one hand, makes this laptop computer really feel like a little bit of a snoozefest refresh. However however, as they are saying, why repair one thing that's not damaged?

There are minor modifications to the design, er, fascinating

The HP Specter line is arguably one of the enticing laptop computer designs in the marketplace. Its beveled-edge chassis makes it so fashionable, smooth and enticing.

Happily, in comparison with its predecessor (the 2022 HP Specter x360 13.5), the brand new HP Specter x360 14 retains this fashionable, enticing model, however I little extra Disenchanted that it has eliminated the enticing gold attraction that when wrapped across the chassis.

HP mentioned it left it behind for a extra minimalist look, however I've at all times been keen on black and gold themed laptops. It's additionally price noting that HP eliminated its devoted fingerprint reader, as an alternative integrating it inside the energy button. I've at all times most popular an unbiased fingerprint sensor, however after all, it's not a dealbreaker.

The great factor is that HP has engineered the hinges to be fairly robust. I examined the lid by wobbling it totally, and as HP claims, the display screen is strong.

What I don't like in regards to the Specter x360 14

When you're on the lookout for an ultralight, featherweight laptop computer, it’s possible you’ll need to think about one thing else.

Hold your expectations about weight in verify

Don’t get me incorrect. The Specter x360 14 isn't heavy. Nonetheless, it’s undoubtedly not gentle. Admittedly, HP just isn’t making an attempt to promote it this fashion.

The Specter Let's exit for. When you're on the lookout for a light-weight, ultra-thin laptop computer that hardly strikes the needle by way of weight for frequent journey, the Specter x360 14 is probably not for you.

oddly positioned ports

Optimistically, the Specter x360 has a good number of fashionable and legacy ports together with a drop-jaw USB-A port, a headset jack, and two USB-C ports (Thunderbolt 4). Nonetheless, I might have favored if HP, as an alternative of clustering two USB-C ports in a single nook, had positioned one USB-C port on all sides of the chassis.

My “charging station” is positioned on my left facet, so with the USB-C port positioned on the fitting facet, the charging cable extends awkwardly throughout the chassis to succeed in the other facet.

HP Specter x360 14 battery life

we drove PCMark 10 battery life take a look at By setting the brightness to most on the HP pocket book.

it lasted 11 hours 27 minutes As soon as charged. It's one of the best we've seen (amongst Home windows laptops) to this point this 12 months.

hp specter x360 14 geekbench 6 rating

Curious in regards to the efficiency of the Specter x360 14?

The configuration I examined featured an Intel Core Extremely 7 155H CPU, which supplied a multi-core rating of 12,955 By way of Geekbench 6. That is one of the best rating seen to this point this 12 months. In different phrases, that is essentially the most highly effective Home windows laptop computer we've examined in 2024.

closing ideas

I've been disenchanted with Home windows laptops lately. They’re performing excellently in many various areas (for instance, webcam high quality and AI efficiency), however for some motive, they may not carry out nicely within the power-efficiency space.

The HP Specter x360 14 lastly appears to cowl all of the bases wanted for a passable Home windows expertise, together with good battery life, clean efficiency, crisp sound, and extra.

When you're on the lookout for a Home windows laptop computer, the HP Specter x360 14 is one of the best you will get.