HP Spectre x360 13 levels up with Intel 11th Gen chips, future 5G model

HP's Spectre x360 13 is leveling up with new Intel chips and, eventually, 5G.

What you need to know

• HP announced a refreshed Spectre x360 13 today.
• The updated premium consumer laptop adopts Intel's 11th Gen processors and will get a 5G option in 2021.
• The new Spectre x360 13 is expected to go on sale later in October starting at $1,200.

HP took the wraps off of its fall 2020 premium lineup today, and topping its updates is a new version of the Spectre x360 13. One of HP's consumer flagships, the Spectre x360 13 has gained some extra power thanks to the latest Intel 11th Gen processors and Iris Xe integrated graphics. In 2021, it will get an additional connectivity boost with a 5G model.

The HP Spectre line has been riding a pretty steady all-metal design with a stylish two-tone finish and prominent corners for a while now, and the new Spectre x360 13 carries that forward. The biggest addition is that of the 11th Gen Intel Core processors, which HP claims provide a performance increase of around 35 percent over the previous models with 10th Gen Intel processors. Intel's new Iris Xe graphics also mean you're getting a substantial boost to graphics power, despite the fact that they're still integrated graphics instead of a discrete chip.

Category	HP Spectre x360 13 (2020)
Operating System	Windows 10 Home
Display	13.3 inches Up to 4K OLED 500 nits 100% DCI-P3 Touch
Processor	Intel 11th Gen CPUs Up to i7-1165G7 Intel Evo platform
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Memory	Up to 16GB LPDDR4x-3733
Storage	Up to 2 Intel PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD 32GB Intel Optane memory
Camera	HP True Vision 720p HD IR camera
Security	Fingerprint reader Webcam kill switch
Connectivity	Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 Bluetooth 5 5G option (coming in 2021)
Ports	2x Thunderbolt 4 w/ USB4 Type-C 1x SuperSpeed USB Type-A 1x headphone/microphone combo
Audio	Audio by Bang & Olufsen w/ dual speakers
Battery	Up to 10 hours (mixed usage) Up to 12 hours (video playback) Up to 10 hours (wireless streaming)
Dimensions	12.08 in x 7.66 in x 0.67 in
Weight	2.80 lb
Colors	Nightfall black Natural silver Poseidon blue

Perhaps the more exciting addition is a 5G model. While you won't be able to get your hands on the 5G version at launch, HP says that it expects to offer it starting in early 2021. Once it arrives, you'll be able to stay connected to the internet with 5G and LTE speeds while on the go.

Note that the 5G connectivity is of the sub-6 variety. While mmWave can provide much greater speeds, it isn't as widespread as sub-6 5G at the moment. In other words, the Spectre x360 13 is set up to connect to the 5G networks you're most likely to encounter as of right now.

Beyond the move to Intel's 11th Gen chips, you're getting a pretty standard generation-on-generation upgrade here. You can expect Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, along with a fingerprint reader, IR camera, and HP's integrated kill switch for the webcam.

The HP Spectre x360 13 is expected to go on sale from HP's website starting this month at a starting price of $1,200. It's also expected to go on sale at Best Buy in the U.S. starting in November. There's no pricing available for the forthcoming 5G model yet.

Portable Power

HP Spectre x360 13

From $1,200 at HP

5G, anyone?

The HP Spectre x360 13 is an impressive upgrade over last year's model, adding much more graphical and processing power while keeping the tried and true premium design. A 5G model will give buyers even more ways to stay connected in 2021.