Friday, October 02, 2020
Finally! HP has made a 3:2 convertible laptop with nearly everything in it all for $1,200.
What you need to know
- The Spectre x360 14 is a brand-new convertible laptop with a 3:2 display.
- It features the latest Intel 11th Gen Core processor and Evo platform.
- It's not replacing the Spectre x360 13 or 15 models.
- It launches in October for $1,200 with a Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and an included pen.
HP has been making steady improvements with every generation of its premier Spectre series of laptops. Today, it is adding a brand-new model to that growing line. The Spectre x360 14 sits between the refreshed HP Spectre x360 13 and 15-inch models but has some unique features going for it, namely a new, taller 3:2 "3K2K" display.
The overall design of the Spectre x360 14 is similar to the 13-inch model, but it features a taller 13.5-inch display (yeah, it's not really 14-inches) that more closely matches that of the Surface Laptop.
With a resolution of 3000 x 2000, the OLED, touch, and pen-enabled micro-edge with anti-reflection Corning Gorilla Glass the screen is the real star of the show. It has a welcomed 90.33 percent screen-to-body-ratio and 100 percent DCI-P3 color calibration with a Delta E of less than two. HP claims the taller resolution lets you see 20 percent more information than traditional 16:9.
| Category | HP Spectre x360 14 |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 Home |
| Display | 13.5 in, 3:2 aspect ratio 3000 x 2000 OLED, multi-touch Anti-reflection Corning Gorilla Glass NBT 400 nits, 100% DCI-P3; 1,000,000:1 |
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 (quad-core) |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR4-3200 |
| Storage | 1TB SSD and 32GB Intel Optane |
| Pen | HP Rechargeable MPP2.0 Tilt Pen in nightfall black (included) |
| Expandable storage | MicroSD reader |
| Front camera | HP TrueVision 720P HD IR camera |
| Security | Windows Hello IR, fingerprint |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 |
| Ports | Two Type-C with Thunderbolt 4 One USB 3.1 Type-A MicroSD reader |
| Audio | Bang & Olufsen with quad speakers |
| Battery | 66WHr 65W Type-C AC adapter |
| Dimensions | 11.75 in (W) x 8.67 in (D) x 0.67 in (H) |
| Weight | 3.00lbs 1.36kg |
| Colors | Dark Ash, Poseidon Blue, or Silver |
I have been arguing for 3:2 and 16:10 aspects for over two years because it is not just the better display. As a result of the screen being taller, the keyboard deck also gets taller giving more space to rest your wrists and letting HP put in a larger, Precision TouchPad – which they did. The new trackpad is now 16.6 percent larger than the Spectre x360 13, making it more enjoyable to use.
Another benefit of that more massive keyboard deck is HP has added back two more top-firing speakers. On the recent refreshed Spectre x360 13, HP did not have space due to the display micro-bezels, so it went with bottom/side-firing ones instead. While the audio was still impressive, this new Spectre x360 14 HP can once again feature quad-firing speakers.
Onboard is Intel's latest 11th Gen Core processor – the quad-core i7-1165G7 – with a 34 percent boost in performance over 10th Gen. Indeed, this laptop was co-engineered with Intel earning it the Evo platform designation for performance, battery life, instant-on, and "intelligence." While AI and laptops getting smarter have a ring of consumer gimmickry, Intel's latest chips promise some impressive and proactive tech, including:
- Intelligentially manage power management to optimize productivity with smarter features in-bag detection using Intel Dynamic Tuning to avoid overheating or battery drain when the device is in a bag, and quick hot key access on the all-in-one keyboard for HP Command Center to easily select features like Power Saver mode. And help protect the health of the battery with the Adaptive Battery Optimizer.
- Focus Mode for multitasking and productivity, dimming the background apps not in use while keep the app currently being used bright. This also helps battery life by dimming other parts of the screen that are not in use, which is also great for privacy.
- AI Noise Removal with Intel GNA 2.0 for intelligent adaptive noise cancellation, to mute any background noise automatically across communication apps Microsoft Teams and Zoom and audio outputs and inputs like speakers, headphones, and the mic.
- Smart Sense in HP Command Center, which optimizes and adapts the system for performance, acoustics, and temperature automatically, based on the application being used and the placement of the laptop.
- Auto Color, the newest setting in HP Display Control, will automatically switch to the optimal color space for the best viewing experience based on the content being viewed. This means the device will switch from the DCI-P3 color space when watching a movie, to sRGB for surfing the Internet, to Adobe RGB when printing and imaging.
Assuming those features work as intended those are not stunts by any means, and it shows why Intel-based laptops still have something to offer over AMD.
For graphics, HP is using Intel's latest Iris Xe Graphics. HP claims that chips get a nearly 80 percent performance boost over last year's Intel UHD.
HP Spectre x360 14 with Sure View screen technology to hide your data from onlookers.
Battery life is rated at an impressive 17 hours with fast charge support for the 66WHr battery (more like 10 hours for real-world usage). There's also Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, HP MPP 2.0 Tilt Pen support (which attaches magnetically to the chassis and is included in the box, nice).
Unfortunately, there is no 4G LTE or 5G options, but perhaps HP can add that in on a refresh.
HP's web camera is visibly blocked with a click of a key.
Security is also a big deal, and HP is continuing its push for consumer needs. Like other recent HP laptops, the Spectre x360 14 has a dedicated keyboard button to hide the 720P web camera with built-in facial recognition for Windows Hello. There's now a hashed-out lens to let you know the camera is blocked. There's also a fingerprint reader built-in to the keyboard deck and a keyboard button to mute the microphone. There is also the option for HP's Sure View privacy tech to prevent onlookers from viewing your data.
All of that comes in a 3.0-pound laptop in three colorways, including Nightfall Black with Copper Luxe accents, Poseidon Blue with Pale Brass accents, and Natural Silver for old school fans.
Look for the all-new Spectre x360 14 sometime in October with a starting price of $1,200 from HP.com. For those who want to see one in person or prefer their local Best Buy, the chain will be carrying the Spectre x360 14 sometime in November.
3:2 glory
HP Spectre x360 14
Nearly perfect
The HP Spectre x360 14 is a brand-new addition to the Spectre line of laptops. With a 3:2 "3K2K" OLED display, quad speakers, larger trackpad, larger battery, included pen, and Intel's latest 11th Gen tech, this $1,200 convertible laptop may be the best value this October.
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