Looking sharp
LAPTOP-TABLET | £1,669 from HP www.snipca.com/49751
While there is a cheaper £1,499 model that comes with Intel’s new Core Ultra 5 125H processor, the HP Spectre x360 14 we’ve reviewed here costs £170 more because it comes with the faster Core Ultra 7 155H chip. This processor has been turning up in a lot of laptops recently, including our current favourite, the Acer Swift Go 14 (£1,099 from www. snipca.com/49733, reviewed in Issue 677 – see page 30), as well as the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro (£1,699 from www. snipca.com/49549, reviewed in Issue 680).
The Spectre has 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD – a very similar configuration to the Swift Go 14. However, HP has squeezed a higher level of performance out of its model, though the difference is marginal. In benchmark tests that measure raw processing power, for example, the Spectre ran just three-percent faster than the Swift. In short, we’ve been impressed with this processor every time we’ve put it to the test, so it’s definitely worth looking out for when considering your next laptop.
Outwardly, the Spectre looks very classy, with a rounded aluminium body with cut corners on its rear edge. It’s a supremely comfortable laptop to hold and use, and it feels like a premium product throughout.
We loved the keyboard – the layout is spacious, the keys are large, the backlighting works well, and the typing action is tactile, responsive and comfortable. The touchpad is also top-notch. It’s large with a smooth surface, and uses haptics rather than physical buttons. That means it vibrates to simulate a button press when you put pressure on it, but it feels much more reactive than actual buttons.
Ports are very limited, though, because HP has prioritised a razor-thin design over connectivity. You get two USB-C ports (both are Thunderbolt 4 compatible) for all your data, video and docking requirements, and a single USB 3.0 port. Slightly annoyingly, the latter is hidden behind a drop-jaw port protector, which helps keep the edges slim, but is a an inconvenience when you want to plug something in.
One key difference between the Spectre and the Swift Go is that the HP’s screen can be flipped right back on itself, so it can be used as a tablet. HP also produces a stylus for it, should you want to draw or write on the screen, but it’s an optional accessory and costs a hefty £60 from HP (www.snipca.com/49751). Another small gripe
