HP Spectre x2 Review

Our review of HP’s Spectre x2 12.3-inch 2-in-1 tablet begins with a simple question: Can HP continue its tradition of being an elegant, yet durable alternative to Microsoft’s Surface Pro flagship?

The answer is Yes. HP took the best bits from its Elite x2 tablet and the first-generation Spectre x2 tablet (2015), then updated the new Spectre x2 with the latest Kaby Lake chips. The Spectre x2 gives you more features for the money than the Surface Pro: Our $1,300 review unit included both the keyboard and the stylus right in the box (hear that, Microsoft?). It’s a shame this solid value is let down by middling battery life and a pesky fan.

Specs: Kaby Lake and an outstanding display

HP will offer one $1,300 retail version of the Spectre x2 (the one we tested):

Model name: Spectre x2 12-c012dx
CPU: Core i7-7560U
RAM: 8GB LPDDR-1600
SSD: 360GB PCIe NVMe

Four more SKUs will be available via HP.com:

An entry-level Core i5 version for $1,150:

Model name: Spectre x2 12t
CPU: Core i5-7260U
RAM: 8GB LPDDR-1600
SSD: 128GB PCIe NVMe

An entry-level Core i7 version for $1,230:

Model name: Spectre x2 12-c052nr
CPU: Core i7-7560U
RAM: 8GB LPDDR-1600
SSD: 256GB PCIe NVMe

Two higher-end Core i7 versions have these starting configurations and can be upgraded. This one starts at $1,670:

CPU: Core i7-7560U
RAM: 16GB LPDDR-1600
SSD: 512GB PCIe NVMe

The highest-end one starts at $1,970:

CPU: Core i7-7560U
RAM: 16GB LPDDR-1600
SSD: 1TB PCIe NVMe

all the versions use Intel’s Iris Plus 640 included graphics and a 12.three-inch touch show with 3,000x2,000-pixel decision behind Corning’s Gorilla Glass 4. This show is a large enhance over the first-technology Spectre x2’s 1920x1280 display or even the brand new surface pro’s 2736x1824 show. according to our mild meter, it pumps out as much as 411 nits, a surprising amount of mild for a pill. You’d need to pass back to the floor e book or the MacBook seasoned to surpass it.

A plus and a minus of the new Spectre x2 is the two.4GHz core i7-7560U in most of the SKUs. The prior-era Spectre x2 used core m chips, so core i7 pushes it into the better cease of home windows pills (extra on that later). but i used to be amazed to discover that the Spectre x2’s fan kicks in often, even whilst putting in an app or shifting some gigabytes of documents. It’s now not loud however honestly substantial, with a steady hiss.

The Spectre x2 (2017) weighs 2.48 kilos, the various lighter drugs we’ve seen. Folded up, the tablet measures 11.57 x 8.15 x zero.fifty two inches. although you possibly gained’t be making hand-to-hand comparisons like I did, I gripped the older Elite x2, then the brand new Spectre x2. HP’s contemporary pill feels notably lighter, even though the thickness remains approximately the equal. I also preferred how the underside of the keyboard uses a completely grippable, ridged coating of rubbery material to protect it and make it less complicated to preserve.

alongside the edges of the pill are a couple of USB-C ports, both of which may be used for charging as well as I/O (USB three.1 Gen.1, at 5Gbps) in addition to to force a DisplayPort screen. Even better, HP includes a USB-C to USB-A dongle inside the field. I’m still not entirely satisfied that the time is now for USB-C, but HP has well bridged that gap, and without any additional price to the person. Bravo. You’ll additionally discover a microSD card slot alongside the left side of the pill.

The 2 cameras consist of a 13MP rear one for folks who want to take pics and movies with their capsules. A 5MP huge-view the front-facing camera does a first-rate job for Skype, and there’s an IR digital camera to complement the optical digital camera for home windows hi there. (With hi there, I discover that I want to improve the popularity from time to time by re-scanning my face; the same goes for the Spectre x2.)

even as closing year’s Spectre x2 buried the audio system inside the keyboard, HP has again to the extra traditional the front-firing audio system, once more tuned through Bang & Olufsen. They provide a extreme punch, and turning off the B&O consequences leaves song sounding tinny. although, adjusting the bass slider appears to do clearly nothing. I still pick the Dolby Audio results and audio system on the floor ebook, which generates an universal richer soundscape.

Kickstand, pen loop anchor the productivity

A 2-in-1’s kickstand, keyboard, and stylus bridge the space among pill and conventional clamshell. The Spectre x2’s components are net positives.

one of the most powerful factors about HP’s earlier-technology capsules was, well, its strongest factor: the strong metal kickstand, which returns this yr with a luxurious copper finish to accessory the ash-black shade of the chassis. HP asked us to evaluate the enjoy of inking at the surface seasoned to the Spectre x2’s. As HP promised, in case you’re inking with the capsules completely reclined, the surface seasoned bounces a bit, while the Spectre x2 gives a higher, extra stable enjoy.

but, it’s additionally really worth declaring that the Spectre x2 doesn’t recline as some distance because the surface pro—just a hundred and fifty degrees compared to the floor pro’s 165 ranges. HP also ditched the slider switch that freed the kickstand from its moorings, reputedly because of user remarks. however, looking to turn the kickstand open with a fingernail requires a chunk of fumbling around.

The Spectre x2’s keyboard is good. while Microsoft prefers to wrap its surface keyboards in Alcantara fabric, HP has traditionally used an aluminum layer above a plastic basis. The aluminum is not structural, as you’ll still see the slight bowing that characterizes different 2-in-1 keyboards. but the Spectre x2’s version also boasts a full 1.5mm of key travel, offering a cozy, responsive typing enjoy. The elongated touchpad additionally works well.

Oh, and the vulnerable keyboard hinge we complained about with the HP Elite x2? Solved: HP’s Spectre x2 is rock-solid on your lap, even though HP claims it’s quality perched on a table or desk as an alternative. Oh well.

As cited above, HP’s Spectre x2 bundles a powered HP stylus and (reward be!) a floor pro three-styled pen loop that comes pre-attached to the proper-hand facet of the keyboard. HP’s Elite x2 employs a thin cord that ties the pen to the tablet; this is a superior answer.

This time around, HP ditched the Wacom stylus, preferring an nTrig pen with simply 1,048 stress tiers. From a consumer viewpoint, this became a smart choice: I absolutely doubt that most clients can inform the distinction between styluses with different degrees of sensitivity. HP’s pen is powered by using a AAAA battery with approximately a year’s lifespan. It lacks the virtual eraser determined on the surface Pen, although one of the buttons can be configured to erase digital ink.

Extra software

HP’s Spectre x2 includes numerous additional apps past the regular home windows selection, which include HP-authored software. We’re usually on bloatware alert, but those apps are pretty beneficial. some step in and replace windows functions with HP’s own UI, consisting of the HP Pen manipulate for configuring the buttons on the covered stylus. HP JumpStart offers suggestions, hints, and a tour of the pill. The organisation also discloses that it collects anonymous data on how you use JumpStart to enhance the app. a couple of apps, inclusive of HP Audio switch, offer finer-grained audio controls.

one of the extra tremendous apps, HP Orbit, allows a wi-fi connection among an Android telephone or iPhone so that you can percentage notes, hyperlinks, or pix. although i was able to set up a connection throughout my domestic network, after leaving the room for a cup of coffee i used to be unable to re-pair each platforms. (They re-paired a little even as later, as I began fiddling with other apps on my smartphone.) Orbit additionally has far off-wipe skills. if you enable it, all of the content you shared can be erased.

at the lighter aspect, HP also preinstalled video games—the ubiquitous sweet weigh down Soda Saga, Royal rebel 2, Sling. other apps consist of Twitter, Netflix, and the Keeper password supervisor, plus an ordeal of McAfee LiveSafe. ultimately, the Spectre x2 bundles Microsoft office laptop apps, that you’ll want to permit with the one-month office 365 trial or your personal subscription.

Conclusion: Good value despite a few flaws

HP’s windows capsules remain among the very fine in terms of production, with careful interest paid to what users were asking for. With a pen, keyboard, and dongle all inside the container, what you spot is truly what you get.

It’s exciting that HP seemingly believed that its preference of core m chips on the previous Elite and Spectre strains become a negative. In big part, the agency is bowing to consumers who think they need the energy of a center i5 or core i7 chip—in element because you can by no means have too much performance, proper?

In this example, though, I suppose HP bit off slightly greater than it can chew. if you’re a standard consumer, you’ll probably be glad with the every day overall performance of the Spectre x2. but its fan flips on greater regularly than I’d like, and either an improved cooling answer, a decrease-resolution show, or honestly a decrease-power chip ought to have solved that problem and extended the pill’s battery life. In HP’s thoughts, the Spectre emblem exudes a sense of beauty and strength that set the tone for its layout. That’s a noble goal, and the Spectre x2 nearly receives there.