HP Spectre 13 x360 breaks cover online, mates flexible hinge with 5th-gen Intel processors

By Adrian Diaconescu Published January 26, 2015

This was probably not supposed to happen, at least not so soon after HP’s multiple CES product announcements, that timid EliteBook Revolve refresh, and last week’s business-oriented introductions.

But someone in the PC manufacturer’s camp messed up, and the unreleased Spectre 13 x360 was prematurely detailed on the interwebs. There’s even a promotional video up on YouTube, and so the convertible laptop holds very few secrets.

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Smaller and yet superior in every other conceivable way to the 15.6-inch Envy x360, this bad boy couldn’t miss the opportunity to latch onto the increasingly popular Broadwell bandwagon. Unlike most machines powered by fifth-generation Intel CPUs though, the Spectre x360 looks to offer only Core i5 and i7 configurations.

No Core i3 means no chance for a “reasonable” price point, and no reason for HP to hold back the screen resolution, RAM or storage. Ergo, you should expect the 360-degree-bending beast to take on the best of the best in multipurpose laptops and ultrabooks.

It’s perhaps not an ideal gaming system, since it features integrated Intel HD5500 graphics, but otherwise, it’s the cream of the crop, with an impressive 2,560 x 1,440 pixel count, eight gigs of RAM, and up to a colossal 512GB in solid state storage.

A backlit keyboard is included and the 56 watt-hour battery is said to be good for up to 10 hours of continuous life. And then you have everything you might need on the connectivity side, including three USB 3.0 ports, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, a miniDP connector, and an SD card slot.

As the name suggests, and the clip embedded above highlights, the Spectre x360 is “ultimately flexible”, with a touchscreen that “bends over backwards” to please. Ergo, while the keyboard isn’t detachable, the 13.3-incher can be easily used as a not-very-bulky Windows 8.1 tablet measuring 0.6 inches in depth, and tipping the scales at 3.2 pounds.

Retail costs remain the biggest question mark at the moment, though it feels safe to assume you won’t be able to come near the Core i5-packing HP Spectre 13 x360 with a penny under $1,000. And that’s being optimistic.

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Laptops

Adrian Diaconescu

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Adrian is a mobile aficionado since the days of the Nokia 3310, and a PC enthusiast since Windows 98. Later, he discovered…

Computing

HP just knocked $500 off its best 2-in-1 laptop — because why not?

HP Spectre x360 13.5 front angled view showing display and keyboard deck.

HP often has some of the best laptop deals around with one of the highlights being $500 off the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 laptop. Usually priced at $1,400, it’s down to $900 for a limited time only meaning it’s a tempting proposition for anyone looking for a great device to cover all their productivity needs. If you can’t decide between a tablet or laptop, it’s a great middle ground and we’re here to tell you why. Alternatively, you can always just hit the button below to see the deal for yourself. It’s your call, but let’s take a look at what it offers.

Why you should buy the HP Spectre x360

Computing

Save $300 on the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 laptop right now

HP Spectre x360 13.5 front angled view showing display and keyboard deck.

There are a lot of excellent 2-in-1 laptops out there, and they're perfect for those who want something that is a hybrid between a tablet and a laptop so that they can use their device on a table or in handheld mode. One of the better options to go for, and that is regularly suggested, is the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1, which is packed with features. It also has a great deal on it from HP right now, knocking it down to $1,400 from $1,700, which is a solid $300 discount that you can either save or put into some upgrades before checking out.

Why you should buy the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1
The base spec of the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 is pretty great, with an Intel Core i7-13700H, which is a mid-to-high-end CPU that will knock most productivity and day-to-day tasks out of the park, so whether you want this for work or general browsing, it's perfect. The same goes for the impressive 16GB of RAM, which isn't very common at this price point, so we're certainly happy to see that, especially since it will give you a smoother day-to-day experience. The RAM can also easily handle Windows 11, and while you only get the Home version at base spec, you can also get the Pro version for an extra $70, which isn't worth it unless you know you need the features it offers.

Computing

HP’s new Envy x360 14 looks like a killer value for what you get

HP Envy x360 15.6 media mode showing display and pen.

HP's Envy line is an interesting mix of midrange pricing and premium design. It sits between the budget-oriented Pavilion and the ultra-premium Spectre, offering some of the best attributes of both. This year's upgrades introduced to the Envy x360 convertible 2-in-1 lineup include a very affordable Envy x360 14 and an Envy x360 15.6 that offers the first IMAX-certified multimedia experience.

Starting at just $850, the Envy x360 14 might be the most interesting of the three new machines, which also include the Envy x360 17.3. Its combination of design, components, and likely build quality make it a compelling budget option. And media consumers will appreciate the upgraded experience offered by the Envy x360 15.6.
Envy x360 14