HP Spectre x360 15T (2019)
Is the HP Spectre x360 15T (2019) an Apple killer? It isn’t just HP’s attempt at a quality laptop; it’s an attempt to convert Apple users to Windows 10 and rival the MacBook Pro. It rocks impressive specs, high-quality keyboard, stunning display and a smooth, responsive trackpad in a gorgeous package with an elegant gem-cut design and a number of fantastic features.
Essentially the whole package, the HP Spectre x360 15T (2019) is doing what the previous Macbook Pros did so well – though the 16-inch MacBook Pro has raised the bar a bit – without the exorbitant price tag. And, it’s giving those who love the design of Mac products but are considering switching to Windows 10 a few compelling reasons to finally make the switch. However, the MacBook Pro 16-inch does offer hope for those wanting to stay in the Apple ecosystem.
With its awesome specs, beautiful design, and collection of useful features, it just might be. Even for those already in the windows world, this is an excellent option. There is a reason that it’s stayed on our best HP laptops of 2020 list.
The HP Spectre x360 15T (2019) might get some great discounts for both Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We recommend waiting until then to hit that buy button. Black Friday rolls around at the end of November and Cyber Monday is November 30, so you won’t have to wait for long.
Spec Sheet:
Here is the HP Spectre x360 15T configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-8750H (hexa-core, 9MB cache, up to 4.1GHz)
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (Max-Q, 4GB GDDR5); Intel UHD Graphics 630
RAM: 16GB DDR4 SDRAM
Screen: 15.6-inch 4K IPS, anti-glare micro-edge, WLED-backlit multitouch(3840 x 2160, 60Hz refresh rate)
Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
Ports: 2 x USB-C, USB 3.1, HDMI, 3.5mm audio jack, microSD Reader
Connectivity: IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac (2x2) Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5
Camera: HD webcam (1,280 x 720)
Weight: 4.81 pounds (2.18kg)
Size: 14.22 x 9.84 x 0.76 inches (36.11 x 24.99 x 1.93cm; W x D x H)
Price and availability
The HP Spectre x360 15T’s performance is great enough to make its price tag practically a non-factor. However, if you’re in the market for a budget laptop, consider this: the souped up 15-inch configuration we tested for our review will set you back $1,849 (£1,899, AU$4,199). Though with that, you get 1TB SSD storage, 16GB of memory (RAM), an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor (CPU), a 4K display and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti graphics card.
To further put that into perspective, a 15-inch Macbook Pro touting the same processor and amount of RAM, but with a Radeon Pro 560X graphics card, Retina display with True Tone and only 256GB SSD costs an exorbitant $2,399 (about £1,840, AU$3,410). That’s a significant $550 price difference.
This souped-up configuration we reviewed is on hand in both the UK (£1,899) and Australian ($3,899) markets. However, the HP Spectre x360 15T (2019)’s entry level models do differ depending on the country.
In the UK, there are only two entry level configurations on hand, with the cheaper one – with 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD – coming in at £1,599.
In Australia, the cheapest configuration will set you back AU$3,699 and is a similarly configured model, only with an older quad-core chip, the Intel Core i7-8705G, and a Radeon RX Vega GL graphics card (GPU).
If you’re considering the base configuration for the Spectre x360 15T in the US, it’ll set you back $450 less than our review model at $1,399. This configuration will get you the same CPU and GPU, only with less storage (256GB SSD) and memory (8GB).
Design
Whoever says first impressions don’t last, obviously hasn’t gotten their hands on the HP Spectre x360 15T. This laptop’s design is as superior and smart as its performance, with a sophisticated matte “Poseidon Blue” chassis fringed with gold trimming running around its edges.
While it is a bit heavier than other premium laptops like the Macbook Pro, it doesn’t feel any less portable sitting at 0.76 inches thick, so much so that you’ll hardly even notice its weight when using it.
The chassis is made of a high-quality aluminum that feels solid and looks elegant at the same time. The only downside is it does collect fingerprints and track dust quite easily, so if you’re a bit obsessive-compulsive with how clean your laptop is, expect to be constantly wiping this chassis clean.
The inclusion of Gorilla Glass for the screen and Bang & Olufsen speakers attest to HP’s careful attention to detail, and those are just to start.
In addition, the two back corners are angled – with the right one hiding the power button and the left keeping a USB-C port – with vents positioned near the back on each side. For a 15-inch laptop with such a thin form factor, it comes with a decent amount of ports, which is a welcome detail. The two USB-C ports help keep this computer future proof while the HDMI, USB 3.1, microSD reader, and audio jack cover any other existing connections one might need, especially for creative professionals looking to move away from Apple’s minimalist Thunderbolt campaign.
One frustrating thing about the design is the placement of the air vents on either side of the laptop. If you plan on using an external mouse, fair warning: your mouse hand will get hot.
Other than that, the keyboard on the HP Spectre is a delight to use, with more bounce and travel than one would expect on a computer this thin – better than Apple’s butterfly keyboard, in our humble opinion. We do not find it fatiguing and are able to use it for long stretches, whether we’re responding to emails, writing articles or entering cheats on Sims 4. The keyboard also boasts a dedicated number pad – good for lefties – and shortcuts lining the top for media functions, keyboard backlighting and airplane mode.
While the trackpad is flush with the enclosure, offering a smooth and responsive performance, its left-of-center placement is a little strange. If you’re used to properly centered trackpads, this might affect your workflow, as you would end up repeatedly, accidentally right-clicking when you mean to left-click.
It doesn’t help that it’s fairly wide for a trackpad, which means that any time you’re left clicking, your hands will crowd on the left side. We would suggest going with an external mouse with this laptop, even if you’re not gaming. Or, at the very least, give yourself some time to get used to it.
Display, camera and sound
The stunning 4K, IPS display is one of the Spectre’s best features. The image quality is incredible, with videos and games popping from the screen, while the 60Hz refresh rate ensures smooth and accurate tracking. Color representation is gorgeous as well, even though it errs a bit on the cooler side with some blue and magenta hues. Personally, we like that, but some people might prefer warmer hues, which is why we’re mentioning it.
As we mentioned earlier in the review, this display is coated in Gorilla Glass, so it has a high-quality, sturdy look and feel, with a touchscreen that is both accurate and responsive.
The laptop is also equipped with the HP TrueVision FHD IR webcam and a dual array digital microphone, perfect tools for video conferencing. In addition, the IR camera can use facial recognition via Windows Hello to unlock the computer, which makes login easier yet more secure than ever.
The sound, while lacking a little in the low end, is well-balanced overall, thanks to the Bang & Olufsen speakers. There’s plenty of volume on tap as well. What is a bit more impressive here thought is its sound stage. It seems to be a little wider than most laptops, which is good for entertainment and gaming. When playing the game Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, for example, the voices that the protagonist Senua hears in her head seem to come out of thin air, not just the left or right of the computer.
Images Credit: TechRadar
Benchmarks:
Here’s how the HP Spectre x360 15T (2019) fared in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Sky Diver: 19196; Fire Strike: 6402; Time Spy: 2480
Cinebench CPU: 1036 points; Graphics: 104.52 fps
GeekBench: 4955 (single-core); 21358 (multi-core)
PCMark 8 (Home Test): 3314 points
PCMark 8 Battery Life: 4 hour and 14 minutes
Battery Life (techradar movie test): 6 hours and 56 minutes
Total War: Warhammer II (1080p, Ultra): 18.5 fps; (1080p; Low): 46.6 fps (4K, Ultra) 4.6 fps (4K, Low) 11.2 fps
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, Ultra): 24 fps; (1080p, Low): 47.6 fps, (4K, Ultra) 8.3 fps (4K, Low) 16 fps
The HP Spectre x360 is a pleasure to use. Though not technically a gaming laptop, with the Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti and 16GB RAM, it can run most AAA games at respectable – though not Ultra – settings. In fact, we are able to run Dirt Rally 2.0 in 1080p at the highest settings with only a slight amount of lag. Far Cry 5 and the recently-released Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice perform similarly well.
The computer does struggle keeping up when running games at high settings and 4K, however. Dirt Rally, for example, feels like driving in slow motion. The camera lags, and there’s a delay in responsiveness when trying to steer. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice also lags when moving the camera around at such high resolution and detail.
It’s the Shadow of the Tomb Raider really highlights the laptop’s limitations. Running at low settings on 1080p, the game is able to run at an acceptable, but not ideal, 48 frames per second (fps). Going above medium settings on 1080p drops the frame rates significantly with plenty of screen tear.
To be fair, this isn’t built as a gaming laptop, so these results aren’t surprising.
As a productivity machine, the HP packs more than enough punch to handle different tasks – from the most basic to the more complex, from word processing to photo editing – without issue. Likewise, Adobe Lightroom is a cinch to use. The added functionality of the included stylus opens new work flow avenues, especially for digital artists and note takers.
Battery life
Because of the HP Spectre’s versatile design, its battery performance is hardly unexpected. This laptop will outlast just about any gaming laptop available, which tend to run out of power somewhere between two to three hours.
However, because of its thin design, most people might compare it to the Ultrabooks, which have become all the rage in recent years. Those tend to have a considerably longer battery life than the HP Spectre. The 15-inch Macbook Pro, for example, makes it to almost 10 hours on our movie test, while the Spectre comes in just under 7 hours.
Software and features
There are a number of apps that are pre-loaded onto the Spectre to make life easier. While light on gaming related functions, which is again unsurprising, it does give you access to thermal profile presets in the HP Command Center. These presets let you adjust the performance when doing photo editing or using a few browser windows with several tabs open at a time.
The HP Audio Control allows some extra fine tuning of the microphone and speakers, most notably through the 10-band equalizer (EQ) as well as the “Bang and Olufsen Experience,” a three-band EQ with accompanying music, movie and voice presets. This application also offers an option for multi-streaming, an intriguing option for the multi-taskers among us.
A key feature of the Spectre is its focus on offering you more control over security. On the right side, located below the keyboard, is a fingerprint reader that can be used to log onto the HP as well as for fingerprint-enabled apps. The IR webcam allows facial recognition for extra security, and the laptop also has a physical camera kill-switch on the right-side panel.
The HP Pen is also a happy inclusion in this well-rounded laptop. Though not free, HP does offer a configuration that bundles it with the computer. It’s accurate and comfortable to use, feels substantial enough and matches the look of the laptop nicely with its aluminum casing.
This pen is perfect for those that use Windows Ink Workspace, and those who want an easier way to navigate in tablet mode. The Pen Control app offers customization of the two buttons for different functions, like right-click, erase, opening new tabs and much more so that you can utilize it the way you’re most comfortable with.
Final verdict
The HP Spectre x360 15T is an excellent laptop for anyone willing to pay the price. And, while the $1,849 price tag is hardly cheap, it’s still a fantastic value for a computer that can do so many things – not to mention, it’s more affordable than the popular laptop it’s intended to compete with.
This laptop rocks impressive internal components suitable for just about anyone, except perhaps the most hardcore gamer or the most demanding video editor, who want just a little more power for graphics hungry applications. The Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s benchmark results is proof of that.
It’s also brimming with features, from the 2-in-1 modes and the stylus that come in some of the available models to extra security measures like the webcam kill-switch.
The Spectre x360 15T does have some design flaws, such as its weirdly placed trackpad and vents, but those are minor nitpicks in an otherwise fantastic and versatile machine.
Images Credit: TechRadar
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