HP Spectre x360 review: Power-packed performance justifies premium pricing

HP’s Spectre series has always been known for its design, utility, performance and convenience. The new x360 model, which comes with the 8th generation Intel Core processor, is the latest addition. 

Design (4/5) 

The Spectre x360 offers a foldable design that allows you to use the device in different modes: laptop, stand, tent, tablet. For a 13-inch notebook, the device is compact. The look is premium — mine was a matte grey with gold-coloured accents.  

Display (3/5) 

The laptop has a vivid 13.3-inch fullHD touchscreen panel covered with Gorilla Glass. The screen looks sharp and packs in enough brightness for outdoor use. It also has touch and stylus input support. The stylus can be used to annotate or scribble using Windows Ink-compatible apps such as Sticky Notes, Sketchpad and Screen Sketch. Even the Windows default Edge browser has digital inking supports, which makes the stylus a great value addition.

Performance (4/5) 

Except for gaming, there is no task the notebook can’t handle. It boots quickly and handles everyday operations with ease. The notebook’s data transfer speed is also quick, thanks to a built-in solid state drive (SSD). It can also perform stuff like video editing, but that often leads to the machine heating up and affecting other programs. The machine’s on-battery time is surprisingly good, returning an impressive on-battery time of 12 hours. 

 Verdict (3.5/5) 

 The Spectre x360 justifies its premium price tag with a power-packed performance, sleek build and stylus support. But with a slight hit on performance, HP’s Envy x360 (Rs 77,900) is a better budget bet.