I use both Mac and Windows machines for home and work and would really like to find a single machine that has all the features to support both work and play. The HP Spectre Foldable 17” 3-in-1 laptop just might be that machine. The model number is HP Spectre Foldable 17-cs0097nr and ships with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD and touts the 12th Gen Intel Evo i7 processor. It is designed to be used as a laptop, extended laptop, desktop or tablet, and so far it has met or exceeded my expectations. What’s in the box: the HP Spectre Foldable 17” 3-in-1, Full-size Bluetooth keyboard, 100W AC adapter with USB-C connector, HP Wireless Rechargeable MPP2.0 Tilt Pen with 2 buttons (2 x extra tips, removal tool), HP ENVY USB-C Hub with 2 USB-A and 1 HDMI port, wired USB-C keyboard charing cord and paperwork/quick start guide. The system includes a McAfee LiveSafe™ free trial; 1-month Adobe free trial offer; and an Xbox Game Pass 1-month free trial. In terms of a quick start guide, it's pretty straight forward as there is nothing to really set up. Connect the 2 pieces of the power cord and plug in the unit, and you’re ready to start using the Spectre! First Impressions: This is definitely a unique system that really has the “wow” factor for sure. When closed, the unit is very compact at less than 11” wide, 7.5” deep and 0.84” thick. The Slate Blue color has some graphite tones to it and is understated. The full sized keyboard connects via Bluetooth and mounts to the display magnetically. This allows it to slide from 12.3” laptop to the “extended” laptop mode. It can also be removed completed to form the 17” desktop mode. The keyboard will run on battery power and there’s also the included charging cable. The trackpad is sized well and functions perfectly. The keyboard is NOT backlit. The quad Bang + Olufsen speakers really stand out against my other machines. With the use of the 1TB SSD, the system fires up instantly and the 2.5K UWVA OLED touch screen is bright and crisp and incredible for working or playing. I’ve been using the system mostly in the 17” mode for streaming media and for me that is its “wow” mode. The display is IMAX Enhanced Certified which enhances the video and audio output when watching IMAX media. The folding screen – this was an area of concern for me as I tend to fixate on anything on the screen that draws my eye like bends, folds, etc. that will create odd reflections. HP has done an amazing job with the large fold in the middle of the display. It is visible from the side or in brighter environments where reflections can take place, but it’s not enough to be problematic. Performance: I loaded up some of my everyday apps including Microsoft Office and proceeded to open a few up and run multiple apps simultaneously. I then joined a Zoom video meeting to put it into real world environment. The Spectre 17, with its 16GB RAM, ran multiple applications and windows opened quickly, and the video meeting was crisp and without lag. This machine is lightening quick. The front-facing camera supports 5mp resolution. The Wi-Fi 6 hardware seems to connect easily and streaming was superb with no lag. In today’s streaming world, the HP Spectre Foldable 17 was up to the challenge! Battery Life: The 100W charging brick is somewhat compact and sufficient for the road warriors out there. The cord is covered in a cloth-like material that is a nice touch and ties in with the soft material finish on the keyboard. Battery life is listed at 12-13.5 hours depending on usage. For the past week, the performance has been excellent in either laptop or tablet mode. It can easily run for multiple days before needed to be recharged depending on use. I tested it using Microsoft Office applications running, streaming videos on YouTube and browsing the internet. Other Features: There are so many features including with this system it’s hard to list them all. The screen is Eyesafe Certified which means there is less blue light emitted and is safer for your eyes, there’s a camera privacy switch for those who want added protection, the included wireless stylus/pen, Intel Iris Xe graphic card and as previously mentioned the Intel Evo processor platform. Tablet mode – HP uses a smart hinge that allows the device to be used as a laptop, tablet, desktop display, etc. Due to the overall size of the system, it’s a bit of a handful in tablet mode, but after a few uses it became second nature and felt comfortable in my lap. There is no lock on the hinge, so it can begin to fold close depending on how it’s held. The OLED touchscreen is responsive and operates just like any other tablet. GlamCam – there are a number of cool controls and safety features that can be setup in this app. Hand gesture support, wake on approach and walk-away lock to name a few. Pros: - Overall build quality is top-notch - Modern sleek design is a plus for anyone looking to take the system on the road - Very efficient and powerful system in either laptop or tablet mode - Bang + Olufsen speakers provide an immersive experience for a laptop/tablet - OLED display is bright and crisp, even in bright environments - Exceptional battery life and quick charging - 16GB RAM and 1TB storage to support power users, streaming and light gaming - Loved the touch and key response of the keyboard and the touchpad - Ease of setup and use Cons: - Keyboard is not backlit - I found it to be a challenge to open the lid as there is no lip on the leading edge - Don’t see much need for the “extended” laptop mode personally Overall, the HP Spectre Foldable 17” 3-in-1 is a very well-made system with enough processing power to support most users out there. This system is lightweight, sleek and great for use as a laptop, desktop or tablet at home, the office or on the road. I would certainly recommend this unit to anyone looking for a 3-in-1 setup with top-of-the-line features.

The Spectre Foldable PC is the latest flagship from HP and is an absolutely stunning piece of tech that I imagine few people can afford. The 17 inch foldable OLED touch enabled display is beautiful and bright but not 4K. It has a 4:3 ratio when unfolded and 3:2 when using laptop mode. HD content is letterboxed. The fold is only visible when the display is off - when there is content it's not noticeable when up close although due to the reflectivity, it can be seen from a distance or when viewing at an angle or over a shoulder. It has a real shine to it and is very reflective. At full brightness it is easy to see, even in bright sunlight. It only has a 60hz refresh rate. There is a built-in kick stand that holds the display for desktop mode and is also quite handy for holding the screen in landscape mode like a painter's pallet. There are dedicated volume buttons on the display along with the power button. Connectivity is via twoThunderbolt 4 USB C ports on the display and an included mini-hub that has two USB A, an HDMI and on USB C port which is really nice. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 complete the connectivity. The lack of a cellular option is a huge miss. The keyboard actually has a nice feel to and is responsive for a bluetooth keyboard. The diving board trackpad is a little stiff making taps somewhat difficult unless they are at the bottom edge. There is a separate cable to charge the keyboard when it's not magnetically attached to the display. When using in desktop mode, the keyboard lays flat - there are no movable feet to put it at any angle. When using in laptop mode, the keyboard sticks magnetically in two positions, standard and extended where the touchpad lays off the end of the device - giving an extra 2.75 inches of screen real estate. Screen switching happens automatically to either position. Sadly and what would normally be a deal breaker for me is no backlight on the keyboard. Come on HP, the Apple magic keyboard for iPad has backlighting and is just as thin. Performance wise, the 12 generation I7 1250U (now two generations old), paired with 16GB Ram is sufficient for media consumption and general office work. Adobe creative suite ran smoothly for light photo and video editing. I was glad to see it comes with 1TB storage, great for storing a few videos or music to enjoy while traveling. There are no user serviceable/upgradable parts in this model. The built-in IRIS X graphics are not going to be gaming friendly. There is a cooling fan although it is not intrusively loud and you do have some control of it in settings. I also like that the cooling vents are located on the top half of the device which keeps your lap cool and prevents vent blockage. The Spectre Fold comes with a rechargeable two-button stylus that clings to the bottom of the display under the keyboard in laptop mode. The stylus is responsive and feels good in your hand although the buttons are flat and can be difficult to press without thought. It is also pressure sensitive, making thicker lines as you press harder. Another nice touch is the inclusion of two additional pen tips and a removal tool. The Spectre Fold has a quad speaker setup from Bang & Olufsen that sounds great for a tablet. It is IMAX Enhanced and when watching IMAX enabled content on Disney + the image is larger top to bottom and the sound has more of a surround sound feel to it due to the quad speaker layout - two on top and two on the bottom. While this is a nice touch, it's still a letterbox image on a 17 inch screen. The HP True Vision 5 MP camera looked great, clean with no artifacts. There is an enhanced lighting app that turns the rest of the screen outside the image into a virtual camera light which is pretty cool and does help in low light situations. There are additional settings in the app for backlight and low light adjustments, both work impressively well. The microphone sounds realistic and provides great volume. Battery life is rated at up to 12 hours depending on your screen settings and use. I like that you can charge up to 50% battery in 45 minutes. I didn’t like that using another power brick it told me it was underpowered even though it had a higher rating than the included charger. HP Command app is where the neat AI features are located and controlled, using the camera to detect motion and dim the screen when you look away, blurring it when someone comes up behind you and going to sleep and waking when you walk away and return. I found these to work as they were supposed to, however, the screen distance didn’t seem to have a calibration option and since this is only 12.3 inches in laptop mode, you have to get close and it kept popping up indicating I might be too close to the screen. It’s disappointing that on a flagship device of this magnitude, it still only has the standard one year warranty from HP. You can purchase an extension to this but I feel due to the new technology of the folding display it should be covered longer without charge. They do offer a nice discount code for purchasing the additional 2 years coverage which I purchased and recommend for this device. Additionally, if you purchase the care pack and don’t use it, once it expires you may qualify for a rebate of your full purchase price. In my opinion, the HP Spectre Fold is a niche device with a huge coolness factor and an incredible price tag to match but the juice just isn't worth the squeeze. The sad part is had this been an Apple product, they would fly off the shelf regardless of the cost. Overall, the Spectre Fold is a pretty slick device. I give it four stars and recommend it to anyone who needs to always have the latest and greatest. Otherwise, I believe there are better options for the rest of us.

HP has released a brand new FOLDABLE laptop, the Spectre 3-in-1 with Intel EVO platform and Intel i7 processor. You can use as a 13" or 17" monitor configuration. The very sturdy box includes the main foldable unit/PC, mini magnetic keyboard/touchpad, USB-C hub, HP Stylus, extra stylus tips, USBC-to-keyboard proprietary wired/magnetic cable connector, power brick & cord set, and quick user guide/paperwork. The computer comes with a manufacturer's 1-year warranty. DISCLAIMER 1: This review will mainly focus on the PC's functionality and features more-so than Win11 itself since Win11 is mostly the same on any computer. DISCLAIMER 2: HP claims 5 different modes, but I will primarily be addressing the functionality of "laptop" mode (13") and "desktop" mode (17"). 1. Tablet (fully open, no keyboard) 2. Laptop (keyboard fully connected to bottom half of tablet creating a 13" laptop screen) 3. Desktop (keyboard fully detached, screen on its side, creating a 17" screen propped on a support leg on the back of the screen) 4. Extended Screen (keyboard detached, screen in "laptop" position creating a bent full vertical screen with 1/2 flat and 1/2 the normal 13" screen at an angle. 5. Expanded Screen (keyboard slid down 1/2-way down the bottom half of the screen, mouse pad hanging off the end at a slight angle, creating a "bonus" flat area in front of the keyboard but below the main 13" screen area) PROS: ----------- * As far as the "coolness" factor, this product hits the mark. It will give you some good looks your way. * PC performance is top notch with the Intel i7 processor provided. It's incredibly fast, video is super smooth, and after playing a few games online, they keep up as well. * The BT keyboard charges when it's connected in 13" mode magnetically. If the keyboard is moved down 1/2-way down the screen so the optional bonus area of the screen is visible OR if the keyboard is completely removed to go to 17" mode, the keyboard will have to be connected via cable provided (USB-C cable connects magnetically to the keyboard and the lower-left tablet USB-C port -- See picture). When charging, the light will illuminate orange. * The stylus charges magnetically to the front/bottom of the folded tablet. When charging, the light will illuminate orange. * The 2.5K LED picture is great. If you have used any foldable phone devices, this one is no different with the picture. You don't really see the fold in the screen unless you look at it from an angle. * The webcam has a physical ON/OFF switch. When OFF, there are some white/black slanted lines that show where the camera is located to indicate it's blocked. * When not in use, the keyboard should be placed in the center of the screens (13" mode) and closed. It fits perfectly in the middle (see picture). * Though compact, the keyboard does have a solid feel to it. The mouse pad works well too. * The PC can be used as a giant tablet with stylus. If you are having to draw or create graphics using the stylus, this might be a great option. There is a ton of real estate to work with. * The 1TB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 will be ample for most people. The Wi-Fi 6E available will allow for Gig speeds which is a big plus if networking and moving a ton of data. The processor is top notch, being an Intel 12th gen Core i7 EVO. * The quad speaker B&O systems actually is very good for laptop standards. Ideally, you'll want to use headphones or a BT speaker system, but if you only have your laptop available, it's not bad. CONS: ----------- * Even though it feels mostly solid-built, I still feel like I'm going to break it due to the thinness of it combined with the size/weight. It's hard to explain. It's solid, but due to the build structure, I feel like I have to be extra careful with it when the full screen is used, either as a tablet or with the stand. When in 13" (folded) mode, it feels much more solid. I think there should be more "stop" support on the sides of the hinge when fully opened as a "tablet" so it doesn't cause stress on the screen when at 180-degrees. This would limit damage to the screen when someone opens with more force that normal that might try and make the screen go further than 180-degrees. * A 13" screen isn't much to work with. I guess it might come in handy on an airplane or compact usage areas. The 17" full tablet on its stand is the preferred way to use since there is more real estate provided. I would almost prefer a 15.6" monitor doubled into a ~20" monitor unfolded since 15.6" is the "normal" medium-size laptop already. * The $5k price point, to me is pretty steep considering you're still getting 1 laptop/tablet. I believe a lot of the price is built-in to a "wow" factor of the foldable screen. To me, the wow-ness doesn't calculate to that steep of a price - not even close. The best gaming PCs don't even reach close to this price unless on the "extreme" built-out kind. * This laptop only comes with 2 USB-C ports: When folded, one of the bottom-right of the 13" screen, and one on the upper-left 13" screen. Ports are NOT on the LEFT side of the folded screen since that is the bottom of the tablet when fully opened in 17" mode. It is designated by the 4 rubber feet to hold it in place (see picture). The problem is IF your keyboard battery is low AND you want to use in 17" mode, if you plug in the USB-C hub, and also have to use the keyboard charging cable, then the ONLY place to charge the laptop would then be on the TOP-CENTER where the spare USB-C port is then located. This means pressure is then put on the whole PC/stand due to the upright nylon power cable. If the cable was angled off the top at a 90-degree angle, that would be a semi-better solution. An even better solution would be to have another USB-C port on the LEFT side of the 17" tablet setup near the other USB-C port. Then power can be provided at the same time the hub and keyboard cable are being used. I was able to purchase a 90-degree Female-to-Male USB-C adapter to help with the cable management issue when power is plugged onto the top of the tablet when in 17" mode. This is a pretty big flaw, in my opinion, and HP should have accounted for that. Another super-easy fix for this would have been to simply add another USB-C port on the hub HP provided. Then power AND the keyboard adapter cable could both be used there on the lower-left bottom USB-C port. * The rear stand (in 17" mode) can be slightly difficult to pull out depending on how big your fingers are. Smaller fingers will have an easier time pulling out the rear stand. It is also not centered since it can't be on the actual hinge point. It clicks into place, but does appear it can be pushed in slightly to make the screen not be so far tilted back. Keep in mind that the more that leg is pushed inward (causing the screen to stand up straighter), the more unstable it will become. It's also possible to simply lean the 17" screen up against something behind it that's as tall as it is. This would allow more of a near-90-degree viewing surface. There has to be a better and more sturdy way to allow the full tablet to be more upright instead of leaning back so far when the rear leg is snapped-in. A better mechanism/prop would be something similar to another manufacturer that has a full-length flat pullout bracket that reaches from both sides of the screen. Having this one semi-wobbly leg that's not even centered, can make for an awkward viewing experience both in stability and viewable angle (which includes a glared screen). * I personally don't see a real use for "expanded screen" mode or "extended screen" mode (see disclaimer above for definitions). It just seems weird to me to have part of the screen bent OR some of it not even in use. I have tried to find ways to utilize this feature but haven't found a real functional way that benefits me to this point. OTHER OBSERVATIONS: ----------- * The accessories are great, but you'll need to keep them in your computer bag or a drawer somewhere. * The power button is located on the top of the screen, on the right end while the volume buttons are on the same upper-right corner, but on the side of the screen. * When in 17" mode, the webcam is on the LEFT side of the screen. It appears to compensate for the tilting of the screen. It uses vertical camera mode in this case (like a cell phone). When the camera is in 13" mode, it creates a horizontal video feed. * The keyboard is NOT backlit. The camera is 5MP and has a built-in mic. * HP claims up to 13.5 hours of battery; however, that will depend on your personal usage of the PC. CONCLUSION: ================ Overall, I really like the concept that HP created. I do wish there were at least 1-2 more USB-C ports on the side panel and possible have the extra USB-A/HDMI ports built-in to the side of the screen as well so a hub isn't even needed. Having the short keyboard charging cable seems necessary at times if the full screen 17" mode is used. With the price of this unit, I would almost expect for a small carrying case (whether hard or soft) be provided so that the power and accessories can be contained in one small-profile storage area. That would really make this product a bit more complete. I would also say to fix the semi-flimsy stand issue and offer up a better way to prop up closer to 90-degrees if that's even possible. Though I really like the concept of this PC, I'm not so sure the price is completely justified. I feel like I need to either pay less OR get more as a user (like the mentioned case). The whole thing is a bit gimmicky but it will "wow" your friends at the same time. I'm in the middle on rating this product, but I still like it more than I don't like it. There are still some tweaks that need to be made to take it to the next level. Hopefully HP can do that. I would recommend, but only if some of the fixes I mentioned were implemented.

As technology progresses, we have seen a stalemate in the form and function of portable tech like tablets and laptops. And in the mix of wanting something portable, yet big screened, with the power of a laptop, and the functionality of a tablet - comes the new HP Spectre Foldable and it has been a ton of fun and really showcases what tech can actually do! UNBOXING & SETUP: - Right off the bat I am amazed and how big this 17 inch screen foldable screen is while being so thin and small. It's light, easy to hold, and folds up really easily too. - The keyboard is another great first impression as its razor thin but has some great durability and form functionality as it will bend to help you type on the screen in certain positions. - Besides that it has a Stylus pen, charging chord, and a couple adapters which all have a really high end feel to them - Setup is pretty easy if you have ever used Windows 11, once you are setup there its all good to go. PROS: - Simply put, this is the best laptop experience I have ever had! As advertised, there is a lot of versatility to this laptop. It can be folded into a compact 12 inch laptop, you can push the keyboard down for a rolling type screen, or you can unfold the laptop for a 17 inch laptop with keyboard or simply use the 17 inch screen as a tablet! And every single way of using it has its own fun perks and really just makes it more adaptable to the environment you want to work in. - Now getting to the screen, it is gorgeous! It is an OLED screen so the colors pop along with the great contrast of the white and blacks and it provides some really great visuals for streaming or content editing or even just doing basic work or reading on it. - The Spectre Foldable is also "IMAX Enhanced certified" which means they will really make use of that large 17 inch screen and make those visuals pop while viewing movies and media! - Along with that, the foldable screen is an awesome way of going about this! As I said, it provides functionality for using it in different modes but it also is a touchscreen which really is showcases when you put that stylus to use. - Under the hood this thing is a beast too - 1 TB solid state drive and 16 GB and RAM which has really let me running multiple applications as the same time be a breeze. Along with those specs I really do like the webcam on this along with it having a privacy shut off for the camera as well. - I will also add, gaming is really fun on this as well! It has some great specs and visuals obviously that help for this, but with the portability of this laptop it really helps bring gaming up to speed. CONS: - So far, I have not ran into anything that makes me not like this laptop! BOTTOM LINE: - The HP Spectre Foldable is a premium high end laptop, but you are getting a lot for what you pay for. It is the first of its kind 17 inch foldable laptop, has an OLED IMAX certified touch screen, can be used in many different for factors, but still has great specs and power to back up the awesome design. I think this laptop is the first step to some really cool innovation from the portable tech industry and so far this HP has been simply the best experience!

There are lots of in-depth reviews, so definitely check them out, but I wanted to share some of my random thoughts. Build: HP, out of nowhere, lays down one of the first foldable laptops with incredibly impressive hardware and fit/finish. I would expect the first few foldable PCs to be pretty bad, since they are uncharted territory. HP’s Spectre engineering team just pops up and scores a home-run with this hardware. The casing feels like a high quality plastic with a slightly rough texture. Similar to Lenovo ThinkPads. The hardware screams quality. I was one of the few Palm Pre and HP Touchpad fans (RIP to the proper WebOS, not LG's TV based WebOS). That was some of the best hardware HP has ever put out and that DNA is certainly evident with this laptop. Screen: Yes it folds and yes it’s as amazing as you’d hope. The OLED quality is stupendous and it’s an amazing panel to look at and use. I’ve never seen an IMAX certified screen, so that should give you an idea of how nice it is. It’s 60Hz which is fine, but a 120Hz screen would be jaw dropping. Maybe next year? Design: By far my favorite way to use this pc is unfolded, propped up by the built-in kickstand. It’s mind-blowing to use it like this, especially when shifting from the “laptop” mode to the “easel” mode. You can also use it in portrait while unfolded, but you need to find a good, safe, foundation to hold it. I have a flat, foldable stand made by “ZUAGCO” that’s perfect for using in portrait mode. Yes, I just had to play pinball on it…and yes it’s as awesome as it sounds. “Gaming” (lol): To be clear, this is absolutely not a gaming machine of any kind, but you can play some games on it at lower graphical settings if you are okay fluctuating between 60 and 40 fps. For GPU heavy games, there is Microsoft cloud gaming and Steam (and Steam remote streaming in-house). It is a real delight to play games on, but there is no dedicated GPU, so you’re limited to streaming games if you want smooth performance out of demanding games. Keyboard/Pen: I’m glad HP included the pen and keyboard, and they’d better, given the MSRP. Unfolded, the keyboard is solid with no flex while typing. The keys are snappy and clean, although the key sizes seem slightly smaller than “normal.” Its not backlit, so that sucks. One thing HP NAILED are the magnets. When you attach the keyboard to the bottom foundation/display (traditional laptop mode) it charges via Qi and the magnets are STRONG. I recently had a chance to try the new Lenovo dual screen laptop and while I liked it, the keyboard slides all around the glass in “keyboard” mode. Lenovo really should have put much stronger magnets to prevent this movement. HP’s magnets, for both the keyboard and pen are really strong and hold the keyboard/pen without any movement. This may seem like a strange thing to go on about, but I can assure you the physical keyboard-on-screen mode of this is legit and rock-solid. The Pen is wacom and works great and secures to the side of the display, keyboard, and bottom of the screen, it charges. All while being held by really strong magnets so things don’t fly off while carrying it around. In summary, this is a stellar, category defining laptop. Cost is certainly the biggest hurdle and while very expensive, it’s worth the money if you have the means. It feels like a truly futuristic device and I’m excited to see what HP puts out next!