HP - Spectre x2 2-in-1 12.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 8GB Memory - Intel 360GB Solid State Drive - Black

The HP Spectre line of product is HP’s bid into the premium market. My first look into the Spectre came when they announced the Spectre laptop that had a very stylish and premium design. The unfortunate drawback to that is the high asking price for the laptop. Having now the opportunity to test and try out the Spectre X2, an update to the previous year’s X2, I now get to see how this device performs and feel when handled. This year’s X2, model 12c012dx, features an updated Intel CPU. It’s a i7 7560U clocked in at 2.4GHz. There’s 8GB of RAM but part of it is allocated for Intel’s Iris GPU. For space, there’s 360GB of SSD capacity using M.2 interface. While this doesn’t allow much in terms of file storage, this can be offset using Microsoft’s OneDrive. However, free OneDrive users are limited to 5GB when signing up. This pales in comparison to the space you get when using Google’s Drive cloud storage. And other than the popular Dropbox, there are probably other cloud storage services that offer more space for free users. The X2 is designed overall to be more like a tablet than a laptop. However, HP includes a detachable keyboard that’s designed akin to the Microsoft Surface tablet. There is also a pen stylus that integrates well with Windows Ink. The stylus requires a single AAA battery so this is something to keep in mind when using this device. It has a microSD card slot accessible with a pin to eject the tray. But this appear to be only used to access media stored on the SD card rather than used as an expandable storage. There’s a Windows Hello compatible front facing camera along with a rear facing camera for quick picture taking. And lastly, there’s stereo front-facing speakers (in landscape orientation) and a 3.5mm headphone jacks for audio output. Setting up Windows 10 Home on the X2 is a breeze. It comes preinstalled with the Creators Update and its voice assistant, Cortana, helped guide me through the setup process. It was a surprise experience coming from a longtime keyboard and mouse user. But that doesn’t stop me from using the detachable keyboard to type in my password whenever I log in. While on that topic, using Windows Hello’s facial recognition is a new experience. Setup was simple and recognition is instantaneous. I believe that more Windows 10 devices should come with a Hello compatible front-facing camera in order to make the login process more seamless. When using the X2 with the keyboard, it becomes just like a laptop. Yet at the same time, it doesn’t have the laptop feel. This is likely due to how the keyboard is also a cover and thus doesn’t have the sturdy feel that traditional laptops have. This isn’t a negative point but it does takes some time to get used to this different feel. The trackpad has no obvious mouse button but the button orientation is standard -- bottom left and bottom right for left mouse button and right mouse button respectively. The function row keys are set to special functions by default (ie. screen brightness, mute, volume control, media playback). And for those who like typing in the dark or in poorly lit rooms, the keyboard comes with backlighting. But beware of using this for long, as it’ll obviously eat away battery life. The tablet slab has a 3000x2000 screen resolution, which looks quite amazing for a 12.3 inch display. Physically, it feels compact enough to be carried around with ease. However, on the flip side, it also weighs over 2.5lbs, much heavier than an Apple 12.9 inch iPad Pro. I personally feel weight is not much of an issue or factor when it comes to portable devices, as performance and battery life should be the top factors when shopping, with specs coming in behind. As for specs, the device feels snappy thanks to the M.2 SSD and Intel’s i7 CPU. I could only wish I had more time to play with the X2 so I can find some heavy software to push the CPU. Its (slightly less) 8GB memory will make multi-tasking and switching between software responsive and fast. Wireless networking performance is as good as it gets, allowing me to download the Guild Wars 2 client and data and fully saturating the download bandwidth to the maximum allowed by my ISP (25mbit/s down, 15mbit/s up). Reviewing the Bluetooth side is a bit tricky, as I pushed myself into buying a Logitech MX Master mouse. Connecting took a couple of minutes but only due to how Logitech didn’t come with any setup guide on its ability to connect using two methods (Bluetooth or via Logitech’s wireless dongle). But once connected, using the BT mouse makes using Windows a little easier than trying to manipulate the mouse via trackpad. On the software side, and like any manufacturer branded devices, the X2 comes preloaded with HP’s own suite of software, a couple of which I do not mind such as warranty status/registration. But Windows itself comes loaded with several unnecessities pinned to the Start Menu, all of which can be unpinned while some are just there for no reason at all. It also comes with McAfee, which I immediately uninstall due to its subscription requirement. There are other antivirus software that can do the same or better but without the subscription fee requirement. As for the little things that makes this laptop/tablet very nice to use, there’s a kickstand that allows the tablet to stand up with or without the keyboard. The kickstand can be oriented for a wide range of angles, thus allowing you to use the X2 in many viewing scenarios. But the kickstand can only be used in landscape mode. There is, unfortunately, no other angle when in portrait mode. Charging the X2 is easy and simple, as it uses USB Type-C. There are two ports, one per side in landscape, and either side can be used for charging. Using Type-C makes charging faster. It took about maybe an hour to go from 20-30% left in battery to 98%. From there, I was able to get a good 2+ hours before it is down to 30% with very heavy usage. That ranges from video playback, music playback, typing this review up using Chrome, installing Ilomilo from Windows Store, and (still) downloading Guild Wars 2 data from the server. Overall, I am liking the X2. The premium build and feel makes using it all the more better. The inclusion of a pen stylus in addition to the touchscreen only adds to the versatile value. The detachable keyboard is a good idea for how this device is designed. With a starting base price of $999, it’s $200 higher than the baseline Microsoft Surface Pro. However, with Microsoft’s current offering, and to come close to matching what the X2 offers, you’re looking at $1599 or $2199. And the Surface Pro is currently one CPU generation behind. The X2 is about as close to getting a Surface Pro without paying the high price of it. (post-draft addition) After finally getting the game data downloaded for Guild Wars 2, I did a quick run to check for performance quality. At 3000x2000 resolution, the game is able to run but all settings and details needed to be dialed down to the absolute minimal. I have not yet tested its performance using windowed mode and sized as close to 1920x1080. But framerate hovers around 20fps in sub-sample rendering (as opposed to native rendering which would have crippled the rendering performance). Needless to say, it’s not the best performing GPU but it’ll handle light 3D games without a problem.

I received the HP Spectre X2 12-C012DX a few days ago and now that I have had a little time to use it seems that HP has designed a very competitive entry to the cutting edge premium 2 in 1 convertible laptop class of PC which has the Microsoft Surface Pro as the archetype. Physically the HP X2 differs from the archetype Surface Pro's length and width only by about two tenths of an inch in one dimension and a tenth of for the other. Weight is different by only a fraction of an ounce for the tablet alone and the tablet and keyboard. Hp's choice of charging the tablet by a USB C port was something I wanted to look at when I received the X2, there have been issues with a micro USB port getting damaged on other tablets with the wear of repeatedly connecting the cable for data and charging tasks. But the USB C port HP built into the X2 is very solidly constructed and I don't see any concern. It is also convenient to be able to charge the tablet from either of the two USB C ports on opposite edges of the tablet. I normally use an active stylus when I use a tablet for taking notes and the HP stylus provided with the tablet works perfectly for that use, and note-taking is one of the significant rationals for choosing a detachable 2 in 1 over other designs in my opinion. I didn't try the capability of the stylus to support a drawing/graphic generation task. It looks like there is full support for Windows Ink though from what is in Windows Setup, and I will explore the graphic generation aspect in the future. The X2 with the i7 processor is not passively cooled tablet but has a fan which you can hear softly at times. Other tablets is this class device. with 7th Gen Core i7 CPU also use active cooling as far as I can tell from current reviews. Battery life seems to be about what HP claims. Battery life while Streaming Netflix video was about 4.5 hours from 100% battery charge to 20%, at a comfortable brightness and with the volume turned down to 18%, this tablet is not weak on audio output. The battery life was about 7 hours for the drop from 100% to 20% while typing this review, handling a little email and web browsing for reviews of other new tablets with the 7th Gen Core i7 CPU, (YMMV). It looks like the HP X2 starting with a full charge could last a normal business day without special measures or an AC outlet depending on usage. I haven't had a chance to test the HP claim of 50% recharge from empty in 30 minutes yet but its one of the things I'll be looking at for my own information. The only annoyance I encountered with the X2 was the loop on the Keyboard intended to store the active stylus/pen. The loop seems like an after thought, it is made of a inelastic rubberized fabric, the loop is to small for the pen to go into, you can only clip the pen to the outside of the loop. It may just be an early production hiccup. The HP Spectre X2 12-C012DX is a cutting edge premium 2 in 1 convertible laptop/tablet it seems an excellent value and worth serious consideration by someone in the market for a 2 in 1 convertible.

I have been really happy with this tablet-laptop and there is a lot to love. The resolution is incredible. Love the kick stand and that it functions just like a lap top. The keyboard is better than my laptop. It is back lit and connects to the tablet really easy. The magnets guide it in place with one simple motion. I like that the keyboard is included and not sold separately. The pen is also included. Because it is solid state, boot up is quick-under 10 seconds. I have not used the competition but see no reason too. It even comes with a storage case. Like I said there is a lot to love. I wish the pen integrated into the housing but my guess is that is much needed space. I don;t give much 5 stars but I do this. You certainly feel the i7 power and it works every bit as good as a traditional laptop.

The new HP Spectre X2 is proof positive that Microsoft has been successful in encouraging it's OEM partners to produce higher quality and more thoughtful PC experiences. This new tablet is lightweight, well constructed from high quality materials, and offers solid performance. Included items: Out of the box, the Spectre X2 comes with the tablet style computer itself, a thin keyboard with attaches via magnets with a look and method which is highly reminiscent of Microsoft's Surface keyboard, and a pen for writing or drawing on the screen. Also included is a high speed USB-C charger and a USB-C to USB-A dongle. It's great to have USB-C ports on the device, but I'd much prefer both USB-C and USB-A rather than needing to use the dongle for all legacy USB-A devices. Design: The tablet is attractively designed with a dark matt grey finish accented by the gold toned kickstand and HP logo. The kickstand is more stable and rigid than it appears. Bezels are small, but still provide enough space around the edge of the display to hold the tablet without triggering the touch screen and to use Win10 swiping gestures. The keyboard is solid and attractive with a rubberized base. So close is the design that it really looks like it could be interchangeable with a Surface Pro keyboard (I tried - it doesn't fit). There are two forward firing speakers, apparently courtesy of Bang and Olufsen, which sound quite good with the volume up. In addition to the dual USB-C ports (one each side, which is smart) there are two volume buttons, the sleep/wake button on top, and an SD card slot. Having an SD card on a Windows tablet is very useful as it works just like an additional hard drive (other than performance). The only negative here is that the SD slot requires a paperclip or sim ejection tool to open. On the plus side, the card will stay securely in place and does not protrude like it does on some laptops. There is no DisplayPort, micro HDMI, or other standard video port, although obviously USB-C and Miracast alleviate that issue. Overall the design of the unit is excellent. Setup / Software: For some reason, OEMs still feel the need to load up their Win10 installs with unnecessary custom software, and unfortunately this HP is no exception. It came preloaded with McAfee antivirus and various HP utilities for support, driver updates, and an out-of-the-box setup program to help users get familiar with their new machine. Not one of the installed HP programs actually worked. Literally every one of them failed to run for some reason. I uninstalled them all except the support assistant in the hopes that they might fix it and it would make driver updates easier. I also uninstalled McAfee and went with the built-in Windows Defender, which performs fine for most regular users and exerts much less influence on system performance. Performance: I've tested everything from web browsing to video streaming to Office applications to 3D gaming. In all cases, the Spectre X2 has performed admirably. I'll leave benchmarks to the tech sites, but my personal experience has been that the CPU and local storage are quick, and the built-in Intel 3D hardware is adequate for running recent 3D games as long as you don't mind reducing resolution and detail options. Obviously not a gaming PC, but works just fine if there's some light gaming in the mix. The screen is gorgeous. Great resolution, color rendering, and brightness across a range of applications. The included pen provides reasonable accuracy and better than expected pressure sensitivity. It probably won't win awards in the art world, but for signing and marking up documents and for amateur artists it's a great option that performs well from a subjective standpoint. The keyboard and trackpad are not quite polished as the most recent efforts from Microsoft, but they're really strong. The trackpad is a good size, very smooth, and supports multi-touch gestures. There is a fan in this unit, but it tends to be both quiet and seldom used. Battery Life: Battery performance has been impressive. The biggest contributor to this is that I've experienced literally zero measurable leakage in standby / sleep mode. This is truly a computer that you can use for an hour each day for a week and not charge until the weekend. For an i7, the battery also holds up well under regular web, video, and productivity loads, although gaming will obviously drain it much more quickly. Overall: Overall this device is easy to recommend to somebody how needs a solid general purpose PC that combines usability as a either tablet or a laptop. It's easily one of the best executed convertibles I've seen and should perform admirably for home, business (especially road warriors), and students alike.

CONSTRUCTION: Very Good - No squeaks or rattles and even the keyboard is substantial. The magnets are strong and hold the tablet and keyboard together well. It even has a nice backlit keyboard and a caps lock light. Included is the pen and a sleeve for the computer. DOCUMENTATION: There is a very good 61 page User Guide available as a PDF at HP Help & support on the computer (HP Documentation). The User Guide says it has a fan and it is OK to fold the keyboard back against the Tablet. There is also a Safety Warning Notice that says not to place the computer directly on your lap or to obstruct Air Vents. Under normal use, the tablet only gets mildly warm on the upper back. But during Performance tests and heavy graphics use like some of my Flight Simulators or Asphalt 8, the upper back gets HOT. If you use it like a tablet and hold it at the bottom sides, they are not too hot, but the top back is too hot to hold under these conditions. The pen works well on the screen and responds to pressure. I don’t normally use a pen, so I can’t comment on how well it works. The pamphlet that comes with the pen says that the buttons on the pen can be viewed by using the pen app, such as HP Pen Control. I could not find that App anywhere on the computer. SPECS: 8GB RAM, 360GB SSD hard disk, 2,000 x 3,000 pixel IPS screen, Intel Core I7-7560U @ 2.40GHZ CPU. Weight - 2 lbs, 9 oz, (Tablet=1 lb,11 oz; Keyboard=13 oz) PERFORMANCE: Overall, very good. It would run everything that I have used from the Microsoft store on all my other computers very well. YouTube videos showed very well (both pictures and sound) on the beautiful 2,000 x 3,000 pixel screen. Passmark 9.0 Performance scores: Overall=3261.9, CPU Mark=5944.8, 2D Graphics=547.3, 3D Graphics=1859.1, Memory=2327.9, Disk Mark=7847.9. For a Laptop, these are very good scores I like that it has a external charge light (White=charged, Orange=charging, Blinking white=Low Battery. And the charging transformer and cord are very long. PROBLEMS: I could not get it to recognize a new 64GB SD card. But the card worked in another Windows computer with a regular SD card slot. OVERALL: When I first got this computer, I was not too impressed. I found the kickstand hard to put in position and a little sharp on my knees. The more I have used this computer, the better I like it. It has a great screen, a fast processor, and a very nice, backlit keyboard. Compare this total package for the price - I think you will like it.

I'm not going to go into detail in this review, as many have done excellent reviews, such as (Sixshot), which helped me make my decision to purchase. I purchased to replace a Surface Pro 4, whose screen mysteriously cracked a day after the new line of Surface Pro series was released. I then looked for more affordable alternatives. The HP Spectre X2, compared favorably and even beat the SP Pro (2017) in many categories. My purchased HP Spectre X2 configuration: i7, 8GB, 360 GB SSD, Black. Pros: 1. This is a beautifully crafted alternative to the 2017 Microsoft Surface Pro(5?). Build quality is exceptional. 2. latest 7th Generation Kaby Lake processors. Very slight speed increase over my i7, 8GB Surface pro 4. For Example launching the same program on both netted the HP Spectre X2 2 seconds faster load time. Startup time on the Spectre X2 (2017) is phenomenal with less than 10 seconds boot time. 3. The Keyboard attaches the same as Surface Pro 4 but has a slightly higher typing angle. The keyboard has a black smooth surface on top with textured rubber on bottom, which I prefer over the Surface Pro 4. 4. the copper colored Kickstand actually suprised me, as I thought it would be a pain, as it's open compared to the all enclosed Surface Pro series. I now actually hold the Spectre X2 in portrait mode stabilized by wrapping my hand around the bar. It's very stable and folds nearly flat. 5. Comes with keyboard and stylus, both which are exceptional. However, the stylus does not have the eraser that I'm used to using on the Surface pro. 6. Stylus pen is the same technology an compatible with Surface Pro series (N-Trig). I can use the Surface pro 4 pen with the HP and Vice Versa. 7. USB-C ports on both sides. This is both a plus and minus, as it requires me to use a dongle to adapt to standard USB-A peripherals. however, the dongle is included and very small dongles can be purchased that make it look as if it's part of the device. Charger can be plugged on either side. 8. Very fast charging with HP Fast charge technology. it seems to charge 1-2% per minute. Incredibly fast charges. 9. Incredible High resolution 3000 x 2000 IPS screen. This is higher than even the 2017 Surface pro. It is also brighter than my Surface Pro 4, with vivid colors. 10. Battery life is much better than my Surface pro 4 because of the larger 41+ Whr battery and Kaby lake processor effeciency. I typically see 1-2 hour differences in use time with the HP Spectre X2. Cons: 1. The HP is slower to recognize the pen than any Surface Pro model I've used (1,2,3 or 4). At times when I tap on the screen to surf, it takes 2-3 taps for it to register (HUGE PROBLEM), in which I almost took it back the first day. However, I found the problem to be a very slight lag as to the distance the screen takes to recognize the pen vs the Surface pro 4. If I quickly move the pen towards the Surface Pro 4 screen it always picks up the pen regardless of speed. The HP has a slightly slower pick up time, making it miss very quick taps with the stylus. I'm hoping HP can correct this with a software patch. As it is, I've had to adjust ever slightly to the delay. This can be a deal killer for some, including me. 2. very noticeable Heat on the back compared to Surface Pro 4 when using it for long periods of time or intensely. As you're using it in tablet mode, you don't really notice the gradual heating in your fingers but if you were to put it down and come back a minute or two later, you immediately notice it can get very warm. I compared the same type of use with my SP4 and the SP4 stayed cool to the touch regardless of use. Very noticeable when picking up the HP Spectre X2 after using the SP4. Again, this could be a deal breaker for some. Hopefully I have a bad unit, so I'm going to return it to see if it's better. 3. The USB-C ports are not Thunderbolt compatible. Not a big deal for me, but definitely needs to be noted for power users. OVERALL: I give the Spectre X2 (2017) 4 out of 5 stars, given the stylus and heat issues. However, if either of those don't bother you, the HP Spectre is a no brainer compared to the Surface Pro (2017) model just released with equivalent specs. After several days of side by side use with my SP4, I prefer the HP Spectre overall, but I may now look to the SP Pro (2017) if the screen and heat issues are prevalent throughout the builds.

I have owned the new HP X2 and the new Surface Pro 5 for over one week. I have spent many hours benchmarking and stress testing each Computer. I came to a conclusion that I preferred the nSP over the X2. The X2 design is absolutely beautiful, its classy and elegant. The keyboard has no flex and love the rubber bottom and the metal keypad. The screen colors are vibrant with very little backlight bleed. The speakers are loud and very good treble. The computer response quickly with all tasks. The downside is that HP did not properly design the X2's heat management. It gets very hot, I was able to get the back plate to reach temps in excess of 60'c, that is burning hot, doing simple Adobe Video Editing. The fan is noticeable and turns on all the time, even during normal web browsing. Digging deeper into the HP, they set the max TDP output (power to utilize between the CPU and GPU) to only 15 Watts, that is very low, with turbo boost set to 18.75 Watts (in comparison the nSP is set to 25 Watts, with turbo set to 35 Watts). Even with those low Watts, it still over heats causing the CPU to drastically thermal and power limit throttle causing it to slow down drastically. During 10 minutes of gaming, I got the CPU to go down to .8ghz (vs the nSP stayed at 2.5ghz+). Benchmarking for example, 3DMARK CLOUDGATE HP = 5800-7000 (depending on thermal throttling), nSP = 8220 - 8900, that is a big difference for two computers with the same components. In conclusion, if you want to save $500, and only plan to do normal web browsing then HP is the way to go. If you do video/photo editing, light gaming, then you might want to look else where like the new Surface Pro.

I’ve been using a Mac for the past 7 years. Before that, I was only using Windows. The transition from Windows to Mac was difficult, but a great one. I’m currently using the 12 in. MacBook, and although not a powerhouse, its portability is one of its strengths. When I was given the opportunity to try out the X2, I was excited to see what this new computer would offer, in regards to build quality and software. My review will be separated into two sections; the Hardware and the Software. Hardware: 9/10 This is a beautiful machine. It is light, built with great materials, and quality is excellent. This device has two USB-C ports, which I am already used to on my MacBook. I think USB-C is the future so I welcome these on the X2. The screen is vivid, bright, and responsive. The included keyboard is also great. The backlight is a surprisingly nice addition on this 2-in-1. The speakers are fine, a bit tinny and not as loud as my MacBook. It says Bang & Olufsen, but it doesn’t make a difference. It comes with a stylus, which is very nice. It is light and uses a AAA battery. The fan noise is not that loud, but it is noticeable. The fan whirs even while the computer is plugged in and sleeping. Something that I think I will never get used to is the hinge. Just having to kick it out when I want to use it in laptop mode is an extra step. Although, I will say that the hinge is strong and sturdy. I’ve used this device with the keyboard attached on my bed and, for the most part, everything holds together. Overall, the build quality of the X2 is to be expected in a high priced 2-in-1 and it does a great job living up to those expectations. Software: 6/10 I haven’t had a dedicated Windows machine in years, but I do run Windows 7 on BootCamp on an iMac, so I do understand how Windows works. Windows 10 is a completely different monster. Out of the box, set-up was nice and easy with Cortana to guide me along. After that, it was not a great experience. One of the biggest issues I’ve encountered is Time Sync. My time was not synced correctly, even after troubleshooting. For a new machine, I do not expect an issue immediately after set up. I’ve searched for a solution, but ended up setting the time manually. Tablet mode is a little glitchy and can slow down the entire OS. There are a lot of gestures that take time to learn and remember, but are useful when navigating. Windows Hello is nice for logging on (when it works) and start-up time from when the laptop is off is fast. Something that I miss though was having dedicated apps for word processing, presentations, and spreadsheets for free out of the box (iWork Suite). Overall, Windows 10 is decent, but filled with bugs and can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. The HP X2 is an awesome machine for people who like portability and creatives who work with a stylus and touch screen, but it is held back by an OS that still needs some refinements and simplification.