HP Spectre x360 14 review: Keeping the Windows 2-in-1 dream alive

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

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    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>

I was immediately smitten by the HP Spectre x360 14. Not because it’s different, or innovative, but because HP bothers to get the boring things right.

That begins with the quality of the materials used. The Spectre x360 14 uses metal for the upper and lower body, as well as the hinges. That’s not unusual for a 2-in-1 above $1,000, but the specific texture and luster HP picked stands out. It appears sleek and modern but, when handled, has just enough grip and texture to feel pleasant and inviting. The chassis isn’t unibody, meaning it has a removable bottom panel, but it feels nearly as rigid as 2-in-1s that go that route.

The design also benefits from attention to detail. The Spectre x360 has a stern, professional look, but the edges of the device are smoothed to keep them from pressing into your palms and fingers. That’s important for a device meant to be used like a tablet. The 360-hinge design also works flawlessly. It offers enough tension to keep the display at a desired angle, yet remains smooth when folding the device from laptop to tablet mode, or vice-versa.

That’s not to say it’s perfect, and the usual compromises are required. As its name implies, the Spectre x360 14 has a 14-inch display, so it’s much larger than even the largest iPad Pro. It also weighs 3.19 pounds, which is a lot of heft to maneuver with your fingertips. The Spectre x360 is usable as a tablet for short periods of time, or when resting in your lap or knees, but it’s not great if you want a tablet for note-taking, to read books or documents, or to use while reclining. 

HP faces stiff competition from alternatives like the Lenovo Yoga 9i 14, which also delivers thin, light, and attractive design. I think HP remains a step behind Lenovo but, of course, that’s subject to taste. The Lenovo Yoga 9i strikes a more luxurious and elegant profile, while the Spectre x360 14 is more professional and serious. And while the HP doesn’t beat the Lenovo, it’s an obvious upgrade over more affordable 2-in-1s like the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED.

HP Spectre x360 14: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Matthew Smith

            <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="HP Spectre x360 keyboard" class="wp-image-2270003" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>

    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>

I expect, however, that the Spectre x360 14 will be used as a laptop far more often than a tablet. Fortunately, HP’s excellent design extends to the keyboard and touchpad. 

The keyboard occupies a significant portion of the 2-in-1’s width, though it does sacrifice a few millimeters to upwards-firing speakers on each side. Despite that, the keyboard has a spacious layout and most keys are large. The left-side Shift, Caps, and Tab keys are shaved down a bit, but not so much I found it noticeable. There’s also plenty of space below the keyboard, so my palms weren’t left dangling in mid-air.

Key travel is respectable despite the slim profile and each key ends its action with a definitive tactile action. However, I think HP missed the mark on the plastic used for the key caps. It feels thin and takes away from the otherwise luxurious design. That’s a shame, since the keyboard is the part of the device most often touched.

The touchpad is another highlight. It’s large for a 14-inch laptop at five and a half inches wide by three and a quarter inches deep. There’s barely any space leftover to extend its depth and making it any wider would’ve left my palms sitting wholly inside the touchpad surface, which can lead to unwanted mouse clicks. The touchpad is responsive and its size provides ample room for activating Windows’ most complex multi-touch gestures.

HP Spectre x360 14: Display, audio