HP Spectre x360 15 (2020) Review

 HP’s flagship Spectre line has continually impressed us with its quality, style, and features. This latest iteration of its Spectre x360 15 is the best yet for this big convertible 2-in-1, which retains (and improves on) the charms of the 2019 model while being smaller and lighter. It’s also more powerful;

 our $1,849 review unit packs a six-core Intel Core i7 “Comet Lake” H-series processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX-class graphics, though it’s also available at $1,399 with a quad-core “Tiger Lake” chip if you don’t need all that oomph. Available with a stunning (and well-worthwhile) AMOLED 4K/UHD 

touch screen either way, the Spectre x360 15 is truly a first-class splurge. It earns our Editors' Choice for being a large-screened convertible 2-in-1 without equal.HP took a shaver to the Spectre x360 15 for 2020. It’s down to 4.23 pounds and 8.9 inches deep thanks to its smaller top and bottom display bezels,

reductions of six-tenths of a pound and six-tenths of an inch over the 2019 model. It now bests even some elite non-convertible 15.6-inchers in those areas, such as the 4.5-pound, 9.1-inch deep Dell XPS 15 9500.The Spectre x360 15’s other measurements stayed the same. Its 14.2-inch width is but a few tenths of an inch wider than its screen, while its 0.79-inch thickness is forgivable for a convertible 2-in-1 this large. (The XPS 15 9500 isn’t much thinner, at 0.71 inch.)

Its looks are matched by quality. Its chassis and lid are made entirely from anti-glare-treated aluminum that hides fingerprints and resists flexing. Although the chassis isn’t a unibody design, the gaps between its parts are so small that they are hard to find by feel.

The attention to detail continues with the subtly concave sculpting of the palm rest, perfectly smooth chassis edges, and rear corners that look sharp but somehow aren’t. The rightmost corner holds one of the laptop’s two Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) ports, with the other alongside on the right edge.

 

This location can also be beneficial since it angles at least one cord toward the rear. The Spectre x360 15 can be charged through either Thunderbolt 3 port, though it is necessary to connect the included 135-watt power adapter for full performance since Thunderbolt 3 tops out at 100 watts. The other 

connectivity over here comprises a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (it supports 10Gbps transfers, which is nice to see versus the usual 5Gbps Gen 1 ports) and a microSD card slot.

Next to the Type-A port is a webcam kill switch, which isn’t an exaggeration. When it is switched off, Windows 10 no longer thinks the laptop has a webcam. For the privacy-conscious, this is arguably more secure than a physical shutter that merely blocks the view, assuming you remember to engage it.