HP Specter x360 13.5-inch 2-in-1 review: puts up a strong fight – with flair

Specifications at a glance: HP Specter x360 13.5-inch
	Worst	Best	As rated
Screen	13.5-inch 1920×1280 IPS touchscreen	13.5-inch 3000×2000 OLED Touch Screen
OS	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Home
Processor	Intel Core i5-1235U	Intel Core i7-1255U
RAM	8GB LPDDR4-4267	16GB LPDDR4-4267
Storage	512GB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD	2TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD	1TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD
GPU	Intel Iris Xe
Networking	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Ports	2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x USB-A (3.2 Gen 1), 1x 3.5 mm jack, 1x microSD card reader
Mate	11.73 × 8.68 × 0.67 inches (297.94×220.47×17.02mm)
Weight	3.02 lb (1.37 kg)
Battery	66 What
Guarantee	1 year
Price (list price)	$1,100	$1,760	$1,610
Other	Stylus, case included

HP’s 13.5-inch Specter x360 has something for almost everyone. An ultra-lightweight construction makes it a desirable class of convertibles with a matte finish and flashy accents. A 3:2 screen stands taller than most and includes an OLED option that looks vibrant yet natural. There are also smart design choices, such as a beveled edge with a charging port, illuminated volume/mic mute/camera shutter keys, plus a decent port selection.

The Specter x360 13.5-inch gets an A+ in terms of looks and scores high (but not perfect) on design details. But it still has some room to grow when it comes to productivity, especially when compared to other highly capable ultralights in its price range.

For those who insist on squeezing every ounce of performance out of a sub-1-inch-thick convertible, there are stronger competitors. But otherwise, the 2022 Specter is near the top of its class.

Winning design

HP’s Specter range still features some of the most attractive ultralights out there, even if they’re a little less noticeable this year. The Nightfall Black color of my review unit has accents that are so pale they look more silvery than the “brass” HP describes. A thin, reflective, silver strip runs around the lid and deck, creating a layered effect when the closed PC is viewed from one side. Oddly enough, you can even see a hint of the keyboard when looking at the closed laptop from the left or right side, so I’m a little more concerned about the dust getting into the PC when it’s closed than I normally would.

Visually, the hinges are a little less noticeable than last year’s model, with contrasting colors all over the back and hinges. But more importantly, this year’s hinge reliably holds the screen in place no matter how far I bend the lid back.

Plus, the aluminum lid was harder to bend and felt tighter than most of the other ultralight laptops I’ve tested lately.

That went well with an equally solid deck; however, the angled edges of the deck occasionally made my wrists slide as I typed. This has resulted in me hitting the touchpad more frequently while typing, causing abrupt, disruptive interferences in my workflow.