Lenovo =4K display only on high end model (not an issue, just noting for others who aren't familiar), no pen support, no Thunderbolt 3, no USB-C, smaller battery.
I just would like to know how the pen feels between the Surface Pro 3 pen, the Surface Pro 4 pen and the HP pen. I have the pro 3 and pro 4 pens. I notice that the Pro 3 pen has better control for making feather light marks and the Pro 4 pen I have better drawing control accuracy. I'd like to know how the HP pen feels compared to the other two. I'm using these pens on a Surface Pro 3. The feel of those pens might be different on the newer ntrig digitizers but I'm hearing roughly the same complaints on tech and art forums. Still super capable for drawing though.
I bought it about a month ago based on this review..... Well, I LOVE IT! I was looking to go to the Surface book with similar specs. I got this instead and saved about $1600.00. HP happy now....
Hi Lisa, I purchased the Spectre x360 15.6" laptop from Best Buy last week. Your review(s) certainly helped in my purchase decision. I was down to two laptops, the 15" Spectre or the Dell XPS 15. I really loved the quad core i7 and Nvidia 1050 GPU from the Dell but an excellent keyboard/trackpad are paramount to me. I felt the XPS keyboard/trackpad were very lacking, so I sacrificed the higher-end specs for a much more usable laptop. The 4K screen is truly amazing! It's sharp enough that you can almost run at 100% scaling -- which is REALLY small. I run at 150% with no problems. Windows 10 and most apps seem to scale pretty well. The included Samsung PM961 NvME drive is very fast as you pointed out. HP makes it easy to order the restore software (for a fee) and it's sent on a USB key. The speakers were actually very impressive -- for a laptop especially. The volume bar on the right side is actually quite nice to have. I played with the HP at a local Best Buy for about 30 minutes before pulling the trigger. I don't think I'll use it as a 2-in-1 that much but it may come in handy during work meetings. (I'll be using mostly Outlook/MS Office and Visual Studio 2017.) My only nitpicks are the insanely reflective IPS panel and the [limited] HP UEFI BIOS. Also, be careful when plugging in the USB-C charger as it has to be completely flush with the casing in order to charge. If the cord gets knocked slightly then it may pull out just enough that it stops charging. I've had this happen a couple of times. Cheers!
Lisa, THANK YOU! There was an accident with my laptop the other day (warranty expired 3 weeks ago) and I needed to purchase a new one within 24 hours. I read so many tech reviews before stumbling upon your videos. You made my decision much easier! I bought the HP Spectre x360 13-ac075nr (New Model) I cant wait to use it!
I just bought mine yesterday. OMG this is the best decision I have made in a long time. After going through hell with two Dell Laptops (Inspiron 7000 and a XPS both 2017) and a MacBook Pro, I can say that this is perfect for me. I am a college student. Here is why I love this thing: 1. Gorgeous 4K Screen. I mean I just want any excuse to sit in front of it. 2. HDMI 2.0 meaning 4K at 60Hz great for my Samsun 4K TV. 3. One Thunderbolt full speed 40GB 4. One USB Type-C 5. One regular type-A USB 3.0 6. SD Card Slot 7. The speakers are actually freaking good for. Laptop. 8. It has a Samsung PCIe SSD blazing fast. Excellent Laptop. Pull the trigger if you don't need a ton of power. Remember it's a Dual Core that it does almost everything fast, but not as fast as a Quad Core. Forgot to mention, Windows Hello is a beauty it works even when is really dark.
Hey there I feel you with Dell, have a desktop that's 8 years old, so reason I chose Dell over anything worst mistake ever! I have a MacBook Retina over 2 years old runs like the day I first bought it. I had to get a PC for college as software wasn't Mac compatible so got their top of of the line Inspiron 15" 7000, the thing has been at the Geek Squad 2x already, that thing kept on getting the Blue Screen of Death just by surfing the internet and even after a fresh install of Windows 10 on it did no good, and I just couldn't live with this computer because the software I use doesn't autosave whatever I work I've done so there's definitely no peace of mind at all. The first time I sent it out they made it even worse they got dust in between the LCD panel so it went back again for the crashing issue and now the screen. To top it off the backlight bleed on it was bad and screen quality suffered, also battery life was bad would get at the most 2.5 hours. Luckily I bought the accidental protection at Best Buy when I got that mediocre laptop. I had called Best Buy corporate to explain what was going on and scheduled me for an appointment today so I told them what can I do I'm still paying for the a laptop that doesn't work properly, so they did an exception and gave me credit for my Dell laptop and then I ended up debating between the Lenovo Yoga and this HP Spectre 15, the specs, graphics card, battery life a 6 cell vs. Dell's 3 cell, 16GB of RAM, and that 512 GB SSD and then the ports won me over. Well I had to order it cause no Best Buy had it in store I'm pretty sure I will love it just like you do! Almost $1000 difference more cause I had to buy the accidental protection again but I'm pretty sure it will be worth it! I don't know HP never really caught my attention but doesn't hurt to give them a try. Glad to know I'm not the only one with Dell computer issues.
Having watched other reviews of this and other products I can honestly say - THANK YOU Mobile TechReview and LISA for you consistent review quality. Keep up the excellent work. You guys are awesome!!! Awesome laptop BTW!
hey guys, just purchased one of these. great laptop, a bit too heavy though. Just putting this out there - to enable windows hello, install the latest IR camera driver off the HP website (it's called "HP TrueVision Full HD (FHD) RGB-IR Webcam Driver"). And to get pressure sensitivity working install the latest WinTab drivers. hope this helps someone save time googling
@D-rrgamer none at all, the thing is massive, about five inches wide, but buttery smooth and taps/presses are good as well. Multitouch gestures are on par with top end windows laptops..
I had an interesting laptop buying experience this year. I've been using a work provided MacBook Pro 15 fully spec'd for the last 3 years and it started to die on me (these things don't seem to age well if you travel a lot). I loved MacOS but having used Windows 10 on my desktop, I don't really have ties to any eco-system aside from apps on the iPhone so that didn't matter to me. I knew I wanted at least a Kaby i7, 16GB RAM, a fast SSD and good battery life - I didn't care if it was quad core or not since I do all of my programming/computing in the cloud now. I first bought a Razer Blade 14" thinking I'd enjoy being able to game on the go. Turns out I didn't really have time to game in hotel rooms when I traveled so the trade offs that it brought (screen bezel, price, meh battery life) wasn't worth it. I then tried the Razer Blade Stealth but it still didn't feel "right" so I ended up returning that as well. My work let me take a fully loaded XPS 15 for a spin and while it was a great machine, I didn't care for the design. I almost picked up one of the new MacBook Pros but I couldn't justify the price to spec ratio. I ended up picking up the 13" version of the new Spectre x360 (with pen + 4K screen) and I can honestly say it's the best laptop I've used since the MacBook Pro 15. It's got everything I could ever want - good battery life, good screen, touch/pen input (awesome for digital white boarding and presentations), sexy design, good keyboard/trackpad - I couldn't be happier. The only reason I didn't go for this 15" version was because I didn't need the extra screen real estate. Hope that helps anyone who's in my situation. I would have possibly waited to see what the next gen Surface Pro looks like but I needed something now.
@Marc Selwan I am in a struggle between going for spectre x360 15" and 13" (4k screen). How is the battery life for the 13" 4k display, is it enough to last a whole day at work without charging (programming related)? Also, did you get the laptop from bestbuy website? I can't seem to find the 13" version on HP website.
I picked mine up from Best Buy. I just came back from a conference and I was able to get 8 hours out of it with about 20% left each day. If you're doing some heavy duty compiling though, I'm not sure how that would affect the battery life.
Marc Selwan the next gen surface book will be my next PC laptop 2 in 1 to get. All these convertibles at the moment are just poor excuses of 2 in 1's. Can't wait for the new surface book, enjoyed the newer one with the 960 gtx, but returned it and being patient for the new release.
Marc Selwan do you know if the new 13" uses the n-trig like the 15" or the old synaptics? I have the 13" with synaptics and definitely see room for improvement
Ah, unless you're one of those folks who wants a convertible and a pen. A shame there aren't any quad core laptops with pen that are this thin and light.
Lenovo is going to attempt this with their new Yoga 720 coming out. It is said to be quad core convertible. I wouldn't mind Vaio refreshing their Canvas and giving it a better keyboard, cooling, FHD screen only for better battery life
God, it is so refreshing to watch informed tech reviews that just give you the info and avoid the fluff. You're the only reviewer I can watch without skipping through minutes of intro, waffle and hyperbole. Thank you for this, and for the art-stuff video - you're exactly what I needed.
Lisa Gade. You are the most pleasant 'Tech Reviewer' out there. From your professional approach to your soothing voice and the concise yet detailed video. I enjoyed every second and it got me surprised. With you, one review is enough. I am sold. (not to the product but to your presentation of it)
I have to say, i trust your opinions on tech more than any other reviewer out there. Thank you so much, you’ve helped me make so many informed purchasing decisions.
I love your reviews, they always cover all the real world information and specs that I care about that other channels seem to gloss over. You give a really good sense of what I'm actually buying, not just synthetic benchmarks and vague "is made well"
Excellent review, thanks! It's so nice to see a review that isn't totally focused on gaming and silly benchmarks, and instead talks about the real world user experience. Well done!
Lisa your reviews are amazing. You are always so full of energy and knowledgeable. You really know your stuff. I come to you for all of my tech like phones and computers. Thank you so much! :)
You really pushed me over on this. I was thinking about the Yoga 910, but with my employer discount at HP I could get this at the same price. Good video and review as always.
That is for sure a "I have to have it laptop!". Great review Lisa. I loved the HP Spectre X360 13' (was my favorite laptop last year) and this looks to be a great upgrade with all of the ports. I will have to buy one for my channel ;)
Lisa Gade - Excellent unbiased review! After being disappointed by HP in the last couple years, i went out on i whim and purchased the exact model you're reviewing. I've been using my HP x360 for the past couple months (May 17) and couldn't be happier. Cheers Pros - battery life !!!! - 2 in 1 - Bang & Olufsen sound system is impressive - Screaming fast - looks great - excellent screen resolution - pen and leather case included (Lisa forgot to mention the pen slot above the Velcro) - Glad to see the flanking ventilation - nice for lap use - Great price for the hardware but unfortunately only available in Windows OS - NVidia 1060 Cons - Keyboard resistance is a tad light - Monitor hinge could be sturdier - touch-pad is slightly too wide ... the right button width seems to be 1/8 of the left button width? - Would like another 3.0 usb port
Fabulous review, Lisa. Great personality, and lots of good information. I've watched this review about 5 times... and similarly the separate review especially for artists. So, I just bought this Spectre. Thank you!
Thank you for such a great video. I was really stuck trying to decide on a laptop. You pointed out the exact things I wanted on a laptop so now I'm off to buy it.
I literally just returned my Dell Inspiron 7000 gaming laptop, which was a big big big mistake. I just need to save a bit more and I am getting this beauty! Excellent review, thank you.
It looks like the absolutely nailed it. I think this is the one! A beautiful, well specified, functional 15 inch 2 in 1 with n-trig. 3 year warranty too. The only problem is I can't find it with 16GB in the UK
Got this yesterday in part based on this review Lisa. Upgrading from my Asus Zenbook UX303UB. So far so good, but I push my machines as I need to use Chrome + Dragon Naturally Speaking + Photoshop at the same time. Its testing well, but the fan is on quite frequently for anyone who is interested. Heats up quickly, but can manage to stay zippy even when running software like I do. Touchscreen is lovely and display fantastic. Might even watch movies on this guy. Seamless integration with external monitor and an easy [if not clacky] keyboard. Do miss all the ports the zenbook had and lighter weight, but this one does have a single usb standard so its a good inbetween. Lisa, I wanted to say thanks for all the years of great reviews - I love your knowledge and humour and unbiased (yea!) opinions!
great review with details as always! HP is getting better and better. and this 2-in1 laptop is what I just need but with the 13" model. 15" is a little too big for me.
You did another great review and this HP looks amazing there is no doubt in my mind when I say this is probably HP's best laptop they ever made it's looks nice and is powerful too.
I bought the x360 2017 15 inch its really great laptop the 4k screen is gorgeous and the keyboard feel excellent also the wide track pad its confertable and responsive... The battery is solid will not let you down.. The charger is incredibly fast..the design is wonderful... I recommend it 👍
Overall great reviews. I bought one of these based on this review (along with a few others). But you didn't mention how hot this thing gets! My hands start sweating within a few minutes of turning the laptop on. The laptop stays hot constantly even when idle or performing non-demanding tasks like word processing. It noticeably heats up my small office at work. And oh boy does the bottom get super hot! I guess if you need a space heater or hand warmer in the winter than this is the laptop for you!
For a dual core with a 940M, which isn't that much better than the integrated Iris 550, the weight nor the battery life are that impressive. 4.5 pounds isn't exactly heavy, my laptop through university was 6 pounds, but it's the same weight as the quad core XPS 15, or half a pound more than the quad core rMBP 15, both of which also have better GPUs. The touchscreen brings significant drawbacks it seems. I think 4K may have been too much of a stretch here and forced larger batteries that made it weigh more than a dual core stretched out ultrabook ought to. Speed test with the three mentioned would be a great video!
I'm typing this off an XPS 9560, I'm returning it due the device being faulty, and will be picking this up, I don't really need a quad core cpu or a 1050. I'm just a student who needs a normal laptop, the spectre looks better and for me the biggest factors will be the screen and track pad, I know the Dell has a better screen and precision trackpad, but the spectre just seems a better machine for my purpose overall.
SHOUT OUT!!! OH GOD! I got so excited when you said "now, if you want a separate video on art shout out in the comments and I can make that happen" I started watching your videos because I wanted to see which tablet/laptop would be the best for graphic designing and illustrating,so far I've found Vaio Z Canvas Microsoft Surface Book Microsoft Surface Pro 4 Lenovo Yoga 900s Lenovo Thinkpad X1 HP Spectre x360 to be nice options but I still need to complement your videos with reviews coming from artists, which is a completely different point of view and is not as detailed and inclusive of software AND hardware specs as you, so I would love your opinion on which is the best art-wise!!
I just got mine the day before yesterday.....and I think it's awesome so far. I had bought a dell xps 15 but returned it because I couldn't live with the distorted sound coming from the speakers. So then I went and bought this and I'm really happy with it. The extra column of keys along the right side of the keyboard takes some getting used to, but not a big deal. Overall this might be the best laptop I've owned. As a side note did anyone notice that this year's XPS 15 was not quite as bright as last year's? My father has last year's model and I noticed right away this year's model was somewhat dimmer. Thought it was strange for Dell to go backwards, which they did. This HP, on the other hand seems brighter than the XPS 15 from this year......just one more reason why I like this HP a lot more.
Thank you Lisa for your cool tech videos! Since last year, you've been the Pole star of my laptop research. Lol I'm planning to change my laptop this year, I was looking for a powerful and light machine. The new Dell xps 15 seemed to be a good option - i7-7700HQ, 512 GB SSD, NVIDIA 1050 (1699 USD), but now this spectre came out and I'm reconsidering my options. I'll use it for university, blogging, video editing. I am intrigued by the 4K display, the touch option and price of the new HP, but I don't actually know if it will change the way I use my laptop. Is it worth it to spend those 200USD more for the Dell? Is it really more powerful? (I don't play games on my laptop). Will you do a comparison smackdown video? (keep it up, I follow you from Italy) Ciao!
Guido Macaluso Same. Although you can get the xps 15 for around 1550 USD if you use promo codes (TENOFF). Still, even if they where at the same price, I can't decide. For 1500 I could also get a 2016 XPS, with 4k display. So I think it boils down to if I want better performance (quad core and GPU) or convertible+pen.
Matias Hosiasson sorry to say most convertibles are kind of lame unless it's the Microsoft surface book. Once using the surface book with detachable tablet, every other 2 in 1 does not matter. So I'd say it's either between the XPS 15 or the surface book, everything else is just blah...
I love the design of the Spectre x360! Best looking windows laptop in the market! I would buy this but i'll wait until they add stereo speakers, a quad core 8th gen and gtx 1100+ version.
Dang, the only thing it's missing for me would be a quad-core cpu. And to a lesser extend, more powerful gpu and easily upgradable ram. Seems like a very nice product.
Actually not the same config everywhere. The x360 15" I bought from Best Buy a week after your video had neither the pen nor the discrete (NVidia) graphics you mentioned.
I've just bought one, I think it's pretty great. Only niggles are that the power button placement makes it quite easy to turn off by mistake, and the power connector is very easily unseated. Otherwise it's top notch.
Moved to MAC 5 yrs ago, virus issues. It's a very nice alternative to Mac Pro 15(save $1K)....Windows is stumbling block. PS you seen HP DESKTOP with the curved screen, now that is a neat product. Would love if Apple would do that iMac update next month. Like your reviews....your reviews alway well thought out and insightful!
Good job HP this is really nicely designed and not bad at all for the price, I'd say best 15 inch yet for windows, in really like this does check all the boxes like you said nice review!
Hi Lisa; The pretty finish on the Spectre is a selling point for a lot of people. But I'm wondering how it'll look after several months of hard use. Can you do a follow-up video on how the finish on the Spectre is holding up? Mitch
Thanks for the review!! Lisa, how many levels of pressure sensitivity are on the screen? And are you certain the RGB coverage isn't more than 75%? I'm a little disappointed it isn't better than that.
The pen is pressure sensitive. Though I cannot confirm how many levels. Unfortunately, the RGB coverage is only 72% color gamut. This is the main reason why I will be returning the Spectre. As a Graphic Designer, a more color-accurate display is very important, and I did notice a difference in vibrancy between the 2017 Spectre and 2016 MBP. The Spectre's 4K display is stunning though...and watching 4K video content or editing videos in 4K res is a treat. The keyboard is also phenomenal. I'm a bit worried about the new MBPs butterfly-mech keyboard...as I've heard there have been multiple instances with sticky and high-pitched key sounds.
Thank you for your input. I just ordered this system a few days ago. I'm a little disappointed that the color gamut isn't better. But I plan on buying an external monitor anyway for my workstation at home, one with a full color gamut where I'll be doing most of my actual work, anyway (except for pen drawing), so I'm not too worried about it. I don't see myself doing a lot of color work at large or "on the go." Everything else seems very solid and so I went for it. I should receive it in a few weeks. I looked into the 2016 MBPs, but I didn't like the keyboard at all. I can't say I've heard about sticky keys or high-pitched noises -- those are new to me (and just add to the list of problems) -- but I typed on one and the keyboard was clacky and VERY loud that way. Plus, the keys just bottomed out too soon. Both those things were complete deal killers to me. Not to mention, all the trouble I've heard about regarding the USB-C ports and WiFi, etc., the missing ports, and the increase in price. All of that was just too much. Also, although the MBP, otherwise, has decent hardware (but no 7th gen Kaby Lake CPU which is a shame considering the price), Apple isn't doing anything truly interesting with it right now. A touch strip is hardly inspired, interesting, or useful -- in my opinion, anyway. Others will disagree. Just my $.02.
Could someone PLEASE address the charging issues on the 2017 Spectre x360 15 inch? A replacement/backup genuine charger is nor has ever been available from HP and it appears the lightening ports on this particular model allow only genuine OEM HP charger to be used. Some report that a bios tweak will allow lightening port charging with non-HP devices yet it it is unreliable and lasts but a few days. HP customer support is spotty on this issue with some representatives denying any problem and some helping as best they can with the BIOS tweak. HP customer service seems completely unaware that the original HP charger has never been available for purchase since the 2017 x360 15 inch was introduced. Any 2017 15 inch x360 owners making progress on this unfortunate mess?
As an engineering student I have the 13" Skylake spectre x360, and I definitely plan on upgrading to this one this summer, assuming they don't release one with updated GPU
Paul Kerr Get the XPS if you need the quad core and GTX 1050. If you don't, get the Spectre :) The Spectre is also quite cheaper if you are comparing the 4K option of the XPS.
Your review was the turning point where I took a chance moving from my 2011 MacBook Air to the 2017 15” HP Spectre 360. What a mistake. This HP was lagging, it kept shutting off until it finally wouldn’t boot up. I had to fight to the corporate level to get a refund! I was so excited to try the hinged laptop with the touchscreen... not worth it at all when the unit sucked. Awaiting my refund via paper check and I’ll just spend the money and get a new MacBook pro. At least I could actually complete my work and not lose it.
Did she ever make a video on digital art using the x360? I just bought the computer and I'm having issues with Photoshop recognizing the pressure sensitivity
Thumbs up for a seperate art video!
OK, I'll do an art video :)
MobileTechReview please compare it to the yoga 710 15 inch. they have exact same specifications
really? at 13:23 ?
Lenovo =4K display only on high end model (not an issue, just noting for others who aren't familiar), no pen support, no Thunderbolt 3, no USB-C, smaller battery.
I just would like to know how the pen feels between the Surface Pro 3 pen, the Surface Pro 4 pen and the HP pen. I have the pro 3 and pro 4 pens. I notice that the Pro 3 pen has better control for making feather light marks and the Pro 4 pen I have better drawing control accuracy. I'd like to know how the HP pen feels compared to the other two. I'm using these pens on a Surface Pro 3. The feel of those pens might be different on the newer ntrig digitizers but I'm hearing roughly the same complaints on tech and art forums. Still super capable for drawing though.
Thanks for making me buy this even though I have the Yoga 910 Lisa smh. Pockets are screaming. Fantastic review as always.
I bought it about a month ago based on this review..... Well, I LOVE IT! I was looking to go to the Surface book with similar specs. I got this instead and saved about $1600.00. HP happy now....
They did a refresh of the x360 13 a week or 2 ago. It now has an active digitizer! You should do a review on it!
Hi Lisa, I purchased the Spectre x360 15.6" laptop from Best Buy last week. Your review(s) certainly helped in my purchase decision. I was down to two laptops, the 15" Spectre or the Dell XPS 15. I really loved the quad core i7 and Nvidia 1050 GPU from the Dell but an excellent keyboard/trackpad are paramount to me. I felt the XPS keyboard/trackpad were very lacking, so I sacrificed the higher-end specs for a much more usable laptop. The 4K screen is truly amazing! It's sharp enough that you can almost run at 100% scaling -- which is REALLY small. I run at 150% with no problems. Windows 10 and most apps seem to scale pretty well. The included Samsung PM961 NvME drive is very fast as you pointed out. HP makes it easy to order the restore software (for a fee) and it's sent on a USB key. The speakers were actually very impressive -- for a laptop especially. The volume bar on the right side is actually quite nice to have. I played with the HP at a local Best Buy for about 30 minutes before pulling the trigger. I don't think I'll use it as a 2-in-1 that much but it may come in handy during work meetings. (I'll be using mostly Outlook/MS Office and Visual Studio 2017.) My only nitpicks are the insanely reflective IPS panel and the [limited] HP UEFI BIOS. Also, be careful when plugging in the USB-C charger as it has to be completely flush with the casing in order to charge. If the cord gets knocked slightly then it may pull out just enough that it stops charging. I've had this happen a couple of times. Cheers!
That is only golden thing that I would buy in my life. It looks so awesome.
Lisa, THANK YOU! There was an accident with my laptop the other day (warranty expired 3 weeks ago) and I needed to purchase a new one within 24 hours. I read so many tech reviews before stumbling upon your videos. You made my decision much easier! I bought the HP Spectre x360 13-ac075nr (New Model) I cant wait to use it!
LOL I'm sure she appreciates the compliment! :)
I just bought mine yesterday. OMG this is the best decision I have made in a long time. After going through hell with two Dell Laptops (Inspiron 7000 and a XPS both 2017) and a MacBook Pro, I can say that this is perfect for me. I am a college student. Here is why I love this thing:
1. Gorgeous 4K Screen. I mean I just want any excuse to sit in front of it.
2. HDMI 2.0 meaning 4K at 60Hz great for my Samsun 4K TV.
3. One Thunderbolt full speed 40GB
4. One USB Type-C
5. One regular type-A USB 3.0
6. SD Card Slot
7. The speakers are actually freaking good for. Laptop.
8. It has a Samsung PCIe SSD blazing fast.
Excellent Laptop. Pull the trigger if you don't need a ton of power. Remember it's a Dual Core that it does almost everything fast, but not as fast as a Quad Core.
Forgot to mention, Windows Hello is a beauty it works even when is really dark.
Hey there I feel you with Dell, have a desktop that's 8 years old, so reason I chose Dell over anything worst mistake ever! I have a MacBook Retina over 2 years old runs like the day I first bought it. I had to get a PC for college as software wasn't Mac compatible so got their top of of the line Inspiron 15" 7000, the thing has been at the Geek Squad 2x already, that thing kept on getting the Blue Screen of Death just by surfing the internet and even after a fresh install of Windows 10 on it did no good, and I just couldn't live with this computer because the software I use doesn't autosave whatever I work I've done so there's definitely no peace of mind at all. The first time I sent it out they made it even worse they got dust in between the LCD panel so it went back again for the crashing issue and now the screen. To top it off the backlight bleed on it was bad and screen quality suffered, also battery life was bad would get at the most 2.5 hours.
Luckily I bought the accidental protection at Best Buy when I got that mediocre laptop. I had called Best Buy corporate to explain what was going on and scheduled me for an appointment today so I told them what can I do I'm still paying for the a laptop that doesn't work properly, so they did an exception and gave me credit for my Dell laptop and then I ended up debating between the Lenovo Yoga and this HP Spectre 15, the specs, graphics card, battery life a 6 cell vs. Dell's 3 cell, 16GB of RAM, and that 512 GB SSD and then the ports won me over. Well I had to order it cause no Best Buy had it in store I'm pretty sure I will love it just like you do! Almost $1000 difference more cause I had to buy the accidental protection again but I'm pretty sure it will be worth it! I don't know HP never really caught my attention but doesn't hurt to give them a try. Glad to know I'm not the only one with Dell computer issues.
Having watched other reviews of this and other products I can honestly say - THANK YOU Mobile TechReview and LISA for you consistent review quality. Keep up the excellent work. You guys are awesome!!! Awesome laptop BTW!
hey guys, just purchased one of these. great laptop, a bit too heavy though. Just putting this out there - to enable windows hello, install the latest IR camera driver off the HP website (it's called "HP TrueVision Full HD (FHD) RGB-IR Webcam Driver"). And to get pressure sensitivity working install the latest WinTab drivers. hope this helps someone save time googling
Psi34ax did you have any issues with the track pad?
@D-rrgamer none at all, the thing is massive, about five inches wide, but buttery smooth and taps/presses are good as well. Multitouch gestures are on par with top end windows laptops..
Psi34ax great and thanks for the quick reply
I had an interesting laptop buying experience this year. I've been using a work provided MacBook Pro 15 fully spec'd for the last 3 years and it started to die on me (these things don't seem to age well if you travel a lot). I loved MacOS but having used Windows 10 on my desktop, I don't really have ties to any eco-system aside from apps on the iPhone so that didn't matter to me. I knew I wanted at least a Kaby i7, 16GB RAM, a fast SSD and good battery life - I didn't care if it was quad core or not since I do all of my programming/computing in the cloud now. I first bought a Razer Blade 14" thinking I'd enjoy being able to game on the go. Turns out I didn't really have time to game in hotel rooms when I traveled so the trade offs that it brought (screen bezel, price, meh battery life) wasn't worth it. I then tried the Razer Blade Stealth but it still didn't feel "right" so I ended up returning that as well. My work let me take a fully loaded XPS 15 for a spin and while it was a great machine, I didn't care for the design. I almost picked up one of the new MacBook Pros but I couldn't justify the price to spec ratio. I ended up picking up the 13" version of the new Spectre x360 (with pen + 4K screen) and I can honestly say it's the best laptop I've used since the MacBook Pro 15. It's got everything I could ever want - good battery life, good screen, touch/pen input (awesome for digital white boarding and presentations), sexy design, good keyboard/trackpad - I couldn't be happier. The only reason I didn't go for this 15" version was because I didn't need the extra screen real estate. Hope that helps anyone who's in my situation. I would have possibly waited to see what the next gen Surface Pro looks like but I needed something now.
@Marc Selwan I am in a struggle between going for spectre x360 15" and 13" (4k screen). How is the battery life for the 13" 4k display, is it enough to last a whole day at work without charging (programming related)? Also, did you get the laptop from bestbuy website? I can't seem to find the 13" version on HP website.
I picked mine up from Best Buy. I just came back from a conference and I was able to get 8 hours out of it with about 20% left each day. If you're doing some heavy duty compiling though, I'm not sure how that would affect the battery life.
8 hrs is pretty impressive with 4k display. Thanks for the answer. I think I'll go for 13 inch
Marc Selwan the next gen surface book will be my next PC laptop 2 in 1 to get. All these convertibles at the moment are just poor excuses of 2 in 1's. Can't wait for the new surface book, enjoyed the newer one with the 960 gtx, but returned it and being patient for the new release.
Marc Selwan do you know if the new 13" uses the n-trig like the 15" or the old synaptics? I have the 13" with synaptics and definitely see room for improvement
I would for sure take the x360 13 over the XPS 13, but I wouldn't take a x360 15 over the XPS 15.
wish this had a quad core and a newer GPU.
Ah, unless you're one of those folks who wants a convertible and a pen. A shame there aren't any quad core laptops with pen that are this thin and light.
hopefully they get a 2 in 1 XPS 15 in the future!
Lenovo is going to attempt this with their new Yoga 720 coming out. It is said to be quad core convertible. I wouldn't mind Vaio refreshing their Canvas and giving it a better keyboard, cooling, FHD screen only for better battery life
how does the weight btw xps15 and x360 15 compare
XPS 15 is around 4.4 pounds and the x360 is 4 pounds.
I've never seen someone so happy during a review :D must be good!!
OMG YES I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS REVIEW!
God, it is so refreshing to watch informed tech reviews that just give you the info and avoid the fluff. You're the only reviewer I can watch without skipping through minutes of intro, waffle and hyperbole. Thank you for this, and for the art-stuff video - you're exactly what I needed.
I just love Lisa's reviews .Best on the net . Thanks
Just received mine yesterday. Holy Smokes what a machine. And the screen....Lisa is spot on for this review. Wow.
Lisa Gade. You are the most pleasant 'Tech Reviewer' out there.
From your professional approach to your soothing voice and the concise yet detailed video. I enjoyed every second and it got me surprised. With you, one review is enough. I am sold. (not to the product but to your presentation of it)
I have to say, i trust your opinions on tech more than any other reviewer out there. Thank you so much, you’ve helped me make so many informed purchasing decisions.
I love your reviews, they always cover all the real world information and specs that I care about that other channels seem to gloss over. You give a really good sense of what I'm actually buying, not just synthetic benchmarks and vague "is made well"
This computer is kick ass. Had it for a week and I'm loving it.
I picked up this model at Best Buy last week. I am in love with this thing. It's great for college courses and a bit of light gaming.
Excellent review, thanks! It's so nice to see a review that isn't totally focused on gaming and silly benchmarks, and instead talks about the real world user experience. Well done!
Lisa your reviews are amazing. You are always so full of energy and knowledgeable. You really know your stuff. I come to you for all of my tech like phones and computers. Thank you so much! :)
knew this would be a hit as soon as it was announced, picked it up last week from best buy and am in love
You really pushed me over on this. I was thinking about the Yoga 910, but with my employer discount at HP I could get this at the same price.
Good video and review as always.
Thank you very much Lisa for this review!!! I'd been anxiously waiting for it! 😃
That is for sure a "I have to have it laptop!". Great review Lisa. I loved the HP Spectre X360 13' (was my favorite laptop last year) and this looks to be a great upgrade with all of the ports. I will have to buy one for my channel ;)
Lisa Gade - Excellent unbiased review!
After being disappointed by HP in the last couple years, i went out on i whim and purchased the exact model you're reviewing.
I've been using my HP x360 for the past couple months (May 17) and couldn't be happier. Cheers
Pros
- battery life !!!!
- 2 in 1
- Bang & Olufsen sound system is impressive
- Screaming fast
- looks great
- excellent screen resolution
- pen and leather case included (Lisa forgot to mention the pen slot above the Velcro)
- Glad to see the flanking ventilation - nice for lap use
- Great price for the hardware but unfortunately only available in Windows OS
- NVidia 1060
Cons
- Keyboard resistance is a tad light
- Monitor hinge could be sturdier
- touch-pad is slightly too wide ... the right button width seems to be 1/8 of the left button width?
- Would like another 3.0 usb port
I just bought one of these and I am loving it so far, it suits what I need it for just fine. Great video as usual!
Fabulous review, Lisa. Great personality, and lots of good information. I've watched this review about 5 times... and similarly the separate review especially for artists. So, I just bought this Spectre. Thank you!
Watching it so early that youtube has not even finished rendering it yet
I don't subscribe to many channels....just wanted to say I really enjoy yours. Thanks Lisa.
Please do the separate art video! Thanks for all your good work.
Quality is getting better and better!
I bought the 13" 24 months ago, and I love it, time to upgrade!
A very insightful and lengthy review. Thank you for sharing!
will you make a review for the HP Spectre 13 with 4k display?
Thank you for such a great video. I was really stuck trying to decide on a laptop. You pointed out the exact things I wanted on a laptop so now I'm off to buy it.
Thanks we liked your crisp and candid review with a clear bottom line.
Artwork video!
Yes artwork video!!
Your reviews are always THE BEST! Very well done, so helpful... I am now MORE inspired to buy this HP computer... Thank you.
I literally just returned my Dell Inspiron 7000 gaming laptop, which was a big big big mistake. I just need to save a bit more and I am getting this beauty! Excellent review, thank you.
Consistently good, professional reviews. Thank you!
Being an artist waiting for this bad boy to come out in Canada I'd love a video showcasing art with this laptop!
It looks like the absolutely nailed it. I think this is the one! A beautiful, well specified, functional 15 inch 2 in 1 with n-trig. 3 year warranty too. The only problem is I can't find it with 16GB in the UK
I want this HP so bad! Now I got envy but this spectre is amazing. Great video as always :)
I don't even plan to buy anything, I just watch her reviews because they're the best ever. Along with Marques's.
Got this yesterday in part based on this review Lisa. Upgrading from my Asus Zenbook UX303UB. So far so good, but I push my machines as I need to use Chrome + Dragon Naturally Speaking + Photoshop at the same time. Its testing well, but the fan is on quite frequently for anyone who is interested. Heats up quickly, but can manage to stay zippy even when running software like I do. Touchscreen is lovely and display fantastic. Might even watch movies on this guy. Seamless integration with external monitor and an easy [if not clacky] keyboard. Do miss all the ports the zenbook had and lighter weight, but this one does have a single usb standard so its a good inbetween.
Lisa, I wanted to say thanks for all the years of great reviews - I love your knowledge and humour and unbiased (yea!) opinions!
great review with details as always!
HP is getting better and better. and this 2-in1 laptop is what I just need but with the 13" model. 15" is a little too big for me.
I own last years version of this laptop and i've pretty jealous TBH. A ton of great incremental improvements
You did another great review and this HP looks amazing there is no doubt in my mind when I say this is probably HP's best laptop they ever made it's looks nice and is powerful too.
this looks so premium. I wish gaming laptops looked like this.
Thanks for the review. I was looking at this for my daughters and this helped me decide.
I bought the x360 2017 15 inch its really great laptop the 4k screen is gorgeous and the keyboard feel excellent also the wide track pad its confertable and responsive... The battery is solid will not let you down.. The charger is incredibly fast..the design is wonderful... I recommend it 👍
Never seen Lisa so positive about a laptop before this review. She's convincing me to give it a try.
Overall great reviews. I bought one of these based on this review (along with a few others). But you didn't mention how hot this thing gets! My hands start sweating within a few minutes of turning the laptop on. The laptop stays hot constantly even when idle or performing non-demanding tasks like word processing. It noticeably heats up my small office at work. And oh boy does the bottom get super hot! I guess if you need a space heater or hand warmer in the winter than this is the laptop for you!
What a fantastic review thank you so much for this. You've helped me a lot with my laptop selection
I have this laptop and I absolutely love it. Also it has new car smell. Seems perfect so far
Can’t wait for the review of the i7 8th gen quad core !!
For a dual core with a 940M, which isn't that much better than the integrated Iris 550, the weight nor the battery life are that impressive. 4.5 pounds isn't exactly heavy, my laptop through university was 6 pounds, but it's the same weight as the quad core XPS 15, or half a pound more than the quad core rMBP 15, both of which also have better GPUs. The touchscreen brings significant drawbacks it seems. I think 4K may have been too much of a stretch here and forced larger batteries that made it weigh more than a dual core stretched out ultrabook ought to.
Speed test with the three mentioned would be a great video!
Good review Lisa, and yep I think this is a nice machine.
I'm typing this off an XPS 9560, I'm returning it due the device being faulty, and will be picking this up, I don't really need a quad core cpu or a 1050. I'm just a student who needs a normal laptop, the spectre looks better and for me the biggest factors will be the screen and track pad, I know the Dell has a better screen and precision trackpad, but the spectre just seems a better machine for my purpose overall.
Nobody does it quite like Lisa... :)
Really appreciate your reviews - well done & thank you! :)
SHOUT OUT!!!
OH GOD! I got so excited when you said "now, if you want a separate video on art shout out in the comments and I can make that happen"
I started watching your videos because I wanted to see which tablet/laptop would be the best for graphic designing and illustrating,so far I've found
Vaio Z Canvas
Microsoft Surface Book
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Lenovo Yoga 900s
Lenovo Thinkpad X1
HP Spectre x360
to be nice options but I still need to complement your videos with reviews coming from artists, which is a completely different point of view and is not as detailed and inclusive of software AND hardware specs as you, so I would love your opinion on which is the best art-wise!!
Can you please do a smackdown video of this vs the surface book with performance base?
She's really good at looking at the camera, you think she's talking to you personally which is great
I just got mine the day before yesterday.....and I think it's awesome so far. I had bought a dell xps 15 but returned it because I couldn't live with the distorted sound coming from the speakers. So then I went and bought this and I'm really happy with it. The extra column of keys along the right side of the keyboard takes some getting used to, but not a big deal. Overall this might be the best laptop I've owned. As a side note did anyone notice that this year's XPS 15 was not quite as bright as last year's? My father has last year's model and I noticed right away this year's model was somewhat dimmer. Thought it was strange for Dell to go backwards, which they did. This HP, on the other hand seems brighter than the XPS 15 from this year......just one more reason why I like this HP a lot more.
The screen is definitely amazing
Yes it for sure is a great screen, and bright too. Really everything about this laptop is just real nice. Glad I got it.
I don't understand why they haven't made a quad core version yet. If they did it would be right up there with the MBP and the XPS15
Thank you Lisa for your cool tech videos! Since last year, you've been the Pole star of my laptop research. Lol I'm planning to change my laptop this year, I was looking for a powerful and light machine. The new Dell xps 15 seemed to be a good option - i7-7700HQ, 512 GB SSD, NVIDIA 1050 (1699 USD), but now this spectre came out and I'm reconsidering my options. I'll use it for university, blogging, video editing. I am intrigued by the 4K display, the touch option and price of the new HP, but I don't actually know if it will change the way I use my laptop. Is it worth it to spend those 200USD more for the Dell? Is it really more powerful? (I don't play games on my laptop). Will you do a comparison smackdown video? (keep it up, I follow you from Italy) Ciao!
Guido Macaluso Same. Although you can get the xps 15 for around 1550 USD if you use promo codes (TENOFF). Still, even if they where at the same price, I can't decide. For 1500 I could also get a 2016 XPS, with 4k display. So I think it boils down to if I want better performance (quad core and GPU) or convertible+pen.
Matias Hosiasson sorry to say most convertibles are kind of lame unless it's the Microsoft surface book. Once using the surface book with detachable tablet, every other 2 in 1 does not matter. So I'd say it's either between the XPS 15 or the surface book, everything else is just blah...
+jed23ify
The Surface 4 has a last-gen CPU and spec'd similar to this Spectre is more than double the cost.
Agreed. A smack down comparison of the XPS 9560 vs this lovely HP would be greatly appreciated. Was getting the XPS but now I'm torn!
Congratulations on half a million subs ++! Can you please do a smackdown of this unit with microsoft surface book?
Fantastic review as always. Would love to see a review using PS and LR. Thanks
this vs a similarly priced Dell XPS 15 9560?
Looks like HP has turned the corner! This is a sweet looking 15"
I love the design of the Spectre x360! Best looking windows laptop in the market! I would buy this but i'll wait until they add stereo speakers, a quad core 8th gen and gtx 1100+ version.
OMG HALF A MILLION SUBS CONGRATS! IT WAS 499,000 JUST A FEW DAYS AGO!!! WOWWWW :D
Dang, the only thing it's missing for me would be a quad-core cpu. And to a lesser extend, more powerful gpu and easily upgradable ram. Seems like a very nice product.
Actually not the same config everywhere. The x360 15" I bought from Best Buy a week after your video had neither the pen nor the discrete (NVidia) graphics you mentioned.
Shannon Massman that's because you most likely bought the old silver one
how would you compare the 4K screen on the new HP 15 inch Spectre, to the Dell XPS 15 4K screen
I've just bought one, I think it's pretty great. Only niggles are that the power button placement makes it quite easy to turn off by mistake, and the power connector is very easily unseated. Otherwise it's top notch.
Moved to MAC 5 yrs ago, virus issues. It's a very nice alternative to Mac Pro 15(save $1K)....Windows is stumbling block.
PS you seen HP DESKTOP with the curved screen, now that is a neat product. Would love if Apple would do that iMac update next month.
Like your reviews....your reviews alway well thought out and insightful!
Good job HP this is really nicely designed and not bad at all for the price, I'd say best 15 inch yet for windows, in really like this does check all the boxes like you said nice review!
Hi Lisa;
The pretty finish on the Spectre is a selling point for a lot of people. But I'm wondering how it'll look after several months of hard use. Can you do a follow-up video on how the finish on the Spectre is holding up?
Mitch
This is great. Thanks to your videos, I get a feel for what type of laptop to buy. Thank you. 🙂
Thanks for the review!! Lisa, how many levels of pressure sensitivity are on the screen?
And are you certain the RGB coverage isn't more than 75%? I'm a little disappointed it isn't better than that.
The pen is pressure sensitive. Though I cannot confirm how many levels.
Unfortunately, the RGB coverage is only 72% color gamut. This is the main reason why I will be returning the Spectre. As a Graphic Designer, a more color-accurate display is very important, and I did notice a difference in vibrancy between the 2017 Spectre and 2016 MBP.
The Spectre's 4K display is stunning though...and watching 4K video content or editing videos in 4K res is a treat. The keyboard is also phenomenal.
I'm a bit worried about the new MBPs butterfly-mech keyboard...as I've heard there have been multiple instances with sticky and high-pitched key sounds.
Thank you for your input. I just ordered this system a few days ago. I'm a little disappointed that the color gamut isn't better. But I plan on buying an external monitor anyway for my workstation at home, one with a full color gamut where I'll be doing most of my actual work, anyway (except for pen drawing), so I'm not too worried about it. I don't see myself doing a lot of color work at large or "on the go." Everything else seems very solid and so I went for it. I should receive it in a few weeks.
I looked into the 2016 MBPs, but I didn't like the keyboard at all. I can't say I've heard about sticky keys or high-pitched noises -- those are new to me (and just add to the list of problems) -- but I typed on one and the keyboard was clacky and VERY loud that way. Plus, the keys just bottomed out too soon. Both those things were complete deal killers to me. Not to mention, all the trouble I've heard about regarding the USB-C ports and WiFi, etc., the missing ports, and the increase in price. All of that was just too much. Also, although the MBP, otherwise, has decent hardware (but no 7th gen Kaby Lake CPU which is a shame considering the price), Apple isn't doing anything truly interesting with it right now. A touch strip is hardly inspired, interesting, or useful -- in my opinion, anyway. Others will disagree. Just my $.02.
Your reviews are great! :) Wish you all the best!
Could someone PLEASE address the charging issues on the 2017 Spectre x360 15 inch? A replacement/backup genuine charger is nor has ever been available from HP and it appears the lightening ports on this particular model allow only genuine OEM HP charger to be used. Some report that a bios tweak will allow lightening port charging with non-HP devices yet it it is unreliable and lasts but a few days. HP customer support is spotty on this issue with some representatives denying any problem and some helping as best they can with the BIOS tweak. HP customer service seems completely unaware that the original HP charger has never been available for purchase since the 2017 x360 15 inch was introduced. Any 2017 15 inch x360 owners making progress on this unfortunate mess?
Lisa’s reviews..... ROCK
Would love more reviews on this device please. Illustrating on this device with multiple softwares maybe?
Hi! I recently discovered your channel and I really really like it, love your reviews. Keep the good work, I look forward for your next videos!!!
As an engineering student I have the 13" Skylake spectre x360, and I definitely plan on upgrading to this one this summer, assuming they don't release one with updated GPU
Thanks for the detailed review!
Install SurfacePro Wintab driver to make the pen work the way it should. Truly a 100 % improvement .
Could we please get a smackdown between this and the latest Dell XPS 15? They seem about the same price and I'm struggling to decide!
Paul Kerr Get the XPS if you need the quad core and GTX 1050. If you don't, get the Spectre :)
The Spectre is also quite cheaper if you are comparing the 4K option of the XPS.
the design is fabulous 😍😍😍
Hey
Is there coming a dell xps 15 2017 review?
Is the gpu also switchable if you want to save some battery on the xps 15?
Thank you in advance
TheInfoGamerTV gpu is switchable btw
Great review Lisa. When does this go on sale at Best Buy?
I don't know about 'on sale' but it's available now for purchase through Best Buy.
Your review was the turning point where I took a chance moving from my 2011 MacBook Air to the 2017 15” HP Spectre 360. What a mistake. This HP was lagging, it kept shutting off until it finally wouldn’t boot up. I had to fight to the corporate level to get a refund!
I was so excited to try the hinged laptop with the touchscreen... not worth it at all when the unit sucked.
Awaiting my refund via paper check and I’ll just spend the money and get a new MacBook pro. At least I could actually complete my work and not lose it.
Did she ever make a video on digital art using the x360? I just bought the computer and I'm having issues with Photoshop recognizing the pressure sensitivity