HP has announced a raft of updates to its laptop and desktop range, bringing not only standard upgrades like Intel’s 12th-gen CPUs but new features and functionality. That’s most apparent in the new HP Spectre x360 14, which boasts a refreshed design, new hybrid work-focused tools and a taller aspect ratio.
The latest Spectre x360 14 has had a bit of a facelift compared to older models in the Spectre range, with slightly more curvature to its edges to give it a less angular look. It’s still very much a Spectre at heart, but these small design changes give it a sleeker overall feel.
It’s also available with a new splash of colour, with a gorgeous Nocturne Blue shade accompanying the standard Nightfall Black and Natural Silver finishes. It might be subtle, but the blue flash is a particular joy to see in person.
But while a refreshed design is always welcome, HP has efforts into upgrading other areas of the latest Spectre. The company says it has listened to its customers over the past few years, and in particular, the changing needs of hybrid workers.
Webcams, for example, weren’t that essential pre-pandemic, but they’re one of the key features for most hybrid workers in 2022. That’s why HP has not only upped the megapixel count to 5Mp for the latest Spectre, but it has IR support for Windows Hello and a bunch of software enhancements.
One favourite feature is a digital ring light that appears on-screen when the camera is active, giving you a faux (albeit customisable) ring light for extra brightness. It can also zoom in on your face or readjust the angle of the camera if a second person walks into frame – much like smart displays from the likes of Amazon and Meta.
The laptop was designed with a focus on privacy too, offering a physical webcam cover and an optional privacy screen – toggled by a key on the keyboard – for extra peace of mind.
The 13.5in display has also had a change compared to its predecessor, with a new 3:2 aspect ratio providing a taller display than 16:10 alternatives. That’s ideal, not only for creatives and video editors with more on-screen space for tools, but for those that work across multiple apps at once. Although it does mean Hollywood blockbusters will have larger black bars than usual.
Aspect ratio aside, the touchscreen display is impressive. The new Spectre comes with either a Full HD IPS LCD display at up to 120Hz or, if you want to truly splash out, there’s an option with a 4K OLED panel too. Whatever you opt for, you can look forward to features like low blue light protection, anti-reflective coating and Corning’s Gorilla Glass NBT for added durability.
With a premium design and intuitive features, it should come as no surprise that the new Spectre x360 14 is capable in the performance department. It features up to Intel’s 12th-gen Core i7-1255U coupled with up to 32GB of LPDDRT4 RAM and 2TB of PCIe Gen4 M.2 SSD storage.
While it doesn’t feature a dedicated GPU, opting instead for Intel’s Iris Xe integrated graphics, it should still be a capable machine for work and play – though gamers may want to opt for the new HP Victus 15 instead.
It does have Intel Evo certification though, so expect great performance, impressive battery life – up to 19.5 hours according to HP – and fast charging speeds that’ll get you 50% charge in just 45 minutes.
The HP Spectre x360 14 will be available starting today at HP and Best Buy in the US, starting at $1,249. Those in the UK have a little longer to wait, with release scheduled for sometime in August, with prices starting at £1,399.
It’ll launch alongside the larger £1,599/$1,649 HP Spectre x360 16, which has a larger display, Alder Lake CPUs and Intel’s new Arc mobile graphics card.
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Author: Lewis Painter, Senior Staff Writer
Lewis Painter is a Senior Staff Writer at Tech Advisor. Our resident Apple expert, Lewis covers everything from iPhone to AirPods, plus a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and gaming hardware. You'll also find him on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.