Convertibles and detachables are ideal for people who need versatility but only want one device. Microsoft's Surface Pro ran on that idea and became a convenient multi-use product for many. However, the newest update to the Surface Pro left a lot to be desired, and other OEMs are jumping on this opportunity to out-Surface the Surface Pro.

HP's updated Spectre x2 fine-tunes the original device's design while giving the internals a power boost from Core M to Core i5/i7 for better productivity. The Spectre x2 is also more affordable than the Surface Pro and includes its keyboard and pen in the box rather than forcing customers to pay extra for them. HP's Spectre x2 challenges the value of the Surface Pro while also trying to prove to users that you can make a two-in-one your main PC without much compromise.

Look and feel

The Spectre x2 is still a detachable, so it has the design pros and cons of any detachable. Working in its favor is its portability: the slab measures 11.57×0.52×8.15 inches, and weighs just under 2.5 pounds with both the tablet and keyboard accounted for. With a dark-ash silver finish and copper accents, it fits into HP's Spectre family nicely and will likely fit in well with its other high-end two-in-one peers sitting on your meeting room table.

Specs at a glance: HP Spectre x2 (2017) Base Best As reviewed Screen 12.3-inch, 3,000×2,000, 293ppi IPS touchscreen OS Windows 10 Home CPU Intel Core i5-7260U Intel Core i7-7560U Intel Core i7-7560U RAM 8GB LPDDR3 16GB LPDDR3 8GB LPDDR3 GPU Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640 SSD 128GB PCIe SSD 1TB PCIe SSD 360GB PCIe SSD Networking 2×2 802.11ac WLAN, Bluetooth 4.2 Ports 2 USB Type-C (data up to 5Gb/s, power, DisplayPort 1.2, HP Sleep and Charge), microSD card slot, audio combo jack Cameras Rear: 13MP

Front: 5MP WDR wide view Size 293×207×7.7mm (11.57×0.52×8.15 in—tablet only) Weight 2.49 pounds (tablet and keyboard) Battery 41Whr Warranty 1 year Price $1,149 $1,969 $1,299 Other features N-trig pen, attachable keyboard, Windows Hello IR camera, USB Type-C to USB Type-A dongle

One of the biggest cons to devices like the Spectre x2 is their dependence on tables or other hard surfaces. Two-in-ones typically aren't great to use on your lap and perform better when sitting on a desk, and this is true of the Spectre x2. The first time I pushed out the kickstand and set the device on my lap with its keyboard attached, the kickstand slid off my knees and brought the entire two-in-one down with it. Getting the angle right for your leg length is crucial to making sure the Spectre x2 stays put and in one piece when you need it most.

However, the device does feel better supported by the redesigned, 3.5mm U-shaped hinge made of copper-accented stainless steel. HP revamped the hinge mechanism slightly and moved the latch that kept the original Spectre x2's hinge closed to the back of the device. Now, the updated model has small thumb indents on either side that you can use to push the hinge outward and away from the tablet. The hinge magnetically rests against the device, so you won't have to worry about it falling out of place when you don't want to use it—in that way, it's quite secure.

The hinge's wide, 165-degree angle of movement is also great for getting that perfect position for typing, tapping, or drawing. I appreciate that the hinge supports the tablet even at super low angles, which are undoubtedly more useful for hardcore artists than someone like me. But it's a comfortable option to have if you're an active stylus user as well.

HP improved the display on the x2 from the original by giving it a higher resolution than the Surface Pro. The new 12.3-inch, 3,000×2,000 (293ppi) IPS touchscreen is lovely to look at and use. It can reach a brightness of 450 nits, so if you like displays to be super bright, you'll love this one. It has a 3:2 aspect ratio, which lets you use screen space more efficiently in both landscape and portrait mode.

At this point, OEMs are trying to make bezels as thin as possible with each iteration of a product, and HP has followed suit by shaving the side and bottom bezels on the new x2 by a good amount. Now the side bezels measure 13.75mm, down from the originals' 19.8mm, and the bottom bezel measures 16.36mm, which is less than the original's 20.76mm. Not only do slim bezels help manufacturers put bigger displays on smaller devices, but they also make you feel like you have a display that's somewhat larger than you should have, given the physical dimensions of the tablet.

With that said, the Spectre x2's bezels are gargantuan compared to those of regular clamshells, like the 4.4mm side bezels on Huawei's Matebook X. But you need that extra bit of space on a detachable because you'll be grabbing and handling the edges of the device more than those of a traditional laptop's lid.

The hinge's side notches are noticeable breaks in the Spectre x2's smooth, rounded sides, as are its few buttons and ports. The power button sits on the top edge, and the two volume buttons are on the right side. The updated Spectre x2 has technically fewer ports than the recently updated Surface Pro, but the selection is more thoughtful. HP included two USB Type-C ports on the slab, along with an SD card slot and an audio combo jack. Considering the Surface Pro only has one USB Type-A port and no Type-C ports at all, the Spectre x2 is more future-proof. Not including a USB Type-A port from the x2 let HP make its device slimmer than Microsoft's as well (7.7mm thick compared to the Surface Pro's 8.5mm). HP included a Type-C-to-Type-A dongle in the Spectre x2 box, so even if it's not built into the device, you can still make use of any Type-A accessories you have.

I also appreciate that both Type-C ports, while not Thunderbolt 3, do support charging, DisplayPort 1.2, and data transfer up to 5Gb/s. It's refreshing and convenient to not have to worry about charging a device through the correct port; the Matebook X is one of those devices in which only one of the two Type-C ports supports charging.

Two other notable features of the slab itself are the IR camera on the top bezel and the slim front-firing speakers on either side bezel. There's no fingerprint reader, but the included Windows Hello camera will let you unlock the x2 with your face in milliseconds. It sits right next to the 5MP webcam, and the device also has a 13MP rear-facing camera.

The original Spectre x2 had side-firing speakers and an integrated keyboard speaker, but the updated model includes two barely noticeable front-firing speakers, with two discrete amplifiers in the device. The grills are super slim and measure just 1.5 inches long. Since they're black, like the bezel color, it's hard to see them clinging to the edges of the device. They produce loud and crisp sound—perfectly fine for listening to music or podcasts at your desk.

It's worth mentioning that HP does not include a fanless Spectre x2 option. The original Spectre x2 included Core M processor options, but the new version doesn't—the base model comes with a U-series Kaby Lake Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB PCIe SSD. The most affordable models of Microsoft's new Surface Pro are fanless thanks to Microsoft including 4.5W Y-series CPUs in the cheapest models and manipulating the design of the mid-range, 15W U-series models to eliminate the fans. HP presumably decided the performance trade-offs weren't worth getting rid of the fans, so each new Spectre x2 has two internal fans.

In my experience with the device, noise wasn't a huge problem, but I wouldn't call the Spectre x2 quiet either. I heard the fans spinning the most while running our benchmark tests when the device was under a lot of pressure. The tablet also got quite warm during our benchmark testing, too. During regular use—Web browsing, video streaming, etc.—I didn't hear the fans much at all. If you absolutely need a fanless device, other options are available for you.

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Valentina Palladino

Listing image by Valentina Palladino