HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) Review

In a crowded market of premium 2-in-1 laptops, finding a device that truly balances power, portability, and panache can feel like an impossible quest. The 2024 HP Spectre x360 14 arrives not just as another contender, but as a bold statement on what a modern convertible should be. It challenges the established leaders by blending cutting-edge hardware with a refined, user-centric design that demands a closer look.

HP has traded its signature sharp, “gem-cut” aesthetic for a softer, more rounded industrial design with this year’s Spectre x360 14, and the change is for the better. The all-aluminum chassis feels impeccably crafted, with tight tolerances and a reassuring rigidity that exudes quality. It’s comfortable to hold in any orientation, from traditional laptop mode to tablet mode, thanks to smooth, curved edges that don’t dig into your palms. The 360-degree hinge is perfectly tuned—firm enough to prevent screen wobble, yet smooth enough to adjust with one hand. While it’s not the absolute lightest 14-inch laptop available, its balance and svelte profile make it an easy companion for travel or a commute.

The star of the show is undeniably the 14.5-inch 2.8K OLED display. With a variable refresh rate that can ramp up to 120Hz, motion is incredibly fluid, whether you’re scrolling through a document or watching a film. Colors are punchy and vibrant, and the infinite contrast ratio delivers the deep, inky blacks that only OLED technology can provide. It’s a stunning canvas for both productivity and media consumption. Below the screen sits a new, large haptic touchpad that provides solid, customizable feedback, though it still falls just short of the seamless implementation found on Apple’s MacBooks. Above the display, however, is a class-leading 9MP IR webcam that produces a sharp, detailed image, making you look your best in video calls without needing an external camera.

Under the hood, the Spectre is powered by Intel’s new Core Ultra processors. These “Meteor Lake” chips bring a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to the table, designed to accelerate AI-based tasks locally, like background blur in video calls, with greater efficiency. In practical terms, the Core Ultra 7 155H in our review unit delivered snappy, responsive performance across a wide range of tasks, from heavy multi-tab browsing to light photo editing in Adobe Lightroom. The integrated Intel Arc graphics are a noticeable step up from the previous generation’s Iris Xe, handling light gaming and creative workloads more capably, but this is still not a machine for serious gamers. Thermals are well-managed, with the fans remaining quiet under typical loads, though they will spin up audibly during sustained, demanding tasks.

The Spectre x360 14’s value proposition is complex. This is a premium device with a price tag to match, placing it in direct competition with heavyweights like the Dell XPS 14 and Apple MacBook Air. It justifies its cost with a feature set that few others can match in a single package: a top-tier OLED display, a fantastic webcam, a comfortable and versatile 2-in-1 design, and the inclusion of a rechargeable stylus in the box. Battery life is decent, but you’ll need to manage brightness and background tasks to consistently get through a full workday, as the power-hungry OLED panel can be a significant drain.

Ultimately, the 2024 HP Spectre x360 14 is a triumph of thoughtful engineering and user-focused design. It’s an ideal machine for the discerning professional, creative, or student who wants a premium Windows convertible that makes very few compromises. If you value an exceptional display, a versatile form factor, and top-tier features for communication and productivity over raw gaming power, the Spectre x360 14 is one of the most compelling laptops you can buy today.

Where to Buy:

Check it out on Amazon