www.windowscentral.com Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700::6812:bd37  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

/search

<form id="form-main-search" class="header-top__navigation-search-form" action="/search">
  <button type="submit"></button>
  <input type="text" id="main-search" name="query" placeholder="Search...">
</form>

Text Content

WE VALUE YOUR PRIVACY

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies
and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information
sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement,
and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products.
With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation data and
identification through device scanning. You may click to consent to our and our
partners’ processing as described above. Alternatively you may access more
detailed information and change your preferences before consenting or to refuse
consenting.
Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your
consent, but you have a right to object to such processing. Your preferences
will apply to this website only. You can change your preferences at any time by
returning to this site or visit our privacy policy.
MORE OPTIONSAGREE
 * Forums
 * Shop
 * Toggle Search
   

 * Best Laptops
 * Best Graphics Cards
 * Best Motherboards
 * Best Antivirus
 * Best VPN
 * Xbox Series X



We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

 1. Home
    /
 2. Reviews
    /
 3. Laptop Reviews

A PC unicorn


HP SPECTRE X360 16 REVIEW: WITH A 3K OLED DISPLAY AND RTX 3050, THIS LAPTOP IS
ONE OF A KIND

The laptop that does a bit of everything.
Daniel Rubino
18 Apr 2022 7

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Over a year ago, I reviewed HP's Spectre x360 14 with an OLED display. I pulled
no punches, calling it one of the best convertible PCs due to the robustness of
features balanced with a fair price. However, I wasn't nearly as keen on the
bigger 15.6-inch model and I passed on the review to another writer.

So, I hesitated for 2022 when HP offered its more prominent Spectre x360
refresh. Then I saw it and the specs and knew I had to give it a look. HP
addressed all my dislikes of the 15.6" version with an all-new design, hardware,
and some very clever software.

While not everyone needs a convertible 16-inch laptop, HP has made one that is
gorgeous thanks to its giant 16-inch, 16:10 3K OLED display, and tamer chassis
design. Even if you don't flip this to a tablet, it's one of the best laptops
that does a little bit of it all.




HP SPECTRE X360 16 REVIEW:

 * Price and availability
 * Hardware and design
 * Keyboard and trackpad
 * Display
 * Software and performance
 * Battery life
 * Competition
 * Should you buy it?





HP SPECTRE X360 16



Bottom line: A stunning 16-inch laptop that offers up to an RTX 3050 GPU and a
3K OLED display lets you do everything from gaming, taking notes, drawing,
editing photos, or just having fun.


THE GOOD

 * Superb, smoother chassis design
 * Gorgeous 3K UHD+ OLED display
 * HP optimized software is outstanding
 * Impressive 5MP full HD webcam
 * Includes pen and laptop sleeve


THE BAD

 * 12th Gen Intel is already rolling out
 * A bit unwieldy as a 16" tablet
 * Performance is OK

 * From $1,450 at HP
 * $1,630 at Best Buy
 * $2,400 at Amazon


HP SPECTRE X360 16: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

The Spectre x360 16 is now available from HP.com, Best Buy, and Amazon. HP lets
you configure the laptop in specific ways, including integrated Intel graphics,
Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a 3K WLED display, which
brings the starting price closer to $1,500 ($1,250 on sale).

Best Buy and Amazon both have specific SKUs priced slightly higher due to some
more expensive hardware. For example, the Best Buy model uses 32GB of Intel
Optane to improve storage performance.

We used the top-tier model for this review with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 GPU,
1TB SSD (+32GB Intel Optane), 16GB of RAM, and the upgraded UHD+ OLED display,
which retails for $2,120. Users can spec up to 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD for
$2,860.


HP SPECTRE X360 16: HARDWARE AND DESIGN

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

For a few years now, HP has been pushing its "gem cut" design of the Spectre
series, which, while looking great, could come across as a bit flashy for some,
especially when combined with the blingy "black and gold" finishing. In 2022,
I'm glad to see HP soften the Spectre up a bit. Instead of harsh, angular
corners, the Spectre x360 16 opts for smooth, rounded edges. The keyboard deck
rounds off like a pillow, display corners are more rounded, and the whole thing
feels more inviting.

The Spectre x360 16 comes in two color options: Nightfall Black with pale brass
accents (seen in our photos) and Nocturne Blue with celestial blue accents.
Those accents, especially compared to last year's model, are very, very modest
as you barely see the brass. It's a nice look, and one HP should keep for its
other Spectre laptops.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central



Category HP Spectre x360 16 OS Windows 11 Home Processor 11th Gen Intel
Up to Core i7-11390H
Four cores
Up to 5.0GHz RAM 16GB to 32GB DDR4-3200MHz
Soldered Graphics Intel Iris Xe
RTX 3050 Storage 512GB to 1TB
M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
32GB Intel Optane Display 16 inches
3072x1920 (3K)
Touch, IPS
400 nits, 100% sRGB
91% screen-to-body ratio
Flush Glass, Anti-Reflection, micro-edge Pen HP Rechargeable MPP 2.0 Tilt
Included Ports Two Thunderbolt 4
USB-A
3.5mm audio
HDMI 2.0b Audio Quad speakers
Bang & Olufsen tuning Connectivity Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210
Bluetooth 5.2 Camera Front-facing 5MP
IR camera
Camera shutter Keyboard Backlit Touchpad Precision Security Fingerprint reader
IR camera
Camera shutter Battery 83Wh
90W AC adapter Dimensions 14.09 x 9.66 x 0.78 inches
(358mm x 245mm x 20mm) Weight 4.45 pounds (2.02kg) Color Nocturne blue
Nightfall black Material Aluminum

Ports are few, but it includes all the right ones. A full HDMI port and USB-A
(with trap-jaw) are on the left. On the right are the two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C
ports and the barrel charger port for the 135W charger (needed for that RTX 3050
GPU). HP still cuts corners off the rear of the device, letting them put a
headphone jack (left side) and one of the Type-C ports. It looks super cool, and
it enables you to run the wires away from the device without interfering with
your mousing hand.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Another nice perk is the HP True Vision 5MP IR camera. Like many laptop
companies, HP is pushing webcams to full HD and beyond, and that's the case
here. Shooting at 2560x1920 for photo and video, this is easily one of the best
laptop webcams I have experienced. Lighting, resolution, and color look accurate
with a pleasing "pro-level" look.

HP augments the camera experience with some clever 'Glam Cam' software, which
includes:

 * Walk-away lock: If you leave the laptop, it detects no person is there and
   auto-locks the PC
 * Wake-on approach: When you come back, the PC wakes up automatically and logs
   you back into Windows using facial recognition
 * Attention tracking: Tells you if you should take a break from looking at the
   display for too long
 * Auto-framing: Zooms in and centers your face during video calls
 * Lighting correction: Balances harsh lighting, e.g., a window in the
   background
 * Beauty mode: Smooths your skin
 * Shoulder surfing: If someone is looking over your shoulder, the screen can
   blur, or the PC alerts you via a notification

I want to clarify that none of these optional features are gimmicks. I was
pleasantly impressed with all the technology here, and anyone who lives on video
calls daily, you'll love using this laptop.

Source: Windows Central

HP didn't waste this laptop's relatively large size when it comes to audio,
either. There are four Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers onboard, including two
large ones that flank the keyboard and two on the bottom edge that blend nicely
into the curved chassis. The speakers adjust based on the laptop's
posture/folded status. The speakers are loud with a rich presence and arguably
the best HP has done in any laptop. They still fall well short of what Apple can
do, but they get the job done for movies, music, or video calls.


HP SPECTRE X360 16: KEYBOARD AND TRACKPAD

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

HP doesn't stray far from its recent designs with the keyboard, which is a good
thing. The keys are dark with white lettering, which lets the two-stage backlit
shine through efficiently. Despite the 16-inch display, HP opted for a
traditional keyboard layout without a number pad section, which allows
everything to be centered. Some may lament the lack of dedicated number keys,
but this laptop is aimed at creatives who are less likely to use such a feature,
so HP made the right choice.

There's also a dedicated key that quickly brings up an on-screen menu to launch
into HP Command Center, OMEN Gaming Hub, myHP, and HP Palette, all of which are
super convenient.

Keyboard travel is excellent, and the only negative for some people is the
still-controversial dedicated home row of keys on the right-hand side, which
slightly reduces the backspace key. I have no issues when typing, and I find the
Spectre x360 16 to be an excellent laptop for extended typing sessions, thanks
to the ample deck letting your wrists rest comfortably.

The trackpad is quite large and uses Microsoft Precision drives resulting in a
satisfactory experience, and it's a mechanical trackpad that physically clicks.
Still, I think HP would benefit from using a newer haptic trackpad, which would
be more reliable, thinner, customizable, and even supports gestures.


HP SPECTRE X360 16: DISPLAY

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

The most vital selling point of the Spectre x360 16 is undoubtedly its 16-inch
3072x1920 (3K) UHD OLED display (there is also a 3K+ WLED version on the more
affordable models). The screen packs an impressive 91% screen-to-body ratio with
flush glass, and it has an anti-reflective layer that cuts down on screen glare.
You get a punchy wall of a screen that's quite immersive on your laptop.

But besides the specs, HP packs this display full of almost everything. There
are sensors for auto-brightness and adaptive color, with the latter adjusting
the color temperature based on your current ambient lighting.

HP has its Display Control software that auto sets color profiles, e.g., Web
(sRGB), Photos and Video (DCI-P3), Default, and Native, based on the currently
running application. Hop into Photoshop, and your screen is auto-set for DCI-P3.
Launch Microsoft Edge, and you're now in sRGB. On the desktop? You're currently
viewing Native. All of this is user-configurable and is simply ingenious.

And those color profiles are stellar. In our color gamut test, the Spectre x360
16 delivered a nearly perfect 100% sRGB, 96% AdobeRGB, and 100% DCI-P3, making
this a picture-perfect screen for creatives who work in media. Brightness dips
down to a decent 22 nits (which may be too bright in a pitch-black room) and
peaks at 385 nits. That peak brightness is on the lower side for some laptops
today, but it looks more brilliant than those numbers reveal due to the OLED
technology. There were no issues with visibility in brightly lit rooms or even
outdoors.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Users can enable Focus Mode to save battery life, diming background items while
keeping your current application illuminated. It can be distracting when the
screen dims, but besides extending your battery usage, you're likely preserving
the OLED display.

Of course, on top of all that, this is a touch display that also supports
inking. HP includes the pen in the box and, like other HP pens, does an
excellent job for those who need to markup a document, do a sketch, or take
notes.

Overall, the Spectre x360 16 delivers one of the most impressive displays for
any Windows laptop in 2022.


HP SPECTRE X360 16: SOFTWARE AND PERFORMANCE

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

If there is a downside to the Spectre x360 16, it is the processor. While
performance is decent for this device class, it is achieved with an Intel 11th
Gen Core i7-11390H processor instead of a brand-new 12th Gen chip with many more
cores. It also "only" has an NVIDIA RTX 3050 Laptop GPU, which is plenty
powerful enough for multi-media but is behind the better RTX 3050 Ti.

Indeed, in our usual assortment of benchmarks (all run on performance mode with
the fans unbound), the Spectre x360 16 is slightly more potent than some Intel
Iris Xe systems, which is odd. Overall, the Spectre is just behind Microsoft's
premium Surface Laptop Studio, which has a slightly slower CPU and a more
powerful RTX 3050 Ti GPU.

Source: Windows Central

It is accurate to say the newer Spectre x360 16 is faster than its predecessor,
the Spectre x360 15 (Core i7-10750H, GTX 1650 Ti), but only marginally so.


HP SPECTRE X360 16: BATTERY

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

Battery life gets a bit complicated as it depends on how you run the Spectre
x360 16. When Windows 11 is set to "recommended" for performance and "balanced"
in HP's Command Center app, the Spectre pulls off 8 hours and 32 minutes. That's
respectable for a 3K OLED display (150 nits) with this CPU and GPU.

However, using HP's Smart Sense, which can ramp up the CPU and GPU based on
applications, and when set to "performance" in Windows 11, the Spectre is closer
to 5 hours and 13 minutes. Running it all set to the highest performance will
likely be 4 hours, and the Windows 11-generated battery report is around 5 to 6
hours.


HP SPECTRE X360 16: COMPETITION

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio (2021).Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

When it comes to competition, there is not a lot that directly goes against HP's
offering. Not many convertible Windows PCs hover in the 15- to 16-inch range, as
most are 14-inch or more minor. That makes the Spectre x360 16 a bit of a
unicorn and harder to compare.

The first obvious alternative is Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio. It has a
smaller, 14.4-inch lower resolution display (2400x1600, 201 PPI versus
3072x1920, 226 PPI), fewer ports, and starts at $1,429 with Intel Core i5 and
Iris Xe graphics. The Spectre x360 16, however, starts at $1,499, but with a
faster Core i7 and double the storage (512GB).

Samsung's Galaxy Book2 Pro 15-inch ships with a 12th Gen CPU and is a much
lighter laptop with Iris Xe graphics (and a forthcoming Intel Arc 3 option). But
its display is only full HD, making it ideal for those who value portability and
thinness over raw power and the best display.

If you like everything about the Spectre x360 16 but wish it were smaller, the
HP Spectre x360 14 is an obvious alternative. While it lacks a discrete NVIDIA
GPU, it has nearly all the same features as the 16-inch model, including one of
the best displays.

For more ideas, check out our best 15-inch laptops and best 2-in-1 laptop
guides.


HP SPECTRE X360 16: SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central


YOU SHOULD BUY THIS IF ...

 * You want a slightly powerful 16-inch convertible PC
 * You do a lot of photo editing and creative work
 * You want one of the best and largest laptop screens
 * You like to play games on occasion
 * You spend a lot of time on video calls


YOU SHOULD NOT BUY THIS IF ...

 * You want the most potent 15 to 16-inch laptop
 * You like to play top-tier video games often
 * You don't plan to use this as a convertible PC

The HP Spectre x360 16 is a fascinating laptop because nothing else is like it.
Most convertible PCs are much smaller, and Dell only tried to make a convertible
XPS 15 once before giving up on it. Sure, it's awkward to use the Spectre x360
16 as a tablet, but some people want that choice, and HP provides it.

Source: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central

HP also gets props for its new design language, which is softer, more modern,
and less flashy than previous Spectre series laptops. I look forward to seeing
this translate to the smaller Spectre x360 14.

There's so much to like with the Spectre as far as enjoyment goes. The 16:10
display is jaw-droppingly gorgeous and the show's real star. If you want a
massive wall of OLED pixels, you won't be disappointed. This Spectre is a solid
laptop, whether for photo and video editing or general creative work.

Even HP's software package is impressive. For instance, you can use an Android
tablet as a secondary display using HP Duet, which wireless syncs the two. Or
the Glam Cam features, which are beneficial for frequent video call usage.

HP has some small value-adds, such as including the pen with the Spectre and
even throwing in a nice vegan leather laptop sleeve (that has a nice pen
holder). It completes the package and is something great to see.

The new softer, rounded chassis is so much better.Source: Daniel Rubino /
Windows Central

Performance is a tad disappointing considering the hardware stack, but these are
the tradeoffs with a convertible laptop. It's undoubtedly not slow; it's just
not as powerful as some other laptops. I think it's OK for the target
demographic, but it makes you wonder how a newer 12th Gen Intel CPU would
perform. And that's the one negative here: The older silicon, as Intel's 12th
Gen architecture, is remarkable.



4.5 out of 5

Overall, the HP Spectre x360 16 is a wildly fun and unique Windows PC. While
many don't need a convertible of this size, those who do won't be dissatisfied.

HP SPECTRE X360 16

Bottom line: Few convertible 16-inch laptops pack this amount of hardware making
the HP Spectre x360 16 a unicorn of modern Windows PCs. The 16:10 OLED display
is a real treat, and HP's new design language is a welcomed improvement.

 * From $1,450 at HP
 * $1,630 at Best Buy
 * $2,400 at Amazon

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

ViewClose Comments (7)
 * Laptop Reviews
 * HP Spectre x360 16




DANIEL RUBINO

Daniel Rubino is the Executive Editor of Windows Central. He has been covering
Microsoft here since 2007 back when this site was called WMExperts (and later
Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, Surface, laptops, and
modern computing. Follow him on Twitter: @daniel_rubino.



 * 

 * Windows 11
 * Windows 10
 * Laptops
 * Surface
 * Reviews
 * Gaming & Xbox
 * How To
 * Forums
 * Deals
 * PC Components


OTHER CATEGORIES

 * About Us
 * Licensing and Reprints
 * Advertise
 * Newsletter
 * Windows Central Merch
 * Accessibility Statement

 * Android Central
 * iMore
 * Thrifter
 * TechnoBuffalo
 * MrMobile

Log in or Sign up
 * t
 * f
 * p
 * i
 * r


BRIGHTNESS

Light Mode Dark Mode
 * © Future US, Inc.
 * Terms & Conditions
 * Privacy Policy
 * Cookie Policy
 * About Us
 * Careers
 * Licensing
 * External Links Disclosure
 * Accessibility Statement

 * © Future US, Inc.
 * Terms & Conditions
 * Privacy Policy
 * Cookie Policy
 * About Us
 * Careers
 * Licensing
 * External Links Disclosure
 * Accessibility Statement