HP’s Spectre name designates its most polished computing products at the top of its range. The X2’s bright silver design is similar to that of Microsoft’s Surface but HP has gone its own way with kickstand implementation.
A U-shaped bar swings out of the back of the device to rest against any surface it is placed on. The bar can happily support the tablet at any angle, creating a very precise and minimalist look.
Press shots of the HP Spectre X2, a convertible to rival Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4
HP
Inside, the Spectre X2 uses Intel’s Core M3, M5 or M7 processors and is available with 4GB or 8GB of RAM. It is clear Microsoft has the edge here as the Surface Pro 4 can be configured with a sixth-generation Core i7 and up to 16GB of RAM. It’s a similar story with storage; Microsoft provides the option of a 1TB SSD while HP keeps 512GB at the top. Both devices come with 128GB SSDs as standard.
The X2’s display is a 12-inch panel with a 1920×1080 resolution. That’s substantially lower than the 2760×1824 display on the Surface, but most users aren’t likely to notice any major benefits of the larger resolution. HP says the X2’s battery should keep the pixels lit for around 10 hours, enough for typical all-day usage.
Press shots of the HP Spectre X2, a convertible to rival Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4
HP
The X2 includes two USB Type-C ports that will be very useful in the near future. Although there are no standard USB ports on the chassis, HP will be bundling an adapter, allowing existing devices to work with the new reversible connectors without any issues.
An Intel RealSense camera sits on the back but its placement means it can’t be used with Windows Hello’s facial recognition for login. Instead, it will be more suited to making 3D models of real-life objects or shooting stereoscopic photos.
Press shots of the HP Spectre X2, a convertible to rival Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4
HP
The detachable metal keyboard uses mechanical chiclet style keys, as you would find on many full-blown laptops. A large, oval-shaped trackpad sits below the keyboard tray while a wide speaker grille dominates the top. As with the Surface, the X2 will be available with a pressure-sensing stylus for easy note-taking, drawing and 3D modelling. HP’s take on the digital pen concept is built by Wacom and has similar features to that of the Surface Pen.
Press shots of the HP Spectre X2, a convertible to rival Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4
HP
It’s clear the Spectre X2 is designed to compete with the Surface but that is not a bad thing. There are wide-spread rumours of other manufacturers preparing their own takes on the design, finally validating Microsoft’s idea of a “tablet to replace your laptop”. The X2 may be less powerful than the Surface but it also undercuts it on price: HP will be offering the newest Spectre from $799.99 from November 8th, $100 less than Microsoft’s starting price.
Potential purchasers may want to note one detail though: HP won’t be bundling the Wacom stylus for free but will include the keyboard. Surface buyers will find a Surface Pen in the box but no Type cover, a move which could be enough to sway customers with no brand allegiance from one device to the other.
