HP Refreshes Spectre x360 and Other Premium Offerings
- Paul Thurrott
- Oct 12, 2016
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17
Today, HP announced a major revamp of its innovative Spectre x360, plus new versions of its HP ENVY Laptop, ENVY All-in-One 27 and ENVY Display, the latter of which supports 4K resolutions. Together, the new devices represent a major new push for the holidays.
HP has been on fire since the release of the original Stream 11 and 13 laptops back in 2014. Since then, the firm has applied the same market-defining strategies to other parts of its lineup, including of course its premium and gaming PC offerings. And today, few PC makers—Lenovo and Apple, perhaps, but certainly not Microsoft or Dell—can compete effectively with HP in the premium PC space.
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Indeed, the award-winning HP Spectre x360 is among the best-selling premium PC laptops ever made. As I wrote in early 2015, the Spectre x360 is what happens when a PC maker actually works hand-in-hand with Microsoft to design a complete solution. The result was a near-perfect transforming Ultrabook. Which HP, incidentally, only made better, first with a Limited Edition model that came clad in an “Ash Silver with Copper” color scheme. And then with a mid-stream replacement that offered Intel Skylake parts—with none of the reliability issues Surface users suffer from—and an optional OLED display. HP even shipped a 15-inch version of the device, which I described as a portable productivity monster.
Today, HP has announced an all-new Spectre x360 for late 2016 that provides an even thinner and lighter design, even better battery life, and a new micro-edge bezel around its 13.3-inch Full HD IPS screen that offers all of the benefits of the Dell XPS 13 with none of the downsides (like that terrible webcam placement). It offers quad Bang & Olufsen speakers with HP Audio Boost, two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt, one USB 3.0 port, a new dual-fan design, up to 1 TB of PCIe SSD storage, a Windows Hello-compatible camera, and HP Fast Charge technology.
I had a brief preview of this new Spectre a few months back, and I’m looking forward to reviewing it later this year: It looks like a winner.
But you don’t need to wait: The new Spectre x360 is available now from HP.com for prices starting at $1050. And a Best Buy exclusive model is available now for $1160.
In addition to the new Spectre x360, HP has also announced the following:
HP ENVY Laptop (2016). This new version of the ultra-thin HP ENVY laptop provides a 13.3-inch screen, up to 14 hours of battery life, an elevated hinge for a better typing experience, QHD+ and UHD screen choices, up to 16 GB of RAM, up too 1 TB of PCIe-based SSD, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB Type-C port, and HP Fast Charge. It will be available starting on October 26 from HP>com for $850 and up.
HP ENVY All-in-One 27 (2016). This edgy-looking new All In One PC features a 27-inch diagonal QHD display, a sound bar with Bang & Olufsen four speakers, a Windows Hello-compatible HP Privacy Camera with IR support, USB Type-C port with Thunderbolt 3 support, HDMI out for a second display, HDMI in for connecting a laptop to the display, optional discrete NVIDIA GTX 950M graphics, and hybrid storage options up to a 256 GB SSD and a 2 TB HDD. Prices start at $1300, with availability sometime this month.
HP ENVY Display (2016). The new HP ENVY display offers 4K resolution, a 27-inch IPS panel, AMD FreeSync support, and Display Port, HDMI and USB-C connectivity. It will cost $500 when it starts shipping in December.
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<p>HP has always made great computers. Within the past 10 years, I bought an HP (2005) 17" zd8000, (2007) 17" dv9000t, (2010) 17" Envy 3D, and (2012) 17" Envy 3D, which I still use now. These were all high end PC laptops that I had bought, which I have used for work and play. All these computers still run very well as my father uses the 2010 laptop, and my niece uses the dv9000t to play Roadblox in. Everyone else in my family uses and prefers the Chromebook.</p>
<p>One of the biggest reasons that I have been "loyal" to HP for my computer needs in the past is for the power and the design. HP has always had, IMO, the best looking laptops in the market. IMO, even much better than Apple. So, with these new style and design laptops that they have been trying to sell….don’t color me, surprised. I have always bought them with gaming in mind, note the 17" screen sizes and the Harmon Kardon/JBL/Beats sound system installed.</p>
<p>Speaking about design, I also one-time bought the Vivienne Tam netbook, made by HP for my girlfriend at the time.</p>
<p>Right now, I have my sights set on the Surface Pro 5 and the rumored Surface AiO. Being that Microsoft’s Surface line has always been absent of style and aesthetic design, it’s possible for me to go HP again. Honestly, why can’t Microsoft go that same design route as HP? Instead Microsoft opts for the plain and "neutral" look similar to the Apple/ Mac products. It’s like choosing which suit to buy, a Tom Ford (HP) or a Ralph Lauren (MSFT).</p>
<p>All in all, the PC industry is experiencing a rate of steady decline, which I believe, HP is at the tailend of that. I don’t think this latest refresh will, in anyway, effect the market or help HP with their recent non-growth in the sector. The industry needs significant growth.</p>