HP Spectre x2 review: All the quality of the Surface Pro, hundreds of dollars less

It took Microsoft three attempts to come up with a Surface concept that had broad appeal. With the combination of screen size, resolution, system flexibility, and performance, the Surface Pro 3 became a PC that worked for a lot of people. As a tablet, it was thinner and lighter and better to use handheld than any laptop, but its kickstand and magnetic keyboard meant that it offered much of the productivity that laptops boast.

Now that Microsoft has found a formula that works and demonstrated that it has some user appeal, we've seen a proliferation of similar devices from other manufacturers. The Spectre x2 is HP's consumer-oriented iteration of the concept: a 12-inch tablet with an integrated kickstand, a magnetically attached keyboard, an x86 processor, and a full desktop operating system.

Nailing the basics

Specs at a glance: HP Spectre x2
	Base	Best	As reviewed
Screen	1920×1280 12.0" (192 PPI), 10-point capacitive WLED-backlist IPS touchscreen
OS	Windows 10 Home
CPU	Intel 6th generation Core m3	Intel 6th generation Core m7	Intel 6th generation Core m7
RAM	4GB	8GB	8GB
GPU	Intel HD Graphics 515
SSD	128GB	512GB	256GB
Networking	802.11ac/a/b/g/n with 2x2 MIMO antennas, Bluetooth 4.0
Ports	2 USB Type-C, microSD
Cameras	Rear: 8MP autofocus, plus 1920×1080 stereoscopic Front: 5MP
Size	11.81×8.23×0.31" (tablet only) 11.81×8.23×0.52" (tablet with keyboard)
Weight	1.84lb (tablet only) 2.68lb (tablet with keyboard)
Battery	42Wh
Warranty	1 year
Price	$799	$1,399	$1,149
Other features	45W charger, TPM 2.0, integrated LTE, keyboard

For me, the most important parts of just about any computer are the parts you have to touch and look at; the keyboard, the touchpad, and the screen. These things have to be done right before I ever care about what's on the inside of the system, because if I hate using a computer, I don't really care about its speed.

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