HP Spectre Notebook Packs Plenty of Power, Features in a Thin Design

The Spectre, which HP calls the world’s thinnest laptop, is no slouch on power either. Those and other features make it an appealing option for notebook users.

Like Apple’s MacBook line, design is the HP Spectre’s main attraction. The device comes with a machined aluminum chassis and carbon fiber bottom. To really make the device stand out, HP has bundled “high gloss copper accents.” HP uses what it calls a “hidden piston hinge” to make it look like the clamshell notebook has no hinge. In sum, the Spectre’s design is stellar.

In addition to style, HP is touting the Spectre’s portability. The device weighs just 2.45 pounds, and the chassis is only 10.4mm thick, making it as thin as an AAA battery. HP claims the device is the “world’s thinnest laptop” when closed, and as of this writing, that appears to be the case.

On the software side, the device will ship with Windows 10, and it doesn’t appear likely that HP will offer a Windows 8.1 option as well. In fact, HP seems to have made that clear, saying, “Windows 10 is here. Do great things.”

Although the Spectre is thin and lightweight, it is also somewhat rugged. The computer comes with the aforementioned carbon fiber bottom that HP says will make it less prone to damage. In addition, Corning’s Gorilla Glass, one of the leading glass-protection technologies in the world, protects the device’s 13.3-inch screen. However, the computer is not classified as a “rugged” device, so despite its hardened features, it’s not a good idea to test its ability to withstand drops or water intrusion.

Since it’s often difficult to a lot of ports in such a small computer, it’s no surprise that HP hasn’t bundled an Ethernet port or other large slots in the device. That said, the computer ships with a welcome surprise: three USB-C ports. HP says that all three ports will support charging, data transfer and external displays. In addition, two of the ports will come with Thunderbolt data transfer.

The HP Spectre will ship with the customer’s choice of sixth-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, which should provide sufficient speed for most tasks. In addition, the Spectre features 8GB of memory and will allow for up to 512GB of storage. Given its size, only solid-state drives are available with the notebook.

It won’t necessarily be an industry leader, but the Spectre’s battery should get the job done. According to HP, owners should expect up to 9.5 hours of battery life on normal use. That said, HP noted that battery life could vary depending on the version customers choose.

As noted, the PC market is in trouble. However, one segment of the market—two-in-one hybrids—is actually performing quite well. In fact, that device type’s shipments are up. As a result, several manufacturers have increased their production of hybrids featuring touch screens and reduced their notebook output. The Spectre breaks from that trend. The device is clearly a notebook and as it doesn’t come with typical hybrid features, such as a touch screen.

HP’s Spectre is also designed for entertainment. The device comes with a 13.3-inch full-HD IPS display that the company says will offer a wide viewing angle. In addition, the Spectre has speakers on both sides of the keyboard that are “custom-tuned” by speaker company Bang & Olufsen. Those speakers are enhanced with HP Audio Boost, a feature that enhances clarity at high volume.

Make no mistake: The HP Spectre is expensive. The computer starts at $1,170, but its price can rise substantially from there if users order more storage or a better processor. HP says the notebook will be available for preorder on April 25 and will be available in stores on May 22.