HP Spectre X2 Hands On: A Promising Surface-like Windows Tablet

Just yesterday, HP has officially brought in the Spectre x2 Windows tablet to Malaysia. Retailing at RM3,999, it is by no means an affordable machine. That being said, it’s an interesting alternative to the base model Microsoft Surface Pro 4, which goes for the same price. Here’s our initial impression of the Spectre x2.

First, let’s talk specifications. The Spectre x2 has a 12-inch 1920 x 1280 IPS display, a sixth generation Intel Core m3-6Y30 processor paired with 4GB of LDDR3 RAM, 128GB of SSD storage, 8MP rear and 5MP front-facing cameras, as well as a 42WHr battery. Of course, as it’s basically HP’s take on the Surface form factor, the Spectre x2 also has a kickstand, but it’s a much more elegant metal frame rather than a sheet of metal.

In order to use the Spectre x2’s metal frame as a kickstand, it has to be released first by pushing down on a switch. The frame will then pop out of its slot where it can be adjusted to any angle desired. While the frame may look flimsy, it is actually very rigid and solid; it holds the tablet very well. The metal frame also closes back to the tablet with a very reassuring thud.

The other main highlight of the Spectre x2 is its keyboard. Unlike Microsoft’s Type Cover for the Surface tablets, the x2’s keyboard is actually made of metal – although the bottom part is covered in fabric. Typing on the keyboard feels just like typing on a regular laptop, which is a big plus. The keys have decent amount of travel, and they are quite tactile as well. That being said, the keyboard itself does flex and bounce if I type with more force; heavy typists should definitely take note.

Unfortunately, I’m not as impressed with the Spectre x2’s trackpad. While it is able to track my fingers rather accurately, it’s not as good as the ones found on Apple MacBooks. On top of that, two-finger scrolling did not work very well; there’s a distinct lag before the x2 would actually start scrolling, which affects the overall user experience of this tablet.

Moving forward, I like the Spectre x2’s display. It is bright, and the colours are quite vibrant as well. Despite the fact that the x2’s display isn’t as sharp as competing tablets (such as the Surface Pro 3 and 4), it doesn’t look bad by any stretch of the word. After all, a lower resolution display also means better battery life.

HP definitely put a lot of thought into the Spectre x2. It is solidly-built, well-designed, and most of all, very pleasurable to use as a productivity machine. Of course, the Core m3 processor and limited storage space of the x2 are concerning, but only a full review of the tablet will determine how much these will matter.

As far as first impressions go, the HP Spectre x2 is a solid product. Those who are looking to get a 2-in-1 Windows tablet should definitely give it a thought.