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HP Spectre x360 15 2018 (i7-8550U, GeForce MX150) Convertible Review

Even better than before. This third generation model adds a few new features to last year's model including a NumPad, fingerprint reader, narrower bezels, and a slightly larger battery. Fans are quieter and processor temps are cooler. Physically, however, the system is not any lighter or thinner.

HP introduced its third generation Spectre x360 15 at CES 2018 in two very distinct SKUs: One with Kaby Lake-R and Nvidia GeForce graphics and the other with the uncommon Kaby lake-G and Radeon RX Vega M GL graphics. Based on our experiences with both types of configurations, the performance delta between them is very wide especially for a convertible notebook where SKU options are usually narrow. Our preview of the 2018 Spectre x360 15 at CES includes more photos and comparisons with the 2017 model.

Our test unit today is the Kaby Lake-R configuration with the Kaby Lake-G system to come at a later date. This configuration comes with the same Core i7-8550U CPU and GeForce MX150 GPU as last year's model, but temperatures and fan noise are actually quite different since this latest revision has undergone some changes both internal and external. Aside from the usual storage (up to 2 TB NVMe SSD) and RAM (up to 16 GB DDR4-2400) options, the 4K UHD touchscreen and CPU/GPU combinations are fixed.

Direct competitors in the 15.6-inch convertible space include the Dell XPS 15 9575, Asus Zenbook Flip 15, and Acer Nitro 5 Spin. Nonetheless, comparisons will also inevitably be made between the Spectre and traditional flagship 15-inch laptops like the XPS 15, MacBook Pro 15, Lenovo ThinkPad T580, and Gigabyte Aero 15X.

We refer to our existing reviews on previous generation Spectre x360 15 SKUs for more information on the series.

HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr (Spectre X360 15 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-8550U 4 x 1.8 - 4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce MX150 - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1469 MHz, Memory: 1502 MHz, GDDR5, 389.12, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4, 1200 MHz, 17-17-17-39, Dual-Channel
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 3840 x 2160 pixel 282 PPI, 10-point capacitive, BOE0730, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo, Card Reader: SD reader, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: Gyroscope
Networking
Intel Wireless-AC 9260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 19.3 x 359 x 250 ( = 0.76 x 14.13 x 9.84 in)
Battery
84 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: FHD IR
Additional features
Speakers: Bang & Olufsen, Quad speakers, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Faux leather carrying case, Quick Start guide, Warranty card, HP Documentation, McAfee Anti-Virus, HP Pen Control, HP Audio Switch, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.08 kg ( = 73.37 oz / 4.59 pounds), Power Supply: 382 g ( = 13.47 oz / 0.84 pounds)
Price
1500 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

At first glance, the 2018 Spectre X360 15 may look identical to the 2017 Spectre x360 15 especially when the lid is closed. A closer inspection reveals plenty of differences including a new NumPad, relocated Bang & Olufsen speakers, sharper rear corners, new fingerprint reader, narrower bezels, and slightly altered dimensions. 

The feel and construction of the chassis have always been high points of the Spectre series and we're glad to see that the same level of care has returned. Surfaces exhibit almost no flexing, the lid is almost as rigid as on the XPS 15 series, and we can notice no audible creaking when opening or closing the lid. This continues to be one of the most well-made 15-inch convertibles available.

In terms of size and weight, the new Spectre x360 15 is slightly heavier (~2.1 kg vs. ~2.0 kg) and thicker (19.3 mm vs. 17.8 mm) than the outgoing model. HP says this was a very conscious effort in order to improve temperatures and integrate a full-fledged NumPad. Note that while the 2018 Spectre x360 15 may have narrower bezels than the 2017 model, it is actually slightly wider (359 mm vs 355.6 mm). During everyday use, however, it's almost impossible to notice these minute size differences.

Same Ash gold color scheme as previous generation
Same Ash gold color scheme as previous generation
Excellent build quality as expected from a Spectre
Excellent build quality as expected from a Spectre
Sharper rear corners compared to the rounder corners of the previous generation
Sharper rear corners compared to the rounder corners of the previous generation
The dark-colored surfaces are surprisingly good at hiding fingerprints
The dark-colored surfaces are surprisingly good at hiding fingerprints
365 mm / 14.4 inch 251 mm / 9.88 inch 18.9 mm / 0.744 inch 1.9 kg4.14 lbs359 mm / 14.1 inch 250 mm / 9.84 inch 19.3 mm / 0.76 inch 2.1 kg4.59 lbs357 mm / 14.1 inch 235 mm / 9.25 inch 17 mm / 0.669 inch 1.9 kg4.26 lbs356 mm / 14 inch 250 mm / 9.84 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 2.1 kg4.58 lbs355.6 mm / 14 inch 251 mm / 9.88 inch 17.8 mm / 0.701 inch 2 kg4.48 lbs354 mm / 13.9 inch 235 mm / 9.25 inch 16 mm / 0.63 inch 2 kg4.41 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The 2018 Spectre x360 15 includes the same ports as the 2017 Spectre x360 15 albeit slightly rearranged. The audio port is now closer to the front edge, the HDMI and USB Type-C ports have been swapped, and a dedicated fingerprint reader is now in between the ventilation grilles and volume rocker. We're glad to see the USB Type-A port again since this is sorely missing from the competing XPS 15 9575.

The new fingerprint reader is a welcomed addition. Its placement, however, is strange because the reader is out of sight when sitting down and awkward to reach. Fingerprint readers on other laptops are typically squarer and on the palm rest for easier reach.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Left: AC adapter, USB 3.1 Type-A, Power button, 3.5 mm combo audio, SD reader
Left: AC adapter, USB 3.1 Type-A, Power button, 3.5 mm combo audio, SD reader
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Right: Volume rocker, Fingerprint reader, 1x Thunderbolt 3, 1x USB Type-C Gen. 1, HDMI
Right: Volume rocker, Fingerprint reader, 1x Thunderbolt 3, 1x USB Type-C Gen. 1, HDMI

SD Card Reader

 

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
163.8 MB/s
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
157.5 MB/s -4%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
 
123 MB/s -25%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
217.6 MB/s +2%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
212.4 MB/s
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
 
199.7 MB/s -6%

Communication

Unlike our last Spectre x360 15, this newer unit exhibits no wireless issues. HP has upgraded the WLAN module from the Intel 8265 to the Intel 9260 for Bluetooth 5.0 and theoretical transfer rates of up to 1.73 Gbps. Our current setup can test up to 1 Gbps only and so the results below are slower than what the Intel 9260 is capable of.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
539 MBit/s +13%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
Intel Wireless-AC 9260
479 MBit/s
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
379 MBit/s -21%
iperf3 receive AX12
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
682 MBit/s +4%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
Intel Wireless-AC 9260
656 MBit/s
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
542 MBit/s -17%

Accessories

Included extras are a faux leather case in addition to the HP Pen stylus and the usual usual Quick Start manuals. The carrying case is a nice freebie not included in lower-end HP models like the Pavilion or Envy.

Maintenance

The bottom panel is secured by both Torx screws and Philips screws. The main issue is that a number of screws are hidden underneath the rubber feet and they are subsequently covered in the same glue used to hold the rubber feet in place. Serviceability is thus more difficult than it ought to be and could have been more user-friendly.

Warranty

The standard one-year limited warranty applies with options to extend up to three years. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The Chiclet keyboard is much wider this time around (~34.1 x 10.0 cm) to accommodate the new NumPad without affecting the feedback or travel of the original QWERTY keys. Unlike the NumPad on most other notebooks, the NumPad keys on the Spectre are not reduced in size or made skinnier than the QWERTY keys. This is one of the most comfortable and roomy NumPads we've used on a notebook.

Because the keyboard is so wide, however, the speakers had to be moved to the bottom. It's a small sacrifice in our eyes from a productivity standpoint.

The white keyboard backlight can only be toggled on or off with no brightness levels to choose from. Adjusting the lid to about 190 degrees or beyond will automatically disable the keyboard keys and backlight.

Touchpad

The trackpad remains identical to last year's model in size (~12 x 6 cm) and feel. Feedback is shallow but with a firm and satisfying click. The 2:1 aspect ratio still feels strange because trackpads on most other notebooks are squarer in shape for better vertical cursor movement.

New NumPad, same trackpad. Vertical cursor movements feel cramped because of the super-wide dimensions
New NumPad, same trackpad. Vertical cursor movements feel cramped because of the super-wide dimensions
The firm key feedback and 1.5 mm travel make the Spectre keyboard feel less spongy than on most other Ultrabooks
The firm key feedback and 1.5 mm travel make the Spectre keyboard feel less spongy than on most other Ultrabooks

Display

HP has again sourced BOE for its 4K UHD panel on the third generation Spectre x360 15. As a result, characteristics like contrast and color space are similar to last year's model. The backlight brightness is nearly the same as well which is a bit disappointing since the XPS 15 9570 and 9575 are each equipped with brighter panels for better outdoor visibility. Subjectively, however, text is crisp, colors pop, and the glossy panel is free of grains.

There is slight uneven backlight bleeding on the top left corner of our unit that is barely noticeable during video playback with black borders.

Top edge bezel is still rather thick in order to preserve webcam placement
Top edge bezel is still rather thick in order to preserve webcam placement
HP advertises a bezel of just 6.3 mm on two sides
HP advertises a bezel of just 6.3 mm on two sides
Slight uneven backlight bleeding around the corners
Slight uneven backlight bleeding around the corners
Subpixel array (282 PPI)
Subpixel array (282 PPI)
300.7
cd/m²
318.1
cd/m²
303.5
cd/m²
294.2
cd/m²
329.3
cd/m²
317.6
cd/m²
304
cd/m²
349
cd/m²
325.6
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE0730 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 349 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 315.8 cd/m² Minimum: 18.03 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 329.3 cd/m²
Contrast: 1062:1 (Black: 0.31 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.78 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 3.51
ΔE Greyscale 7.9 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
90.4% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
58.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
66.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
90.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
68.5% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.24
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
BOE0730, IPS, 15.60, 3840x2160
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
BOE06C3, IPS, 15.60, 3840x2160
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Sharp SHP149A LQ156M1, LED IGZO IPS InfinityEdge, 15.60, 1920x1080
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Sharp SHP148D, IPS, 15.60, 3840x2160
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
LGD05C0, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
AU Optronics B156ZAN03.1, IPS, 15.60, 3840x2160
Display
-4%
1%
14%
-2%
28%
Display P3 Coverage
68.5
66.6
-3%
66
-4%
78.7
15%
63.6
-7%
85.9
25%
sRGB Coverage
90.7
86.9
-4%
96.5
6%
97.9
8%
93.8
3%
100
10%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
66.3
63.5
-4%
66.7
1%
79.2
19%
64.9
-2%
99.1
49%
Response Times
-3%
-12%
-16%
58%
1%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
38 ?(20.4, 17.6)
41.2 ?(23.2, 18)
-8%
49 ?(25, 40)
-29%
48.4 ?(23.2, 25.2)
-27%
16.8 ?(8.4, 8.4)
56%
44 ?(22, 22)
-16%
Response Time Black / White *
27.6 ?(15.6, 12)
29.6 ?(16.4, 13.2)
-7%
30 ?(16, 14)
-9%
34.8 ?(19.2, 15.6)
-26%
11.2 ?(6, 5.2)
59%
22.8 ?(12, 10.8)
17%
PWM Frequency
943 ?(99)
1000
6%
961 ?(10)
2%
1000 ?(25)
6%
Screen
10%
28%
29%
22%
14%
Brightness middle
329.3
338.7
3%
413
25%
488
48%
313
-5%
357.6
9%
Brightness
316
325
3%
378
20%
440
39%
300
-5%
350
11%
Brightness Distribution
84
91
8%
86
2%
81
-4%
78
-7%
85
1%
Black Level *
0.31
0.28
10%
0.29
6%
0.3
3%
0.33
-6%
0.35
-13%
Contrast
1062
1210
14%
1424
34%
1627
53%
948
-11%
1022
-4%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.78
4.9
-3%
2.44
49%
3.16
34%
1.29
73%
4.12
14%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
11.75
8.7
26%
4.46
62%
8.8
25%
2.04
83%
9.91
16%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.51
2.48
29%
4.23
-21%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
7.9
5.5
30%
2.48
69%
3.3
58%
0.69
91%
1.8
77%
Gamma
2.24 98%
2.08 106%
2.43 91%
2.178 101%
2.43 91%
2.17 101%
CCT
8323 78%
7498 87%
7006 93%
6811 95%
6550 99%
6613 98%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
58.8
63.5
8%
62
5%
71.7
22%
60
2%
87.5
49%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
90.4
86.92
-4%
96
6%
97.9
8%
94
4%
100
11%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
1% / 5%
6% / 16%
9% / 18%
26% / 22%
14% / 15%

* ... smaller is better

Color space is approximately 90 percent and 59 percent of the sRGB and AdobeRGB standards, respectively. In comparison, the competing Asus Zenbook Flip 15 promises 100 percent AdobeRGB coverage to better appeal to graphics artists.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB

Further display measurements with a X-Rite spectrophotometer reveal generally inaccurate grayscale and colors with Teal in particular being most inaccurate. Color temperature is much too cool which is unexpected from flagship models like the Spectre. Fortunately, calibration addresses all of these concerns as shown by our CalMan results below. We recommend an end-user calibration for a much more accurate display or applying our calibrated ICC file above if calibration is not an option.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
27.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15.6 ms rise
↘ 12 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 66 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
38 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 20.4 ms rise
↘ 17.6 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 49 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 943 Hz ≤ 99 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 943 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 943 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Viewing angles are identical to the last generation model since brightness, contrast, glossiness, and viewing angles are nearly the same. Glare is inevitable under most outdoor conditions.

Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles
Outdoors on overcast day
Outdoors on overcast day
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors on overcast day
Outdoors on overcast day

Performance

There are only two CPU and GPU options at the moment: The Core i7-8550U plus GeForce MX150 and the Core i7-8705G plus Radeon RX Vega GL. The i7-8550U is very common on many Ultrabooks while the latter can also be found on the XPS 15 9575. Either option will cater well to multimedia users while the Kaby Lake-G SKU should satisfy more power-hungry editors and mainstream gamers.

Processor

CineBench R15
CineBench R15

CPU performance is where we expect it to be for an i7-8550U if not slightly slower. When compared to the average i7-8550U in our database, the processor in our Spectre is about 7 to 9 percent slower in CineBench R15 to suggest that Turbo Boost clock rates are slightly below average. Scores are otherwise nearly identical to last year's Spectre x360 15.

It's important to note that the Kaby Lake-G Core i5-8305G in the competing XPS 15 9575 can outperform our i7-8550U by as much as 30 percent. Thus, users who want faster performance should consider the Kaby Lake-G Spectre x360 15 SKU.

Running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop results in relatively steady scores over time. Our initial score of 542 points drops by just 5 percent to a steady ~515 range after the first loop.

More technical information and benchmark comparisons on the Core i7-8550U can be found on our CPU page.

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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Intel Core i7-8705G
174 Points +17%
MSI GE73 8RF-008 Raider RGB
Intel Core i7-8750H
174 Points +17%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Intel Core i5-8300H
167 Points +12%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U
  (108 - 172, n=76)
159.6 Points +7%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
Intel Core i5-8305G
157 Points +5%
Asus FX503VM-EH73
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
156 Points +5%
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
Intel Core i7-8550U
154 Points +3%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
Intel Core i7-8550U
149 Points
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBA-80WY001VGE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
147 Points -1%
Fujitsu Lifebook U938
Intel Core i5-8250U
144 Points -3%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
141 Points -5%
CPU Multi 64Bit
MSI GE73 8RF-008 Raider RGB
Intel Core i7-8750H
1163 Points +115%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Intel Core i5-8300H
840 Points +55%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Intel Core i7-8705G
746 Points +38%
Asus FX503VM-EH73
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
733 Points +35%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
Intel Core i5-8305G
710 Points +31%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U
  (301 - 761, n=78)
576 Points +6%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
566 Points +4%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
Intel Core i7-8550U
542 Points
Fujitsu Lifebook U938
Intel Core i5-8250U
529 Points -2%
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
Intel Core i7-8550U
519 Points -4%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBA-80WY001VGE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
501 Points -8%
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
104.3 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
542 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
149 Points
Help

System Performance

PCMark benchmarks rank our Spectre just a few percentage points higher than last year's model. In practice, however, this small of a difference is unnoticeable during regular browsing use. Notebooks with more powerful 45 W Intel Core H-series CPUs and GTX-class GPUs like the Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE can score about 30 percent higher than our Spectre.

We experienced no software or hardware issues during our time with the test unit.

PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 10 - Score
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i9-8950HK, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0)
5358 Points +36%
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
5059 Points +28%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
5001 Points +27%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
3938 Points
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3673 Points -7%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3056 - 4106, n=19)
3631 Points -8%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
4504 Points +29%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
4235 Points +22%
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i9-8950HK, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0)
3661 Points +5%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3145 - 4130, n=21)
3656 Points +5%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
3482 Points
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
3457 Points -1%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
5676 Points +31%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (4063 - 5228, n=20)
4771 Points +10%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
4469 Points +3%
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i9-8950HK, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0)
4456 Points +3%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
4323 Points
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4217 Points -2%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3482 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4323 points
PCMark 10 Score
3938 points
Help

Storage Devices

Perhaps by consequence, our Spectre x360 15 utilizes the same 512 GB PC401 NVMe SSD from SK Hynix as does the Dell XPS 15 9575. Average transfer rates are nearly the same between them. Nonetheless, Samsung SSDs like the PM961 can provide even faster speeds. It's strange to see the older 2017 Spectre x360 15 use the faster Samsung SSD compared to the slower SK Hynix SSD in the 2018 revision. Internal secondary storage options are not available.

See our table of SSDs and HDDs for more benchmark comparisons.

HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
AS SSD
53%
3%
0%
-174%
Copy Game MB/s
1042
1134
9%
944
-9%
465.9
-55%
Copy Program MB/s
486.8
534
10%
487.9
0%
117.2
-76%
Copy ISO MB/s
1668
1936
16%
1523
-9%
632
-62%
Score Total
2037
3781
86%
2132
5%
2536
24%
750
-63%
Score Write
757
1556
106%
807
7%
939
24%
58
-92%
Score Read
859
1493
74%
921
7%
1092
27%
492
-43%
Access Time Write *
0.051
0.026
49%
0.051
-0%
0.046
10%
0.889
-1643%
Access Time Read *
0.054
0.04
26%
0.044
19%
0.119
-120%
0.086
-59%
4K-64 Write
545
1262
132%
637
17%
742
36%
19.19
-96%
4K-64 Read
646
1206
87%
649
0%
847
31%
301.8
-53%
4K Write
93.2
141.1
51%
94.3
1%
80.4
-14%
5.12
-95%
4K Read
38.76
51.9
34%
41.38
7%
23.36
-40%
32.5
-16%
Seq Write
1189
1530
29%
752
-37%
1163
-2%
340.3
-71%
Seq Read
1739
2342
35%
2302
32%
2213
27%
1574
-9%

* ... smaller is better

SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 2667 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1395 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 311.6 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 243.9 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1300 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1120 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 37.67 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 108.5 MB/s

GPU Performance

The GeForce MX150 in the Spectre is performing where we expect it to be. 3DMark results are just a hair higher than last year's model to offer a performance level similar to that of the GTX 950M. Opting for the Radeon RX Vega M GL GPU in the Kaby Lake-G SKU will net users twice the raw graphics performance of the MX150. Although the Spectre series is not advertised as a gaming solution, most titles will still run well in low to medium settings.

Thankfully, the 15.6-inch Spectre is not using the slower '1D12' MX150 variant commonly found on smaller 13-inch Ultrabooks. See our dedicated page on the GeForce MX150 GPU for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
15101 Points +221%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G
10118 Points +115%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870, i5-8305G
9862 Points +109%
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i9-8950HK
8854 Points +88%
Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6500U
4826 Points +3%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
4708 Points
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
4564 Points -3%
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, i5-7200U
4251 Points -10%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2796 - 4905, n=47)
4191 Points -11%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, R7 2700U
3728 Points -21%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i9-8950HK
8709 Points +103%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G
8633 Points +101%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
8215 Points +91%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870, i5-8305G
7788 Points +81%
Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6500U
4466 Points +4%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
4296 Points
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
4184 Points -3%
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, i5-7200U
4113 Points -4%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2820 - 4421, n=46)
3957 Points -8%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, R7 2700U
2734 Points -36%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
82006 Points +312%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870, i5-8305G
44796 Points +125%
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i9-8950HK
43721 Points +120%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G
42351 Points +113%
Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6500U
25986 Points +31%
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, i5-7200U
22439 Points +13%
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
20470 Points +3%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
19900 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (16227 - 22183, n=43)
19512 Points -2%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, R7 2700U
15613 Points -22%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
11968 Points +230%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i5-8305G
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870, i5-8305G
7355 Points +103%
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G
7348 Points +103%
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i9-8950HK
7291 Points +101%
Asus Zenbook UX510UW-CN044T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6500U
4133 Points +14%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
3622 Points
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, i5-7200U
3574 Points -1%
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
3563 Points -2%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2323 - 3739, n=44)
3310 Points -9%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, R7 2700U
2442 Points -33%
3DMark 11 Performance
4969 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
12588 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
3267 points
Help
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 197.4 114.2 96 35.2
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) 60 51 20
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 67.4 43.1 23 18.5

Stress Test

We stress the notebook with intensive benchmarks to identify for any potential hardware or software issues. When running Prime95, the CPU can be observed running as high as 2.9 GHz for the first few seconds before declining and plateauing at 2.1 GHz. Core temperature stabilizes at a relatively cool 64 C. When running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously, the CPU drops even further to 1.9 GHz or just 100 MHz above its base clock rate.

Running Witcher 3 is more representative of real-world gaming conditions. When under such a load, the CPU and GPU stabilizes in the 57 C and 69 C range, respectively. Temperatures are quite cool for a notebook especially when compared to the XPS 15 series where processors can be as warm as 90 C when under load.

Running on battery power will limit both CPU and GPU performance. Fire Strike on batteries returns Physics and Graphics scores of 7390 and 3265 points, respectively, compared to 9124 and 3622 points when on mains.

System idle
System idle
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 2.1 -- 64 --
FurMark Stress -- 1544 -- 75
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 1.9 1531 67 72
Witcher 3 Stress 3.7 - 4.0 1747 57 69

Emissions

System Noise

Fan noise has improved over the last generation during low-medium loads. The fans remain idle even through short bursts of medium loads. For example, the system remains silent after running the first benchmark scene of 3DMark 06 whereas the fans on most other laptops would begin pulsing. Users can browse and stream on the Power Saver profile almost silently.

Higher loads like gaming will induce a steady fan noise of almost 39 dB(A) to be quieter than competing notebooks with the more powerful GeForce GTX 1050 and also the XPS 15 9575. We fully expect the more powerful Kaby Lake-G SKU of the Spectre to run louder, warmer, or even both.

Our test unit exhibited no coil whine or electronic noise.

Noise Level

Idle
29.2 / 29.2 / 29.2 dB(A)
Load
29.2 / 45.7 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28.6 dB(A)
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
Vega M GL / 870, i7-8705G, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
Gigabyte Aero 15X v8
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i9-8950HK, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0)
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11
Noise
-2%
-1%
-21%
-9%
-7%
off / environment *
28.6
28.4
1%
28.2
1%
29
-1%
28
2%
30.3
-6%
Idle Minimum *
29.2
28.4
3%
28.2
3%
30
-3%
28.6
2%
30.3
-4%
Idle Average *
29.2
28.4
3%
28.2
3%
31
-6%
29.9
-2%
30.3
-4%
Idle Maximum *
29.2
28.4
3%
28.2
3%
35
-20%
30.5
-4%
30.3
-4%
Load Average *
29.2
41.6
-42%
29
1%
49
-68%
42.5
-46%
37.1
-27%
Witcher 3 ultra *
38.4
36.1
6%
44.7
-16%
51
-33%
44.8
-17%
43.3
-13%
Load Maximum *
45.7
41.6
9%
47.4
-4%
54
-18%
44.8
2%
43
6%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Side ventilation when running Witcher 3
Side ventilation when running Witcher 3

Surface temperatures when idling are slightly different compared to last year's model. The newer model is noticeably warmer around its rear quadrants than its front quadrants by almost 10 degrees. This wider delta is likely the result of the system's quieter fans during low-medium loads. Fortunately, the palm rests and keyboard areas remain comfortable for word processing.

When under higher loads like gaming or sustained benchmarks, hot spots can be as warm as 49 C not unlike on the 2017 model. These spots are thankfully closer to the rear of the system and away from the commonly used WASD keys when gaming. In comparison, the WASD keys on the XPS 15 9575 can become much warmer at about 40 C when under similar loads.

It's worth noting that waste heat exits from both the left and right edges of the notebook. This is an uncommon setup on notebooks with dedicated graphics cards and it can lead to warm hands when using an external mouse.

System idle (top)
System idle (top)
System idle (bottom)
System idle (bottom)
Witcher 3 stress (top)
Witcher 3 stress (top)
Witcher 3 stress (bottom)
Witcher 3 stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (bottom)
Max. Load
 38.6 °C
101 F
45.2 °C
113 F
46.4 °C
116 F
 
 33.8 °C
93 F
42 °C
108 F
35.8 °C
96 F
 
 32 °C
90 F
28.4 °C
83 F
32.6 °C
91 F
 
Maximum: 46.4 °C = 116 F
Average: 37.2 °C = 99 F
43.2 °C
110 F
49 °C
120 F
41.4 °C
107 F
39.8 °C
104 F
45.4 °C
114 F
37 °C
99 F
33.8 °C
93 F
32.6 °C
91 F
33.2 °C
92 F
Maximum: 49 °C = 120 F
Average: 39.5 °C = 103 F
Power Supply (max.)  50 °C = 122 F | Room Temperature 23 °C = 73 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 37.2 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 31.2 °C / 88 F for the devices in the class Multimedia.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 46.4 °C / 116 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 49 °C / 120 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.7 °C / 82 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 36.3 °C / 97 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (33 °C / 91.4 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-4.2 °C / -7.6 F).

Speakers

HP advertises 60 percent louder B&O quad speakers YoY. Our pink noise readings do indeed reveal noticeably louder speakers for the new model when compared to the outgoing model. Sound quality is still decent for the size and probably much louder than most users will need even when at 50 percent volume. Chassis reverberation does not become noticeable until volume is past the 75 percent range. We would have preferred advancements in bass reproduction and balance for better sound quality instead of louder speakers.

Speakers are now bottom-facing instead of front-facing
Speakers are now bottom-facing instead of front-facing
Pink noise graph
Pink noise graph
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2040.437.92536.135.93134.633.54033.732.35032.632.76331.834.88030.930.91003031.512529.533.116028.644.420027.952.425027.359.331526.662.64002667.950025.667.26302569.780024.47510002472125023.769.5160023.674.8200023.671.7250023.370.2315023.169.1400023.372.1500023.170.7630023.175.4800022.979.91000022.876.41250022.768.41600022.768.9SPL35.985.4N2.666median 23.7median 69.5Delta1.2635.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseHP Spectre x360 15-ch011nrApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 44% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 48% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 30% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 62% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The system is less demanding than the last generation model when idling even though the CPU and GPU has remained the same. When under load, however, power consumption becomes very similar between them. The new XPS 15 9570 is more demanding when under load by as much as 16 W to 27 W since it utilizes more powerful CPU and GPU components.

Maximum load will draw 80 W from a medium-sized (~13.8 x 6.5 x 2.3 cm) 90 W adapter. It is important to note that the Kaby Lake-G SKU comes with a larger 150 W AC adapter since its GPU is significantly more powerful and demanding than the Nvidia MX150. Consequently, its power consumption results will likely be very different than what is recorded here.

Prime95 initiated at the 20s mark. Note that power consumption is highest for the first few seconds before falling to a steady 39 W to be in line with our CineBench loop test scores
Prime95 initiated at the 20s mark. Note that power consumption is highest for the first few seconds before falling to a steady 39 W to be in line with our CineBench loop test scores
Maximum display brightness and keyboard backlight initiated at the 20s mark. There is a 10 W difference between running on minimum and maximum brightness levels
Maximum display brightness and keyboard backlight initiated at the 20s mark. There is a 10 W difference between running on minimum and maximum brightness levels
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.31 / 0.72 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 5.3 / 9.8 / 12.6 Watt
Load midlight 73 / 80 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB, IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP, IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Lite-On CA3-8D256-Q11, LED IGZO IPS InfinityEdge, 1920x1080, 15.60
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
i7-8705G, Vega M GL / 870, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB, IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
i9-8950HK, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0), IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
R7 2700U, Vega 10, Micron SSD 1100 SED 512GB, M.2 (MTFDDAV512TBN), IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Power Consumption
-25%
10%
-18%
-69%
30%
Idle Minimum *
5.3
11.6
-119%
2.9
45%
6.2
-17%
11.7
-121%
5.9
-11%
Idle Average *
9.8
13.8
-41%
5.8
41%
12.9
-32%
18.5
-89%
8.6
12%
Idle Maximum *
12.6
14.2
-13%
7.5
40%
13.6
-8%
22.8
-81%
8.7
31%
Load Average *
73
67.9
7%
77.5
-6%
76.1
-4%
97.5
-34%
32.8
55%
Witcher 3 ultra *
67.6
59
13%
84
-24%
84.3
-25%
102.9
-52%
38.2
43%
Load Maximum *
80
76.9
4%
107
-34%
99.4
-24%
111.1
-39%
40.9
49%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The internal battery has been upped in capacity from 79 W in the outgoing model to 84 W on the 2018 model. Naturally, with core components being equal, our newer Spectre x360 15 can outlast the last model by a short amount when under similar loads. Continuous WLAN load in particular can be almost 2 hours longer for a total runtime of almost 10.5 hours.

Charging from near empty to full capacity takes between 1.5 to 2 hours as is normal for most notebooks.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
15h 27min
WiFi Websurfing
10h 25min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 15min
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, 84 Wh
HP Spectre x360 15t-bl100
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, 79.2 Wh
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 97 Wh
Dell XPS 15 9575 i7-8705G
i7-8705G, Vega M GL / 870, 75 Wh
Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX580GE
i9-8950HK, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 71 Wh
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
R7 2700U, Vega 10, 49 Wh
Battery Runtime
-5%
18%
-38%
-31%
-36%
Reader / Idle
927
934
1%
673
-27%
842
-9%
795
-14%
WiFi v1.3
625
511
-18%
942
51%
420
-33%
375
-40%
317
-49%
Load
135
136
1%
114
-16%
63
-53%
76
-44%
75
-44%
Witcher 3 ultra
62

Pros

+ relatively cool core temperatures when under load
+ long battery life; slightly larger battery capacity
+ smooth matte surface hides fingerprints well
+ good CPU performance; no heavy throttling
+ very quiet during low-medium loads
+ Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type-A
+ strong design and quality
+ good keyboard feedback
+ narrower bezels YoY
+ integrated NumPad
+ very loud speakers

Cons

- Pulse-width modulation on nearly all brightness levels
- bass reproduction not noticeably any better
- top edge bezel is thicker than competitors
- serviceability could be more user-friendly
- tablet mode still somewhat cumbersome
- no improvement to display brightness
- slightly thicker, wider, and heavier YoY
- no 100 percent AdobeRGB options
- odd fingerprint reader positioning
- trackpad could be larger

Verdict

In review: HP Spectre x350 15-ch011nr
In review: HP Spectre x350 15-ch011nr

While most OEMs tend to go thinner, smaller, and lighter through each successive generation, HP had the guts to go slightly thicker and the gamble paid off. The third generation Spectre x360 15 runs quieter with cooler core temperatures than last year's model while offering more features to justify the marginal size increase. Perhaps best of all, HP didn't find the need to reposition the webcam or drop USB Type-A ports, full-size SD readers, or the traditional NumPad - all important attributes to have for productivity. We can't necessarily say the same for competing notebooks like the popular Dell XPS 15 9570 or MacBook Pro 15.

By being a bit larger than the 2017 Spectre x360 15, however, the 2018 model doesn't solve the main issue that's been plaguing the Spectre x360 series since 2016. Namely, this is still a heavy and almost cumbersome notebook to use in tablet mode. The top bezel is still quite thick compared to the competition and we wish HP had upped the display backlight for better outdoor usability. On the other hand, these are fair prices to pay for a well-built and unyielding machine worthy of standing toe-to-toe with both the XPS 15 9575 and 9570.

The cool and quiet temps of this 90 W Kaby Lake-R configuration have us excited to test out the more powerful 150 W Kaby Lake-G configuration. How this same chassis can cope with a more demanding processor should be interesting to see in a future review.

The 2017 Spectre x360 15 was one of the best 15-inch convertibles available and the 2018 refresh is no different. Our favorite 2-in-1 is now quieter, cooler, and more feature-packed than before. Users who were originally turned off by the weight and size of the Spectre x360 15 series, however, will not have a change of heart.

HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr - 06/29/2018 v6(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
89 / 98 → 91%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
86%
Connectivity
64 / 81 → 79%
Weight
63 / 20-67 → 90%
Battery
93%
Display
81%
Games Performance
78 / 85 → 92%
Application Performance
89 / 92 → 97%
Temperature
86%
Noise
91 / 95 → 95%
Audio
63%
Camera
40 / 85 → 46%
Average
77%
87%
Multimedia - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > HP Spectre x360 15 2018 (i7-8550U, GeForce MX150) Convertible Review
Allen Ngo, 2018-07- 6 (Update: 2019-03- 9)