2022 HP Spectre x360 13.5 has fewer keyboard keys and a slower MicroSD reader than the 2020 model
The 2020 13.5-inch Spectre x360 quickly became one of our favorite convertibles in its size class for several reasons as detailed in our review. The latest 2022 model brings a laundry list of changes most of which are significant improvements including the higher resolution webcam (5 MP vs. 1 MP), much faster CPU (12th gen Intel vs. 11th gen Intel), removable WLAN 6E module, and a larger clickpad. Not every change has been an improvement, however.
After having reviewed the 2022 Spectre x360 13.5, we've discovered that HP has revised the keyboard and slowed the MicroSD reader. The four dedicated keys for Home, PgUp, PgDn, and End on the 2020 model are now secondary functions on the arrow keys as shown by the comparison pictures below.
As for the MicroSD reader, transfer rates are now almost 3x slower even when using a UHS-II card. Moving 1 GB of images from our test card to desktop takes about 21 seconds on the 2022 model compared to just 5 to 6 seconds on the older model. If you rely on SD cards to move files from your camera to your laptop, then the newer Spectre is actually much slower for the purpose.
The two above changes are odd to see especially when the rest of the laptop performs so well. The CPU, for example, now runs more stably in terms of clock rates for smoother frame rates when gaming. The latest model is a large leap forward with just a couple of setbacks for the Spectre x360 13.5 series as a result.
SD Card Reader | |
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 32GB) | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 (AV Pro UHS-II V60) | |
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 32GB) | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 (AV Pro UHS-II V60) |
Cinebench R15 Multi Loop
Witcher 3 FPS Chart
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 | 7z b 4 -mmt1
Geekbench 5.5: Multi-Core | Single-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core) | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 |
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core) | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 |
Cinebench R23 / Multi Core | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 |
Cinebench R23 / Single Core | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 |
Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 |
Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 |
Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 |
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 |
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1 | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 |
Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 |
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 |
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 |
LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 |
R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean | |
HP Spectre x360 14t-ea000 | |
HP Spectre x360 13.5 14t-ef000 |
* ... smaller is better