Sadly, though, most models are stuck with a 1080p resolution. That's particularly welcome when you're watching movies on the 13.3-inch screen, which is bright and vibrant. Thanks to that low power CPU, HP was able to make the Folio completely fanless, so it's ideal for environments where you don't want any distracting noise. But it handled running dozens of browser tabs, photo editing, Skype, Slack and Spotify without issue. Obviously, this isn't really a machine meant for encoding gobs of video or playing games. Thankfully it managed to keep up with my usual workflow, despite running a slow dual-core Y-series Intel processor. Of course, none of that would matter if the Folio collapsed under the weight of a few browser tabs. Microsoft Surface Laptop (Core i5, Intel HD 620)ĭell XPS 13 (2018, Core i7-8550U, Intel UHD 620) Surface Pro 6 (Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD 620) Surface Laptop 2 (Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD 620) HP Spectre Folio (Core i7-8500Y, Intel UHD 615) I even grew to appreciate the natural warmth of the leather case as the temperature started to drop - there's no initial shock of cold on your legs or wrists like an aluminum case. It's not as mind bogglingly slim as the Spectre 13, but at 15.2 millimeters thick it's still very portable.Īt first, I was worried that using a leather-clad PC would feel like a weird organic machine from a Cronenberg movie, but I got used to the unique texture quickly. As a laptop, the Folio feels just as luxurious as HP's previous Spectre machines. So sure, it looks good, but what's really impressive is that HP's leather gamble actually works out. I just wish HP had integrated a better way to attach the stylus to the Folio - what you get is a leather sleeve the sticks onto the back of the display, and it simply feels cheap for such a premium device. While it's pretty useful, it doesn't feel as comfortable or accurate as the Surface Pen. Sure they're great as laptop replacements with their keyboards, but I'd never recommend them as standalone tablets.Īs for accessories, HP also bundles the stylus in the box, which costs extra on the Surface machines. That's always been a sticking point with Microsoft's Surface devices for me. That makes plenty of sense for a machine running Windows 10: It's an OS that has some decent touchscreen capabilities, but it's far more useful with a keyboard and mouse or touchpad. The result is a device that's convertible when you need it, but otherwise feels as stable as a normal notebook. It's like HP took the innovative kickstand from the Surface Pro and merged it with the more traditional design of the Surface Laptop. A sturdy circular spine connects the two halves of the machine, while the rotating display has a simple hinge supporting it. The Folio moves through all of these positions with surprising ease, thanks to the unique hinge system HP designed. And yes, you can also fold the display completely flat if you want. Pull the display forward a bit more and the Folio takes on the angled easel positioning of Microsoft's Surface lineup. The Spectre Folio feels less like a mass market consumer device, and more like something that was painstakingly crafted by a leather obsessed Etsy seller.Īnd don't forget, the Spectre Folio is a convertible device: Press down along the top of the display and the entire screen pops out, allowing you to pull it forward right above the touchpad and use it as a comfortably angled tablet. I also appreciate the finer touches, like the accented stitching on the back and the hand painted edging around the entire machine. While we've seen leather accents on notebooks in the past, HP went all out with the Folio: It covers the entire outside, but it also elegantly borders the display, keyboard and trackpad. Its leather case, which is available in light brown, ash and burgundy, doesn't look anything like a typical PC. It's easy to mistake the Spectre Folio for one of those portfolios lawyers and other professionals rely on - and that's exactly the point.
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