HP Spectre x360 16 (16-aa0000) review – The Best 2-in-1 Just Got Better?

Name: HP Spectre x360 16
Brand: HP

LaptopMedia.com Reviews and Analysis HP Spectre x360 16 (16-aa0000) review - The Best 2-in-1 Just Got Better? Page 10

From: Nikolay Palaozov 28 March 2024 / 20:16 | 0

10. Verdict

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Verdict

The HP Spectre x360 16 (16-aa0000) is a multipurpose laptop with transforming capabilities. It looks stealthy, modern, and even distinctive thanks to the diagonal corners on the sides. The all-metal build feels premium to the touch and the rigidity is on point. The input devices are impressive, the backlit keyboard is comfortable for long hours of work and the enormous touchpad is smooth and accurate.

No matter if you are going to use the notebook for gaming or maybe 3D rendering, you can expect snappy overall performance. That’s possible thanks to the competent cooling solution with two large fans and a pair of long heat pipes. That’s why the power is always there when you need it because of the high CPU frequencies even under prolonged periods is 100% processor loads. In this scenario, the two fans remain near-silent which amazes us. Even without a dGPU, the machine is suitable for light gaming. Actually, with the Intel Arc (8-Cores), you can bump the visual quality in some not-so-demanding titles such as Dota 2 or CS:GO whiteout sacrificing too much of the high FPS.

You can find six power presets in the “myHP” app. If you don’t want to switch between the modes depending on your current task, just select the “Smart Sense” preset. For the best battery life, the “Quiet” or the “Battery Saver” modes are the way to go. Even if you apply the “Performance” preset (just like us) you can expect great comfort under full CPU load.

The base display (BOE BOE0BFA) is superb. This 1600p 120Hz unit offers a high max brightness of 436 nits and wide viewing angles. Additionally, the panel is suitable for photo and video editing or content creation since the sRGB coverage is 93% and the color accuracy can reach an average dE score of 1.3 with the aid of our “Design and Gaming” profile. Also, the pixel response times are fast, especially for an IPS display. This pairs well with the high refresh rate and the smooth touchpad. Still, if you need a screen with an even higher resolution, you can get the optional 2.8K OLED display that brings an infinite contrast ratio to the table. If your wallet is wide enough, the optional GeForce RTX 4050 (Laptop) will give a good boost in graphics-heavy tasks and gaming.

The I/O is for sure modern with the two Thunderbolt 4 connectors but a total of three USB connectors can be limiting for some of you. The upgradability is almost non-existent but that’s normal for the majority of the 2-in-1 laptops. We almost forgot to mention that the battery life is super long which is good news considering the powerful hardware and the 2560x1600p display (that supports variable refresh rate).

The HP Spectre x360 16 (16-aa0000) is one of the best transformers that we have tested up to date. The laptop sports a solid metal build, PWM-free IPS display, potent cooling with near-silent fans, snappy performance, and a very long battery life.

You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/hp-spectre-x360-16-16t-aa0000/

Pros

Very long battery life
The device is built like a tank
Great backlit keyboard that offers extra long key travel
Enormous super smooth and precise touchpad
9MP IR Web camera with an E-shutter + a fingerprint reader
Wide viewing angles and high max brightness (BOE BOE0BFA)
PWM-free (BOE BOE0BFA)
93% sRGB coverage + accurate colors thanks to our “Design and Gaming” profile (BOE BOE0BFA)
Snappy 1600p IPS panel with 120Hz refresh rate (BOE BOE0BFA)
Up-to-date I/O with two Thunderbolt 4 ports
The myHP app offers six performance presets
High clocks even under full CPU load
Quality quad-speaker audio setup
360-degree hinge
Optional Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4
The two fans are near-silent even in “Performance” mode
Great comfort under full CPU load
Low NVMe temperatures during benchmarking