HP Spectre Fold: The Ideal Laptop for Modern Business Executives | HP® Tech Takes (2024)

Sporting super-charged hardware crammed into a featherlight chassis, the HP Spectre Fold is the ultimate business laptop for fast-paced executives on the move.

Yearning to learn more? Read on to discover all the enticing benefits of this multi-faceted machine.

High-tech versatility

Is it a laptop, a tablet, or a desktop? The fact that it’s all three is why the Spectre Fold won the coveted Red Dot Product Design Award in 2023.

At first glance, the HP Spectre Fold looks like a regular laptop, albeit a relatively small one with a 12.3-inch screen. But the average user will learn that half of its size lies hidden underneath. Unclipping magnetic latches and removing the Bluetooth keyboard reveals a 17-inch OLED display.

Hold the display for tablet mode or place the screen horizontally and flip out the kickstand for an authentic desktop-like experience. Once reassembled in laptop mode, the Spectre Fold has another nifty trick up its sleeve. Pulling the keyboard towards you converts the laptop into “extended mode” by unveiling an extra 1.5-inch slice of screen. That gives you a 14-inch, vertically aligned laptop display, even though the computer squeezes into a 12.3-inch case.

All this folding up and doubling under is impressive. But is it useful for a business executive on the move?

The short answer is “yes.” Laptop and extended modes are ideal for quick, fast-paced work sessions, especially in confined spaces. Desktop mode gives a comfortable, full-screen experience for those long days working at the office or hotel lobby. Switch to tablet mode to illustrate images or watch Netflix in bed after a long day.

Cutting-edge specs

The HP Spectre Fold isn’t just some flashy gimmick. This capable, high-octane device has enough horsepower under the hood to breeze through all your everyday tasks. From teleconferencing to project management and quarterly financial reports, the Spectre Fold can handle all sorts of complex executive chores. Plus, a lightning-quick PCIe® Gen 4 SSD lets you boot your computer and load programs in seconds.

Here’s what hardware lies hidden within its slim, foldable case:

• Processor: Intel® Core™ i7 1250U (12th Generation)
• Memory: 16GB
• Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
• Graphics: Intel Iris® Xe Graphics

All this high-end tech offers more than enough grunt for standard managerial tasks. HP intentionally chose certain components, such as an efficient 9W 12th Generation Intel Core processor, to prioritise portability and battery life. Likewise, a dedicated GPU doesn’t make the list to conserve power consumption and shave off weight.

Next-level portability

Just as impressive as its foldable screen is the laptop’s portability. Coming in at a petite 1.6 kg, the HP Spectre Fold is significantly lighter than any other 17-inch device (it’s even lighter than many 15 inchers). For reference, 17-inch laptops typically weigh somewhere between 2 kg and 4 kg.

For on-the-go executives who hate squinting at a tiny little display, the HP Spectre Fold is the most portable big-screen solution on the market.

Not only is the HP Spectre Fold surprisingly light for its size, but it’s also ultra-compact. The super slim device measures a minuscule 0.85 cm thick in tablet mode and just 2.14 cm in laptop form. That makes it thinner than most standard laptops and almost as slender as a high-end ultrabook.

Near-eternal battery life

Battery life was a top consideration when designing the HP Spectre Fold. This versatile device is, after all, intended for highly mobile executives. And there’s no point in owning an ultra-light laptop if you run out of batteries halfway through a hectic workday.

Despite its tiny size, the HP Spectre Fold packs a chunky 6-cell, 94.3Wh Li-Ion polymer battery, giving it enough juice to run for up to 12 hours and 30 minutes in foldable mode. Switch over to detachable mode, and you can get up to 11 hours and 45 minutes off a single charge - not bad for a massive 17-inch screen. When it comes time to juice up again, a 100W USB Type-C power adapter will return the battery to 50% in 45 minutes.

So, what’s the secret to this near-eternal battery life? While the 94.3Wh battery is impressive, much credit goes to the laptop’s energy-efficient design. HP engineers made a huge effort to minimise power draw, from the processor to the screen and everything in between.

An eye-catching design

Sporting a sleek, C-suite-friendly design, the HP Spectre Fold blends seamlessly into every professional setting. The featherlight magnesium metal chassis comes in a sophisticated slate blue matte finish. Micro-edge bezels maximise screen real estate, while an understated HP logo glistens on the front cover.

The HP Spectre Fold’s most notable aesthetic feature, of course, is its world-first folding laptop design. This sci-fi-inspired form is guaranteed to spark up a conversation in the boardroom or coffee shop.

Vibrant, high-definition display

Sharp, crystal-clear imagery comes thanks to its 2.5K touch screen display, which squeezes 1920 x 2560 pixels onto the screen. That clarity lets you see more content and fine details you might otherwise miss. A high-resolution screen also boosts productivity during detail-orientated tasks like reading spreadsheets and long, dense reports.

The HP Spectre Fold automatically adjusts the resolution when switching between its three screen sizes: 17 inches for desktop/tablet, 14 inches for laptop extended, and 12 inches for laptop.

In tablet or desktop mode, an IMAX-enhanced certification ensures a cinematic experience when streaming movies and shows. Expect deeper blacks, better contrast, and brighter colours, all while achieving optimal battery efficiency.

Navigating without the keyboard is easy thanks to the touch screen-enabled display with multi-touch gesture support and an HP Rechargeable Stylus Pen.

Streamlined collaboration

Fast-paced business executives can spend hours each workday hopping between video calls. That’s why HP went to great lengths to include the best teleconferencing technology possible with the HP Spectre Fold.

The 5MP IR camera has built-in auto frame technology to keep your face in focus even when moving around. Background blur lets you black out or replace what’s behind you, perfect when you don’t want a client to see your unkempt hotel room. Multi-camera technology sees two lenses working simultaneously to offer a fresh new perspective. An auto-camera switching feature detects which lens has your attention and adjusts accordingly.

Top-tier security

As prime targets for social engineering attacks, every successful executive understands the importance of staying safe online. The HP Spectre Fold has an arsenal of best-in-class security features to protect your data and identity.

An in-built infrared camera lets you log in more securely via Windows Hello. Right by the camera, a physical privacy shutter lets you block out your webcam to prevent hackers from creating unauthorised recordings.

Advanced AI features

The HP Spectre Fold comes chock full of cutting-edge AI-enhanced features. Logging in is a hassle-free - not to mention secure - process thanks to facial recognition technology built into the infrared camera. Auto-screen dimming harnesses this feature to tone down the display when you walk off or look away, thus further enhancing battery life.

An AI privacy alert lets you work safely in public by blurring the screen when someone walks by. To optimise ergonomics, a screen distance reminder alerts you when hunched too close to the display.

Prompt ports

The HP Spectre Fold squeezes in two speedy USB Type-C ports along the side of its case, an accomplishment for a slimline foldable laptop of this size. Both support Thunderbolt™ 4 and offer a rapid 40Gbps signalling rate.

One port is required for USB power delivery, leaving the other open for peripherals or external drives. While you won’t get as many ports as a non-convertible laptop, there are plenty of connections for the average executive’s needs.

Eco-friendly design

The HP Spectre Fold is designed with sustainability in mind. The slick magnesium chassis comes from 90% recycled metal, and the laptop uses at least 50% recycled plastics, much of which is ocean-bound. Like other HP laptops, the original packaging is 100% sustainably sourced. EPEAT® Gold Registered and ENERGY STAR® Certified further bolster its eco-friendly cache.

Summary

Boasting high-end specs and a futuristic foldable design, the HP Spectre is the ultimate business laptop for fast-paced executives on the move.

While 2-in-1 devices have been around for a decade, HP pioneered the 3-in-1 as recently as late 2023. Competitors have since adopted the concept, but none have successfully emulated the power, portability, and prestige of the HP Spectre Fold.