The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is pricier and has an M2 Pro processor with superior performance for 3D and machine learning tasks, making it well-suited for intensive engineering. Its high-resolution Mini LED display is bright and vibrant but does not feature a touchscreen. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 is more affordable and has a touchscreen, adding versatility for interactive use. Its performance is adequate for general use and less demanding engineering tasks but falls short for intensive 3D applications. The Spectre also boasts longer battery life and an IPS display, but its overall build and performance don't match the MacBook Pro. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
Good for gaming and AI
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the HP Spectre x360
The HP Spectre x360 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.2/10
7.6/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
406.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the HP Spectre x360 for general use, AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 typically boasts superior resolution and color accuracy, with high brightness levels, making it excellent for general use and engineering design as it provides vivid details and a broad color spectrum essential for precise work. The HP Spectre x360, similarly, offers detailed images and good color representation, meeting the needs of day-to-day tasks and design-related work where visual fidelity is key. However, both laptops may fall short for 3D applications and gaming where a high refresh rate is crucial, as they prioritize high-resolution panels and color accuracy over faster screen refresh capabilities.
Battery
13.5 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The HP Spectre x360 has 11 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability, while the HP Spectre x360 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the HP Spectre x360 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,700 and the HP Spectre x360 costs $1,000.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and HP Spectre x360 are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is praised for its powerful M2 Pro chip and high-quality Mini LED screen, alongside a strong battery life and a solid build, making it great for a variety of general use cases. The HP Spectre x360 also offers strong performance with its Intel i7 processor, a high-resolution IPS touchscreen that can be used as a tablet, and a robust build, but it has a slightly lower screen quality and portability score compared to the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.6/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) to be good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.0/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and HP Spectre x360 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a high-definition Mini LED screen with a high color accuracy which is excellent for design tasks, backed by a robust CPU and GPU that excel in engineering applications. Meanwhile, the HP Spectre x360 offers a high-resolution IPS display that's touch-enabled, making it versatile for design, but its CPU and integrated GPU, while good, fall short compared to the MacBook, especially in demanding tasks.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.2/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and HP Spectre x360 are both very good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.4/10
8.3/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and HP Spectre x360 are both very good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the HP Spectre x360 compare to other laptops
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
"As we said, Lenovo's Yoga 9i is a tough competitor to the Spectre with an equally admirable OLED display. We're sad that neither of them has an HDMI port nor a niche or slot to hold the stylus, though the HP wins points for its bundled mini docking station and magnetically attached pen. Your choice will come down to screen shape—and in our eyes, just as seeing an OLED screen spoils you for an IPS panel, enjoying a tall 3:2 display spoils you for a more conventional view. The HP Spectre x360 13.5 is our new favorite 2-in-1."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the HP Spectre x360
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.