Choosing between the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the HP Spectre x360 14 depends on your priorities. If you prioritize a lighter, more compact laptop and are sensitive to price, the Zenbook is a sensible choice. On the other hand, if you're looking for versatility with a touchscreen and a convertible design, and you don't mind spending a bit more, the Spectre x360 could serve you better. Consider the Spectre if your tasks lean towards creative applications or you enjoy tablet mode, but if you're after something more straightforward for general use with a bit of cost-saving, the Zenbook is a solid option. 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 ASUS Zenbook 13
Excellent portability
Advantages of the HP Spectre x360 14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4/10
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
378.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its respectable CPU and RAM, offers a solid balance for everyday tasks, enclosed in a lightweight and highly portable design, complemented by an excellent battery life that suits users on the go. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 14, while maintaining great performance through its CPU and sufficient RAM, shines with a higher screen quality suited for sharper visuals, and its convertible form factor provides enhanced versatility, albeit often at a premium price and potentially lower battery life compared to the Zenbook.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the HP Spectre x360 14 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and HP Spectre x360 14 both offer decent performance for gaming and 3D applications due to their capable GPUs; however, neither is designed for high-end gaming, which is reflected in their moderate screen refresh rates. While the CPU and screen quality in both laptops are satisfactory and contribute to a good overall experience, serious gamers or 3D professionals may seek more powerful dedicated gaming machines.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
8.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, while offering quality performance with a solid processor, adequate memory, and a high-resolution screen, falls short compared to the HP Spectre x360 14, which boasts a more powerful CPU and GPU combination, which are crucial for demanding engineering software, and a superior screen which benefits design precision. While both are portable with good keyboards, the Spectre nudges ahead with better speaker quality and lower operating noise, enhancing the overall user experience.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
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
7.3/10
8.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
8.6/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the HP Spectre x360 14 offer displays with crisp resolution and high brightness, making text and images clear and visible even in well-lit conditions. When it comes to engineering and design, these laptops provide wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color representation that's essential for precise visual work. However, both struggle in gaming and 3D applications due to lower refresh rates, which can lead to less smooth visuals during fast-paced scenes or when working on time-sensitive rendering tasks.
Portability
Excellent
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the HP Spectre x360 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$890
$1,630
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the HP Spectre x360 14 costs $1,630.
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 13 or the HP Spectre x360 14
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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