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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the HP Spectre x360 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, consider how you'll use the laptop. The Spectre x360 comes with more storage and memory, which means better performance for tasks like 3D modeling or engineering software. It also has a larger, higher resolution touchscreen with a bigger battery, suitable for intensive tasks but heavier and more expensive. The Laptop Go 2 is more affordable, lighter, and exceptionally portable with a smaller screen, making it ideal for on-the-go basic tasks and general use. However, its performance for demanding applications is limited due to less storage and memory compared to the Spectre x360. 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 HP Spectre x360
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.0
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
406.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The HP Spectre x360 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 offers a powerful CPU and more RAM for multitasking, a superior screen quality with higher resolution and brightness, and a longer battery life, making it very effective for general use; however, these features make it less portable and heavier than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which is lighter with a more portable design and still provides an excellent keyboard and good battery life, but its performance and screen lag behind due to a less robust CPU, less RAM, and a lower-resolution display.
Gaming and AI
6.6
6.0
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the HP Spectre x360 is somewhat better.
The HP Spectre x360 is superior for gaming and 3D applications because it has a more powerful main processor GPU combination, essential for graphical tasks, and a higher screen refresh rate for smoother visuals. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a less capable CPU/GPU and lower screen refresh rate, resulting in fair performance in gaming and 3D tasks, not to mention a lesser quality screen which can affect the gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
8.0
6.5
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 has a more powerful CPU and GPU, greater RAM, and a higher-quality screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, positioning it better for demanding engineering and design tasks. However, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers greater portability and may have a more favorable keyboard and quieter operation, making it suitable for less intensive applications and on-the-go usage.
Content Creation
8.2
7.1
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Spectre x360 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
8.3
7.0
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
7.6
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
406.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering screen quality for general use, the HP Spectre x360 excels due to its higher resolution and brightness, offering crisp and vivid visuals for everyday tasks and media consumption. For engineering and design purposes, the Spectre's wider color gamuts ensure more accurate color representation, which is crucial for detailed and color-sensitive work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate results in less fluid motion, making it less ideal than laptops specifically geared towards those uses with higher refresh rates.
Battery
11.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The HP Spectre x360 has 11 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 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
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the HP Spectre x360 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.8
The HP Spectre x360 has very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$774
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The HP Spectre x360 has a price of $1,000 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $774.
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How the HP Spectre x360 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Spectre x360 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $774 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.7'' x 0.78'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.74 lbs | 2.48 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.66" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3072 x 1920 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 406 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.6/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
HP Spectre x360
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Eric Grevstad | August 2022
"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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the HP Spectre x360 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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.
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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