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Updated March 22, 2024·
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers versatility with its convertible design, which lets you use it as a tablet or a laptop, and typically comes with a stylus, enhancing creativity and productivity tasks. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is known for its sleek design and robust build quality, providing a premium feel and a straightforward laptop experience. If your priority includes more flexibility for presentations or creative work, the HP might serve you well; but if you prefer a traditional laptop with a focus on design and build, then the Surface Laptop might be more appealing, despite its slightly higher price. 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 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
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.7
7.4
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
384.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a robust combination of a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen, all packaged into a design that balances portability and battery life, making it very suitable for a wide range of tasks and long hours of use without a charge. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13", while also featuring a good screen and enough power for everyday tasks, notches slightly below the HP in terms of performance and versatility, but it remains a solid choice for general use with its own merits in keyboard and speaker quality.
Gaming and AI
6.8
6.1
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the HP Spectre x360 14 is somewhat better.
The HP Spectre x360 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" both have integrated graphics, which limits their gaming and 3D capabilities, yet they still handle less demanding tasks adequately. While their screens offer high quality for everyday use, neither has a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smoother visuals in fast-paced games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.1
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, which are crucial for running complex engineering software smoothly, and has a superior screen for precise design work. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" also has a good CPU and sufficient RAM for lighter engineering tasks, and its compact size and high-quality keyboard make it a more portable and comfortable option for on-the-go work, albeit with less emphasis on the GPU and screen quality compared to the HP.
Content Creation
8.7
7.4
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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
8.4
7.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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
8.6
7.2
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the HP Spectre x360 14 offers a higher resolution and brightness which makes for crisp and vibrant visuals, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 provides a slightly less striking but still high-quality display. In engineering and design, the HP Spectre stands out with a display that covers a broad range of colors, critical for accurate design work, whereas the Surface Laptop 5 falls short. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast screen updates are key, both laptops offer displays with lower refresh rates, making them less ideal for these fast-paced activities.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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
8.5
7.8
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,630
$1,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a price of $1,630 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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How the HP Spectre x360 14 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Spectre x360 14 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,630 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.45 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.35" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.68" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 68 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 384 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 2160p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
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 | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
HP Spectre x360 14
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Rami Tabari | February 2024
"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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
See more
Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the HP Spectre x360 14 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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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