Asus ZenBook S 13 Flip vs. HP Spectre x360 13.5: which wins?

In relation to 360-degree convertible 2-in-1s, you have got a whole lot of choices. A few of them are among the many finest laptops you should purchase. HP’s Spectre x360 13.5 is a main instance, making our lists of each the very best 2-in-1s and finest laptops and for fairly a while representing the very best that the category has to supply.

However Asus has been a critical participant on this kind issue as properly, placing out a number of machines which were shut to creating each lists. Its newest ZenBook S 13 Flip is a main instance, and it has an ace up its sleeve: it’s a really gentle laptop computer that makes it simpler to make use of as a pill. Does that give it sufficient to dethrone the Spectre x360 13.5?

Specs and configurations

The ZenBook S 13 Flip UP5302 nonetheless isn’t accessible on the market, however when it’s, there will probably be only one configuration within the US. For $1,500, you’ll get a Core i7-1260P, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 2.8K OLED show.

The Spectre x360 13.5 has a variety of choices, however, beginning at $1,250 for a Core i5-1535U, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 13.5-inch WUXGA+ show. You may fork out as much as $1,825 for a Core i7-1255U, 16GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, and a 3K2K OLED show. When you go for an IPS panel, you can too configure 32GB of RAM.

Design

The Spectre x360 13.5 has maybe probably the most refined aesthetic amongst all 2-in-1s, with a subdued gem-cut design that’s rounded in all the precise locations and cozy to carry. It has coloured accents that add some panache with out going overboard and affords three colour schemes in Pure Silver, Dusk Black, and Nocturne Blue. The ZenBook S 13 Flip, however, is kind of minimalist, with Ponder Blue (the one colour within the US) or Refined White colours and less complicated traces. Each are engaging laptops, however the HP stands out.

By way of their building, the Spectre x360 13.5 is all-aluminum and enjoys a inflexible design with no bending, flexing, or twisting. The ZenBook S 13 Flip can also be fairly stable, although it makes use of magnesium which tends to lead to some bending and flexing in different machines. The place the ZenBook is most spectacular is its weight, coming in at simply 2.43 kilos in comparison with the Spectre’s 3.01 kilos, and it’s additionally significantly thinner at 0.59 inches versus 0.67 inches. They’re near the identical width and depth, though the HP is barely deeper due to its taller 3:2 show versus the ZenBook’s 16:10.

The Spectre x360 13.5’s keyboard is snappier and extra exact than the ZenBook S 13 Flip’s, however each are nice for lengthy typing periods. They each have giant touchpads which are responsive with quiet button clicks, however Asus provides its NumberPad 2.0 LED numeric keypad for anybody who enters a whole lot of numbers.

Connectivity is equivalent, with each providing Thunderbolt 4 ports for modern machine assist and a legacy USB-A port. Wi-fi connectivity is up-to-date on each as properly.

The HP does have a 5MP webcam that’s theoretically larger decision than the Asus’s 1080p model, however each present glorious video high quality. HP builds in a number of extra instruments to optimize video, however there’s no enormous benefit right here. Each use infrared cameras to assist Home windows 11 Hi there passwordless login through facial recognition, and the Spectre additionally includes a fingerprint reader in the event you want that login technique.

Efficiency

The Spectre x360 13.5 makes use of Intel Twelfth-gen U-series CPUs, that are 15-watt chips with 10 cores (two Efficiency and eight Environment friendly) and 12 threads. The ZenBook S 13 Flip makes use of P-series processors, with the identical core and thread counts however runs at 28 watts. In our benchmarks, each laptops supplied glorious productiveness efficiency, and the Asus was simply barely forward on a few our benchmarks. You received’t wish to select between these laptops based mostly on efficiency alone.

Show

The Spectre x360 13.5 has a number of 13.5-inch 3:2 show choices, together with WXUGA+ (1920 x 1280) IPS panels with and with out privateness screens and a 3K2K (3,000 x 2,000) OLED panel that we reviewed. The ZenBook S 13 Flip comes with only a 13.3-inch 16:10 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED show. Each are glorious, with the HP being a bit brighter, having barely deeper distinction, and higher colour accuracy. However once more, you received’t wish to select both laptop computer based mostly on its show.

Portability

We’ve already reported that the Zenbook S 13 Flip is lighter and thinner than the Spectre x360 13.5, and it’s sufficient to make a distinction, significantly in pill mode. You’ll discover each laptops simple to hold round, however if you wish to maintain the pill for inking, the ZenBook will probably be extra snug.

Because of its lower-wattage CPU, the Spectre x360 13.5 bought higher battery life on all however the PCMark 10 Functions check, the place the outcomes have been shut sufficient to even. You may doubtless count on about an hour extra longevity from the HP in most utilization situations, and that, too, isn’t sufficient to distinguish these laptops.

The Spectre is extra refined, however the ZenBook wins on dimension

You’ll spend about the identical quantity for equally configured machines, so set the worth apart. You’ll get comparable efficiency, battery life, and show high quality, so these aren’t important differentiators both.

The place the ZenBook S 13 Flip wins out is in its lightness and its thinness. If you would like a laptop computer that appears nice and stands out, then the Spectre is for you. However for the standard particular person, the ZenBook S 13 Flip finally ends up being the winner.

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