When it comes to a 360-degree convertible 2-in-1, you have a lot of options. Some of them are among the best laptops you can buy. HP’s Specter x360 13.5 is a great example, making our lists of both the best 2-in-1s and the best laptops, and has been the best the class has to offer for some time.
But Asus was also a serious player in this form factor, releasing several machines that came close to making both lists. Its latest ZenBook S 13 Flip is a great example, and it has an ace up its sleeve: it’s a very light laptop that makes it easier to use as a tablet. Is that enough to topple the Specter x360 13.5?
Specifications and configurations
| HP Specter x360 13.5 | Asus ZenBook S 13 Flip | |
| Dimensions | 11.73 inches x 8.68 inches x 0.67 inches | 11.67 inches x 8.26 inches x 0.59 inches |
| Weight | 3.01 pounds | 2.43 pounds |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1235UIIntel Core i7-1255U | Intel Core i7-1240PIntel Core i7-1260P |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe | Intel Iris Xe |
| working memory | 8 GB LPDDR416 GB LPDDR432 GB LPDDR4 | 8 GB LPDDR516 GB LPDDR532 GB LPDDR5 |
| Display | 13.5-inch 3:2 WXUGA+ (1920 x 1280) IPS Touch 13.5-inch 3:2 WXUGA+ (1920 x 1280) IPS Privacy Touch Screen 13.5-inch 3:2 3K2K (3000 x 2000) OLED touch | 13.3-inch 16:10 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED |
| Storage | 512 GB PCIe 4.0 solid-state drive (SSD) 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD | 512 GB PICe 4.0 SSD 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD |
| Contact | That | That |
| port | 2 x USB-C 4.0 with Thunderbolt 41 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 21 x 3.5 mm audio jack 1 x microSD card reader | 2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 41 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 21 x 3.5 mm audio jack 1 x microSD card reader |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Webcam | 5 MP with infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello | 1080p with infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello |
| Operation system | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Battery | 66 watt-hour | 67 watt-hours |
| Price | $1250+ | 1500 dollars |
| Evaluation | 4.5 out of 5 stars | 4 out of 5 stars |
The ZenBook S 13 Flip UP5302 isn’t available for sale yet, but when it is, there will only be one configuration in the US. For $1,500 you’ll get a Core i7-1260P, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 2.8K OLED display.
On the other hand, the Specter x360 13.5 has a range of options, starting at $1,250 for a Core i5-1535U, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 13.5-inch WUXGA+ display. You can shell out up to $1,825 for a Core i7-1255U, 16GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, and a 3K2K OLED display. If you opt for an IPS panel, you can also configure 32 GB of RAM.
To shape
- 2. Asus ZenBook S 13 Flip
The Specter x360 13.5 has perhaps the most refined aesthetic of any 2-in-1, with a subdued jewel-like design that’s rounded in all the right places and comfortable to hold. It has color accents that add a splash of color without overdoing it and offers three color schemes in Natural Silver, Nightfall Black and Nocturne Blue. On the other hand, the ZenBook S 13 Flip is quite minimalistic, with Ponder Blue (the only US color) or Refined White colors and simpler lines. Both are attractive laptops, but the HP stands out.
As for their construction, the Specter x360 13.5 is all aluminum and enjoys a rigid design with no bending, bending or twisting. The ZenBook S 13 Flip is also quite sturdy, although it uses magnesium which tends to result in some bending and flexing in other machines. What makes the ZenBook most impressive is its weight, which comes in at just 2.43 pounds compared to the Spectre’s 3.01 pounds, and it’s also significantly thinner at 0.59 inches versus 0.67 inches. They’re about the same width and depth, though the HP is a bit deeper thanks to its taller 3:2 display compared to the ZenBook’s 16:10.
The Specter x360 13.5’s keyboard is faster and more precise than the ZenBook S 13 Flip’s, but both are great for long typing sessions. Both have large touchpads that respond with quiet button clicks, but Asus adds its NumberPad 2.0 LED numeric keypad for anyone who enters a lot of numbers.
Connectivity is identical, with both offering Thunderbolt 4 ports to support modern devices and a legacy USB-A port. Wireless connectivity has also been updated on both.
The HP has a 5MP webcam that is theoretically higher resolution than the Asus’ 1080p version, but both deliver excellent video quality. HP includes a few other tools for video optimization, but there’s no big advantage there. Both use infrared cameras to support password-less Windows 11 Hello login via facial recognition, and the Specter also has a fingerprint reader if you prefer that login method.
Performance
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The Specter x360 13.5 uses Intel’s 12th generation U-series CPUs, which are 15W chips with 10 cores (two Performance and eight Efficient) and 12 threads. The ZenBook S 13 Flip uses P-series processors, with the same number of cores and threads, but runs at 28 watts. In our benchmarks, both laptops delivered excellent productivity, with the Asus only slightly ahead on several of our benchmarks. You won’t want to choose between these laptops based on performance alone.
| HP Specter x360 13.5 (Core i7-1255U) | Asus ZenBook S 13 Flip (Core i7-1260P) | |
| Geekbench 5 (single / multiple) | Bal: 1,566 / 7,314 Perf: 1,593 / 7,921 | Bal: 1,602 / 8,559 Perf: 1,639 / 8,923 |
| Handbrake (seconds) | Ball: 169 Perf: 120 | Ball: 132 Perf: 117 |
| Cinebench R23 (single / multi) | Bal: 1,623 / 5,823 Perf: 1,691 / 7,832 | Bal: 1,583 / 7,595 Perf: 1,614 / 9,220 |
Display
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
The Specter x360 13.5 has several 13.5-inch 3:2 display options, including WXUGA+ (1920 x 1280) IPS panels with and without a privacy screen, and the 3K2K (3000 x 2000) OLED panel we reviewed. The ZenBook S 13 Flip comes with just a 13.3-inch 16:10 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED display. Both are excellent, with the HP being slightly brighter, with slightly deeper contrast and better color accuracy. But then again, you won’t want to choose any laptop based on its screen.
| HP Specter x360 13.5 (OLED) | Asus ZenBook S 13 Flip (OLED) | |
| Brightness (nits) | 380 | 337 |
| AdobeRGB range | 97% | 97% |
| sRGB range | 100% | 100% |
| Accuracy (DeltaE, lower the better) | 0.61 | 1.02 |
| Contrast ratio | 28,230:1 | 23,590:1 |
Portability
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
We’ve already reported that the Zenbook S 13 Flip is lighter and thinner than the Specter x360 13.5, and that’s enough to make a difference, especially in tablet mode. Both laptops will be easy to carry, but if you want to hold a writing tablet, the ZenBook will be more comfortable.
Thanks to the lower-powered CPU, the Specter x360 13.5 has better battery life in all tests except PCMark 10 Applications, where the scores were close enough to tie. You can probably expect about an hour longer from the HP under most usage conditions, and even that isn’t enough to differentiate these laptops.
| HP Specter x360 13.5 (Core i7-1255U) | Asus ZenBook S 13 Flip (Core i7-1260P) | |
| Browsing the Internet | 9 hours, 58 minutes | 8 hours, 38 minutes |
| Video | 13 hours, 59 minutes | 13 hours, 16 minutes |
| PCMark 10 applications | 10 hours, 52 minutes | 11 hours, 18 minutes |
The Specter is more refined, but the ZenBook wins on size
You’ll spend about the same amount for similarly configured machines, so put the price aside. You’ll get similar performance, battery life and display quality, so those aren’t significant differences either.
Where the ZenBook S 13 Flip wins is its lightness and thinness. If you want a laptop that looks great and stands out, then the Specter is for you. But for the typical person, the ZenBook S 13 Flip is ultimately a winner.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn