HP Unveils World’s Thinnest 17-Inch Foldable PC, But Is the $8K Price Justified?
HP has announced the release of its new Spectre Fold notebook, taking a page out of Lenovo’s playbook with a 17-inch OLED display. However, the hefty price tag of $8,000 in Australia has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about whether it’s justified. The device is being sold for $5,000 in the USA, making it the most expensive foldable ever released. A comparison with Lenovo’s Yoga Book 9i reveals that the only difference lies in the size of the display.
The Spectre Fold comes with a 17-inch 2.5K OLED touch display that boasts a 3:4 aspect ratio, 400 nits’ standard brightness, and 500 nits’ brightness in HDR. For the price, HP also includes Imax Enhanced certification. HP justifies the high cost by highlighting the design similarities to Lenovo’s $4,299 offering. They also claim that it is the world’s smallest and thinnest 17-inch foldable PC.
What sets the Spectre Fold apart is its ability to fold down to a 12.3-inch notebook, offering flexibility and portability. It features a one-and-a-half screen expanded mode, allowing users to slide down the keyboard for a wider view. Additionally, the device has a dual-screen extended mode for when the Bluetooth keyboard is detached. HP has ensured that the weight distribution is even in all orientations, thanks to clever battery design.
Artificial intelligence is another feature that HP highlights, enabling walk-away lock, wake-on approach, auto screen dimming, and privacy alerts. While some of these features are similar to the cheaper Lenovo model, the vertical orientation of the Yoga Book 9i has resonated with users, appealing to those who value space-saving solutions.
The Spectre Fold includes a built-in kickstand similar to Lenovo’s portable stand, providing stability in laptop mode. Users can snap windows to the bottom of the display, making it convenient for multitasking purposes. The Bluetooth keyboard charges magnetically while connected to the device.
In terms of hardware, the Spectre Fold is equipped with the 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, while the Lenovo offering features the Intel Core i7 1355U 10-core processor. Both devices come with Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of memory, and a 1TB SSD. Battery life is estimated at 12 hours in laptop mode and 11 hours in desktop mode.
Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and the foldable device features a 5-megapixel camera with a privacy switch. It also boasts two Thunderbolt 4 ports with a 40Gbps signaling rate, supporting USB Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4.
HP Australia hasn’t announced the launch date for the Spectre Foldable yet, leaving many to wonder if this device has enough to offer to justify its $8,000 price tag. Only time will tell if consumers are willing to invest in this cutting-edge technology or opt for more affordable alternatives.
