78

Conclusion: We're mixed

When it was released back in March, HP's Envy 14 Spectre was one of the best-looking Ultrabooks available, at a price to match. Fast-forward a few months, and HP wants to extend the Envy Spectre experience to a wider audience, with the lower-priced (though still not cheap at $1,000) XT. The new model has a better processor than the original, but sacrifices its super-sharp 1600x900 display for a lower-res 1366x768 version. Battery life is also just OK, and there's just one USB 3.0 port. The XT is still a good Ultrabook. But don't expect anyone to envy you for having one.

Critic reviews

7.5
12 reviews
  • Speed and features
    7.5
  • Design and form factor
    8.0
  • Battery life
    6.5
  • Display
    6.2
  • Durability
    8.0
  • Expandability
    6.1
  • Noise
    5.0
  • Portability (size / weight)
    8.1

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User reviews

no user reviews yet
  • Speed and features
  • Design and form factor
  • Battery life
  • Display
  • Durability
  • Expandability
  • Noise
  • Portability (size / weight)
7.0
Engadget Sep 13, 2012

The HP Envy Spectre XT is a solid contender, with a comfortable keyboard and touchpad, an attractive design and top-notch performance. The one downside is less-than-stellar battery life.

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8.0
CNET Sep 17, 2012

The HP Envy Spectre XT is a high-end laptop at a mainstream price, but one that blurs the line a bit too much with HP's lower-priced offerings.

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8.0
PC Mag Oct 16, 2012

The HP Envy Spectre XT (13-2050 nr) is a solid ultrabook with a stylish design, but its appeal is marred by a so-so clickpad and display.

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7.0
Laptop Magazine Sep 14, 2012

The HP Envy Spectre XT is a slick Ultrabook with plenty of power and strong Beats Audio. If you're looking for an ultraportable that offers excellent performance in a sexy package, HP's Envy Spectre XT deserves your attention.

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7.0
CNET AU Sep 10, 2012

HP's Envy Spectre XT is an attractive package that has taken some shortcuts to bring the price down. While it's pretty and features an excellent keyboard, for the price we'd expect better connectivity and longer battery life.

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7.0
SlashGear Oct 5, 2012

The Spectre XT really is a good computer, and I think if you can get past the price ... you’ll have no problem loving the Spectre XT.

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8.0
T3 Jan 23, 2013

If you want a PC that resembles a MacBook Air, the HP Spectre XT is just the ticket. It actually sounds better and while the trackpad failing is disappointing, this feels like a luxurious PC out of the box.

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8.0
Notebook Check Sep 20, 2012

All in all, the Spectre XT 13 is not a bad ultrabook. With at least two strong competitors in this market segment – the Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A and the Apple MacBook Air 13 (Mid-2012) – serious flaws really are not an option for HP going forward.

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8.0
Mobile Tech Review Sep 5, 2012

Though we gave the HP Envy Spectre XT a bit of a hard time for not bringing anything new to the table, it's still a very strong Ultrabook that's good looking and well made. The Spectre XT is a fast, light, stable machine that we wouldn't mind taking on the road.

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8.0
Computer Shopper Sep 20, 2012

The HP Envy Spectre XT reminds us how pleasant first-generation ultrabooks were. It's just the right size and weight for take-it-anywhere productivity. While no rival can beat the Envy Spectre XT's keyboard, a few can beat its value proposition.

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6.0
About Sep 11, 2012

HP's Envy Spectre XT on the whole is a good overall ultrabook but the problem is that it doesn't really stand out in a very crowded market especially with the Premium Envy name.

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