HP Surprises the Market with the Introduction of their first Hybrid Tablet-Notebook branded 'Hp Spectre Fold'
The next big thing in the mobile space will be foldable tablets. The original concept was born out of the 'Horseshoe Bend Project' between Intel, Samsung and Microsoft in 2020. Even an Apple patent confirmed in 2021 that one of their foldable device inventions was in fact a foldable "laptop." This past August, Samsung once again confirmed that they're developed a foldable hybrid tablet-notebook, even though Samsung display has the technology in hand.
While the big push into the hybrid tablet-notebook is likely a year away as key players await Qualcomm's Oryon processor to give them the power to compete with Apple's M-Series processors for MacBooks and the iPad Pro – HP has surprised the market with the release of the HP Spectre Fold 3-in-1 Windows PC. The video below lays it out quickly in how it could be used.
HP notes that the new HP Spectre Fold just crushes the status quo, taking everything you’d expect from a PC and turning it on its head. A truly versatile and innovative device, it takes on multiple forms, functions, and uses with a sophisticated design with multiple options to let you explore infinite possibilities.
Jo Tan, Senior Vice President & Division President of Personal Systems Consumer Solutions, HP Inc.: "Consumers are demanding greater flexibility to connect, work, and play for their hybrid lives beyond what the traditional laptop can provide. We are excited to introduce the HP Spectre Foldable PC, designed to seamlessly adapt to the various ways you want to work with its unique, durable form factor that pushes the boundaries of design and technology."
The Spectre Fold easily transitions between the three distinct form factors for a frictionless user experience. Effortlessly switch from a traditional laptop to a slim tablet with a continuous 17-inch screen, then to a powerful desktop with a sleek built-in kickstand. This is made possible with a foldable panel and integrated hinge, designed for durability and tested with the same requirements as traditional HP laptops.
The Spectre Fold surpasses the conventional laptop experience as the world’s first foldable PC with one and half screens using a physical keyboard. No additional cables are needed to charge the Bluetooth® keyboard or pen with wireless charging integrated into the device.
The Spectre Fold’s expanded screen is the star of the show, leveraging Windows Snap along with an HP enhanced mode to quickly adapt and reconfigure the Windows layout. In traditional laptop mode, toggle between content and windows, edit photos in Photoshop using the extended or expanded laptop mode, or watch an IMAX movie on the full screen using the world’s first foldable PC with IMAX Enhanced Certification.
Exceptional Performance and Features for Adaptive Computing
The Spectre Fold is the world’s first foldable PC with built-in AI for security, wellness, and gesture controls. An advanced AI chip adapts to your needs, delivering a tailored computing experience that focuses on you. Enjoy features such as walk away lock, wake on approach, auto screen dimming, and privacy alerts to enhance your privacy. Screen time and distance reminders, along with touch-free content control, help you focus on wellbeing while providing a more intuitive interaction with the device.vi
The Spectre Fold includes HP Presence 2.0vii for enhanced productivity and collaboration that takes conferencing to the next level with a 5MP camera to look your best, along with Intel® Unison™ support to easily connect the PC to your mobile device. Powered by a 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 Processor engineered on the Intel® Evo™ platform, the Spectre Fold is capable of handling demanding real-life tasks in any mode with ease. Enjoy stunning graphics with Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics and long-lasting battery life of up to 12 hours in laptop mode and up to 11 hours in desktop mode. The device also equips users with blazing-fast Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and plenty of storage with 16GB of memory and 1TB SSD.
Pricing and Availability
The HP Spectre Foldable PC is available in the U.S. for pre-order today, September 15, at BestBuy.com. The device is expected to be available in limited quantities in October on HP.com for a starting price of $4,999.99 and at select Best Buy locations. The device is also expected to be available in select countries later this fall.
PC Events Next Week
It's possible that the HP hybrid device will be showcased at the Intel Innovation event to be held next Wednesday (Sept. 19) and/or at Microsoft's Surface event in New York next Thursday (Sept 21).
While the HP Spectre Fold is aiming for the top end Pro market to begin with, by late 2024 we're likely to see a much greater range of availability in terms of display sizes and price ranges to appeal to a march larger range of users.
It's time for the PC industry to shake things up and this new tablet-notebook category could be what's needed to put a spark back into the PC sector.
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