HP Spectre Fold Review: Dragging The PC Into The Future

[@coleG112]

Some sort of transparent back keyboard that allows light from a docked/hidden-but-illuminated display to act as a backlight for the keys would be so cool. 2000s transparent tech throwback, plus genuinely beneficial utility to boot.

[@sexyscientist]

Nice. I like the concept, but it will take a lot of battery. Plus, it will not work in unfolded mode.

[@Aaron-gi1xg]

Something like the Lenovo yoga book from a few years ago?

[@RK-um9tu]

Or you could just turn on a room or lamp light...

[@hellishsavitar7522]

To be honest, it feels more like a proof of concept than a finished product. Especially with that price. The foldable form factor makes more sense on a laptop or a tablet than a phone, so I hope that we'll see these devices become cheaper and with less problems. Let's see where technology will advance.

[@hellishsavitar7522]

Oh, also, I don't understand how, let's say Samsung, didn't come out with a galaxy z tab and/or z book. For the company that pioneered the foldable technology, it seems like a logical move. And I'd definitely would be interested in an IPad mini sized tablet that unfolds into a bigger one.

[@TLerpo]

I have the x1 fold. Pretty much all software issues have gone, and the price is around £500 new in the UK now with 3 year warrenty. Last gen folding seems pretty decent to just try out at this stage. I have had every Samsung fold (and flip 1, 3 and 4), and motarola flip, and honestly, I must prefer using a folding phone than laptop. So much more fun to me

[@1EdgarA]

@@hellishsavitar7522 Hopefully they do that. They have been showing off rollables and foldable tablets at events. They seem to take the Apple approach when it comes to laptops and tablets though as in letting other companies innovate and take risks first. Well at least they try new things in phones.

[@mickeycoolmouse]

The hardware seems solid enough. It's the software that's really holding it back. Well that and it's absurdly high price.

[@hellishsavitar7522]

@mickeycoolmouse I'd be fine with the hardware if this laptop was around 2000$. For 5000 it feels like a ripoff.

[@erebostd]

They should have put optical fibers under/in the keys, since they already had an screen under the keyboard. It could provide illumination for the keyboard without hitting the keyboards battery. And if you activate only the small display-sections under the fibers, it wouldn’t hit the battery of the display/notbook very hard either. Hell, you could even change colors if you wanted and make it an rgb illumination if you wanted 😁😉

[@TGZR2525]

I have it and love it. I travel A LOT so weight is important but spend a lot of time on my laptop and having a bigger screen is important too. It was a splurge and I hope,prices come down but this is honestly the best laptop I’ve had in the last decade. I can use it in its compact form on a plane or on the go then open it up in my hotel room for a desktop experience that lets me fork comfortably for hours. I”had it in open mode with the keyboard detached for as long as inch as 3 days and haven’t yet run down the keyboard battery (which wirelessly charges when attached to the dock anyway). Not the lightest laptop I’ve had but the overall size in my backpack and then ability ti open into a 17ich screen has proved a winner for me.

[@madmann6723]

While not a mass market device it is encouraging to see OEMs continuing to develop what could be the next norm. Great video Michael!

[@1EdgarA]

This definitely seems like a first gen foldable laptop with the price and problems. But hopefully HP doesnt give up on it and continue updating it. I've been having the Spectre 360 x13 for the past 3 years and I love the design. Hopefully they bring that design to future generations of this one.

[@lasgio_]

I love my 2018 HP Spectre x360! Let's see if this new fold one can convince me to upgrade!

[@f1ggyc]

This is a really random thought - what if in order to have backlighting on a folding tablet keyboard when its attached to the bottom of the display, instead of adding LEDs (presumably thickness) - you just had transparent holes or plastic light tubes, and then use the display to show white _through_ the keyboard? That would be nifty. Although it wouldnt work when using the keyboard away from the screen.

[@samuelmatheson9655]

@HP hire this man

[@kingzach74]

The problem with this is that that would deplete the battery substantially.

[@spock135711]

Hi I have a surface 7 pro with the enhanced keyboard. It is back-lit. Works very well, adjustable

[@rockyiu7541]

Excellent review. Just want to say that when windows refuse to rotate the screen, 99% of the time it's firmware/driver issues that fail to tell windows that the posture/orientation has changed. It's unfortunate but sometimes firmware of these devices can still be as bad as touchpad before MS's precision touchpad driver...

[@GTechOfficial]

As a 2018 HP Spectre X360 user who quite likes his laptop, and as an Android user considering the OnePlus Open as my next (and first folding) smartphone, this seemed like a super cool concept from a company whose history i already have personal experience with. But FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS for a system with zero GPU and so many bugs seems like a personal insult.

[@Allumik]

Rocking the Lenovo X1 Fold as my main computer for half a year now. I was afraid of the software bugs from your review on it, but with W11 and after some updates, it has become a rather solid machine. Yes, there were some stability issues with the bluetooth in the summer, but even those dissappeared a few months ago. And the machine is still getting updates, last one was 2 months ago and it fixed the automatic app placement on W11 when switching configurations. Only remaining issue for me comes from the thin keyboard and the switch chatter that plagues very thin switches... but you can always buy another keyboard, and the virtual one on W11 is good enough for quick notes or editing. So from what I'm seeing on the software side, the upcoming Lenovo Fold 16 (or however its called) should be the "real deal" of folding laptops. Especially with all the software flops on similar designs from other brands. Based on the updates that are bleeding to X1F, it should be finally be a (relatively) solid experience. Now all I am waiting for is the G2 version of the original fold, I really love the bookish aesthetics and form factor of that thing!

[@bad65dad]

Nice review Michael like always good work.

[@jebaker2]

This is the best form-factor I've seen for these kind of devices. I think HP has a homerun once they can bring the price down. I'd pay $2500ish for something like this. (can't comment on the software, of course)

[@peksn]

I would pay 1000, so maybe have to wait like 3yrs till we get to this price point. ofc also proper dedicated gpu and proper cpu and upgtadable ram/nvme ssd, maybe up to 1300

[@philistine3260]

@@peksn An optimist

[@Figureight]

I can't wait for this stuff to become the norm, and at accessibly prices for the average person. We just need one to come out that has the power behind it to make it usable for creative professionals. That should be their key market for this type of device.

[@sindrisuncatcher653]

There's a lot of really cool concepts here. I look forward to about five years from now, when this design is used to make something that isn't ridiculously glitchy, costs a semi-reasonable amount, and wouldn't break on me in 4-6 months.

[@whophd]

As an owner of the HP Spectre Folio (or, should I say, as the partner of someone that I was able to convince their employer into buying - for a user bearing a resemblance to the marketing, far more than me) - it’s incredible to see what HP wants to try. I don’t wish to be forced to use a Windows laptop but I HAVE THOUGHTS on what I’d like to request as my hardware, in any of the last 5 years. It’s almost entirely HP, though I have to recommend Surface Pro for reasons in the “Nobody Got Fired For Buying” Department.

[@BaronOfBeefs]

Amazing review into the future!

[@loost68]

When are we going to see pixel 8/8 pro review ?

[@GadgetyMV]

Love the no nonsense approach served by one of the greatest voices on YT.

[@Advexen]

EVERY TIME, I mean every time you review a foldable laptop I LIKE THE NEXT ONE more than the last. But I am okay with the double screen Lenovo made even with all the peripherals even if it was on sale, yeah I'll wait for the sequel review.

[@finfan83]

0:57 - didn't they want you to cuff yourself to the valuable HP ? ;) 1:49 - that flexible keyboard attatching at any lenght of the screen is impressive 2:49 - push the pushbuttons ! They provide Progress ! 3:20 - dock in a box is new version of jack in the box ? 3:55 - omg, how does it know a lurker lurks ? 4:47 - aww software what R U doin', software stahp ! 7:35 - omg wrong angle ! 8:32 - we need 9 Watt CPU and 88 MPH Marty ! 9:38 - give us a Future ! Teh Futureh ! It's 2023 already !

[@Gerardfpatrice]

We need a surface version of this and the right way

[@yo.adrian]

Wow. That computer costs as much as my car. I like that computer manufacturers are pushing the laptop boundaries, but I'll wait until the price is a bit lower.

[@enda0man]

Mr. mobile, we need need need a review of Lenovo X1 fold 16. I would love to see a video on this.

[@victoriousgangster]

Hell to the no. 5k for a thing with thick bezels and a no dedicated GPU? Give me 64gb ram, 4k super slim bezel 15.6 inch oled and 31.2 inch unfolded (doubled the 15.6) screen with a 40 series card, and a backlit keyboard, and a good software to utilize the 2 screens (think Zenbook Duo) THEN, you can maybe justify the price.

[@MJG70]

Great Honest review!

[@fabiocaroca5495]

Are you still rocking your onePlus open as your main phone? 😻 I can't wait to get my hands on one

[@TheGeekySalsa]

Windows PowerToys' FancyZones would probably help a lot with the issues you mentioned for better utilizing the bottom part of the 1.5 mode screen.

[@alex_inside]

That wallpaper is awesome, where did you get it from?

[@titerror0010]

I applaud HP for making such an amazing piece of hardware. Cograts!

[@eskamobob8662]

With the X1 Fold 16 finally launched can we expect to see a review fairly soon?

[@RubyRoks]

This is a machine aimed squarely at executives that don't do real work but want to look cool in board meetings rather than powerusers, and that's been the Spectre line's niche for years. Stunning hardware gimmicks for the sake of stunning hardware gimmicks, and a price tag to match those goals, but without the specs that matter or the software experience to back it up when it comes time to do more than read an email and with a price tag that guarantees those gimmicks won't be mainstream. The software part isn't entirely HP's fault, but at least when the Galaxy Fold kicked things off for folding phones, it had the same tier of SOC as it's contemporary Galaxy S cousins.

[@somusz159]

Gimmicky toy-like prototype, fully agreed. But specs don't matter in practically anything that's actually useful. A 10 year old cpu is more than enough for text editing.

[@RubyRoks]

@@somusz159 Having used an i7 2600 system on Win11, no, a 10 year old processor isn't sufficient for text editing on an up to date install of a user-ready OS

[@saeedahmed_40]

8:21 I understand. Censoring device ID, product ID, system type but why RAM?

[@GerardJohnBlazing]

How come Michael's not reviewing the Pixel 8? Been really looking forward to that especially after his interview with Rick Osterloh, not sure if I missed anything?

[@shamsiqadirli]

I can’t explain it but I watch all videos of this guy! Too professional!❤💙

[@cadenchurchill4296]

This thing is so cool! Reminds me, I actually recently saw someone at school with Lenovo's foldable ThinkPad.

[@eskamobob8662]

Is the specter fold able to be used like the yoga book 9i if you jse a seperate stand?

[@Irishsilverstack]

Thanks as always

[@wonderowl530]

when the x elite finally gets into those product they should start making sense. but I think I have enjoyed mac too much to go back to an windows laptop.

[@ilpoheikkila4773]

Great video!

[@ThierryTiramisu]

3:19 there's a dock in the box! :D

[@keerthan7558]

I think the Lenovo yoga 9 did it the best and most practical approach without compromising too much. Sure it isn't exactly a foldable but it is a portable dual monitor set up . The main issue here is power and software. Microsoft has always been very stubborn with their ways so i have very less hopes on them adapting the software to such device configurations. There's a lot of 3rd party app optimizations too but that's hard to do if the OS itself is the issue. And these kind of machines simply lack the processing power required to make full use of it's potential , either limited ram , lower spec cpu like U series . And of everything they choose to use intel chips always which already are less efficient. An arm based chip or Amd chip with optimized OS , software is what this needs.

[@somusz159]

An arm chip? Nah, this is toyish enough already

[@GtheJuggler]

Hey Mr Mobile, you should review the Thinkpad x1 fold gen 2 (2022) as it has some improvements over the gen 1.

[@TerriblePizza]

What was that wallpaper website?

[@RyanBlockb5]

Thanks

[@Psychoker]

3:05 I dont understand why not , because the Surface Pro keyboard is also extremely thin and has backlight. OK it doesnt have to pack a battery in it, but it should be possible in my opinion.

[@samuelmatheson9655]

3rd party wireless surface keyboards are almost as good, and have batteries

[@tams805]

That's not just an 'OK', that's the major point. Keyboards that use pogo pins are drawing power from the device, but then also can't be used wirelessly unless they also have a battery and therefore no backlight in that mode. See the Sony Z Canvas.

[@BlakeHelms]

It would be cool if HP could leverage the fact the keyboard is sitting on a screen to handle the backlight. Perhaps using fiber optics to direct the light. You could then do any color or pattern and you turn off most of the covered screen since you’d only need to direct light where there are “receptors” in the keyboard to channel it to the keys.

[@maneeeshtejsai-ft4ee]

It would drain battery too much

[@kopkiwi08]

Are you going to do Pixel 8 pro and Oppo find n3 fold reviews?

[@Minto107]

Foldable laptops will be really beneficial of switch to ARM CPUs

[@TheEditorify]

These foldable guys really need ARM and then they are gonna be amazing imo. OEMs still need to polish the designs tho

[@freshvintage]

Great video! At the end you mention Design, Power and Pricing, and I agree; the only companies I can think of that could play at this level (with unlimited R&D cash to burn and possible customer base) to really build a hardware/software fluid foldable laptop are Samsung and Apple. I really doubt either actually take this on though (as an aside if Apple hasn't built the iPhold by now they're never going to is my assumption).

[@UltraKryptonian]

I seem to remember Microsoft having a similar device with screen area directly above the keyboard.

[@PhilKnall]

Great work as always. If this was half the size and a third of the cost I'd be all over it!

[@TheFurymaker]

this with snapdragon x elite would be sick, can you imagine that performance on a screen only body.. And the battery, oh my..

[@andyH_England]

WOA is the only way with foldable devices like this.

[@fredf68]

Hi, I have a question, I bought one and changed Windows 11 Family to Professional. I installed all the drivers found on hp website, rotating screen works, keyboard, trackpad, everything is working fine, but if you deposit you keyboard on the screen, it doesn't dectect the laptop version anymore. Does someone have any idea ? I think a driver or software is missing, but don't know it's name.

[@majtechtings]

A fold review. Finally! He's gonna talk about the fold 5! Wait what? Oh...sigh...ok...what? No I'm still gonna watch this because Michael drops nothing but classics...move along.

[@l358]

FOLD 5 REVIEW WHEN

[@Nicholastank2]

I feel like the fold 5 is so similar to the fold 4 he might not do a review. He has so much to cover that there isn’t much point.

[@joshjohnson2753]

​@Nicholastank2 That was my conclusion after he didn't mention it after it was released. He can literally recycle the old review, mention that it lies flat instead of having the teardrop gap in between and that's about it lol. Nothing worth making a 10+ min review over

[@Samsonfs]

Watch a fold 3 review from a couple of years ago, it's basically exactly the same.

[@majtechtings]

@@Samsonfs I had the fold 3 and currently have the fold 5. I wish I could say it's the same but it for the most part isn't. At least to me lol.

[@whiskeyshots]

I have a Lenovo 9i, and it's actually a great laptop. I'm excited for this form factor, but $5k with those specs!?

[@MrScottyTay]

fancy zones would help with the "second" display, it's much better at what is baked into win11 by standard. Why microsoft doesn't just put fancy zones and the rest of powertoys into win11 by default is beyond me.

[@VfxRaptAnime]

How have you not made a video on the Honor Magic 5 Pro yet???????

[@Holcombi]

Imagine if they would have used a linux base for the OS and tailor made it for the form factor

[@CDRiley]

If The device wasn’t foldable and keyboard wasn’t removable,I would by this in a heartbeat!

[@hassanarif6100]

Still waiting for pixel 8 review

[@ShadowTheHellJumper]

Meanwhile I only payed attention to the small Holy Grail reference at 0:18

[@alwaysxnever]

3:10 it's 2023. No backlight on a keyboard is unforgivable for me.

[@nimoy007]

I want to say, as a consumer, that I am glad that you keep hammering companies for pulling such outdated crap like bloatware and post-purchase advertisements (looking at you, stickers and self-glorifying user manuals). I buy a product for _the product._ If the product has to keep selling itself when I take it home, it's time to take it back.

[@kevinwu951]

This feels eerily similar to the OG Surface Duo

[@iraklimgeladze5223]

Why not make this device bigger? It can solve many issues with cooling and battery, beside 24inch sound more crazy than 17

[@KhanKhav7]

Yeah I'm good chief 😂 5k is too much for me

[@MlvnJournal]

I want the hinge to be the only flexible part of the screen

[@Chemy.]

I'm still happy to see company's working on these tech because eventually will become mainstream

[@FoxxFire]

Michael, does our watching the sponsor spot, other than obviously showcasing the sponsor to us, help you in any way? In other words, can our watching be tracked and shared with the sponsor to demonstrate how many people watched the spot versus did not? I ask because, politely, I always watch the sponsor spot in your videos (i have youtube premium, so I am referring to the spot in the middle of the video, not other ads). I figure that is the least I could do to support the channel. But if it's not really helping you, other than my possibly becoming a customer of said sponsor (which no offense, I almost certainly will always not), maybe I'll skip that spot in the future :) BTW, thanks for another outstanding video man.

[@kenbee1957]

Bring back "After the hype" Mr Micheal Fisher

[@DreamDevourer1]

With those detractions, what's in that foldable to warrant 5000 dollars?

[@nnjjee1]

“Dock in the box” 😂😂😂😂

[@azraelspeaks]

This would need to be built on ARM and have the manufacturer actually make HEAVY changes to the Windows install to make it more viable for the format. Or wait for Apple to do this in 15 years. Or hope that there is a niche Linux subgroup willing to pay that much.

[@scott8919]

The flaws put this firmly into "first gen" tech. Five thousands dollars and and all you'll see are the design flaws.

[@senseihEnRY16]

Apple: $1,600 for 8 gigs of ram, no one made laptop as expensive as we do HP: hold my licensed company stickers

[@EarAche123]

We want the fold5! We want the fold5!

[@Makarovio]

They need to make a new version of Asus 14 Pro Duo! That notebook is amazing

[@gregx5096]

"Can you uninstall that shovelware?" ...mmmmmmaybe. McAfee particularly 😩

[@robertdragoff6909]

When I first saw this post, I misread it. I thought it said $500! A more than reasonable price……. This is, for HP, the first generation foldable laptop, so of course there’s going to be hiccups but the hardware looks good. But we’ll all have to wait until that form factor matures and prices drop.

[@cyberpilate]

All this folded positions kinda makes me long for Ultrabooks again....

[@nickthaskater]

Just make a new Yoga Book with two OLED panels. Done. It was smaller, thinner and lighter than any of these foldables. I'd kill for a C930 Yoga Book with modern specs.

[@Sam-lw8nu]

how long do you think these will still be in the market until the company discontinues them....1 month or 2....??

[@CFG-qv7hy]

$5000 for a netbook tier processor, in the trash it goes.

[@RayRayIsCoolio]

just in time!

[@shadowsmirk]

Yeah, at $5,000, you'd expect everything to just work. I appreciate the attempt, but even rich nerds are going to pass on this.

[@wrongfooting]

Forget the computer, I'm just thinking about whether I could rock a purple shirt, blue pants and yellow shoes... Spinoff fashion channel please

[@TheRealStructurer]

Dream on HP

[@maxhammick948]

Intel already announced 14th gen meteor lake mobile chips back in september, and there's a lot of advancements in them over previous gens. For $5k this ought have been delayed a couple months until intel was ready to launch them, that's too much money for something that'll look outdated in a very short time.

[@FullyDrewable]

I always ask myself who is the target group to actually buy and use something like this for 5000 dollars. Even the Lenovo one for 2.5k dollars. I cant imagine anyone spending atleast 2.5k dollars on something like that while you can get an absolute beast of a laptop with way better specs for the same price. And i mean it is still HP. Their printers suck and so do their Laptops since ages. It is the salvation army of Laptops.

[@YashAtishay]

An iPad can be all of this, a small portable power house that can turn into a desktop setup, only if the bloody software would get their shit together and do something, that is if there is even a software team

[@wmv8996]

I really hope microaoft figures out Windows to work much better with handheld PCs and foldables. This is something they hav3 to figure out if they want them to be successful.

[@BluewindsLegacy]

HP and bloat go hand in hand. Agreed that a 5K machine should at least be exempted from massive amount of bloat they put into their image. Cool product, but 1st gen effort from HP.

[@computerlove87]

Yeah, I don't think foldable PC laptops are going to be a thing until the windows on arm experience gets legit! I think a PC attempting to be that thin and foldable needs to be arm-based to really make it work.

[@JustCallMeQuincy]

Jerry knife!! 8:17

[@timmyjan]

It would future proof it with an arm processor

[@PSYCHOV3N0M]

Waiting for a foldable laptop hopefully from Samsung that has Qualcomm Nuvia cores.

[@liamcollinson5695]

It's a shame for the price that a dedicated GPU wasn't used because I like the idea for gaming