While not directly competing against each other, there are some crossovers between Microsoft's latest Surface Pro and one of the best Ultrabooks you can buy, the HP Spectre x360. The prices hit the same mark at some levels, and while the keyboard doesn't come off the Spectre, you can fold the screen around and get to some serious digital inking.
So, let's see how one of the 2-in-1 PCs stacks up against one of the best Ultrabooks.
Related: HP Spectre x360 13 review
Surface Pro (2017) vs. HP Spectre x360: Tech specs
| Category | Surface Pro (2017) | HP Spectre x360 |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Screen size | 12.3 inches | 13.3 inches |
| Screen resolution | 2763 x 1824 | 3840 x 2160 (4K) |
| Processor | Seventh-gen Intel Core m3, i5, i7 | Seventh-gen Intel Core i7-7500U |
| Graphics | m3 and i5: Intel HD 620; i7: Intel Iris Plus 640 | Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| Storage | 128GB, 265GB, 512GB, 1TB + microSD expansion | 256 or 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
| LTE | Yes | No |
| Rear camera | 8 MP | N/A |
| Front camera | 5 MP (With face authentication) | Front-facing HP TrueVision 1080p FHD IR Webcam |
| Ports | Full USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, Surface Connect, headset jack | Two USB 3.1 Type-C Thunderbolt ports, one USB 3.1 Type-A, one headphone/microphone combo |
| Weight | 1.69 lbs (0.76 kg) | 2.9 lbs (1.32 kg) |
| Battery (listed) | Up to 13.5 hours | Up to 16 hours |
| Price | $799 to $2,699 | From $1,199 |
Based on specs alone, it's a close race. The Spectre offers the advantage of coming with a free keyboard and pen, as well as the standard USB-C Thunderbolt 3 connectors. With the Surface Pro you have to pay extra for the pen, the keyboard and the dock. When you take that into account, it's about even on price with the Spectre.
What the Surface Pro offers is versatility. You can use the Spectre like a tablet, but it's still a laptop with its screen folded around. It's bulkier, and it's not as easy to just grab the Surface Pro, flip out the kickstand and be on your merry way. That's even more so if you go for the LTE version, because the Spectre doesn't have LTE at all.
The bottom line
What is clear is that the Windows 10 hardware ecosystem is where it's at. You've got similarities and differences across the board, but there's no question of there being some form of awesome hardware that meets your every need.
The decision probably comes down to which form factor suits you better. While the Spectre x360 is a convertible, it doesn't offer the flexibility of the Surface Pro. You can never take the keyboard off, so you can't properly use it as a tablet.
Likewise the Surface Pro isn't always a laptop, and if that's what you want, you have to pay extra for the keyboard, and now the pen. Both these are high-end Windows 10 machines, which is best for you depends on exactly what type of experience you're looking for.
