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HP has unveiled its Spectre Fold, a foldable laptop that morphs into a tablet or a desktop-like setup. This innovation follows the footsteps of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Google’s Pixel Fold, both of which aim to offer a dual phone-tablet experience. The Spectre Fold, revealed on Thursday, is a 17-inch computer with a magnetically attached keyboard.
At first glance, it appears as a somewhat chunky laptop for today’s standards. However, when opened, it reveals a large screen that folds on a hinge into a “U” shape, leaving room for the keyboard and trackpad to fit inside. In laptop mode, the 14-inch keyboard rests on the lower screen.
Sliding the keyboard back reveals another half of the screen, which can be used to display entire applications using Windows 11’s “Snap” function, akin to Samsung’s multi-window capabilities. The Spectre Fold’s screen is a 1920 x 2560 OLED touchscreen. Each side of the foldable is 12.3 inches, but when fully opened, it transforms into a 17-inch tablet, larger than the biggest iPad Pro and Samsung’s 14.6-inch Tab S9 Ultra. Users can also prop up the screen with a built-in kickstand and pair it with the keyboard for a desktop-like experience. The device comes with a stylus that magnetically attaches to the side and charges automatically when connected.
HP Spectre Fold – Size
Despite its size, the Spectre Fold is surprisingly slim, measuring just 8.5mm thin when opened and 21.4mm thick when closed. It weighs around 3.5 pounds when the keyboard and screen are combined. HP has paid special attention to the hinge design, using a full metal backplate to support the screen in its folded modes.
However, it remains to be seen how noticeable the crease will be for users. The Spectre Fold is a high-end device, powered by an Intel Core i7-1250U processor and an integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics card. It comes with 16GB of LPDDR5 memory and a standard 1TB SSD. The device, available in only one color, promises up to 12.5 hours of battery life.
The battery is designed to distribute weight evenly across the device. The Spectre Fold comes with a hefty price tag of $5,000, which includes the stylus and keyboard. HP’s global head of design, Stacy Wolff, explained that the cost reflects the company’s commitment to delivering a “superior experience.”
How to Order
While HP is not the first company to experiment with large, premium foldable screens, it is hoping to outpace competitors with this design. The high price of foldable phones like the Pixel Fold and Z Fold 5 has been a sticking point, but companies are banking on the convenience of having all devices in one place as a selling point. The Spectre Fold is available for pre-order through BestBuy, with limited quantities expected to be available on HP’s website in October.
About the Author / Author Expertise
John Biggs is an entrepreneur, consultant, writer, and maker. He spent fifteen years as an editor for Gizmodo, CrunchGear, and TechCrunch and has a deep background in hardware startups, 3D printing, and blockchain. His work has appeared in Men’s Health, Wired, and the New York Times.
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