HP Pavillion x360 14 Review: A Good On-The-Go Companion
The first thing that came to mind while unboxing the laptop was that it was compact and hence easy to carry. The laptop has a sleek build which gives it a premium appearance despite it being all-plastic.
The second that really got my attention was that it can easily be transformed into a tablet. Although I’m not a big fan of laptops used as tablets as that made sense to me, for some this might be a utilitarian feature.
The 14-inch touch display was also something that proved to be a highlight. A laptop with a touchscreen day will always be a plus point. The brightness, however, did concern me as it was lower than my expectations.
The presence of Intel’s Iris Xe graphics did give me hope for better performance. With up to 1TB SSD storage and 16GB RAM, this machine really seemed like a promising product from HP as far as first impressions are concerned.
At the top of the screen, we have a 5P full HD webcam as well. However, I wasn’t very hopeful about that as webcams in general are not that great regardless of how expensive the laptop is.
Performance is an aspect where the HP Pavillion x360 truly shines. The 13th Gen Intel i5 U processor is a powerhouse that does not disappoint. The processor handles multi-tasking easily thanks to the 16GB DDR4 RAM.
The display is apt for day-to-day tasks and basic creative work but falls short when it comes to graphic-intensive work like video editing and gaming. It is not Pantone validated nor is it an OLED display. Colour accuracy is not one of its fortes but it works well for people who do not have accurate colours on top of their priority list. The display is multi-touch enabled and is highly responsive. The stylus was smooth and effective as well. The bezels are thin except for at the top and bottom. Overall the 45 per cent NTSC gets the job done.
HP is known for its good typing experience and that is something that resonated with the Pavilion x360 14 as well. The backlit keyboard offers a great experience while typing. The same can be said for the trackpad. HP really impresses when it comes to hardware and that’s one thing that I appreciate. As a consumer, you do not want to fuss over basic things like keyboards and trackpads not working as they should.
As far as I/O ports are concerned, we have one USB type-C port, two USB type-A ports, a 3.5mm audio port, a microSD card slot and last but not least, an HDMI 2.1 port. So, basically, the standard set of I/O ports. Would an additional type-C port/display port have been better? Of course. Would an SC card reader have been practical, given the creator-centric approach of the laptop? Definitely.
The laptop is light in weight but not as light as one would think. It weighs about 1.4 kilograms. Portability is a huge factor for 14-inch laptops. The fact that they are smaller than their 15-inch and 16-inch counterparts makes them attractive to consumers who want an on-the-go solution. This is one of the many aspects where the HP Pavilion x360 14 excels. The laptop is a bit on the heavier side for 14-inch laptops but it is still light enough to be carried around.
The 13th Gen Intel Core i5 1335U processor is a great add-on to this machine. The CPU can be clocked to up to 4.6 GHz and the 12MB L3 cache is quick on its feet. The 16GB DDR4 RAM plays the role it is supposed to play and keeps the operation smooth. The 16GB RAM is soldered, though. It means that it cannot be removed. So, if that is a condition for while buying laptops, you’ll have to be careful. Additionally, the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics card is a bonus. It's not as wonderful as having a dedicated one from Nvidia or AMD but it gets the job done. High-quality video streaming, casual gaming, basic video editing and a little designing as well.
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The HP Pavillion x360 14-ek1009TU is a great addition to your PC arsenal if you are looking for a compact machine that is capable of handling multi-tasking, creative jobs and a bit of gaming as well. the laptop is a perfect example of a jack of all trades, master of none.
The element that felt the most practical was the 360-degree hinge. The laptop can be folded into a tablet and used with a stylus. Although this kind of usage is extremely limited as most of the day-to-day tasks will make you unfold it for the keyboard, it is good to have this option.
The integrated Iris Xe graphics card is not as adept in handling heavy graphical work as a dedicated one from Nvidia would have been. However, it is very capable enough to handle light graphical tasks like basic video editing and gaming on low to medium graphics.
This HP laptop is specifically designed for people who want a compact powerhouse that can be used on the go. A sturdy processor to handle a wide gamut of tasks and a solid build that brings premium quality to the table. If these are your must haves, the HP Pavilion x360 14 is an option you should definitely consider.
