HP announces refreshed Spectre x2 2-in-1, Envy notebook lineup

Just ahead of Microsoft's own hardware event this week, HP has taken the wraps off of a refreshed version of its Surface Pro competitor, the Spectre x2. The new Spectre x2 has not only seen a spec bump over its predecessor, but it features some exterior tweaks that give it quite a boost as well.

On the inside, the new Spectre x2 packs some serious power with Intel's 7th-generation Core i5 and i7 processors, Intel Iris graphics, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. Fast charging is also included, with HP claiming 30 minutes to hit a 50 percent charge.

Perhaps even more interesting is the new screen on the refreshed model. The 12.3-inch display now sports a 3000x2000 resolution, which is a significant bump up from its predecessor's 1920x1080 affair. For those keeping track, that's also the same ratio as the Surface Pro 4, lending the Spectre x2 a closer match in a head-to-head comparison. Inking is also supported, of course, using HP's active pen.

The U-shaped kickstand makes a return, along with the magnetic full-sized detachable keyboard. A 13MP camera appears around back, while a 5MP camera with Windows Hello integration takes a spot up front.

The refreshed Spectre x2 will be available in June in dark ash silver (with a copper-colored kickstand) starting at $999.

In addition to the new Spectre x2, HP is also showing off a new lineup of Envy notebooks The Envy x360, Envy 13, and Envy 17 are all getting a boost.

The slim Envy 13 comes packed with Intel's latest Kaby Lake Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage. The 13-inch IPS display also sports slim bezels and a 1920x1080 resolution. As for battery life, HP is claiming up to around 14 hours with mixed usage, or around 12 hours of video playback. On the larger side of things, the refreshed Envy 17 can be equipped with Intel's Kaby Lake Core i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. There's also now NVIDIA's GeForce 940MX graphics by default. Windows Hello is here as well via the webcam, along with an integrated fingerprint sensor.

Finally, the new 15.6-inch (1080p) Envy x360 includes Intel Kaby Lake Core i5 and i7 processors, up to 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. AMD versions are also available, utilizing the chip-maker's FX 9800 APU and Radeon R7 graphics. The convertible packs around 8 hours of battery life, and Windows Hello is also tagging along here.

The Envy x360 and Envy 13 will be available in June starting at $899 and $1,049, respectively. The Envy 17 is available now from HP starting at $999.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl