GADGETSLAB: HP Pavillion Convert X360

Reviewed by Ren Alcantara

While laptops remain the kings of everyday productivity, one can’t just ignore the functionality that tablets deliver. While convertible laptops aren’t new, leave it to HP to take the formula and make it that much more special. In this lab, we take a look at the HP Pavilion, a convertible laptop that does a little bit more than just change forms.

DESIGN - 4/5

The device itself is built to HP’s usual exacting standards. With a plastic shell that has a matte steel look to it, it doesn’t look garish or over-thetop, so whether you’re at the office, coffee shop, or classroom, it’s not going to draw any extra attention. The 14-inch display is set behind glass for protection, and has bezels that are reasonably thin on three sides. There’s a rather prominent chin at the bottom that’s broken up a bit by the HP logo. The hinges on the Convert X360 are large, beefy metal lugs that not only keep the lid firmly in place, but also give it a nice contrast with the mostly black interior. Just above the backlit keyboard is a nicely textured grille that protects the Bang and Olufsen drivers. The 14-inch display allows it to have a reasonable size, which fits its role as a convertible perfectly. There is also an included stylus that’s sized and weighted like a regular pen, and even has a clip on the fake cap at the end, which is a nice touch.

HARDWARE - 4.5/5

With an Intel Core i7 10510UU processor, a large 256GB SSD on top of a 1TB HDD and 8GB of DDR4 memory, this is clearly a work machine. What makes it special though is its ability to flip all the way around and become a Windowspowered tablet. Combined with the included pen, that large 14-inch FHD touch display gives it functionality that’s worlds greater than just a regular laptop. In case you want to let loose a little, it also has an MX 250 GPU with 2GB of dedicated RAM

Because it’s a laptop, it also has many, many more ports than dedicated tablets. You have USB-A and USB-C ports, an HDMI port, a card reader, and a headphone jack--no docks or connectors necessary. The keyboard is also top-notch, with a nice bump to the keys, and good travel for a laptop.

USER EXPERIENCE - 4.5/5

I love my laptop. I also love my tablet. But when I do have to go somewhere and I need to carry both, it’s less than ideal. The ability to have a device that can do what I need from both devices is extremely appealing, and the Convert X360 does just that.

As a laptop, it is excellent. Thin, light, and extremely able, it was my main machine for the duration of my review, even though I also have a desktop and a gaming laptop on standby. Typing long articles was completely comfortable thanks to the excellent (and backlit!) keyboard, and while the 14-inch screen is smaller than I am used to, it was plenty to get work done, and a great compromise size that balances convenience and usability well. The processor-RAM-SSD combination gave it an impressively quick performance, and it wasn’t bogged down even with my compulsive use of browser tabs one on top of another.

The GPU, while on the modest side, even allowed me to do some gaming on the side. My wife and I are still into Overwatch in a rather big way, and on medium settings with some tweaking, the laptop was able to manage frame rates upwards of 50 FPS. I was thoroughly impressed.

What really makes the device special though is the ability to switch over to tablet mode. In this mode, with the included pen, I was able to do practically everything I need my tablet for. Marking up PDFs for the magazine was about as easy on a full Windows machine with the right apps, and the fast boot times make it almost as fast to bring to the task as it is to take out my iPad Pro and work there. The device responds quickly to inputs from the pen, and while I don’t draw, it does feel like the polling rate is fast enough to be used for digital art. Palm rejection was a hitor-miss affair though, and while it worked for the most part, there were moments of light frustration as the screen took inputs from my hand as I was working with the pen.

A concern I always have for these tablets is the hinge, but after using the laptop for just a few days, I can confidently conclude that it’s perfectly solid. It keeps the display in place solidly, and has no creakiness in use. Battery life is likewise superb, and I was able to use it for well over a workday’s worth of tasks and some Netflix time afterwards.

VALUE - 4/5

The Convert X360 is a great device that delivers functionality significantly greater than a plain laptop. With computing, digital art, and even gaming all within its abilities, the sticker price of PHP 63,990 is much more attractive than one might initially think.

Specifications

Screen: 14-inch, FHD IPS touch screen, with pen input

Processor: Core i7 10510U

GPU: NVIDIA GeForce MX250 2GB

RAM: 8GB DDR4

What’s Hot:

- Solid hinge

- SO MUCH functionality

- Can even game a bit

What’s Not:

- Price might be restrictive for some

Bottomline

If you’re a creator, or a desk jockey that’s into some light gaming, this is a great option for you.