HP Pavilion x360 (2017): A decent ultra-portable PC for an affordable price

Presentation

For this Pavilion x360 (2017), HP therefore uses the same logic: a convertible with touch screen and a keyboard that swivels around the screen. A model inspired by the very pleasant Specter x360, but aimed at tighter budgets, with a price starting at € 450 (in Core i5). The model we are testing here, with a Core i7-7500U, is sold for around € 800.

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Construction

In terms of design, HP is not reinventing the wheel; this new model is very close to the previous one. We find the convertible aspect, as well as the solid, efficient and proven hinge inherited from the Specter, thanks to which the user can switch his PC to tablet mode or tent mode (practical for watching videos).

If the appearance suggests aluminum, the chassis is actually made of plastic. The brushed appearance and the finish guarantee the illusion, even if we regret a certain fragility of the keyboard part. It rests on a slight vacuum, which causes the plastic to bend under pressure. To this unpleasant feeling is added a badly finished keyboard and not very pleasant under the fingers, the keys having only little return and a soft stroke.

However, HP spoils us by offering a very complete connection. On the edges, there are two USB 3.0 ports, a USB Type-C port, an HDMI port, a power port, a mini-jack port (3.5 mm) and an SD card reader. HP also housed the ignition button, as well as a volume button.

The heating is very contained: the temperature of the Pavilion x360 (2017) barely exceeds 40 ° C. After running for an hour or so on the testing Unigine Heaven benchmark, the PC is relatively cool, thanks in particular to its thick chassis and efficient ventilation. The only notable hot spot is the side ventilation grille, which reaches 42.4 ° C. The user therefore does not risk being bothered by a hot keyboard, but there is the flip side.

The other side of the coin is obviously the noise emitted by the machine: between 39 and 45 dB when it is used. This large difference is explained by the fan, which starts irregularly to expel the heat. Placed on the left edge, it only removes air in one place. Thus, during our measurements taken on the left side of the computer, the noise rises to 45 dB, far from the 37 dB acceptable for a laptop.

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Screen

The HP Pavilion x360 has a brilliant and touch IPS panel 14 inches (35.6 cm) with Full HD definition (1,920 x 1,080 px), and which does not really spark. It does not show itself to be mediocre, however, but we regret its drift towards blue and a slightly fair brightness, of only 270 cd / m². The contrast ratio is however quite good, at 1140: 1. Readability therefore remains satisfactory.

The color temperature recorded confirms the observation: it is slightly too high, at 7,272 K, and the average delta E is far from optimal, at 6. Remember that delta E represents the difference between the expected theoretical colors and the colors displayed; it is considered very good below 3. The remanence time, 21 ms, is high, even for IPS. In short, this screen is "average everywhere", but remains completely usable.

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Performances

The HP Pavilion x360 comes with a 7th generation Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor (at the discretion of the buyer) of 7th generation (Kaby Lake). Our test model is equipped with an Intel Core i7-7500U clocked at 2.7 GHz.

In this configuration, the Pavilion x360 (2017) reached a score of 118 on our test index, which is remarkable for a product of this range. A score all the more surprising given the price of the machine, and compared to the competition. The Pavilion x360 (2017) stands logically in front of the Pavilion x360 (2016) which, in turn, peaked at 101.

Adding an SSD is beneficial for the computer, which takes 13 seconds to start and stop completely.

In short, the Pavilion x360 (2017) surprises with its performance and is placed here in the high average of ultrabooks on the market. The user will be able to carry out advanced office tasks without any problem.

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Games

The Pavilion x360 (2017) is equipped with Intel's integrated graphics card, here the HD Graphic 620. An iGPU that does not work miracles and will be content to run small games that do not consume much power. Our test model obtains an index of 27 on our test protocol, which corresponds to the average score of ultrabooks on the market.

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Mobility / Autonomy

Weighing 1.72 kg and 19.9 mm thick, the Pavilion x360 (2017) is far from the most portable PC on the market; however, it remains within an entirely acceptable range in this area. The only big black spot, the weight is poorly distributed in the chassis: it is mainly concentrated at the rear. If it does not feel in conventional use, it may surprise when you take the machine with one hand.

Good surprise, however, in terms of autonomy: during our usual test (Netflix in Chrome, brightness set to 200 cd / m², headphones plugged in and backlight off), the Pavilion x360 (2017) lasted 6 hours 47 minutes, an excellent score for a mid-range product, which places it in the high range of machines on the market.

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Audio

Another good and big surprise of this HP Pavilion x360 (2017), the sound part is of very good quality, surprising and rare for a mid-range model. The speakers offer clear sound, especially on the frequency of 300 Hz, which corresponds to the human voice.

The result is even more pleasant with headphones, with an exemplary distortion of 0.009%, a dynamic range of 103 dB and a crosstalk of 59 dB. The really convincing output power of 170 mV RMS must also be taken into account.

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Conclusion

Always thought of as an affordable version of the Specter x360, the Pavilion x360 (2017) is a machine that, for its price range, offers a convincing experience and excellent performance. Despite a really mediocre keyboard and a fairly average screen, the HP convertible is more than an honest product.

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