WTF? Can we talk about HP's wacky new foldable laptop for a sec?

It's a tablet! It's a desktop! It's a laptop! Hell, it's all three. HP recently announced the new Spectre Fold, an eye-catching 3-in-1 device that can transform into flexible postures like a bendy contortionist.

This luxe machine is the newest addition to the Spectre family, which is known for delivering popular laptops such as the HP Spectre x360. The Spectre Fold, however, is the most hoity-toity, posh members of the Spectre lineage. Get this — to access it you need drop five grand. Yes, you heard that correctly. The HP Spectre Fold will set you back a whopping $5,000. Let's dive into its three postures and their use cases.

HP Spectre Fold three different modes Credit: HP

1. Desktop mode

You can experience the HP Spectre Fold as a desktop-esque machine, thanks to its sleek built-in kickstand and detachable keyboard.

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With this mode, you can enjoy a 17-inch display, tilted at 120 degrees, right before your very eyes. HP says that it leverages an enhanced version of Windows Snap Layouts (a feature that facilitates the management of several windows), so you can take advantage of that massive screen. You can, for example, snap four windows into place, allowing you to cross-reference several documents simultaneously.

2. Laptop mode

If you want a traditional laptop experience, the HP Spectre Fold can transform into a 12.3-inch notebook.

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However, what threw me for a loop is that you can also have an untraditional laptop experience, sliding the keyboard away from the screen for an extended 14-inch display. You can also use that 1.5-inch screen that sits before the keyboard as a second screen, allowing you to dive into a multitasking workflow with both the larger 12.3-inch screen and the smaller second display.

HP Spectre Fold Credit: HP

For example, on the 12.3-inch display, you can have a video call with your colleagues while checking Google Calendar on the second screen.

HP Spectre Foldable Credit: HP

But wait, the wow factor doesn't stop there. You can take the keyboard away and have two full 12.3-inch screens for your multitasking needs.

3. Tablet mode

HP Spectre Fold tablet mode Credit: HP

What struck me with this posture is that an HP rep informed me that the thickness of the Spectre Fold (in tablet mode) matches the width of a pencil — that's just 0.33 inches. On top of that, it's lightweight, too; it's 2.9 pounds. And we're talking about a giant 17-inch tablet here with a striking OLED display.

By the way, it can fold, too. This is, of course, where the product's name comes in. If you need to take the tablet with you during your commute or travels, you can fold it like a book and stuff it into your bag, taking advantage of its flexible portability.

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If you're an artist, you may love the fact that the accompanying stylus has a magnetic home on the display and the keyboard. When it snaps into place, it begins to charge, so your stylus will be ready to go when you're set to take notes or start sketching.

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My only gripe with the Spectre Fold is that, with a starting price of $5,000, it comes with an older 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1250U chip while many laptops in this price range are rocking the more au courant 13th Gen Intel processors. It also comes with Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports.

You can snag the HP Spectre Fold at Best Buy.

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Credit: HP

HP Spectre Fold

 

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