The latest HP Specter x360 features a new angular design and 22.5-hour battery life.

HP is updating its popular Spectrum x 360 convertible laptops today. The 13 "and 15" versions both have a new "jewel cut" design with a more angular appearance and feel. The new design also includes an inclined USB-C port on the edge of the Specter x360 to improve cable management. As you might expect, HP is incorporating Intel's latest 8th generation quad-core processors into the 13-inch Spectrum x360, as well as six-core options for the larger 15-inch model.

The big promise of the new 13-inch Specter x360 is "the world's longest quad-core battery life". We will need to test this completely, but even if it manages half of it, the battery life will be solid. In other countries, up to 16GB of RAM, up to 512GB of SSD storage (NVMe M.2) and even optional LTE support with Intel eSIM design.

Although the 13.3-inch screen resembles the model from last year, the glasses have been slightly narrowed in all directions. There remains, however, a rather large chin and a top bezel. You will be able to choose both an FHD panel or a 4K screen. The choice will really depend on evaluating the estimated battery life of 22.5 hours with a 1080p display on a 4K display and a shorter life. HP has also integrated a webcam deactivation switch in the side of its latest Spectrum x 360 models. It electrically disables the webcam if you want to disable it for privacy reasons when you do not use it. Like previous models, screens switch more in a tablet or in a multimedia mode to display video content.

The 15-inch model is really designed for photographers, developers, illustrators and others who need better processor and GPU performance. HP here replaced AMD's Vega M discrete graphics for Nvidia, which means you have to make decisions if you're interested in the 15-inch model. You can choose between Intel's latest 8th generation quad-core processors with an Nvidia GeForce MX 150 or Intel's 8th generation 6-core processors with a GTX 1050Ti (Max Q). The GTX 1050Ti will be much more capable of processing games or video, and HP has added larger dual fans and heaters to help improve performance and cooling. In the 15-inch model, up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

The HP Specter x360 13 and 15 models will be available in November. The 13-inch model will start at $ 1,149 and the 15-inch version will be sold starting at $ 1,389. Both devices will be available at HP Online or Best Buy stores in the United States.

Photo of Tom Warren / The Verge