Honestly, if you've been tracking the premium laptop scene for the last decade, you know the Spectre name carries a certain weight. It’s that "jewel-cut" aesthetic—the sharp edges, the brass accents, and the feeling that you’re carrying a piece of high-end luggage rather than a computer. But as we move deeper into 2025, things are getting a little weird in HP’s backyard.
There’s a massive transition happening.
The HP Spectre x360 2025 is essentially the final evolution of a legendary line. HP recently decided to shake up their entire branding strategy, moving toward the "OmniBook" moniker for their consumer flagship devices. While the 2024 models were the first to lean heavily into the AI PC trend with the Intel Core Ultra (Meteor Lake) chips, the 2025 iteration—often appearing in listings and reviews as the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14—is where the "Spectre" soul officially merges with the next generation of hardware.
If you’re looking for a laptop that flips, folds, and looks better than a MacBook, this is still the peak of that mountain. But there are a few things you really need to know before you drop two grand on one.
The Identity Crisis: Is it a Spectre or an OmniBook?
Basically, if you go looking for a "Spectre" in late 2025, you might find yourself staring at a box that says OmniBook Ultra Flip.
Don't panic. It's the same thing.
HP decided to simplify their names. They’re ditching the confusion of Envy, Pavilion, and Spectre for a numbered system (3, 5, 7, X, and Ultra). The "Spectre" DNA lives on in the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. It still has that signature 360-degree hinge. It still has the premium aluminum chassis. Most importantly, it keeps those clever corner-mounted ports that make cable management a dream instead of a tangled nightmare.
Why does the name change matter? It marks a shift from "lifestyle luxury" to "AI-centric performance."
Under the Hood: The Lunar Lake Leap
The big story for the HP Spectre x360 2025 (and its OmniBook sibling) is the jump to Intel’s Lunar Lake architecture—specifically the Core Ultra Series 2 chips.
🔗 Read more: Why Browns Ferry Nuclear Station is Still the Workhorse of the South
The previous 2024 model used Meteor Lake. It was fine. Good, even. But Lunar Lake is a different beast entirely because it solves the one thing Windows users have been jealous of for years: MacBook-level battery life. We’re talking about a chip designed from the ground up to be efficient. The RAM is now actually baked onto the processor package. This means you can't upgrade the memory later (which, let's be real, you probably weren't going to do anyway on a thin-and-light), but it drastically reduces power consumption.
- Battery Life: Real-world testing is showing these machines pushing 18 to 20 hours of actual use. Not "simulated video playback" use. Real work.
- The NPU: The Neural Processing Unit now hits over 45 TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second). That’s the magic number required for Microsoft’s "Copilot+" certification.
- Graphics: The new integrated Arc graphics are surprisingly capable. You aren't going to play Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K, but for video editing or light gaming on the go? It’s genuinely impressive.
That Screen is Still the Gold Standard
If you haven't used an HP OLED lately, you're missing out.
The HP Spectre x360 2025 continues the tradition of using a 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED panel with a 120Hz variable refresh rate. It’s stunning. Deep, "inky" blacks. Colors that pop so hard they almost look fake.
But here is the nuanced bit: HP actually knows how to calibrate these things. Some OLED laptops look oversaturated, like a cheap TV in a showroom. The Spectre (OmniBook) handles color with a bit more restraint. It supports 100% DCI-P3, which makes it a legitimate tool for photographers and videographers who need to trust what they’re seeing.
The 16:10 aspect ratio is here to stay.
I remember when these used to be 16:9, and you felt like you were looking through a mail slot. The extra vertical space in the 2025 model makes a world of difference when you’re scrolling through spreadsheets or long-form articles.
The Weird Stuff: Haptics and Cameras
One area where HP is actually beating Apple right now is the webcam.
The HP Spectre x360 2025 features a 9MP sensor. Most "premium" laptops are still stuck at 1080p (which is roughly 2MP). The difference in a Zoom call is night and day. It has hardware-level low-light adjustment that doesn't make you look like a grainy ghost when you're working in a dimly lit coffee shop.
💡 You might also like: Why Amazon Checkout Not Working Today Is Driving Everyone Crazy
Then there’s the trackpad. It’s a haptic motor now.
No moving parts.
You can click anywhere on the surface, and the feedback is uniform. HP also added these "edge gestures" that people either love or hate. You can slide your finger along the right edge to change volume or the left edge to adjust brightness. It’s a bit of a learning curve, and honestly, I accidentally triggered it a few times in my first hour with the device. You can turn it off in the settings, but once you get the muscle memory down, it’s actually kind of handy.
Why You Might Wait (or Buy the 2024 Model)
Let’s get real for a second. The HP Spectre x360 2025 is expensive.
Because of the brand transition and the high cost of the new Lunar Lake chips, the MSRP is hovering around that $1,500 to $1,800 mark for a decent configuration.
If you don't care about having the "latest" AI features or that specific battery boost, the 2024 Spectre x360 14 (with the Core Ultra 7 155H) is frequently on sale for under $1,100 now. You still get the same 9MP camera, the same beautiful chassis, and roughly 85% of the performance.
The 2025 model is for the person who wants the "forever" laptop. The one that won't feel slow in three years when AI apps are standard.
Quick Spec Comparison: What’s Actually New?
| Feature | 2024 Spectre x360 | 2025 "OmniBook" Ultra Flip |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra (Series 1) | Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) "Lunar Lake" |
| NPU Power | ~11 TOPS | 48+ TOPS (Copilot+ Ready) |
| Battery Life | ~12-13 Hours | ~18-20 Hours |
| Memory | LPDDR5x (Internal) | MoP (Memory on Package) |
| Webcam | 9MP with AI effects | 9MP with enhanced Poly Studio tuning |
The Verdict on the 2in1 King
Is the HP Spectre x360 2025 (or OmniBook Ultra Flip) the best 2-in-1 on the market?
📖 Related: What Cloaking Actually Is and Why Google Still Hates It
Probably.
Lenovo’s Yoga 9i is a very close second, but HP usually wins on the "feel" of the keyboard and the sheer quality of the audio. The quad-speaker setup on the Spectre is surprisingly loud. It doesn't have the "thin" sound you expect from a convertible.
However, the 2-in-1 market is shrinking. More people are buying tablets or standard clamshells. If you actually use the pen—which is included in the box, by the way—then the Spectre is an easy choice. If you just want a "good laptop" and never plan on folding it into a tent to watch Netflix, you're paying a premium for a hinge you don't need.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re ready to pull the trigger, don’t just buy the first one you see on Amazon.
- Check the Name: Search for both "HP Spectre x360 2025" and "HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14." Retailers are currently in a messy transition phase, and you might find the same hardware listed under two different names at different prices.
- Verify the Chip: Make sure it has a Core Ultra Series 2 (like the 226V or 258V). That is the "secret sauce" that makes the 2025 model worth the extra cash.
- Look for the Pen: HP usually bundles the rechargeable tilt pen. Ensure your retailer hasn't stripped it out to lower the price.
This laptop represents the end of an era for the Spectre brand, but as far as swan songs go, it's a pretty spectacular one. Whether it’s sitting on a desk or folded over in a presentation, it remains the most sophisticated-looking Windows machine you can buy.
Actionable Insight: If you find a 2024 model for under $1,000, buy it. If you need 15+ hours of battery life for travel, hold out for the 2025 Lunar Lake version.
Next Steps for You: I can help you compare the specific benchmarks between the Lunar Lake and Meteor Lake chips if you're torn on the performance gap. I can also generate a direct comparison between the Spectre and the new MacBook Air M3/M4 if you're considering jumping ship to macOS.