Convertible-hybrid laptops like the HP Spectre x360 15t ($1,349.99 as tested) have a rotating hinge that lets you access the touch screen easily. For day-to-day use, using the system's 15.6-inch 4K-resolution screen in traditional Notebook mode is more comfortable. But when you're watching movies, you'll appreciate being able to rotate the screen into Stand or Tent mode, so the keyboard is out of sight. This system is not quite as handy to use in Tablet mode as is the Lenovo Yoga 900, our current Editors' Choice, but the Spectre x360 15t is a fine choice for the home or office.

Design and Features
The Spectre x360 15t shares many design elements with its 13-inch predecessor, the HP Spectre x360 13t, including a machined aluminum body, a monochromatic silver keyboard, and the dual-hinge design that's common on convertible-hybrid laptops. That 360-degree hinge allows four different use modes: Notebook, Stand, Tent, and Tablet. It's a premium look, reminiscent of the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina Display (2015).

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The slim design measures 0.63 by 14.8 by 9.75 inches (HWD) and weighs 4.0 pounds. That's the same z-height as the smaller HP Spectre x360 13t, so it will slip easily into your packed commute bag. It's thinner and a bit smaller than the Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch, which is amazing considering that the Spectre x360 15t can fold its screen 360 degrees. (If you like the form factor but want to save some money, a less expensive version of the Spectre x360 15t is available with a Full HD (1080p) screen and a Core i5 processor. That model, the HP Spectre x360 15t (15-ap011dx), is a midrange convertible and thus has a different set of competitors.) The 13.3-inch Lenovo Yoga 900 is still lighter at 2.85 pounds and is smaller overall. You can use the latter in your arm in Tablet mode for short periods of time, but the Spectre x360 15t is a bit too large for that.

The 15.6-inch screen has a resolution of 3,840 by 2,160, also known as 4K Ultra HD (UHD). That allows you to view 4K videos at native resolution on the IPS touch display without any scaling. It also means that you can view really large spreadsheets and Web layouts that are two or three pages wide. That's significantly more screen room than on the 2,560-by-1,440 (QHD) screen on the Lenovo LaVie Z 360 or the 3,200-by-1,800 (QHD+) display on the Lenovo Yoga 900. It absolutely dwarfs the real estate on a 1080p HD laptop such as the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 12. The screen doesn't have the Technicolor certifications of the Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 P25W-C2300-4K or the DCI-P3 color presets of the Dell XPS 15 Touch (9550), but it's still very impressive when you watch 4K videos on Amazon, Vimeo, and YouTube.

The chiclet-style keyboard is a similar silver shade to the aluminum keyboard deck. That makes the letters a little less readable than on a keyboard with black keys, but they're easier to see with the backlight on. Typing action is comfortable, though the keys are a little more slippery than the ones on the Dell XPS 15 Touch (9550) or on the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 12. The wide one-piece touchpad is responsive, as is the 10-point touch screen.

16GB of system memory is optimal for multitasking, and the system shouldn't slow down until you have more than several dozen windows open simultaneously. The Spectre x360 15t comes with 256GB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage, which is half the space that the Lenovo Yoga 900 has. It's enough storage for most day-to-day tasks, though you may want to carry a USB drive if you plan on bringing 4K videos for entertainment when you travel. Preloaded apps are limited; they include Candy Crush Soda Saga, Flipbook, Netflix, and Snapfish.