HP Envy Spectre XT Reviews: Ultrabook with a killer keyboard

HP's Envy 14 Spectre hit almost all the right notes when we reviewed it back in March, thanks to its high-res display, sleek metal-and-glass design and brisk performance, but a stiff trackpad and the steep $1,400 price were clear downsides. The new Envy Spectre XT, a 13.3-inch Ivy Bridge-powered Ultrabook, has a thinner, lighter profile than its big brother, and a lower $1,000 price tag to match. That's still not chump change, though, so does the XT deserve a spot in the top tier of Intel-approved ultraportables? Join us past the break for the full breakdown.

Look and feel
The Spectre XT has the trappings of a higher-end Ultrabook, including an all-metal design with a brushed silver finish on the lid and keyboard deck. HP carried over some familiar elements from its fuller-bodied Envy 14 Spectre, which weighs 3.97 pounds, compared to 3.07 for the XT. However, this model's aluminum lid is decidedly more elegant than the original Spectre's glossy black top. You'll find the same backlit chiclet keyboard, a reflective (rather than glowing) logo on the lid and the Hewlett-Packard name brandished across the hinge. Additionally, Beats Audio branding sits prominently on the laptop's speaker grille, with the red logo standing out amid all that silver.
Keyboard and trackpad
The Envy Spectre XT's black, island-style keyboard offers decently sized keys that respond to input with a satisfying clack. You'll enjoy much more travel on this layout than on many other Ultrabooks, which seem to be plagued with shallow keyboards. In everyday use, we made very few spelling mistakes, and didn't notice much, if any, flex. Like the Envy 14 Spectre and HP Folio 13, the XT sports a backlit keyboard, with a separate LED under each key. The layout is pretty much identical to what you'll find on the original Spectre, with shrunken arrow keys standing out as the only undersized elements.   While keyboard quality remains consistent between the XT and its older brother, the trackpad on this thinner system is a welcome improvement. The Synaptics clickpad did right by us, allowing for smooth two-finger scrolling without resistance or any noticeable lag. Pinching to zoom is also easy to execute, and the pad wasn't overly sensitive in performing this gesture, a problem we found on the original Spectre.
Display and audio

The Spectre XT's 1,366 x 768 display isn't exceptionally crisp and clear, but colors appear plenty vibrant. As to be expected with a glossy, non-IPS screen, viewing angles are limited. Images begin to wash out when you move even a smidgen to the left or right of center, and tipping the lid a bit forward renders content on the display unviewable. That's not to say this is the most glare-ridden panel we've contended with, but it makes us appreciate the Envy 14 Spectre's screen all the more. In a perfect world, HP would carry over that pixel count without raising the price, but that's not going to happen any time soon.
Beats Audio is a given on most HP machines and that usually means a better listening experience than what you'll get on your average laptop. That said, we aren't blown away with the sound quality on the Spectre XT. Though the machine offers ample volume, songs come through tinny and canned. We can't knock HP too hard for this: beefier machines such as the Envy 15 have room for a subwoofer, and that's just not a possibility on this Ultrabook. Two of the XT's speakers are placed on the underside of the machine, which might explain the muffled audio. (There are also speakers on the front grille.) With headphones plugged in, you'll get the Beats benefit; music sounds richer, and there's a satisfying amount of bass.
Wrap-up

The Envy Spectre XT is a good Ultrabook on its own, and an even better one when you consider how HP improved upon the already-appealing Envy 14 Spectre. A refined, responsive touchpad, even brisker performance and a more palatable price make this a prime contender for the contents of your wallet. Unimpressive battery life and weak audio dampen our enthusiasm slightly, but ultimately the XT is one of the best Ultrabooks available right now. If you want a touch-enabled, higher-res display -- and your pockets run deep enough -- you may want to wait it out for the XT TouchSmart, but among 13-inchers, this system gets our stamp of approval.