This HP 2-in-1 laptop I tested might not be a powerhouse, but it's well made and capable enough for everyday tasks

Date:
Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:51:26 +0000

Description:
The HP Pavilion x360 14 is a compact convertible laptop with a respectable spec but how well does it hold up?

FULL STORY ======================================================================HP Pavilion x360 14: Two-minute review

The HP Pavilion x360 14 is a compact 2-in-1 laptop that aims to offer both performance and versatility in a single package.

True to most of HPs lineup, the Pavilion x360 14 has a smart and understated appearance. The light grey colorway and sleek contours imbue it with
elegance, while its 14-inch size helps with portability.

However, this latter aspect is undermined somewhat by its relatively thick
and heavy construction, so its not the best laptop for frequent travelers who want a device with as minimal a footprint as possible.

The upshot of this weight, though, is that it adds some reassuring solidity. Both the base and the display enclosure of the Pavilion x360 14 have very little give, while the materials used all over the unit feel premium. The hinge for the lid is also sturdy, if a little clunky in action when you're pushing the screen beyond 90 degrees, as I often do whenever I use a 2-in-1 laptop.

Despite its small size, there are a good number of ports on the Pavilion x360 14. Along with two USB-A and one USB-C port, theres also an HDMI port, a microSD slot, and a combo audio jack, all of which I welcome. Whats more, theyre conveniently located.

The general performance of the Pavilion x360 14 is pretty good. It can handle light productivity and stream 4K content with ease. However, it can suffer from micro-stutters when moving quickly from task to task. Also, gaming performance is average-to-poor, owing to the absence of a dedicated GPU. Of course, this isn't a gaming laptop , so you shouldn't really expect
impressive game performance. (Image credit: Future)

I noticed that even under moderate loads, a fair amount of heat radiates from the left side of the Pavilion x360 14, as well as the top keyboard rows. Thankfully, temperatures arent alarmingly high. The fans generate some noise, but remain pleasingly quiet relative to many other laptops under stress.

The display is pleasingly sharp and vibrant, and although reflections are prominent at times, I usually found the maximum brightness setting could mitigate their presence to an acceptable degree.

Despite the small size of the Pavilion x360 14, its keyboard has a pleasingly spacious layout, which, combined with the snappiness of the keys themselves, makes it satisfying to type on. However, there was no backlighting in my particular review unit a grave omission given how hard it was to make out
the lettering most of the time.

The touchpad is usable, if a little small, and has a smooth surface. Its also quite solid, although I did notice a slight rattle when tapping and clicking, which can hamper feel and feedback.

The touchscreen on the Pavilion x360 14 is responsive and accurate, however, those keen on illustration might be disappointed with the small but still noticeable levels of friction, which can lead to slightly rough swipes, whether a stylus or a finger is used.

The battery life of the Pavilion x360 14 is quite good. It lasted over 11 hours when I ran our movie playback test, which is similar to some of its
more expensive rivals. However, it pales in comparison to the highest performing laptops on this front, which can endure twice as long in some cases.

All things considered, though, the Pavilion x360 14 is a strong option in the 2-in-1 sector, thanks to its decent everyday performance and impressive design. Its a shame that its not as portable as other convertible models, and there may be better value alternatives depending on what you require from a laptop, but at the very least the Pavilion x360 14 deserves a place on your shortlist. HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Price & Availability (Image credit: Future) Starts from 699 (about $920 / AU$1,400) Available now Expensive compared to some rivals

The HP Pavilion x360 14 is available now and starts from 699 (about $920 / AU$1,400). For that, you get an Intel Core i3, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. However, we have seen it on sale for half this price from HPs own website, which obviously makes it much better value.

The unit I review here is the top-spec model and costs around 1,000. It features an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage (although you
can upgrade to a 1TB drive instead). Again, weve seen a hefty discount on
this variant, but its usual price is quite dear.

If you don't need a truly convertible laptop, but still want a touchscreen, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a fine alternative. Its decidedly more expensive, but its a truly premium machine, featuring an OLED display and a pleasingly portable design.

However, if your heart is set on a 2-in-1 but you want a more budget-friendly option, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is worth considering. Thanks to its compact form factor, great display, and usable touchscreen, its one of the best Chromebooks currently around. Value: 3.5 / 5 HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Specs HP Pavilion x360 14 Specs

Base configuration

Review configuration

Price

699 (about $920 / AU$1,400)

1,000 (about $1,300 / AU$2,000)

CPU

Intel Core i3 1315U (1.2GHz, 6 cores)

Intel Core i7 1355U (1.7GHz, 10 cores)

GPU

Intel UHD Graphics (integrated)

Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated)

RAM

8GB DDR4

16GB DDR4

Storage

256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD

Display

14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, Touch screen

14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, Touch screen

Ports and Connectivity

1x USB-C (Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4), 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3

1x USB-C (Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4), 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3

Battery

43Wh

43Wh

Dimensions

12.7 x 8.3 x 0.8in (322 x 210 x 20mm)

12.7 x 8.3 x 0.8in (322 x 210 x 20mm)

Weight

3.3lbs / 1.51kg

3.3lbs / 1.51kg HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Design (Image credit: Future) Heavier and bulkier than expected Solid construction Impressive port
selection

The Pavilion x360 14 looks smart, with its pristine light gray finish,
rounded edges, and flat surfaces. All these aspects reflect HPs desire to emulate the best MacBook designs.

Despite initial impressions, though, the Pavilion x360 14 is actually less slender and light than you might expect. Not only does this heft hamper portability, its doubly disappointing to see in a convertible laptop, since youll likely be picking it up and flipping it upside down frequently to use the touchscreen. The best 2-in-1 laptop options are all lighter than this.

On the plus side, the weight does contribute to the overall sturdiness of the HP Pavilion x360 14, as theres virtually no flex to any of its panels. The materials employed seem quite premium as well, more akin to metal than plastic.

Also, the lid hinge is stable enough to prevent the display from wobbling under most circumstances. It operates smoothly, too, although I found it took a bit more effort to adjust the display angle compared to other laptops Ive used.

More irksome, however, was the fact that once its reclined beyond 90 degrees, the rear of the base lifts clean off the underlying surface. This is a design choice some other laptops employ, but its not one Im fond of. It always felt awkward adjusting the display to this point, and results in less stability when using the keyboard. (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of which, my review unit had no backlighting for the keyboard. I always lament this omission in any laptop, but its especially disappointing
in the case of the Pavilion x360 14. The characters are dark and contrast marginally with the finish of the keys themselves, making them hard to see in many instances; at certain angles, they were totally invisible.

Even though the Pavilion x360 14 is a small laptop, it has an admirable selection of interfaces. There are two USB-A ports and one USB-C, the latter of which supports both Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4 standards.

Additionally, theres an HDMI port, a combo audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Its a small shame the latter isnt fit for standard SD cards, but I
can forgive this omission given the form factor of the Pavilion x360 14.

The ports are spread quite evenly across both sides, which improves convenience. Theyre also ordered in a logical way: for instance, the power connector is furthest away from the user, while the microSD reader and combo audio jack are closest. Design: 4 / 5 HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Performance (Image credit: Future) Reasonable everyday performance Heat and noise even under moderate loads Responsive but uninspiring touchscreen HP Pavilion x360 14 benchmarks: 3DMark Night Raid 13,367; Fire Strike: 3,646; Steel Nomad: 139
GeekBench 6.5 Single-core: 2,535; Multi-core: 7,729
CrossMark Overall: 1,480; Productivity: 1,517; Creativity: 1,528; Responsiveness: 1,247;
HandBrake - 4K to 1080p average FPS: 30.27

The general performance of the Pavilion x360 14 is reasonable, if not spectacular. It can handle light productivity and entertainment tasks well, even streaming 4K content without disruption.

However, despite my review unit having an Intel Core i7 installed, it wasnt
as swift as I was expecting. When switching between browser tabs or loading new web pages, it frequently stuttered. These stutters were momentary, so
were minor infractions in the main, but they added up to become more disruptive when I tried to accomplish multiple (but not especially demanding) tasks in quick succession.

Being the top spec model, my review unit also had Intel Iris Xe Graphics. In theory, this offers improved performance over Intel UHD Graphics, but its still integrated to the CPU. This means that the Pavilion x360 14 is only capable of very light gaming. I managed to run Cyberpunk 2077 on Medium graphics, but it wasnt a smooth experience, in terms of frame rate and visual fidelity.

A noticeable amount of heat emanated from the left vent of the Pavilion x360 14, as well as from the top keyboard rows and the section above. This was the case even when I conducted moderate workloads. Thankfully, the temperatures were never uncomfortable or concerning. Fan noise accompanied such moments, but it was pleasingly quiet relative to some other laptops under load. (Image credit: Future)

The 1080p resolution of the Pavilion x360 14 provides plenty of sharpness, which is doubtless helped by the compact 14-inch display. Colors also appear vibrant. It can be quite reflective at times, but thankfully theres enough brightness to keep them from being distracting.

The touchscreen functions well, responding to inputs made by either a finger or a stylus quickly and accurately. However, the surface isnt the smoothest, so more intricate usage, such as drawing or handwriting, can result in a dragging sensation. The effect isnt as egregious as it is on some other touchscreens, but if youre after one of the best touchscreen laptops , the Pavilion x360 14 might not cut it.

If youll mainly be typing, though, youll be pleased with the keyboard on the HP Pavilion x360 14. The keys are comfortably spaced despite the compact layout, and theres a surprising amount of travel to presses, which makes them satisfying to use. Theyre still snappy enough to type quickly, though.

The touchpad is less impressive. It operates well enough, but the small size and numb-feeling taps and clicks in part due to the slight rattle I noticed result in a less tactile experience. Performance: 4 / 5 HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Battery Life (Image credit: Future) Respectable by 2-in-1 standards Some longer-lasting rivals Quick to recharge

The Pavilion x360 14 has a decent battery life. It lasted about 11 hours in our movie playback test, which is close to the same score achieved by the
Acer Chromebook Spin 312.

However, it cant beat the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 , another fantastic 2-in-1 laptop, which managed over 14 and a half hours. Also, more conventional laptops can last longer, sometimes up to 20 hours or more. The Pavilion x360 14 is quick to charge, though. It took about two hours to fully replenish. Battery Life: 4 / 5 Should I buy the HP Pavilion x360 14? HP Pavilion x360 14 Scorecard

Notes

Rating

Value

The HP Pavilion x360 14 has a reasonable starting price, although prices rise steeply with higher-spec models. Weve seen big discounts on it recently, though.

3.5 / 5

Design

The HP Pavilion x360 14 looks smart and is well made, but its heavier and bulkier than you might expect. My unit was crying out for keyboard backlighting, too.

4 / 5

Performance

Not blistering, but still efficient for workaday use. The 1080p display looks crisp, while the keyboard and touchscreen are effective.

4 / 5

Battery life

Decent for a convertible laptop, although some rivals can beat it. Its quick to recharge, though.

4 / 5

Total Score

The HP Pavilion x360 14 is a premium-feeling machine with a compact form, but one that's less portable and maneuverable than you might expect. There are also some better-value rivals, but it still offers enough to deserve consideration.

4 / 5 Buy the HP Pavilion x360 14 if...

Youll be doing a lot of typing
The keyboard is a joy to use, thanks to the comfortable and snappy keys.

You want a premium build
Not only does it look smart, the Pavilion x360 14 is solidly constructed, and the materials employed feel more upmarket than your usual flimsy plastics. Don't buy it if...

Youll be conducting demanding workloads
Since it lacks integrated graphics, more strenuous tasks, such as gaming, are a struggle for the Pavilion x360 14.

You want the best usability
Despite its small size, its thickness and weight hamper tablet-style use, as well as portability. HP Pavilion x360 14 review: Also Consider

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i
It might not be convertible, but the Yoga Slim 9i still has a touchscreen. Whats more, if you want the ultimate in portability, you cant do much better. Its a far more premium option than the Pavilion x360 14, but we found that
its build quality and performance lived up to its commanding price tag. Shame theres no audio jack, though.

Read our full Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i review . View Deal

Acer Chromebook Spin 312
If youre on a tighter budget and can forgo the Windows operating system, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is a strong choice. It has a great display,
keyboard, and touchscreen, all of which make it one of the best budget laptop picks. Its performance is also respectable although it wont handle heavy multitasking with the composure of more powerful machines.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review . How I tested the HP Pavilion x360 14 Tested for a few days Used for a variety of tasks Laptop testing experience

I tested the HP Pavilion x360 14 for a few days, during which time I used it for multiple tasks, including productivity, streaming, and gaming.

I also ran our series of benchmark tests for laptops, which are designed to assess every facet of performance. I also tested the battery life by running
a movie on a continuous loop.

I have plenty of experience both using and reviewing laptops. I have covered many models, ranging in their form factors, use cases, and price points.
First reviewed: November 2025 Read more about how we test



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows-laptops/hp-pavilion-x360-14-review


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