HP Spectre 15 DF-1XXX (late 2019) Owners Lounge

Hi all

Since the particular model is not yet very present in internet reviews I would like to start a new owners lounge thread and share my impressions with the topspec version I've got here since a couple of days. I've had also the chance to comprehensively test the former CH0XXX and DF0XXX models before so in some terms it's also a differential jugdgement.

Model: Spectre 15-DF1850, with swiss localization
CPU: i7-9750 6-core
GPU: GTX1650 Max-Q with 4GB VRAM
RAM: 16GB dualchannel ddr4-2666 ( soldered)
Display: Amoled UHD Touch
Colour: Dark Ash

Positive:
+ Strong over all performance in relation to case size, benchmarks will follow
+ Temperatures and fan noise are on the acceptable side
+ Very sturdy and elegant case, due to Amoled ~150g lighter than former models (exactly 2.0 kg)
+ Excellent keyboard, far better than XPS and Macbook Pro
+ Good connectivity
+ Strong uSD-reader performance
+ 2x 4-lanes Thunderbolt
+ USB-charging on all USB-C ports
+ IR webcam
+ Fingerprint reader
+ Amoled screen (but with severe drawbacks; see below)
+ Pretty large battery
+ Improved sound quality compared to former DF0XXX or CH0XXX models

Negative:
- The digitizer layer on the Amoled screen adds a lot of distortion to the screen's display quality. The picture appears extremely noisy and grainy. The over all sharpness is lower than FHD und the native UHD resolution is completely useless. It's not subjective, it's unfortunately hard fact!
- Amoled is power consuming, battery life could be better
- GPU does rarely throttle while heavy gaming (repasting did help a little, but still present)
- Touchpad has rather small size
- Serviceability is weak, rubber bottom feet must be removed for screw access
- The gem cut design looks good but is uncomfortable to hold an prone to dings and dents

Over all a nice computer with pretty much all the assets to become a real champ. But the flaw with digitizer visibility on Amoled weights pretty heavilly and might be a killer for almost everyone. I'm also not sure if I will return the computer after my testing has been completed.

Pictures:
















Note the silver shims partially covering the GPU. It's a unprofessionally looking measure, probably to lead additional heat from GPU to heatsink. Because of the shims the contact to GPU die was not so tight thus a thick layer of thermal compound was required. I removed the shims and put a thin layer of HQ paste to GPU instead.



BR
Twain