In GPU-limited tests, the Spectre x360 is in-line with the performance of the Asus ZenBook 3, and slightly slower than the Razer Blade Stealth. The HD 620 provides enough performance for basic applications and creative tools, but you’re not going to be using this laptop for high-performance gaming, particularly if you want to run games at the display’s native 1080p resolution. In case you’re wondering, along with the games tested above, I also attempted to play Civilization VI on the Spectre x360. Using the game’s built in benchmark tool, at 1080p and all low settings, the x360 only achieved 23 FPS. Of course, you will be able to play basic 2D games and a few lighter Windows Store titles, but don’t expect to run a modest title like Civ 6 at acceptable frame rates on this device.
The 1TB SSD in my review unit, a Samsung PM961 MZVLW (equivalent to a 960 Evo), was extraordinarily fast at sequential reads and writes, outperforming most ultraportables while boasting speeds similar to gaming laptops. Random performance wasn’t as stand-out fantastic, but it still exceeds many devices of a similar class. While it’s not a true apples-to-apples comparison due to differing SSD sizes, it’s good to see the Spectre x360 outperforming the older Spectre in this storage benchmark.
