We’ve seen the rise of a number of foldable smartphones from companies like Samsung, Motorola and recently Google. However, the idea of ​​a foldable Windows PC was something that was a little harder to find.

In 2020, Lenovo released the ThinkPad X1 Fold, but our review was mixed at best. The device had a lot of potential, but its low performance and high price tag (starting at $2,499) definitely didn’t work in its favor.

Today, HP announced the launch of its first foldable computer, and while it looks like an impressive product at first glance, the price for this device is quite eye-watering.

The HP Specter Foldable PC is promoted as a 3-in-1 product. It can be used as a standalone 17-inch touchscreen tablet. It can also be used as a 17-inch desktop with its built-in stand and detachable Bluetooth keyboard included. Finally, the computer can be turned into a 12.3-inch laptop again with the included detachable keyboard.

Below are the hardware specifications for the HP Specter Foldable PC:

• Processor: Intel Core i7-1250U (up to 4.7 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, 12 MB L3 cache, 10 cores, 12 threads); Intel Abu
• Memory: 16 GB LPDDR5-5200 MHz RAM (integrated)
• GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home/Pro
• storage: 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe TLC M.2 SSD
• wireless: Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless card
• display: 3:4 43.2 cm (17″) diagonal, 2.5K (1920 x 2560), foldable OLED, touch, UWVA, BrightView, low blue light, SDR 400 nits, HDR 500 nits, 99.5% DCI-P3
• keyboard: Bluetooth Keyboard, Full Size, Detachable, Soft Cover in Reddish Black
• battery: 6-cell, polymer Li-ion 94.3 watts; Until 12:30 battery life (MM25 and wireless video
• Netflix streaming)
• Audio: Quad speakers by Bang & Olufsen
• ants: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports with USB Type-C 40Gbps signal rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge)
• Weight: 1354 g (SSD, without keyboard); 1624 g (SSD, with keyboard)
• dimensions: 277.05 x 376.1 x 8.5 mm (unfolded); 277.05 x 191.31 x 21.4 mm (folded)

Last week, we got a virtual presentation of the HP Specter Foldable PC. There is no doubt that a lot of impressive engineering went into making this product. The 17-inch foldable OLED display has an integrated stand that allows it to stand on its own so you can work with it like a desktop computer with the included keyboard.

The thickness of the display is also only 8.5 mm or about as thick as a number 2 pencil. Its weight of 1.35 kg (just under 3 pounds) makes it very light and, with its folding design, even more portable.

You can also use this display as a really large Windows 11 tablet for tasks like taking notes with its included pen, along with art and presentations.

However, it will most likely be used as a 12.3-inch laptop. You can place the Bluetooth keyboard on top of one of the two folded parts of the display, or you can use it detached from the display, with the bottom half acting as a sort of second 12.3-inch screen for heavy multitasking.

The HP Specter foldable PC will be available for pre-order today in the US on Best Buy’s website for a whopping $4,999.99. It will be available on HP’s website sometime in October. It will also be available in other countries later this fall.

No, the price you just saw is not a typo, and that may be the biggest barrier to this product. The HP Specter folding PC may have a lot of potential to be a multipurpose PC, but the price is the same as a high-end gaming desktop with hardware specs that will blow this product away.

HP should be commended for going out of the box, but it’s also clearly a first-generation product that we think will be upgraded in later versions, which will hopefully be priced much lower.