Dubai
HP has launched a device — Elite x3 — that can replace a laptop or desktop and get work done. It combines PC power and productivity with smartphone capabilities in a sleek and secure device that can dock when you need to work bigger device.
The HP Elite x3 is an unusual business-focused phone that could really pay off for imaginative IT departments and it is billed as a three-in-one device, and aims to bring the best of a laptop, desktop and mobile phone together.
Many people have multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets, desktops and laptops to get work done but HP’s Elite x3 aims is to provide all the computing power needed in the mobile form factor.
The 5.96-inch device with a Quad HD display is powered by Quad-core 2.15GHz Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The hybrid SIM tray, which supports either two nano-SIM cards or one SIM and one microSD card and supports up to 2TB of additional space. The device is salt, fog, humidity, transport shock, thermal shock, water and dust resistant.
Regarding security of the phone, it has a rear fingerprint sensor and iris scanner (similar to Galaxy Note 7) but it runs on Windows 10 Mobile, an operating system most people don’t even know exists.
I am testing a Windows Phone after a gap of three years.
It’s designed for enterprises only, specifically for people who travel a lot. The phone can be placed in a desk dock and connected to a monitor or laptop. HP gave me a dumb laptop for the review which has a screen, keyboard, a Micro-HDMI port, three USB Type-C ports and battery for power.
The desk dock features an Ethernet adapter, two USB ports, a USB Type-C port, and a DisplayPort. There’s no HDMI port, but you can buy a DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable if you want to connect to an external monitor. It is also a desktop stand for the Elite x3 that includes fast-charging support.
But when the phone is connected to the laptop via Bluetooth, it converts the dumb 12.5-inch laptop into a somewhat full-fledged laptop. You can do different things on the phone and the laptop at the same time. It can be connected to a TV also.
The Continuum feature allows Windows 10 Mobile apps look and feel like native desktop Windows apps when you’re using an external display, allowing users to crunch numbers, write up documents, or surf the web on a big screen.
But there are limitations. The Office 2013 for Windows Mobile is much less capable than the Windows 10 Office version and no serious document creation and formatting plus Windows Mobile has few native business apps. It is not HP’s fault but Microsoft’s.
For people on the go and doesn’t require much formatting, it is a good device. It does not have Google apps. Same is the case for other Office apps. If you are serious into formatting Office apps, it is better to stick with your existing laptop.
Microsoft’s crippled Office and Windows, combined with the shortage of Window 10 Mobile apps, mean that even when connected to the dock, the Elite x3 can’t function like a full-fledged PC. Until Microsoft brings a full version of Windows 10 to this type of devices, it’s still little more than a technology demo and an unfulfilled dream.
Whereas your traditional PCs can run x86 and x64 applications, Continuum doesn’t support them natively. So, programs like Google Chrome, iTunes and Slack won’t work unless there’s an ARM-compatible version available on the Windows Store, which there likely isn’t.
To work around this, HP offers a unique, cloud-based solution called HP Workspace. This gives users virtual access to any 32 or 64-bit application that you’d normally be able to install on a traditional Windows 10 laptop or desktop. However, it’s priced on a per-user basis and is clearly not aimed at average customer.
The HP’s subscription-based Workspace service, which is basically a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) where the real clients run on HP’s cloud and users access them remotely. Business users can add more apps like Citrix and others depending on the company’s needs.
There’s no easy way to load individual files in Workspace. HP encourages you to store documents inside third-party cloud services, which are accessible as virtual drives from within the apps.
HP’s lap dock needs charging, and lasts for around five hours of average usage.
As a smartphone, the Elite x3 is a beast with a large screen but you will need both hands to work on it and it is also a bit heavy at 195 grams. It’s arguably the best Windows phones available right now.
HP has added its own App Store for business apps such as HP Elite x3 Mobile Scanning, ePrint Enterprise, HP Workspace, HP 12C Financial Calculator, etc.
The Elite x3 includes front-firing speakers from Bang & Olufsen, though I didn’t hear much difference from the other smartphone speakers generate.
The 16MP rear camera with f/2.2, autofocus and LED flash takes decent snaps in well-light conditions but in lowlight conditions, it struggles with grainy snaps and colours look washed out. It has Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR and panorama.
It can record 3840 x 2160 at 30, 24 and 15 frames per second, 1920 x 1080 at 30, 24 and 15 fps, 1280 x 720 at 30, 24, 15 frame per second.
The 8MP front camera takes decent snaps only in bright light conditions.
It can record 1920 x 1080 and 1280 x 720p at 30, 25 and 15 frames per second. It has only digital video stabilisation and both the cameras do not have optical image stabilisation.
Regarding connectivity, it has WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0LE, Miracast and NFC.
The 4,150mAh battery on the phone is another major plus. A 4K test video repeatedly lasted for an incredible nine hours and 45 minutes. For heavy users, the phone lasts for more than a day and for moderate users, more than two days.
The quick-charge technology will fill the battery by 14 per cent, good enough for a 2.5-hour call.
HP’s Elite x3 is a well-built device and a solid performer. Unfortunately, Windows 10 Mobile fails to back it with enough apps support.
The phone alone is priced at $699 while the desk dock and the phone (together) are priced at $750. The phone, desk dock and lap dock (together) are priced at $1,200.
Pros
• First true Continuum device
• Desk dock and Lap dock options
• Excellent battery life
• Good security and manageability features
• Workspace virtualiser apps are great
Cons
• Not a cheap purchase
• Lack of Windows apps
• Mediocre camera
• Continuum only works with a limited apps
• Windows 10 Mobile can’t perform like full Windows 10
