HP has announced an updated Elite x2 detachable. Earlier this year HP launched the 11.6-inch Elite x2 1011 and now it has followed up with a refined 12-inch Elite x2 1012 which borrows a few more design cues and build design choices from Microsoft's well regarded Surface Pro computers.
The clamshell laptop operation facilitating hinge on the docking keyboard is gone and HP has instead paired the tablet section of the new Elite x2 with a dual-position magnetically attached keyboard. With the clamshell grip gone HP has equipped the aluminium clad tablet portion with a 150-degree adjustable hydraulic kickstand. The previous design integrated extra battery power in the keyboard and that has been removed too. HP's new design is said to be "perfectly designed for the mobile professional," and a lot of the supporting blurb in Microsoft's blog post about the new machine talks up the 2-in-1's business alignment.
Features such as BIOS-level security with HP SureStart, manageability with HP Touchpoint Manager, and an optional Intel vPro processor complement the HP Elite x2 1012's portability and modern technology to make it eminently attractive to business pros, we are told. Michael Park, VP and GM, Mobility, Personal Systems, HP Inc said "We designed the HP Elite x2 to be thin, light and powerful in a way that captures the simplicity and elegance users will love while also delivering the durability, serviceability, security and manageability IT departments need to enable true mobile productivity".
Looking at the key hardware specs, HP is powering the new Elite x2 with an Intel Core M processor (fanless) and the tablet offers a long battery life. Its 12-inch touchscreen display is full-HD and protected by Gorilla Glass 4. Fixed storage is provided by a built-in SSD and the tablet also features a 4G LTE modem, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, HP Noise Reduction software plus Bang & Olufsen speakers, front and rear cameras, dual array microphones, and a variety of modern connector ports (including Thunderbolt 3/USB-C and USB-A). The tablet portion of this 2-in-1 measures 8.1mm thick and weighs 840g, the attachable keyboard measures 5.4mm thick and weighs 395g. HP says that this is the same keyboard hardware as used in its EliteBook Folio 1020 enterprise-class laptop.
The HP Elite x2 1012 will become available from Monday (23th November) priced from $899. The price includes the HP Travel Keyboard and HP's Active Pen (Wacom based).
