HP isn’t a name that we hear often in the mobile space, but the Hewlett-Packard crew is changing that today with the debut of the Elite x3.
The HP Elite x3 is a new Windows 10 smartphone with a pretty beefy spec list. It’s packing a 5.96-inch 2560x1440 display, octa-core Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage, and a microSD slot that supports cards up to 2TB in size. That puts it in the same category as the LG G4 and other Android flagships.
The rest of the Elite x3’s spec list is similarly high-end. It’s packing a fingerprint reader on its backside — which appears to be missing from these renders — an iris scanner on its face. There’s a 16-megapixel camera on its rear, an 8-megapixel shooter on its face, a 4150mAh battery, wireless charging (Qi and PMA) and USB Type-C. All of those features are wrapped in a body that’s IP67 rated for dust and water resistance.
HP’s Elite x3 supports Continuum, which will let you hook the phone up to a desktop monitor, mouse, and keyboard and use it more like a traditional desktop PC. HP itself is creating a Mobile Extender that includes a 12.5-inch 1920x1080 screen and keyboard, while relying on the Elite x3 for the computing power. HP has also included five Pogo pins on the back of the Elite x3 so that it can take advantage of sleeves and other accessories made by third-parties. Pogo pins have been around for a while, and recently Apple used them on the iPad Pro to enable use of keyboard docks.
The HP Elite x3 is coming this summer, but unfortunately for any Windows fans drooling over this device, HP isn’t talking pricing quite yet. The company does promise that the x3 will have a “competitive” price, though, and it’s expected that it’ll be sold online.
There’s no question that the HP Elite x3 is one of the most high-end smartphones on the market — or at least it will be when it launches — and it’s kind of crazy to see a phone coming from HP. All of those high-end specs won’t change Windows as a platform, though, so if you aren’t already a fan, this likely won’t convert you. Folks that are already invested and want something a bit different than Microsoft’s Lumias may want to keep an eye out for the x3.
