MWC - HP Elite X3 brings Windows 10 Mobile back in the game

Long when we thought Windows 10 Mobile wasn’t going to see any support further than the Lumias and the Acer Jade Primo, HP has surprised quite a few people with the announcement of the Elite X3. Yes, that’s right – not only are HP going in on Windows 10 Phone, but they’re going hard.

I have to admit that I kinda thought the Continuum idea may be dead in the water, but today at MWC HP has announced the Elite X3, and at first glance, it’s a corker.

The Elite X3 is a full-on phablet, with a QHD screen at 5.96 inches, fronted by Gorilla Glass 4. The spec-fest doesn’t end there. As well being on of the first phones announced to be using the new Snapdragon 820 processor, it uses all the real estate at the back to good use. Picture the 4150 mAh battery powering the phone, Qi and Powermat charging will keep it topped up, and it charges through a USB C port for future proofing (USB 3, no less). Then add 32GB (although there are some reports that it will come in with 64GB) of storage, and 4GB RAM to keep it ticking over. Not enough? You’re right. It’s got dual SIM capability, a fingerprint scanner, 16 MP rear camera paired together with an 8 MP front shooter for selfies and video conferencing, a Micro USB card and an iris sensor. Told you it was a corker. The previous kings of the Windows 10 Phone throne – being the Lumia 950 and 950 XL are under serious threat of being toppled, and it’s only day one.

Even better, to ensure this thing keeps going, the HP Elite X3 has a Milspec MIL-STD-810G rating, as well as an IP67 certification for dust and water resistance. HP have put the Elite X3 in the centre of it’s own ecosystem, expanding the ‘Continuumability’. Along with its own Dock, one optional extra announced was the Mobile Extender. The Extender is basically a keyboard and 12.5 inch, Full HD screen that will sync through Continuum. The Wireless Extender also comes with a 4 cell battery pack, and the whole thing will weigh about 1 kg. Imagine a laptop shell without all those other expensive internals, and you have the concept of the Extender.

At the end of the work day, you can kick back and relax through music courtesy of front facing speakers tuned by Bang and Olufson. How much and where it will be sold has yet to be announced, but HP have confirmed it will be out this summer. It may not be for your average consumer, but I’m sure that a number of enterprises will be taking another look at Windows 10 and how they can utilise the capability of Windows 10 Mobile.

Press release here:

Show Press Release (1,135 More Words)

HP Inc. Reinvents Computing with Next Gen Mobility Platform

Opens Mobile World Congress with HP Elite x3 to address massive commercial mobility opportunity

BARCELONA, Spain, February 21, 2016 — At Mobile World Congress today, HP Inc. unveiled a breakthrough solution that revolutionizes the mobile computing experience. Designed to be versatile enough to address the massive shift in where and how we work, HP introduced a new mobile ecosystem that will drive the next generation of computing.

The HP Elite x3 with Windows 10 mobile bridges phablet, laptop and desktop use cases from a single computing device while enabling users to run key productivity apps across these different experiences seamlessly.

“Commercial mobility is prime for disruption, and has never seen innovation at this scale,” said Dion Weisler, president and chief executive officer, HP Inc. “The HP Elite x3 is a revolutionary mobile platform that enables mobility and computing to come together in a truly meaningful way. Together with the strength of our partners, we’re propelling the industry forward and turning the promise of mobile productivity into a reality for customers.”

Today’s worker expects a different style of computing, yet is forced to rely on multiple different technologies and devices to get work done. With the Elite x3, strong channel partners and the latest advancements from Microsoft, Qualcomm Technologies Inc. and Salesforce, HP is delivering the next generation of computing where mobility meets PC productivity with a single device.

“Windows 10 was built for an era of more personal computing, one in which your experiences, content and data are mobile with you,” said Satya Nadella, chief executive officer, Microsoft. “Together with partners including HP, Qualcomm and Salesforce, we are focused on enabling customers to be productive wherever they are, furthering our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”

“Qualcomm’s newest processor combined with HP’s leadership in commercial PCs is helping to deliver the future of computing,” said Steve Mollenkopf, chief executive officer, Qualcomm Incorporated. “HP’s innovative use of the Snapdragon 820 processor with LTE takes advantage of the processor’s powerful performance and low power consumption to enable a PC-like experience on the HP Elite x3 phablet.”

“Speed is the new currency of business, compelling every company to empower its users with the tools to run their businesses anytime, anywhere and on any device,” said Marc Benioff, chairman and chief executive officer, Salesforce. “We’re proud to work with partners like HP and Microsoft to put the power of Salesforce1 and the world’s #1 CRM platform in the hands of every mobile user.”

“The end-to-end thinking by HP that went into the Elite x3 is innovative,” said Tom Richards, chief executive officer, CDW. “On its own, it’s an impressive device, but the real breakthrough is the Elite x3 accessory ecosystem, which drives a seamless experience across computing platforms, and offers a solution beyond BYOD and towards mobile workflow transformation.”

The One Device That’s Every Device

The Elite x3 is the first built-for-business mobile device to deliver seamless phablet, laptop and desktop business productivity in a single device [i]. By utilizing Continuum in Windows 10, the Elite x3 enables frictionless multi-screen transitions between a phone scenario and a desktop PC scenario[ii]. Users can dock the Elite x3 with its ecosystem of accessories to render desktop and laptop productivity experiences while also retaining productivity on-the-go in a world-class premium and commercial-grade phablet.

With this capability, users can effortlessly switch between using the Elite x3 as a desktop, laptop or mobile device, no longer needing to worry about what device to use in what environment. The Elite x3 also utilizes biometrics to unlock the device – adding an extra layer of protection for enterprise customers.

“Our customer insights indicated that there are a group of commercial customers where their needs for mobility and PC-level productivity are not being met,” said Michael Park, vice president and general manager of Mobility, HP Inc. “The HP Elite x3 is where we see the future of computing heading – one device that can truly act like every device: a modern technology solution for a mobile-centric workplace combined with greater benefits for IT.”

The Elite x3 offers a unique computing experience by leveraging the power of the Snapdragon 820 processor, Windows 10 Mobile[iii] with Windows Continuum2, the optional HP Desk Dock and the optional Mobile Extender, allowing the device to let people work on their own terms no matter where the locale. Users can also enjoy easier, faster charging with Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0 technology.

The Desk Dock offers a full featured desktop experience for the Elite x3. It includes a DisplayPort for external monitor support, two USB-A and a USB-C™ connection for business continuity, and wired Ethernet to seamlessly scale users’ productivity at their desk. The Elite x3 docks in portrait mode at a comfortable viewing angle when sitting at a desk. The dock also supports the Elite x3 with and without a protective case.

The HP Mobile Extender creates a laptop experience using a near zero bezel 12.5-inch (31.7cm) diagonal HD display that’s around 1 kg. No data is stored on the Mobile Extender for additional security and all of the apps, passwords and files are managed and stored from the Elite x3.

New Level of Business Mobility with Robust Ecosystem of Solutions

The Elite x3 also allows users to work with the apps they love and rely on. HP Workspace[iv] – an app catalog designed by HP to easily enable access to virtualized apps – drives a seamless app usage experience. HP Workspace on the Elite x3 creates a virtual PC, giving users access to company curated catalogs of x86 apps via a virtualized solution. Users benefit from quick access to their virtualized apps with a full keyboard and mouse experience not typically available from a mobile device when using the Desk Dock and Mobile Extender.

The Elite x3 platform has the potential to change how companies work using only a single device. HP is partnering with Salesforce, the world’s #1 CRM platform, to include Salesforce1 on every Elite x3[v]. Salesforce1 sets a new standard for CRM, empowering users to run their businesses from their mobile devices with powerful tools that work in the cloud, keeping them up-to-date with whatever real-time data they need. Now, sales reps can use the Elite x3 and Salesforce1 to manage and update all their customer and CRM data faster than ever and perform key actions to drive business forward on-the-go.

Pricing and Availability[xi]

The HP Elite x3 is expected to be available from this summer; exact pricing of the device and its ecosystem of accessories and subscriptions will be shared closer to date of availability.

For more information on the HP Elite x3, visit www.hp.com/go/elitex3.

About HP Inc.

HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our portfolio of printers, PCs, mobile devices, solutions, and services, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at http://www.hp.com