Microsoft Adds HP Elite x3 Smartphone to Windows Store, $799
by Anton Shilov on October 10, 2016 2:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- HP
- Microsoft
- Windows 10 Mobile
- Continuum
- HP Elite x3
Microsoft has begun to sell HP’s Elite x3 smartphone at its Windows Store. The handset is one of the most powerful Windows 10 Mobile-based devices and the one of a few initially aimed at the business professionals on a company contract. The fact that Microsoft has started to sell the HP Elite x3 indicates that the smartphone is now available to general consumers as well.
Microsoft sells unlocked HP’s Elite x3 at it MSRP of $799, which is much higher than the price of typical Windows smartphones. The handset comes with its Continuum desk dock that features an Ethernet adapter, as well as DisplayPort USB connectors, and can work with desktop displays as well as keyboards. Meanwhile, neither Microsoft nor HP currently offer the Elite x3 Lap Dock device, which can transform the Elite x3 smartphone into a laptop.
The HP Elite x3 smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 SoC and is currently the only Microsoft’s Windows 10 Mobile-based smartphone to use the chip. The device is equipped a 5.96” AMOLED display and comes with 64 MB of eMMC 5.1 NAND flash storage, 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM as well as all the necessary connectivity features, including 4G/LTE, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and a USB Type-C connector. Developed specifically for enterprise and business users, who value security, the HP Elite x3 is FIPS 140-2 certified and features Secure Boot (with iris and fingerprint scanners), full disk encryption with a 256-bit key, fTPM 2.0, and so on. The smartphone from HP also takes advantage of Microsoft’s Continuum technology, which allows you to run your phone as a desktop PC.
| HP Elite x3 | |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 2x Kryo @ 2.15 GHz 2x Kryo @ 1.59 GHz Adreno 530 |
| RAM/NAND | 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM, 64 GB eMMC 5.1 NAND microSD 'up to 2 TB' |
| Display | 5.96-inch, 2560x1440 AMOLED (493 PPI) Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Network | X12 Cat 12/13 LTE-A Single Nano-SIM or Dual Nano-SIM Models Micro-SD Shared with Nano-SIM |
| Dimensions | 161.8 x 83.5 x 7.8 (mm) 6.36 x 3.29 x 0.31 (in) |
| Weight | 195 grams 0.43 lb / 6.88 oz |
| Rear Camera | 16 MP, LED Flash |
| Front Camera | 8 MP wide angle, Iris Camera |
| Battery | 4150 mAh, 3.85 V, 15.98 Wh, PMA and Qi charging |
| OS | Windows 10 Mobile |
| Connectivity | Intel AC-7260AN WiFi (2x2 802.11ac + BT 4.0 LE) NFC, GPS USB 3.0 Type-C |
| Additional | Windows Hello (Iris and Fingerprint), FIPS 140-2, fTPM 2.0 128-bit Unified encryption, 256-bit full disk Disaster recovery Protection Win10 includes 128-bit BitLocker and Enterprise Grade VPN Bang&Olufsen Sound 3x Noise-Cancelling Microphones |
| Water/Dust Proof Certification | IP 67 MIL-STD 810G (salt/fog/humidity/shock/thermal) |
At present, the HP Elite x3 has no rivals in the price range because it is the only Windows 10 smartphone that sells for $799. In the Continuum space, the HP Elite x3 competes against Acer's Liquid Jade Primo as well as Microsoft’s own Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, which are available for $449, $399 and $499 respectively.
Source: Microsoft
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RaichuPls - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Damn, that's quite a spec list. 1440p AMOLED, Intel AC Wifi, 4150mAh battery with Windows Hello...cknobman - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
This thing is priced way too high.I'd buy the Lumia 950XL any day over this and save $300.
negusp - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
$300 for Business and Military Certification. Awesome sauce.beginner99 - Tuesday, October 11, 2016 - link
This isn't meant for consumers. It's for business users, manager types and IMHO makes a lot of sense as they don't need high computing needs besides a bit powerpoint and such. HP also adds software and "cloud features":HP Workspace enables users to run their Windows desktop apps (x86 and x64) when docked on a Windows Mobile device with Continuum. Using HP Workspace, users can bring the Windows desktop experience, with large-screen, keyboard and mouse support, to their Windows 10 Mobile device, and without the cost of server hardware and IT administration challenges of traditional app virtualization services. A subscription is required to access this service.
Gunbuster - Tuesday, October 11, 2016 - link
$800 device, plus a monthly subscription to the virtualization service with a limited number of hours use per week. "call for pricing", and at the end of the day your employee has at best 25% of phone apps they are used to having on the iPhone or Android you just took away. HP and Microsoft deeply committed to having your regular users in the business hate IT.Alexvrb - Wednesday, October 12, 2016 - link
If it's truly for business purposes I don't think the app gap is as big of a deal as you make it seem. I can't think of too many apps I'd miss. Heck even outside of that I don't think I'd miss much.Alexvrb - Wednesday, October 12, 2016 - link
Why ever use anything better? Celerons for everyone!Seriously man, this thing smokes the crap out of the 950XL in almost every way possible. The 950XL has a better camera. That's about all that's better. In all other regards it's way more powerful and loaded with business-oriented features the Lumia lacks. Line up the spec sheets side by side and it's not even close. Plus it comes with the Dock, which I'd bet would have sold separately for ~$100. That's about what the docks for the Lumias cost.
That being said neither work on Verizon which is a bummer. If HP is smart they'll work with Big Red on a variant.
Asubmani - Sunday, October 30, 2016 - link
Yes, it is overpriced. However, this is a device that your company will buy for you. I don't expect anyone buying this with their own money. I love the Windows approach to UI; it takes a common sense approach and is not cluttered like iOS. As far as business productivity goes, it is the best OS for a smart phone. I currently have a ZTE Axon 7, which is the only device that is priced appropiatly to it's specs. The HP pricing is not for the HW specs but for certification, something which no personal user should need (IMHO). I am more than happy, trying out devices, and if it does not support anything specific I need, just return it within 30 days. I was considering buying a cheap 75$ windows phone for work and a nice Andriod phone that is priced appropiatly to the specs it offers (Only ZTE and OnePlus 3 fit the bill).Also note that the PIXEL XL is priced at least $300 over for the specs it offers. I am not willing to pay the extra $ for software services (unlimited cloud storage, music, day dream etc.). This is not unlike DELL/HP charging more for a laptop because they are giving you free anti-virus with it!!
nigelmdl - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Yeah got my HP certificate for this device a few day's ago.Don't forget that this thing also has IP67 protection.
Wolfpup - Monday, October 10, 2016 - link
Yeah, the waterproofing is the biggest deal for me versus the Lumias. I mean obviously the hardware is better too, but it's not like those are bad, this is just even better.I like it, but I am concerned about whether or not it's going to get OS updates the same way regular Windows does, or if this is more like an Android device where it's insecure because HP has to authorize updates and never does so it's always insecure.
It's pricey, but if I knew it was getting updates, I might buy one to complement my iPhone...