While everybody at MWC2016 was drooling over the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the LG G5 with its plethora of new toys, the business world was introduced to a new smartphone from an unlikely manufacturer, HP.
That’s right; the company known more for its printers and notebooks is taking a run at a premium grade smartphone that will run Windows 10. While no price or availability has been announced the HP Elite x3 boasts some impressive numbers.
- Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 2.15GHz
- Display 5.96inch (2560×1440) AMOLED with Gorilla Glass
- Memory 4GB
- Storage 64GB (microSD)
- Rear Camera 16MP
- Front Camera 8MP
- Battery 4 150mAh (supports Qi and PMA wireless charging)
Add to this 2×2 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wifi connectivity and LTE Advanced technology and you have should be able to connect to the services you need anywhere. HP also seems to have ditched micro USB in favour of USB 3 Type C but the real value of this smartphone is how secure it can be.
The rear of the Elite x3 houses a fingerprint scanner while the rear and front facing cameras are fitted with iris recognition. The handset also has a number of security standards it complies with including FIPS 140-2 cryptography, 256-bit key full disk encryption, TPM 2.0 and firmware rollback protection.
We’ve saved the best about the Elite x3 for last. While HP has made smartphones before, this one is a bit different in that HP wants consumers to use the Elite x3 for everything across all platforms.
Running Windows 10 means that you could use the handset as your PC when linking it to a docking station where you can connect a larger screen, mouse and keyboard. The specifications of the phone mean that it is a prime candidate for Windows Continuum which would allow users to use their smartphone as a PC as well.
“The HP Elite x3 is where we see the future of computing heading,” said Michael Park, Vice President of Mobility at HP. “One device that can truly act like every device: a modern technology solution for a mobile-centric workplace combined with greater benefits for IT.”
Unfortunately there is no release date just yet. HP has said that it will release the Elite x3 in the northern summer (that’s our winter) and that pricing for the handset as well as accessories, such as the docking station for Continuum, will be announced closer to the time.
