Macau: In a yet another fillip to the idea that smartphone can one day become your laptop or personal computer, HP Inc on Thursday unveiled Elite x3 - a 5.96-inch touchscreen device that runs Windows 10 Mobile and supports Continuum - a feature that allows the device to be attached seamlessly to a separate screen, mouse and keyboard.
To be available in Asia Pacific and Japan in September this year and then in India, HP Elite x3 bridges phablet, laptop and desktop use cases from a single computing device while enabling users to run key productivity apps across seamlessly.
"At HP, we are constantly pushing the envelope in design, productivity, security and entertainment to build innovative products for 'One Life'," Anneliese Olson, vice president of personal systems business, HP Asia Pacific and Japan, told reporters here.
By utilising Continuum in Windows 10, the Elite x3 enables frictionless multi-screen transitions between a phone and a desktop PC. The device sports 8MP front camera and 16MP rear camera.
For users' security, the device has both a fingerprint reader and an iris recognition camera, offering biometric security as part of Window's biometric Hello framework.
"Users can dock 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," HP added.
Although Elite x3's docking station is not new in the field but what takes HP device into a new league is its mobile extender that helps Elite x3 double as a laptop.
The Elite x3 offers a unique computing experience by leveraging the power of the Snapdragon 820 processor, the optional HP Desk Dock and the optional Lap Dock, 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 Lap Dock creates a laptop experience using a near zero bezel 12.5-inch diagonal HD display that's mere one kg.
No data is stored on the Lap Dock for additional security and all of the apps, passwords and files are managed and stored from the Elite x3.
The Elite x3 also allows users to work with the apps they love and rely on.
HP Workspace - an app catalog designed by HP to easily enable access to virtualised 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 virtualised apps with a full keyboard and mouse experience not typically available from a mobile device when using the Desk Dock and Lap Dock.
HP is also partnering with Salesforce, the world's leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform, to include Salesforce on every Elite x3, 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.
The price of Elite x3 device is yet to be announced.
