HP Announces Elite x2 1012 G2 Detachable PC for Business

HP Announces Elite x2 1012 G2

HP today announced the second generation version of its Elite x2 2-in-1 detachable PC. Like the previous version, the Elite x2 1012 G2, as it is called, offers some significant advantages over Surface Pro 4 and other 2-in-1 detachables.

I wrote about the original HP Spectre x2 back in November 2015. That device offered premium build quality, a superior keyboard cover, and two USB-C ports, which was very forward-leaning at the time. (Today, not including USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 is drunkenly off-target.)

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

For the new version of the Elite x2, HP is offering a familiar form factor—it looks very much like its predecessor—with some important improvements:

Improved kickstand. Where the original Elite x2 offered a hard-to-engage kickstand with just 150 degrees of movement, the new version fixes both issues. Now, no switch is required to open the kickstand, and it leans back nearly all the way to the surface on which the device sits.

Productivity keyboard. I really liked the keyboard cover on the original x2, but this new version includes HP’s new collaboration keyboard, which includes special Skype for Business keys. It still offers 1.5 mm of key travel—which is ideal—and is again backlit.

Inking improvements. In tablet mode, you can use the bundled smart pen for writing and sketching, and this new version of the Elite x2 provides 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity with zero latency and improved palm rejection.

Improved performance. Where the original Elite x2 was held back by its Core M processor, the new Elite x2 now utilizes a 7th generation features a choice of 7th-generation Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 processors. RAM has doubled to up to 16 GB, and storage has quadrupled, to up to 1 TB.

Thinner and lighter. The Elite x2 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor and Surface Pro 4.

Battery improvements. Battery life is rated at 10:15, and HP claims that its fast charge capabilities can restore half of the device’s capacity in just 30 minutes.

Connectivity. Described as “best in class connectivity,” the Elite x2 offers a full-sized USB 3 port, a USB-C 3.1 port, and WiGig, global 4G LTE, and 2×2 WAN/802.11ac Wi-Fi.

Audio improvements. The Elite x2 features front-firing stereo speakers and is the first business class detachable to be certified for Skype for Business. HP noise cancellation and audio boost aid performance in noisy environments.

Improved display. Where the original x2 featured a 12-inch 3:2 1920 x 1280 display, the new version utilizes a larger (12.3-inch) and higher resolution WQXGA+ (2736 x 1824) display with smaller bezels.

Serviceability. The Elite x2 was highly-rated for its serviceability—iFixit awarded it 10 out of 10, compared to 4 out of 10 for Surface Pro 4—and the new version continues this tradition.

Security features. The Elite x2 features a Windows Hello compatible fingerprint reader and IR camera, both of which are integrated into the device. It also includes HP SureStart (Gen 3).

Expansion. HP is selling a number of docking solutions, including the Elite 90W Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station, HP Elite USB-C Dock, and HP USB-C Travel Hub.

Price. $1099 and up.

 

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 24 comments

  • harmjr

    Premium Member
    10 May, 2017 - 1:45 pm

    <p>What a name… <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Elite x2 1012 G2 can you make it any longer… Oh Please… </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Other wise this looks like a very nice machine. Wonder what the price points are.</span></p>

  • Kurt Jordan

    10 May, 2017 - 2:04 pm

    <p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Improved performance.</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;Where the original Elite x2 was held back by its Core M processor, the new Elite x2 </span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><em>now utilizes a 7th generation features a 7th-generation</em></strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Intel Core i-series processor. RAM has doubled to 16 GB, and storage has quadrupled, to 1 TB.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Seems an edit here about the processor is required. </span></p>

    • Waethorn

      10 May, 2017 - 3:03 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#115398"><em>In reply to Kurt Jordan:</em></a></blockquote><p>#firetheeditor</p>

      • Oasis

        Premium Member
        10 May, 2017 - 7:04 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#115438"><em>In reply to Waethorn:</em></a></blockquote><p>what editor….</p>

        • Chris

          10 May, 2017 - 7:53 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#115511"><em>In reply to Oasis:</em></a></blockquote><p>Paul's grammar checker, in Word, or whatever program he uses.</p>

          • mjw149

            11 May, 2017 - 11:13 am

            <p><br></p><p><em>All that work at MS and still no grammar nazi bot.</em></p>

  • Hugo Sanchez

    10 May, 2017 - 2:09 pm

    <p>Thank you for the phrase "drunkenly off-target"</p>

    • Chris

      10 May, 2017 - 7:52 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#115402"><em>In reply to Hugo Sanchez:</em></a></blockquote><p>Not like a drunk can be on target… unless they are specifically aiming for the gutter… or a wall…</p>

  • SvenJ

    10 May, 2017 - 2:30 pm

    <p>Did MS license their product naming technology to HP? Is that an integrated pen loop I see, BTW?</p>

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    10 May, 2017 - 2:53 pm

    <p>This is a pretty nice 'book. Shame it seems pretty expensive for what you get.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      11 May, 2017 - 5:51 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#115425">In reply to jimchamplin:</a></em></blockquote><p>The entry price seems reasonable, for what you get. I haven't looked at the range to see how the options add up on price though.</p>

  • ecumenical

    10 May, 2017 - 2:59 pm

    <p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Where the original Elite x2 was held back by its Core M processor, the new Elite x2 now utilizes a 7th generation features a 7th-generation Intel Core i-series processor."</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Is this an actual i7, or the Core Ms that have been rebranded as i7s? </span></p><p>https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12754426/intel-core-m-processor-naming-change-confusing</p&gt;

    • Waethorn

      10 May, 2017 - 3:02 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#115430"><em>In reply to ecumenical:</em></a></blockquote><p>Oh for f*'s sake. Intel's has no consistency with their naming schemes.</p>

      • ecumenical

        10 May, 2017 - 4:10 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#115437">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>Not only no consistency, but actively trying to trick people. Suffice it to say that if there's no fan, this is almost certainly still a Core M.</p>

        • Chris

          10 May, 2017 - 7:50 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#115480"><em>In reply to ecumenical:</em></a></blockquote><p>These aren't the Core m rebrands. As Daishi has said, they are the Core i U series, namely the Core i3-7100U, Core i5-7200/7300U, and i7-7600U. The limiting factor with these CPUs are that they are low/medium power with a TDP of 15W (adjustable between 7.5-25W), and are all hyper-threaded dual cores.</p>

    • Daishi

      Premium Member
      10 May, 2017 - 4:57 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#115430">In reply to ecumenical:</a></em></blockquote><p>These new ones are all U series chips</p>

  • RobertJasiek

    10 May, 2017 - 3:41 pm

    <p>Which versions are silent (fanless and no electronic noise)? Is the (3:2, it seems) display glare or matte?</p>

    • Daishi

      Premium Member
      10 May, 2017 - 4:55 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#115454">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p>Only the original models I believe. As far as I am aware all of the new ones use U series CPUs. And that's why they're completely uninteresting</p>

  • Chris Payne

    10 May, 2017 - 3:42 pm

    <p>Now this is becoming a very interesting device. I don't see a source for the info, but there's two questions/hesitations I have that would make me pause:</p><ul><li>It says "In tablet mode, you can use the bundled smart pen…" I really hope it can be used in non-tablet mode too, and that the pen performance is as good as or better than the Surface's, which is pretty good.</li><li>Are we stuck with the pen loop? MS really nailed it on the Surface Pro 4 allowing magnetic pen attachment on both sides of the device. I can't imagine going back to a stupid pen loop.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Beyond that, the ports, fast-charging, lighter/thinner (by how much I wonder), Windows Hello camera, are all awesome. Let's see what pricing is.</p>

  • brettscoast

    Premium Member
    10 May, 2017 - 4:18 pm

    <p>HP really seem to be getting it right with their hardware systems aspect ratio and screen resolution are interesting on this device. Microsoft please take note whenever you release the next version of surface pro</p>

  • noram

    13 June, 2018 - 6:14 pm

    <p>Does anyone know why I cannot see screen tips when I hover over something that has a screen tip, in tablet mode, with the stylus? It works with a mouse but not a stylus. Is this not an option or is it a setting?</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC