HP's first venture into Windows 10 Mobile is a strong one, but it remains to be seen if they can create a market for this three-in-one device
Before we get started, let's get something clear: you can call the Elite x3 many things, just don't call it a smartphone. So says HP who is proud to boast about the category-defining Elite x3, now hitting markets around the world. Granted, the Elite x3 could be just another smartphone, but there is a lot that is different about this device that makes it worth a reconsideration.
The Elite x3 runs Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update and with it all the baggage from years of people calling it dead-end OS. While Microsoft's consumer smartphone ambitions are in a holding pattern, which is being generous, the OS may have found refuge in at least one area: industry. It's a bit ironic since businesses and enterprise used Windows CE (Windows Mobile) a decade ago.
Now, in late 2016 Windows Mobile is returning to its roots.
So if the Elite x3 runs an OS found on smartphones, why is it not really a smartphone? HP argues that the Elite x3 is the only mobile device that can act like a desktop, laptop, and a smartphone because of Windows 10 Mobile and Continuum. This is, in fact, where HP derives the 'x3' name. And while the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL could do similar feats it did not have the broad ecosystem of HP hardware and infrastructure to support that vision.
Desktop replacement? The HP Elite x3 with Desk Dock running Windows 10 Continuum
This designation is not just semantics either. HP wants you – and their potential customers in industry – to think of the Elite x3 as a Windows tablet that has telephony abilities and the power to run real desktop Windows apps (through HP Workspace, its virtualization service). Combined with streamlining of IT operations for first responders, miners, engineering, retail, transportation and other industries and the Elite x3 begins to make sense.
All of this, however, hinges on one thing. Is the HP Elite x3 any good?
Many companies have veered into mobile computing only to fail. Even HP does not have a good track record here (see their disastrous webOS failure from just a few years ago). But HP's undergone some enormous changes in the past few years, including splitting hardware and enterprise services into separate companies. Can this new HP break the curse?
Finally, what makes reviewing the Elite x3 different is that it's the first non-consumer focused mobile device we are covering. HP does not expect regular people to buy into this system, just various industries who need what it offers. That requires a different mindset and different metrics for evaluation.
What makes an x3?
In anticipation of our deep dive here are three main components of the HP Elite x3 ecosystem that you need to know.
- Elite x3 Mobile Device – This is the 'smartphone' running Windows 10 Mobile, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU with 64GB of internal memory.
- HP Desk Dock — A one-pound dock meant to link the Elite x3 to an external monitor with mouse and keyboard. It has multiple ports including a DisplayPort, two USB-A, a USB Type-C, and an RJ-45 Ethernet jack. It can both power and recharge the Elite x3.
- HP Lap Dock — Meant for mobility the Lap Dock lets your push your Elite x3's OS to the Lap Dock. It has a 48 Whr battery, but no CPU, RAM, or HDD — that all comes from the phone. It's a quick way to turn your Elite x3's into a 12.5-inch FHD laptop experience with a full-sized enterprise class keyboard. It can also charge your Elite x3 at the same time.
Of course, you do not need all of the components to make the x3 enjoyable, but without the docks, you can rightly call the device 'just another Windows phone' (albeit, the best one to date).
HP Elite x3 specifications
| Category | Features |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.96-inch 2560x1440 AMOLED |
| Processor | Quad-core 2.15Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU Qualcomm Adreno 530 GPU |
| Memory | 4GB RAM |
| Internal Storage | 64GB |
| Expansion | microSD (up to 2TB) |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2x2) Bluetooth 4.0 LE, NFC LTE-A with carrier aggregation 4,5,6,13 |
| Camera | 16MP f/2.0 FHD rear-facing camera 8MP front-facing camera and Iris camera |
| Ports | 3.5mm headphone jack USB-C 3.0 |
| Dimensions | 3.29 x 0.31 x 6.36 in 83.5 x7.8 x 161.8 mm |
| Weight | 0.43lb (195g) |
| Battery | 4150 mAh Li-ion polymer (non-removable) Qi and PMA |
Solid build and solid specs
HP Elite x3 hardware
All of the Elite x3's components – including the device itself – features impressive build quality. The Elite x3 even has seals against liquid and dust to an IP67 rating and it is constructed to pass military drop tests. Go ahead and drop the phone in a toilet or spill your water on it as the Elite x3 is built for durability.
The HP Elite x3 is IP67 rated for up to 30 minutes of submersion in 1-meter deep water
From the stunning AMOLED display to smaller refinements like button placement and haptic feedback, the Elite x3 nails design. (Seriously, the Elite x3 has a great vibration motor so you never miss a notification; it's those details that matter.) It's impressive to see a new manufacturer get so much right on the first try.
The Elite x3 stands in contrast to the cheap feeling Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL. While those phones had great hardware, the build quality was unexceptional and uninspiring.
I don't have any criticism about the hardware design or components used in the Elite x3. While some people may dislike large screens, that is strictly personal preference. The Elite x3 is meant to be used in construction yards, line work, mines, out in the field, etc. where having a large display is preferred.
Display
The Elite x3 features 5.96" WQHD (2560x1440) AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 4. It's a massive, bright, contrasty thing that will make reading text a breeze.
Brightness is around 380 nits, which is already a lot, but a forthcoming software update bumps it to around 550 nits for improved outdoor usage.
The Elite x3's display is excellent and it will soon be even brighter
The Elite x3's screen is smooth and responsive with a smudge-fighting oleophobic coating.
Although the display is Gorilla Glass 4, it is far from indestructible. Windows Central's Zac Bowden dropped his caseless x3 on the ground, and it shattered the screen. HP says that the x3 should be able to withstand drops from 4 feet or lower. Luckily, HP replaced his device, and he now uses one of the three available cases (Leather Folio, Rugged, and Silicone) from HP to protect it. With an HP Rugged case, the Elite x3 should be protected from drops from 6 feet.
There is no Glance screen familiar to Lumias, but HP is in talks with Microsoft about trying to utilize the technology.
I still have no qualms calling the Elite x3's screen the best of any Windows phone to date and I prefer it over my iPhone 7 Plus.
Powerful speakers
Using speaker phone for conference calls can be hit or miss with mobile devices. HP knew this which is why they put in two front-firing speakers tuned by Bang & Olufsen.
The speakers are loud and only distort when nearly maxed. While they lack the bass of more consumer-friendly phones like the iPhone, the Elite x3 excels for Skype calls where voice is most important. The ability to hear a stereo-effect while watching video is also impressive as HP was considering employees are having to watch training or sales videos using this device.
The bottom B&O-tuned front-facing speaker on the Elite x3
The x3's front-firing position and audio tuned for highs deliver where needed. They may not be the best, but they are better than average.
Competent shooters
HP Elite x3 cameras
I'll stick by my original assessment of the Elite x3's camera from a few weeks ago: the hardware is impressive, but there should be some more software tweaks to enhance performance.
The 16MP f/2.0 rear camera takes some satisfying photos during the day. It can even pull off some low light images, albeit with some aggressive ISO noise. While it is no Lumia 950 or Lumia 950 XL the Elite x3 is the first, and only, non-Lumia Windows phone that approached the quality of Nokia.
The HP Elite x3 features a decent 16MP f/2.0 rear camera
Even the flash is better than expected for most casual photos.
Keep in mind that this camera is not for consumers looking for the best concert or vacation photos (although it should perform well for the latter). However, using it with Microsoft's Office Lens to copy some receipts or an invoice and the camera returns excellent results. Insurance agents shooting in the field or sales reps recording documents should have few complaints.
While it's no Lumia, the Elite x3's camera is the first — and only — Windows phone to approach Nokia quality
On the front, the Elite x3 sports an 8MP Full HD camera. HP wanted the front camera to be optimized for use in video conference calls like Skype, and they succeeded. In comparing it to the front camera on the iPhone 7 Plus the Elite x3 provided sharper and more detailed video calls over Wi-Fi and LTE, every time.
The Elite x3 is capable of 4K (3840x2160) video capped at 30 FPS. There is also an option for 24 and 15 FPS at that resolution as well as Full HD (1920x1080) and HD (1280x720). There is no option to record at 60 FPS at any resolution, but there is a slow motion 120 FPS option.
While the recent firmware update fixed the majority of camera issues, there are still some frustrating quirks to be solved. I can crash the entire phone when launching the camera from Lock Screen, taking a photo, reviewing the images and going back to the camera. Sure, odd scenario, but it's repeatable. Focusing can also be slow at times especially in low light conditions where it hunt and pecks.
Update: The Insider Fast Ring update to the Windows Camera app on October 17 fixed this crashing issue above; it should be just a few weeks before it is pushed to Production on the Elite x3
In speaking with HP about the camera they too are confident that the hardware is fine, but they need some fine tuning of the software which they will address in future updates. Since this is the first camera from HP on a Windows Mobile device, I think it performs better than expected.
Above is a selection of photos taken with the HP Elite x3. All photos are straight from the camera and are untouched, but they are resized to reduce loading time. All of these photos were taken using the native camera app on auto and some using the built-in HDR setting.
Marathon man
HP Elite x3 Battery Life
The Elite x3 features a 4150 mAh battery, which is 550 mAh more than a Galaxy S7 Edge and 1250 mAh more than the iPhone 7 Plus.
It's big, but it's not massive.
The Elite x3 only weighs 195 grams — just 7 grams heavier than an iPhone 7 Plus, which has a half-inch smaller display. That's a little less than three US pennies.
It's not all about size, however. The Elite x3 backs it up with all day battery life. I can say that in the four weeks I have been using the x3 I have never run out of battery in a single day. Traveling for 15 hours in and out of airports, making calls, flight mode, listening to music, and I still had 30 percent battery before I went to bed.
In the four weeks I've been using the Elite x3 I have yet to run out of battery in a single day.
HP claims an 18-hour battery life with regular usage, and I would agree with that estimate.
The Elite x3 also features Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology. Oddly enough the included wall charger is only Quick Charge 2.0, but the Desk Dock makes up for it with the even faster 3.0 version.
With Quick Charge 3.0 the Elite x3 can achieve an 80% charge in about 70 minutes or 100% in just over two hours.
Additionally, the Elite x3 can support Qi and PMA wireless charging. HP even sells a Qi charger (full review), although the Elite x3 works with any system that supports Qi or PMA.
The bottom line is this: The Elite x3 has the best battery life of any Windows Mobile device I have used, and it will blow away the majority of Android phones on the market (especially Samsung). Dare I say, the Elite x3 is a breath of fresh air in a world where constant charging seems like a way of life.
If HP wants companies to use this in the field, it needs to last all day. I say they succeeded with flying colors.
The power of 820
HP Elite x3 performance
The x3 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor clocked 2.15 GHz, making it the fastest Windows Mobile device to date. Windows 10 Mobile is more CPU-intensive than its 8.1 predecessor, so performance is not jaw-dropping, but it is noticeably improved over previous phones like the Lumia 950.
The Snapdragon 820 never got hot even while using Continuum just mildly warm under heavy stress e.g. restoring from backup.
Again, no complaints about the hardware choice here. The Snapdragon 820 is excellent on battery consumption, low heat, and delivering performance when needed.
Reception and phone calls
Calls were above average for clarity. Reception on the Elite x3 is also above average with no dropped calls. Data was also very reliable with high throughput when connected to LTE or Wi-Fi.
Both of my Elite x3 models ran just fine on AT&T and T-Mobile with full LTE. Unfortunately, Verizon and Sprint (both CDMA) are not supported at this time due to compatibility issues with Windows 10 Mobile.
The x3 is also capable of connecting directly to Ethernet via the Desk Dock or a USB Type C dongle. The device is capable of achieving 100+ Mbps upload and download speeds assuming the network supports it.
Iris scanning and fingerprint scanning
HP Elite x3 security
The HP Elite x3 features both an iris scanner and a fingerprint scanners for biometric authentication using Windows Hello.
Some people do not have luck with iris scanners, but they work for me. The Elite x3's scanner is an improvement over the Lumias (I'm told they used more modern equipment, and the iris camera does seem larger). You still have to hold the phone at the correct angle, but I'm okay with the process.
The Elite x3 features an improved iris scanner for biometric authentication
If you do have problems with iris scanner you can opt to use the fingerprint reader on the back. HP placed it there for easier access when holding the phone and it mainly works as expected. The sensor is the same as found on current Google Nexus phones and it is a smidge faster than iris scanner.
What's neat is you can use both iris and fingerprint at the same time. Pull the x3 at your pocket and push the fingerprint reader or power on the phone display and scan your iris. You can also just use one or the other.
Curiously, HP opts to have an always-locked system. That means if you enable biometric authentication the x3 locks automatically each time the display is turned off. Other Windows phones allow a time-out period, but HP changed that due to security concerns and because, according to them, the x3 unlocks so effortlessly with either method.
If you do not prefer biometric, you can just use a standard PIN.
Bridging the desktop gap
HP Elite x3 and HP Workspace
Putting aside the regular "phone stuff" in a review about a phone that's not a phone how does the Elite x3 handle Continuum? If you are not familiar, Continuum is Microsoft's designation for simulating a PC experience using Windows 10 Mobile. In theory, Continuum is exciting, but in reality, the experience so far is only promising.
Continuum today has a few drawbacks. You can only view one app at a time (although you can run multiple apps). You also cannot run Windows desktop apps (Win32), making the experience a glorified Windows RT one. Nonetheless, it's neat.
Microsoft is solving the first problem with an update to the OS coming in early 2017. In Windows 10 Redstone 2, Microsoft will let apps run windowed and even snapped just like a "real" PC.
HP takes it one step further by using app virtualization through a service called HP Workspace.
Slack desktop app running through HP Workspace on the Elite x3
Virtualization is a fancy term that means a remote computer runs a desktop app and pushes the interface it through the internet to another computer. You can still download and upload files, and even install browser extensions just like on a real PC, just remotely. A simpler analogy is HP Workspace acts as a middleman between the Elite x3 and your desktop app.
HP Workspace is a subscription service for small businesses who do not have the infrastructure to host their own servers for virtualization. HP Workspace is not cheap, but it is cheaper than hiring your an IT department and buying servers as HP handles everything.
Workspace runs from $579 per year per employee for forty hours of access every month for up to ten applications. A Premium plan is $939 per user per year with up to eighty hours of access with an unlimited number of virtualized applications. Finally, a $2,995 plan puts VPN on top of that for security. HP offers a free 60-day trial of the service.
Full Chrome browser running on Windows 10 Mobile and Continuum thru HP Workspace
To make HP Workspace happen you just tell HP what apps you want to run and they will host them. Then, when an employee uses the Desk Dock or Lap Dock with the Elite x3 then they can run all of those apps remotely over LTE, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet.
I have been using HP Workspace for the last few days, and I'm impressed. I was able to run Chrome, Internet Explorer 11, desktop Slack, every Microsoft Office application, and even good ol' Notepad. I could install extensions to Chrome, upload files from my phone to Slack, and run some advanced graphics work in Office. You can also run multiple apps at the same time, all windowed.
I was able to run Chrome, Internet Explorer 11, Slack, Office, and even Notepad through HP Workspace.
The frame rate has a 15 FPS cap, giving a jittery effect when scrolling or watching a video, but the data pull down was fast with web pages rendering very quickly in Chrome. Ideally, this frame rate would be 30 or even 60 FPS, but the technology is not yet there.
You can switch between HP Workspace and UWP apps too, so you can take a Skype call while running desktop Chrome and never lose any work.
No, it is not a "real" PC, but I was running full Windows desktop apps from the power of a Windows 10 Mobile device, and you know what? It worked. While this technology is far from the pinnacle of seamless workflow, I could use this for many aspects of my job. I also know it can and will only get better from here.
I do worry about some of the hourly caps by HP on Workspace. The assumption is that employees using this service are not spending 40 hours a week behind a computer (in which case a real desktop PC makes more sense). Instead, the service is for salespeople, reps, and others who only need to access those desktop applications for 80 hours or less because they are mobile a lot of the time.
I did see some random disconnects on one of the days of testing, but I'm willing to chalk that up to some early bugs or my data connection. Workspace is an impressive piece of technology, and it is not limited to just the Elite x3 — any Continuum-enabled Windows phone can use it. I think desktop software will fade away over the next decade as Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps become the norm, but for now software virtualization will span the gap as 4G data connections become ubiquitous.
The Elite x3 connected to Ethernet via the Desk Dock attains admirable network speeds
When it comes to regular Continuum (i.e. running UWP apps on a desktop display with a mouse and keyboard) performance with the Elite x3 is slightly better than the Lumia 950 XL. That is attributable to the faster processor and extra half-gig of RAM (since Windows 10 Mobile is only a 32-bit OS, it can only use 3.5 of the total 4 GBs of RAM; Microsoft is rumored to be working on a 64-bit version).
Continuum is a journey for Microsoft, and these are the nascent stages. There is still more potential here than what is actualized, but the Elite x3 pushes the paradigm further. I think the next two years will be very revealing for this posturing by Microsoft.
IOU
HP Elite x3 Lap Dock
Unfortunately, HP did not have any Elite x3 Lap Docks available for review by the time we went to press. However, I have been told we will get a review unit in the coming weeks and we'll be doing a full review.
The HP Lap Dock was not ready for this review, but we'll take a look soon
In my limited experience with the Lap Dock, I can say most of the limitations or quirks are due simply to the limitations and unfinished nature of Continuum. For instance, the Lap Dock's track pad proved to be tricky for HP since Microsoft does not have configurable drivers. These are natural growing pains of a new system, but pain points nonetheless.
The Lap Dock's hardware and software were only finalized in the last few days and are now headed to production. HP tells us that trackpad optimizations have already been applied.
HP Elite x3 accessories
Elite x3 and the optional HP Wireless Qi desktop charger
HP has created a full accessory ecosystem to support the Elite x3. There are three HP cases on the market (Rugged, Silicone, and Leather Folio); three screen protector types (privacy, anti-shatter, or anti-smudge); Qi wireless desktop charger; and a passive stylus/pen.
Since the Elite x3 uses USB Type C there are also many adapters - both from HP and third parties - that can be employed including video out (HDMI, VGA, Display Port) and Ethernet; the Elite x3 can also use USB hubs and thumb drives.
The Elite x3 is powered by USB Type C and supports OTG and accessories
To maximize charging in the car or with a wall charger it is recommended to buy a Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 compatible charger such as the ones from Aukey.
HP Elite x3 pricing and availability
The HP Elite x3 retails for $699. Yeah, it's not cheap, but it's also the first Windows 10 Mobile device in a long time to be worthy of such a price tag.
The Elite x3 is also sold with the $150 Desk Dock, which bumps the price to $799 (a $50 savings). Toss in the $599 Lap Dock you have yourself a complete x3 system.
Later in October, HP will sell all three devices together for $1299 ($150 cheaper than buying them all separately).
HP plans to sell the Elite x3 in 51 countries including the US, India, UK, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Finland, UAE, and more. Pricing and date of availability will vary.
The bottom line: HP Elite x3
The HP Elite x3 needs to be broken down in two ways: the hardware and the software. The hardware is nearly perfect, and I think HP did an impressive job for their first mega smart device. All the components are top notch, build quality is exquisite, and they used nearly every high-end spec they could find.
If there is any fault with the HP Elite x3, it falls squarely with Windows 10 Mobile. The recent Anniversary Update goes a long way in improving the OS's lackluster 2015 debut. Nonetheless, there is still a lot of room for growth and improvement. Microsoft knows this as does HP.
Pogo pins on the back of the Elite x3 allow for custom sleeves for various industries to interact with the device
Ironically, HP is the one driving Microsoft here with their request for a fingerprint reader and other features coming to Continuum. I hear HP wanted to do even more with the Elite x3, but Microsoft is the one preventing certain innovations from happening now. It's up to Microsoft to step up and make HP's ambitions a reality.
HP's onto something with the Elite x3. They didn't just make a phone with a slapped-on OS — they built a complete system.
Luckily, Microsoft is aggressively building out Windows 10 Mobile. OS updates arrive on a regular monthly cadence without carrier interference, and the next few milestone builds (Redstone 2, 3, and 4) all put emphasis on building out the mobile experience. That means the HP Elite x3 will only get better, and given the typically slow adoption of corporations, they'll have plenty of time to to iron out the kinks and expand the feature set.
I do think HP is onto something with the Elite x3. They didn't just make a phone with a slapped-on OS. They built a complete system with an impressive story to tell. Only time will tell if companies buy into it, or if this actually solves problems, but I believe there is an opportunity here. HP, at least, seems very confident in it.
The story for consumers is a lot less attractive. The Elite x3 is only recommended for Windows 10 diehards, which is a limited market. Still, if you are committed to Windows 10 and Mobile, there is no reason not to get the Elite x3. The only sacrifice is that the camera is not quite as good as a Lumia, but it's far from terrible. I switched and have been using the Elite x3 as my primary device for a month now and have no regrets.
I think Microsoft finally found a hardware partner good enough to fill Nokia's shoes. It will be fascinating to see if HP finds success with the Elite x3 and Windows 10 Mobile. Others have tried, many have failed, but at least here there is something unique happening in the smartphone space.
HP asks if our mobile phones can do more than just run apps. I think the Elite x3 proves they can. Now let's see if the market agrees.
Pros:
- Excellent design and build quality
- Best specced Windows Mobile device yet
- First true Continuum device
- High quality ecosystem and accessories
Cons:
- Camera is average and needs software work
- Windows 10 app-gap is real
- Not a cheap purchase
Outstanding
4.5/5
Further Reading
- Elite x3 Discussion Forum
- Elite x3 FAQ
- Elite x3 news
- HP tells us why they made the Elite x3
- The HP Elite x3 is the best Windows phone yet (with some caveats)
- HP is betting on enterprise, not consumers with the Elite x3
- HP Elite x3 testing firmware update that enables charging LED, Windows Hello improvements and more
- Using Continuum for a week with the HP Elite x3
- Unboxing and hands-on with the HP Elite x3 superphone
Reader comments
HP Elite x3 review: the best Continuum phone yet… and then some
I have this phone and love it! my only complaint is that I have not found an external HD that will work? The desk dock and Lapdock fail to recognize them. That is a bummer for me. It limits continuum. Seems pointless to have USB ports when you can't use them.
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My other minor gripe is the touch pad is horrible on the Lapdock!
if this was wp best phone wp will never be on the top 5 phone os this mobile divise is not a phone not a pc not a tablet... only a massive faild 2 stars max
you are 100% rigth 2 stars maximum , people tell me im a hatter or troll . but not the case i have use the phone for coouple months now and i agree phone is bad relly bad, i can live with lousy speakers & camara, but when it comes to the cunstant crashes in the middle of call, reboots on inapropiet times, the fact tha imnot allow to use 2 languages, that i can only use 1 sim card for mms and internet means its not a true 2 sim phone. camara app crash, fone freeses and so many other bugs than i only using the mobile hotspot because the rest dont work.
As a user of this phone for several months, I say that it should only get a one or maximum two star rating. Especially because of the ****** Windows 10 OS.
Can you please give your phone to me then? I want it So bad. :( i was really hoping to win the contest. But well. XD
I can exchange if you want. Haha.
i will sell you mine if you like? 500 usd ... i dont like it too buggy
I and the Warden both have Lumina 950 XL's with our old Lumina 1020's as a wireless back up and don't forget the 1020's 41 Megapixel camera. (Still the best) my 1020 is Windows 10 and hers still 8.1. We end up using the 950 XL for everything though. I take few pictures, she's prolific. I use mine more as a Phone and she only will answer my calls. We both have Continuum available to us, but we have a dozen computers at home so there is no need. It is much easier to just grab a Laptop or a Surface tablet than taking all the paraphernalia needed for Continuum when we travel. I did try it at home once for giggles. It worked like any of my Windows 10 products....much slower and less convenient to use than Win 7. It did work that well however.
I am sure I would like the Elite X3 , so I'll enter the contest, but that's the only way I'll own one. Not because it isn't good, it obviously is, but there is no compelling reason to switch
I don't care about reviewers opinions of the "Cheap Feeling" 950 and 950 XL's. REAL People use cases on their phones. What Maroons those reviewers are.
A final note about Windows 10. It is a poor choice for productivity, a poor choice for gaming, a poor choice for streaming video, a poor choice for browsing, a poor choice for me...
You seem to know So much about windows 10 being poor, still you buy 950xl? Genius.
I am late now, or would have suggested you to not participate in the contest and waste an entry and let the others have the advantage even if buy 0.0001%.
By*.
I think the only way this thing has a chance of catching on with consumers is if HP Workspace is a desktop application that requires only a one-time fee (or better, yet, comes bundled) and allows people to run virtualized desktop software they already own on this phone, similar to game streaming that is permanently free on the NVIDIA Shield. As it is now, this will remain a niche product, albeit a very good one.
Dan. Have you heard anything about the timeline for the next firmware update on the X3? I picked one up the other day to replace my 950XL and love it. I have it updated to the latest build and firmware now. However, I have rare, but occasional freezing of the OS for 1-2 seconds, infrequent camera errors, and the AT&T LTE indicator in the status bar toggles between LTE and LTE+ every second or two very quickly. Perhaps some of these things will be fixed in the next update. I love your review and it's the reason I got the phone. Thanks!
It would be good to know more about HP Workspace. How does it work? If it is accessing HP-hosted cloud computing to run a Thin Level Client - then could Microsoft not build an enahnced Office 365 service to do the same?
Until the Verizon issue is addressed, success of this or any windows mobile device is unlikely regardless of the hardware quality or status of software builds. How can the elephant continue to be ignored?
I know atleast 10 people. Myself included that would have the 950XL or X3 if it were on Verizon. Unfortunately our company will only pay the major of our cell bills on the verizon network for personal devices. A good portion of the IT staff have been pushing the move to AT&T to remedy this.
I just don't buy into the argument of a 'enterprise' or 'consumer' device. As and when it comes to India, it will be THe best phone I could get over here. Yes the Galaxy S7, iPhone 7 twins and even L950 twins may have better cameras but if the camera quality is good enough, I don't want to bother about having the'best'. Other than that everything is perfect. Device is fast, size is great (for me that is), can work as a PC for a normal user like me, the display dock has a RJ45 input and can serve to power and charge the phone. I just don't have anything on my wishlist. purely as a 'consumer' I will buy this device if it is available for sale. It worth far more than S7 or iPhone7 to me
theyr'e talking about "consumer" vs "enterprise" classes of people, not specifically individuals. As a whole group, enterprise will be less impacted by the app-gap, whereas consumers will feel that a whole lot more. Enterprise will benefit a lot more from phone as a PC vs consumers who probably already own a tablet and a desktop. So, don't get too caught up with that. You can't really apply it to individuals, only groups.
So near perfection, except it's still running on ARM processors.
All this phone would need is an Intel chip to run full Desktop apps locally without virtualization and I'd buy it immediately.
Why does Sprint and Verizon have compatibility issues with Windows 10 Mobile. Didn't Lumia Icon get Windows 10? Can a 'Business' phone really not operate on those two networks and have a hope for success?
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
Likely something different between upgrade and a new device; or they let some things slide. Either way, that is the official explanation. There's something about Win10 that Verizon does not like.
Hi Daniel,
Could you describe how you used your Elite X3 on a day to day basis over a week of use? Any tips how to use this device as both a smartphone and a pc? How did you use this phone to fit your lifestyle? In what way did this device complement your lifestyle? In what way did this phone improve your lifestyle? In what way did this device hinder your lifestyle?
Will see about doing that in a sep article
Nice camera samples but what about noise reduction and sharpening? When you shrink the photos ('to reduce loading time' - really??), you don't give us the chance to see the real quality of the camera. How about providing a link where the original unmodified photos can be downloaded for viewing?
We'll likely do that in a follow-up post. I think the demographic for this device is not really pixel peeping.
I do have a old 2008 and new 2016 HP laptop both with Windows 10 so I am familiar with HP products and like them well enough. My wife and I no longer work, nor run any type of side business that would support a need for a business like approach. We did however make the switch a number of years ago to exclusively Windows for our personal lives. We both were early adopters of the Lumina 1020 and while we both now have 950XL's we kept our 1020's as wireless devices and cameras (Hard to beat more cubic inches within the same automotive technology, and hard to beat more megapixel with cameras) We have desktops everywhere with Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, multiples of each even though there are only two of us we have Tablets hers a Surface 2 with Windows 8 CE mine a Surface 2 Pro with Windows 10 insider. We have Continuum for both our 950XL's but we don't need it. Appointments thru MS calendar apps syncs to all our devices and that is a boon to us. Connectivity is simplified for us and our whole computing heavy world is just easier. Windows 8 and 7 are both faster and easier than Windows 10 for us though, still we like many of the Windows 10 features, just not enough for us to love Windows 10. Microsoft always wants to redefine everything would be my biggest complaint.
Maddness.
For those who think there will be a "Surface Phone"... because of how well this phone is built, there's no need for a Surface Phone.
This is the surface phone in sense, for enterprise, nearly perfect except for camera and software immaturity. If they do make a Surface phone, it should target consumer more, since they don't need to compete directly with hp. Cerulean can make a fan phone in the mid price range, while Surface phone will be the flagship.
Surface phone would focus on one area this phone does not: pen and ink.
I've had my HP Elite x3 since late September. It's been a great phone. Battery life is amazing and it is snappy. I'm glad to hear there will be a display update because it could be brighter outside.
For all the talk about Continuum (tried it first time today), it does work okay. I've set my home and work computers for remote desktop and I get virtual computer experience that is much better than "HP Workspace" RD is the real key to continuum for now!
Enlighten us oh wise one. It's a niche product, even at the enterprise level. Honestly, do you see these selling in sufficient volume to justify maintaining the platform? I wouldn't trust HP or MS to support this product and it's associated services for the life cycle I would require. Do you really trust MS to continue support of W10M for the next several years? I sure as hell don't.
k
I believe this HP W10M Phone can really take off at the Enterprise level. However, the phone that is only available here in the United States on AT&T and T-mobile could hurt sales with Verizon having the largest network. I'm positive that their are several Fortune 500 companies that exclusively use Verizon with their business and this phone not working on CDMA will have an effect.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android LG G5
Unfortunately my company is one. Hard to ditch verizon with the number of devices we have but we are looking at moving over to AT&T for this very reason.
Brilliant article, Daniel! A lot of work must have been put into this.
I love the layout and the information flow throughout it. It gave me a complete idea exactly what this is and what it can do, and it answered all my questions about the device.
You had a few amusing mishaps while writing the article, nothing major though :) The one that made me laugh (in a good way) was about the battery, which I shall loosely quote: This is a massive 4140 mAh battery.... .... It is big, but it is not massive.
Thank you again for taking your time to do your job thoroughly, I really appreciate this level of reporting standard from you and your co-workers. *bows*
Cheers, thanks!
Good job HP.
VDI is a growing business, I see many big enterprises reducing costs with VDI, since this foks don't spend $700 on a laptop, they spend about $2500 on laptop since these devices need Intel vPro which CPU are much more expensive than Skylake consumer processors, these also need TPM module, Hard drive encryption software, and many other security tools to allow maximum security.
If I were a IT manager , I would see HP's subscription service for hosting VDI apps using secure VPN as a very cost effective solution for suppliers and many employees needing access to enterprise in a secure way.
That's a very good point about vPro and laptops.
I would like to see the passive stylus in action. Is it just not available yet?
So if you replace the laptop with the lap dock.... Does that actually change anything in terms of portability? It seems like you either eliminate a phone or you eliminate a tablet/laptop. In the case of win10, you give up the x86 programs and vastly superior power. Is that worth the trade off? Maybe....but depends.
Longer battery life, smaller footprint and lighter device (2.4 lbs). Less information for IT to secure and less hardware to maintain. Lower risk if stolen or damaged since it has no information on it.
Your example of use of lapdocks by law enforcement was excellent. I'm aware of the costs of those ruggedized laptops cops and firefighters use and how often they are replaced regardless of all of that protection. Add to that extra cost, the agency and IT time to determine what data might have been compromised and/or needs to be restored and an relatively inexpensive lapdock paired with the x3 looks like much better solution in this use case. There are undoubtedly many other use cases for this impressive device.
Yep. It depends on business cases. But even when portability is the same, with Continuum IT only has to manage 1 device.
One very surprising thing happened with this phone on my first weekend using it as a daily driver. Everyone I ran into with an iPhone or galaxy wanted to play with it. They were all very impressed.
They said they were impressed, however, they took out their iphones and galaxies and smiled when they used them....as they worked as intended.
Yep, you have a problem. Go see a shrink
you obviously do as well seeing as you and a few others comment on every post I make...I find that some what disturbing. Maybe it is you who needs to seek help! I am perfectly stable, as are my tech devices.....
I think it's you who needs the help, hating on all things Microsoft yet trolling on a Windows fansite. Seems like a complete waste of time to me but maybe you have the time to waste.
While you're still here why not tell us all how you got banned from the forums?
were you there?
Yes....in fact I was one of them. Put is this way I can bet that NOT one of them who found the x3 "interesting" will buy one.
It's not a device meant as a personal daily driver either, so I fail to see the problem.
You are entiled to a constructive opinion but being a smug know-it-all doesn't help. Try telling me I smiled when my Note 7 had to be sent back or look at the Apple class-action lawsuit on the iPhone 6 series Mr Smug: http://fortune.com/2016/10/10/iphone-touch-disease-lawsuit/
So, spend over a thousand dollars on hardware, plus an annual subscription for services.
Or, spend a few hundred dollars on hardware and use any software you want.
Do they really think they'll sell these?
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
Listen to the podcast.
So a lot of your listeners are stuck on the price. You are replace 3 devices. Lets say a user has a Thin client or PC at his desk, a laptop and a phone. Think of the savings of the Thin client or PC and the laptop hardware. Not only that, think of the cost of not having to maintain the cost of the Windows licenses on those devices and the cost of patching and managing them. With the x3, all you have to manage is the phone. It's a huge cost savings.
If the hardware and software were what MS wants you to believe it is, it would be worth every penny. If there was no app gap, if the device actually ran x86 software, and if windows 10 was stable, fast and smooth.....it would be awesome. HOWEVER, and this is a BIG HOWEVER.....it does have a huge app gap, it does not run x86 only a virtulization program which again is gimmicky and flacky, ANNNNNDDD, Windows 10 is slow, laggy, full of bugs and is just overall a mess! Therefore a pentium III equiped dell running windows 98 is better than the lapdock, and a blackberry OS10 is a better phone as it has more relivant apps on it than windows 10 mobile does.
Everyone has opinions.
Yes....just like yourself. Your opinion is that windows 10 is awesome. Mine is that is sucks compared to windows 8 and windows phone 8. One of us is right. and it ain't you! Thats just how it is. windows 8 was/is faster, more stable etc.
Chill out or get banned.
He's already banned from the forums and the mods are watching him like a hawk so when he does step out of line then the banhammer will fall!!!
Hey Neo,
I have been reading Steve's and your comments for some time. you are just as fanatical the other way. BTW Steve got banned from the forums because He made a comment about android being crappy compared to windows phone, NOT the other way around. GO BACK AND LOOK! I just did!
If I was posting those comments on Android Central or iMore then yes, it would be fanatical.
Simply posting about Android being crappy compared to Windows Phone wouldn't get you an outright ban unless there was something else in the post that was vulgar, profane, racist or directly insults another user. I also looked you up on the forums, seems like you earned yourself a ban as well!!!!
@Daniel, he hasn't insulted or done anything to get banned, it is just a good passionate debate over the platform I believe we all love and would like to see do better, threatening a ban just because you have a difference of opinions just comes off as very petty and childlike
Agreed Oluwatoyin.
I have seen that coming out in Daniel for the past couple of days.
Gee Steve take a pill. Maybe W10 is buggy on you cheap home built box.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android.. But waiting for the HP Elite so I can get rid of this junkie Galaxy S5...
If you read John in the past, you would know Steve was using Microsoft surface products, as well as HP and Acer notebooks, not cheap home built boxes like you would like to beleive. I am in the same boat. Windows 10 slowed down my SP4 and my 1520. Windows 8 was far better than 10
Let me get this straight, you both have an opinion but your opinion, yes OPINION is the correct one. Please explain how an opinion can be right?
Such ignorant comment, HP offers subscription services to host applications on the cloud, for those small enterprises that cannot afford to host a cloud infrastructure that costs millions of dollars.
In about 90% of Fortune 500 companies, laptops for business users that can have access to corporate network cost about $2500 so you can clearly see how small enterprises cannot give a laptop like this to their employee, so temporarily employees that work on a project for 6 months could benefit with a phone like this. on small enterprises.
Even big Fortune 500 companies are going to benefit from this, but using in house hosted VDI infrastructures.
best regards
I picked up an x3 last Friday. This is by far the best Windows phone yet. It would be perfect had they included the 950xl camera. This thing is wicked fast. Performance is quite noticeably better than the 950xl.
Workspace as a timed service is a complete non-starter. What is this, AOL and Compuserve?
It's called Cloud services...Where the heck have you been hiding?
Re: Iplarry,
I agree with you.
Thank you Dan.
"Unfortunately, Verizon and Sprint (both CDMA) are not supported at this time due to compatibility issues with Windows 10 Mobile."
Is it a Windows compatibility issue or a Verizon issue?
No Verizon, no chance with me, no matter how good the phone is.
Is there anyone around that has experience with AWS? I'm just starting to learn about it so I don't know a lot yet. I'm just wondering if it would be possible or feasible to run x86 applications on the Elite x3 through AWS or even some sort of remote desktop program. Right now, the HP soloution is very expenisve and limited.
What about Teamviewer and Remote Desktop?
All these depend on access to good internet. Good internet is not everywhere, fast, and consistent all the time.
As with such things the more competitors emerge, the cheaper the pricing will be :)
Great review. It's a complete package.
When the time goes by, would love to hear your interviewing with hp again on the corporate names who are on board.
That would be great if possible.
Thanks and yes, we do plan on doing that. Right now, companies are trialing it and it can take months for IT departments to vet new technology, but hopefully we'll get some real case samples to report on when they happen.
Thanks for replying, I would love to hear companies that adopt the technology help promoting (and get good deal out of it of course) like Hololens clips. I think they are excellent!
Keep it up HP!
Really hope HP Workspace will also be available for consumers as a subscription service.
Why would consumers not just buy a Surface Pro for the half price of this phone, lapdock and subscription?
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
Go back to bed. You need sleep. Or a strong cup of coffee. How many -1 did you get today?
If Windows Central charged for each -1 votes he'd have been bankrupt already! :P
HP is not consumer facing, the bandwidth and infrastructure is geared towards enterprise. I guess another provider out there may end up offering something like that, Microsoft could as they must have a lot of spare space given they clawed back unlimited Onedrive space from us.
I agree with your conclusion (generally) but I used one for a few hours (borrowed from another site) and I dont think the build quality is anything special. The plasticy speaker grills were a standout low for me. Not "bad" at all but simply not in the same league as a iPhone/High End Samsung. I also remember the screen not being terrific - but maybe the promised brightness upgrade will help.
I also had high hopes for the speakers but they are simply too shrill and "tinny". Wasted oppurtunity IMO - could have sounded much nicer.
But overall, its definetly an interesting idea and a solid device. HP wont sell many so they are probably correct to aim at super high end and charge a frankly ludicrous amount for their workspace software. I cannot imagine it catching on but at least its somethign to try.
"HP wont sell many so they are probably correct to aim at super high end and charge a frankly ludicrous amount for their workspace software."
If only you knew how much these companies charge for licenses and support contracts, you wouldn't be surprised at all.
"thru HP Workspace" I think you go to too many drive-thru's if your device auto corrected to that.
Daniel, do you know if RS2 will address whatever it is that seems to keep all Windows 10 phones away from Verizon? Is there anything (even if you can't give details) you've heard to give those of us limited to Verizon hope for a future Windows Phone?
Amazing that an enterprise-oriented phone like the x3 is not availbale through Verizon, which handles the most enterprise mobile accounts (in the US).
So, I have heard that Microsoft basically over-fired a bit and laid off too many CDMA-tech people. Windows 10 Mobile does not satisfy Verizon's requirements for their network, which is huge oversight.
As to what that all actually means I have no idea. However, yes, my guess is it will be addressed if only because HP does want this phone on Verizon (for obvious reasons). As to when that happens (Microsoft support), I'll try to find out.
Dan you should have asked Michael Park that question. :-) Nice interview btw.
It would be nice to see this happen by Q1 or Q2
Single SIM or Dual SIM in US market?
Dan,
Thank you for this well researched exploration of the next turn in the bend of design becoming actualized.
For this phone to exist and generate so much commentary says the phone has already been a potential success for the windows mobile platform.
I type this on a lumia 650 which shows i am price sensitive.
I enjoy being part of the 1% and hanging on.
I have noticed the acer phone ecosystem dropping in price, but a major aspect of continuing to stay within the Microsoft ecosystem is how much fun there is in the back and forth commentary thar swirls around being a participant in the 1%.
Yes, there are frustrations every time i notice a service for mobile phones (that then links to download to ONLY google or apple is my biggest frustration).
However, the fun factor of reading an article such as you wrote today and imagining where the windows mobile ecosystem is being pushed and pulled and taking me along for the ride makes up for the minor frustrations.
I am a voice of the 1% who is having fun using my lumia 650 for a $200 entry pass into the 1%.
Thank you also for your style of response to negative commentary. I enjoyed todays posting and thank you
Re: Iplarry,
I agree with you.
Thank you Dan.
Dual SIM, with a catch: the slot is shared with the microSD card one, so you use either one or the other.
yes , im bussines man and i use the 2 sim phones because hanging arownd with 2 phones is stuped
If (let's face it, when) this fails will that be the last gasp of W10M? Securing an OEM like HP was a definite win for MS, but has there been a successful Windows phone... well, ever? I'll be amazed if the device isn't discontinued by this time next year.
Another consumer that does not get the business proposition....
the business proposition does not HELP things if businesses dont want an answer to a question no one was asking for. They will go BOYD, and supply a notebook and docking stations in various offices like they have done for ages now, for MUCH LESS money. Continuum is a gimmick to a problem no one had!
This is a very fair review that, if anything, seems to underplay the noticeable performance improvements on w10m (relative to the 950/950xl). The x3's performance--download speeds, opening apps/web pages--is quite fast. I hope they figure out a way to enable glance. That's the only thing I miss.
I need glance too.
Sold! Will replace my 950xl.
You won't be alone there!
I was surprised to see an actual TV ad from HP last week for this very device. That made me happy. I'm in the USA.
Coool!
I saw the TV ad too. Great ad. USA too.
So already there are more commercials for this device by HP than there have been by Microsoft for Lumia since 2013. I guess that's a start!
Seriously, though, the lack of advertising by Microsoft was one of the biggest reasons Windows Phone market share declined. They had built up from nothing to > 5% global market share, including dozens of market with double-digit market share and a higher share than iPhone, and then they just threw in the towel. The only two phones that sell well are the iPhone and the Galaxy, and that's because Apple and Samsung pour godly amounts of money into advertising them. Microsoft never even approached 1/100 of the amount needed to grow Windows Phone. Maybe HP will try harder.
Wasn't there a commercial for the L950/XL?
Maybe, but I haven't seen a Lumia commercial in the U.S. since the Lumia 928 back in May 2013.
That's because Microsoft bought Nokia and from that time, the market share for Windows Phone starts to declined. It's Microsoft fault. It looks like that they mean it, they want Windows Phone to be gone
Let's hope HP will fix everything
Really? I already had the x3 in my hands in the store and found it felt much cheaper than the 950 (XL), even with its creaking original cover. Just cheap plastic in my eyes. Especially when looking at the "chrome" part I would say build quality is more a con than a pro. I would put it into one of the covers of course, but I definitely prefer my 950 and even the 950 XL with a Mozo cover, which offers built-in protection. I don't find the replaceable back uninspring, although it hinders water and dirt protection a bit. Apart from that, the x3 seems to be a really solid device.
You cannot put this phone next to an iPhone, Galaxy or Pixel and say the build quality is great. No executive is going to want to carry this faux metal device instead of an iPhone.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
Right, nothing compares to Bendgate and Touch Disease... ;)
This! I've never understood the fascination with metal and glass phones. Inferior to polycarbonate in almost every way. It's like wanting a glass and porcelain car!
haha
well I will tell you a the truth: Big companies buy phones, pc, tablets etc. based on contracts. If HP can offer a good contract for the company than the company will buy everything they need from HP and the executive will carry this faux metal in his hand because he has it for "free" from the company for which he works :)
Love how you were voted to speak for executives lol.
You think someone is going to choose this hardware in a blind taste test?! When you add in the further negative of running Windows Mobile, it will be a very hard sell. Just look at current sales numbers to see how hard of a sell it is.
My opinion isn't a stretch. Thinking executives are going to prefer faux metal to real metal most certainly is.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
So looks are more important to you than features and how it operates?
Go make a metal and glass phone that passes MIL-STD810G. Different phones have different features and goals. Clearly, this phone is not for you and since you are not a CTO or CIO you have no role whether it gets picked up or not by companies.
In the end, you're someone who disagrees with Microsoft posting on a Microsoft-orientated website with consumer opinions.
remember what was said earlier, Military spec is just government terms for lowest bidder!
I think you completely missed the part (quite a BIG part) when HP talked to THIER OWN ENTERPRISE CUSTOMERS that spend millions with HP and asked them exactly what they wanted in a device (they spent a LOT of time on that) and then spent MILLIONS MAKING exactly WHAT THIER CUSTOMERS SAID THEY WANTED TO BUY!! - which part of this do you not understand? You can cry about executives not wanting this or that, but thats your own limited opinion going against the massive research HP did with people who slap down millions on the HP table every year.
Never know, he may very well be an "executive" that you have no idea about!
Ohhh let's compare to my Samsung Galaxy S5... with its cheap fake plastic metal ring and quality not build quality...
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android.. But waiting for the HP Elite so I can get rid of this junkie Galaxy S5...
OH please John, that phone is 3 years old and has similar build quality to the x3. take an s7/s7 edge, pixel, or iphone since iphone 4 and feel real build quality. You will just replace your junky S5 with a Junky HP with no apps to do anything with.
hahaha go ahead spend the money , i have it buy from me 500 usd , or spend 7-9 usd and after a wile come back here and cry like everyone else this phone sucks1 and to expensive .
I agree with you about the 950 seeming to have better build quality than that of the x3. But what puts the x3 over the 950s is the screen...both in presentation and feel. The 950s presentation is good, but a total fail in feel...and a dirt magnet. I liken the x3 screen to that of the Lumia 1520, Galaxy S7, or BB Priv. That what makes it feel richer than the 950s and better built. Also, carbon fiber always appears more durable than plastic.
"I hear HP wanted to do even more with the Elite x3, but Microsoft is the one preventing certain innovations from happening now."
So, nothing changed.
HP is suffering from the same lack of interest that Microsoft showed Nokia.
And people still dare to say the OS is alive. OK...
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Here's the thing, you don't get to say that. I spoke with many of the executives behind this phone and none of them said that, implied that, or complained. You're reaching a conclusion that you want to be true based on second-hand information, not because you actually spoke to those on both sides who are responsible.
Microsoft does have priorities and yes, they can't do everything at once for everyone or drop projects for one supplier (although, often enough, they did).
I suggest you actually speak with executives, marketing, and engineers at HP, Lenovo, Dell, and others to see what they think of Microsoft and Windows 10. It's not all roses e.g. they don't like MS's aggressive push for PTP, but those companies are generally happy with the support.
If no one said that, why did you write it in the article? You were the one claiming that HP wanted to do more and Microsoft prevented it.
Now you backtrack on it?
There are two options here: either you lied on the article or are doing it now on the comments. You can't claim you hear something happened and then that you didn't hear it.
As for the WP status, I've made it abundantly clear why I don't consider it alive several times. It has no support from developers and no consumer interest. As for the enterprise, I also don't see it. The requirements to make this work are too many, too cumbersome and too expensive to justify it. To deploy dumb terminals just in hopes some will have a WP to use them, to pay for subscriptions to be able to use desktop programs etc, all of that makes no sense when you can simply give the employee a smartphone with a supported OS (Android or iOS) and a two-in-one like a Surface Pro. The costs for the company are vastly inferior, specially since you have the entire Microsoft ecosystem on those mobile OSs too, working harmoniously with Windows 10.
Even on enterprise W10M has no real future. But I'm willing to give it a year for it to prove me wrong (though I'm pretty sure I'm not).
DJCBS, I'm getting a little tired of your word games here. The image you painted was much more dire/negative than what I said.
"HP is suffering from the same lack of interest that Microsoft showed Nokia."
That is not what I said or implied.
I said HP had more ideas of things to do with this device (they wouldn't say) but support in the OS was not there yet. Imagine that, a hardware company being ambitious in design and feature sets that is ahead of the software. That's normal in this business and it's a good thing as HP here is thinking beyond today's devices. There is nothing unusual about their experience.
Microsoft did work closely with HP though to make this device happen. Improvements in Continuum in RS1, fingerprint reader support, etc. were all intiated by HP.
There are no word games here, Daniel. I was pretty straight forward.
"I said HP had more ideas of things to do with this device (they wouldn't say) but support in the OS was not there yet."
You can LITERALLY replace "HP" with "Nokia" here and you'll have an exact description of what happened during the partnership years between Nokia and Microsoft.
Nokia had a list of many things they wanted to do on Windows Phone 8 that never left the paper because the OS was so far behind and Microsoft wasn't showing any signs of urgency. All the GDRs Windows Phone got, for example, were the result of Nokia requests as you certainly are aware of.
So, as I said, nothing changed.
HP worked with Microsoft to bring this device and still they weren't able to put out all they wanted to because the OS wasn't on the same level of their projects. This gives HP the exact same feeling it gave Nokia, and puts in their minds the question "Is it even worth it?"
Bravo! Well said!
Put it this way, if HP put Android on this phone like Bleach is clamoring for do you think the Iris scanner would work??? NO!!! That's because it's being limited by the software. Why is this so hard to understand?
There were Android phones with iris scanners out before Microsoft ever produced one. The support has been there.
There's a gigantic difference between what happened then and what's happening now, which is that Windows 10 Mobile isn't being developed separately from the desktop/tablet version, they both share a kernel, an app model and the majority of apps and settings. There IS still legacy code from both versions - Wi-Fi settings for mobile and Control Panel for desktop for example - that still needs to be ported, but the code merging is ongoing, so nowadays it costs Microsoft almost nothing resource-wise to keep developing a Mobile SKU, unlike in the 7/8/8.1 Phone days when they surely must've had a smaller team in comparison to desktop Windows to take so long to improve it.
My take on this having worked in Microsoft for five years or so on Windows Phone is that HP are very brave with their investors money. For the following reasons.
1 - WP went from 7 to 8 to 8.1 which finally was Enterprise ready ish still with a massive app gap.
2- At the point Nadella came on board it was clear Windows Phone was dead, as the CEO did not want to be in the phone business. Carrying an iPhone at Future decoded was a clue.
3- W10 mobile was a massive failure, all of the entire phone business fed back it was not ready and it was rammed through by MS Corp in the US onto the market. It was a disaster and left the customers we all worked so hard to her off iPhone completely disillusioned, there was never any serious attempt to address the app gap which was the main problem. I talked to hundreds of enterprise customers , No SAP, no Salesforce, no credible suite of Enterprise apps at all, customers abandoned with a dead platform (8.1) again after 7 just lost patience, enterprise people are also consumers and no apps for TV , sports , news, entertainment etc meant they were wondering why the hell their employer made them carry these phones.
4- Fast forward to now MS stating that, they are focusing on Enterprise....the entire sales phone unit in Europe has been made redundant, windows phone is in a fire sale in stores , price is less than half six months ago. All the software qualifications team are redundant and gone .
5- The Enterprise partner group now owns phone the same unit that competes with carriers on O365 with Skype functionality and Cloud PBX, competes with their MDM offering with EMS, and they want a carrier to even think about promoting a windows phone, oh and the manufacturing capability has been sold too. I am sure there are a long line of carrier execs not rushing to stock another windows phone ....
6- So my point is HP are very brave with their investors' money, Microsoft are risking nothing, and Continuum a geat technology but essentially after presenting it to literally hundreds of customers, it was good idea but the feedback was always , I have a Surface, iPad, tablet and generally a Samsung or iPhone and I am comfortable with that. literally a solution looking for a problem .
HP I suspect have made a great phone , as Nokia often did but could not get Microsoft to focus on a coherent strategy for phone, and decide if they were actually in the game or not.
"My take on this having worked in Microsoft for five years or so on Windows Phone is that HP are very brave with their investors money. For the following reasons."
See, here's the thing: Microsoft was late to the party; by the time the first WP7 phones were released iOS and Android had already been on the market for 2+ years. If you're going to take that long to get into the market, you should:
a) not charge a license for your OS while your direct competitor with OEMs charged (almost) nothing and had a better formed ecosystem;
b) build your OS out of a robust core, which Windows CE Kernel was not - it's not an accident that all major WP versions featured massive kernel and app model rewrites;
c) make sure your product's UI, UX and feature pack truly engage consumers. Sorry, but the OS looked awful with the tiles' rainbow coloring, the lack of support for wallpapers and title transparency, the lack of sophistication in the apps' looks and the terrible Settings app layout.
d) make sure your human resources and work flow are up to the task to deliver updates in a timely manner. It's plainly clear that Microsoft as a whole suffered under the enterprise culture implemented early in Ballmer's reign.
Bottomline is, Microsoft under Ballmer became a "me too" company, too bureaucratic, incapable of innovation; it took Ballmer losing his job and Nadella taking over to bring back that lost energy that Microsoft once had.
You should be a tech author. Very insightful.
@gypsy012, this is one of the best responses yet I have heard through all the bickering, and you may not be "high level" like the elitist Daniel Rubino considers himself to be, but I like this balanced assessment vs a whole lot of misinformation I've heard so far.
Oluwatoyin,
People's view of their self worth can be somewhat distorted at times. JUST SAYIN!
Gypsy,
Well said, and what Myself, a few others have been saying all along...but the faboys etc here are two blind to see!
pleope hate you because you spoke the truth , luckly for you this is the internet and not a mideval plaza or you be stone to death , people belive earth is flat and windows phones are great!
They could add that support if they used Android. They would only be limited by their own software skills. Even Continuum would be far superior with Android Free Form.
Again Microsoft is limiting the possibilities with their platform.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
So you say Microsoft is not capable of adding features like Android? Didn't Microsoft add support for the fingerprint scanner on the X3?
Will you two stop arguing. Hp is an independent company If they want to spend or waste money on this then they are perfectly entitled to do that. It might turn out to be a success it might not. But no one can be in a better position than HP on that. Bear in mind they know what has happened to the Lumia range aimed at consumers. I think we all agree its good but still a failure as far as sales are concerned. As far as Daniel lying I think not. Would it not be boring if he had to record every interview and put it out as a recording rather than text?. Yes he sometimes put his own stamp on it. If we want the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth without an opinion thrown in then we have to wait for our news until it has already happened . Boring.
You know what, you are right maybe. But it takes time to develop a OS with features like these. Continuum is quite awesome right now and with the RS2, i can fully leave my laptop behind when I go to places.
Would you be bringing the dock, mouse and keyboard instead? Doesn't seem any more efficient. Then you have to hope there's a monitor to hook into.
I would think the dock/keyboard/mouse is just to sit at a station and be immobile. So you just plug in the phone and get a "desktop experience".
You would bring the lapdock instead but it seems like that defeats the purpose so instead of bringing your powerful laptop and separate phone, you bring just your phone which can doubles as a gimped phone powered laptop if you bring the lapdock
I'm sorry, but why would choose to carry with you cables and docks and a keyboard and mouse as opposed to just a laptop or tablet like a Surface? I don't see anyone using this, especially with zero marketing as usual with windows phones.
What? Why would you "carry with you cables and docks and a keyboard and mouse"? You would use the Lap Dock if going mobile. Desk Dock is, well, for your desk. I thought that was made abundantly clear?
The cheapest Surface Pro 4 is $899. Plus phone ($400-900), plus desktop PC ($500) and that math should answer the question.
The specs in a laptop or SP4 will allow you to own them for years... whereas this, nowhere close. You say HP is in it for the marathon, yet I think when it comes to most consumers, they are too in terms of desktops/laptops. Phones are come and go. Most people aren't going to spend all this money on this phone and accessories knowing it won't last more than 2 years.
This isn't for "most people" it is for industries like airlines, miners, sales, insurance agents, line workers, etc. I stated this in the review.
Just because you wear a suit and work in a cubicle doesn't mean you are the target audience for this phone.
Look at CNET's review, cracks me up "The most interesting phone you don't need" lol
this didn't work for Google Docs and I was forced to do all of my typing in Microsoft Word, which isn't ideal given CBS Interactive uses Google Apps for Work.
While the Elite X3 is an interesting concept, you're better off using an iPhone or Android phone with a Surface Pro or another portable laptop.
If HP can get Android running on the X3, however, I'd love to give it another look.
There are a lot of security risks and AAD restrictions on iPhones and Android devices that make them poor choices for anything beyond Exchange support. That is not what we are talking about here.
You also keep saying "you are better off..." as if this is some customer option that regular people are being encouraged to buy, as opposed to a company buying a fleet of them for service workers, sales agents, insurance reps, etc.
It seems to be the collective mindset that BYOD is king, there's absolutely no cons to using it, only benefits to both sides - enterprise and employee - and that everyone uses it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If that is the case then those employees are quite low level without need to access secure data behind a firewall. Obviously, BYOD is fine for them. That is not what is at issue.
What some companies are looking for is a secure mobile device (Windows MDM) that can let their employees go beyond Exchange email on a phone, which, let's be honest, is pretty low level and hardly qualifies as a "business phone".
I think the issue here is a lot of people who wear a tie for work think this phone is targeting them. It's not. If you can do "work" via exchange and few apps on your phone, you do not need this. For people higher up, or who need to do more intensive tasks while mobile (Lap Dock) then the Elite x3 is an option.
Again, listen to the podcast we just posted where we interview the head of HP Mobility.
If you are a "high level user", Windows RT isn't going to be sufficient. You want a real device with real power. Not virtual power.
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You do not get to say what is or isn't sufficient, bleached, HP designed this device with specific use cases in mind based on feedback they got from their business clients, they know better what they require on a device than you do.
Exactly Bleached....the fanboys don't see that....if you are a "high level" user, as being tossed about here....then you are not going to use virtualization software, on a gimmped up RT device.
We will never allow BYOD device. Phones for company use will be company supported the quicker we can deploy GPO and domain join them the better. Just need it to be on VZW for the treveling guys. I would love to have a dock with keyboard mouse monitor in the 3 places I use it the most and keep my PC in my pocket.
Well no. Especially bigger companies have company devices. Have to comply to security. Big con for BYOD. At least at the companies I visit as a IT guy. Also lots of people therefore own 2 devices. Or a company device with 2 sim cards. Like the Elite X3 has.
Byod has been nothing but a nightmare for most firms. No security no continuity.... to much social media not enough work. Where I work anyone one a replacement cycle is not getting an iPhone or an Android.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android.. But waiting for the HP Elite so I can get rid of this junkie Galaxy S5...
None of those are going to settle for a phone that'll have to last them 4+ years. Industry or private, they'll need/want an upgrade in two years time...
HP could always do an "Elite x3 as a service" program like Microsoft does with their Surface devices.
Just because you wear a suit and work in a cubicle doesn't mean you are the target audience for this phone. Thanks for the smile. rld082982 got owned :)
HP's customers will most likely lease them from HP along with the other hardware they lease, after 24 or 36 months they can trade in and get the latest hardware available at that time.
Even surface 3 would be better and cheaper than the X3 even £150 Two in one is better for work running full windows 10. the lap dock is a must with this phone and that isn't cheap so you do the maths X3 plus Lap Dock is not cheaper.
Exactly
Read my comment below
The Surface 3 is a cheaper and better option than the lap dock for sure.
I have never seen airplane personnel use tablets as big as Surface 3s to take your orders. Have you?
When you say the laptop dock is a must, it seems you completely missed the point of this phone. Firstly, this phone isn't for people who are stationary in an office all day, for them there are desktops and laptops and the surfaces. This is for people who tend to move around a lot, and the idea is that if you happen to move between two departments/locations of your company frequently, you can have the dock installed in different places, essentially eliminating the need for you to carry a laptop. Plus lot of company employees like Daniel mentioned, working in delivery business or in a ware house taking stock or even in the construction line, they can add accessories with the pogo pin attachments, which can collect data that can later be taken to a dock or lap dock to transfer or interact with other employees, or feeding into the primary software via desktop apps. And of course the lap dock adds to the experience further. You don't necessarily need to carry these things, assuming your organization invests in the Elite ecosystem, you could see spare desktop/laptop docks around the place. It really seems like you are projecting your user scenario onto the device here, but there are much more varied scenarios out there
With a Surface you can substitute that desktop pc with a separate display at much, much less. And you'd have something much more competent in any situation.
Well Daniel, since the surface is supposed to be the all in one device, axe the desktop pc, and just connect the mouse, keyboard and monitor to the surface, and have a massively better system than this flaky continuum crap!
Great article, I believe you covered everything and answered all of my questions about it... I'd buy one now but I'm gonna wait probably til early next year.
Also I'm hoping with this phone out there (and they've even sold some to consumers here in Maine) that other manufacturers (see: Microsoft) will up their game when designing/speccing/building new phones/mobile PCs - I loved the recent Lumia line (x50s) but the next gen, by whomever, needs to compete with HP now, and hopefully that will help drive prices down for quality phones like this... wishful thinking I know.
Got a meeting next month with HP at Autodesk University to check out its use in field engineering.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android.. But waiting for the HP Elite so I can get rid of this junkie Galaxy S5...
I'd love to hear how it goes, cuz AutoCAD is a big part of my work!
AutoCAD 360 already exists for win10 mobile. That's pretty much it. Full autocad will never run on the phone.
Of course, I was wondering about HP desktop space and continuum. Keyboard command support is slowly coming to AutoCad 360, and it's kinda cool
Yeah not going to Run full Autocad on the phone. But would be nice to be able to use A360 which allows for viewing revit files. Autocad 360 is fine for Autocad files. Would be interesting to run Autocad Lt though.
Posted via the Windows Central App for Android.. But waiting for the HP Elite so I can get rid of this junkie Galaxy S5...
Actually I was thinking of running it on Continuum via HP work space
Great phone but HP are brave, this OS had the kiss of death on it.
I have to ditch WM for a number of reasons but I couldn't see me buying this phone, beautiful but too much $ and with the future of WM being so sketchy its not worth the risk again for me plus 10 is still a poor cousin to 8.1 IMO.
Maybe in a few years if WM survives and improves??
I imagine it will be at least 3-6 months before this gets deployed; companies are trialing it now. This is a marathon for HP, not a sprint.
Is Microsoft ready for the marathon? Will HP continue it after it sells in the low hundreds or thousands? Are employees going to be receptive to losing their perfectly fine laptops and phones and having to jump through hoops to use a severely gimped Windows RT? The chances of this being successful are very low.
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Says you. HP is putting their money where their mouth is.
I do appreciate though how you and others here are suddenly experts on HP's own customers, though. HP built this in talking with their partners and what they wanted/needed, not on some whim.
They put their money where their mouth is when they bought Palm. Did they not know their customers then? Assuming HP doesn't know what it is doing in mobile is quite obvious, I mean no one else has ever been successful with Windows phones.
If their customers are asking for this where is Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba or any of the other business PC makers solution? Do they not know their customers?
My view is in no way unique. There are so many articles to be found from tech journalists who do not see this as having a future. You and this site are basically the only ones not saying it is dead. Your position is much harder to defend. I am sure you wouldn't bet your own money on this succeeding!
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I'm inclined to agree. Too many colleagues insisting on an iPhone as a work phone, despite it being expensive and non-optimal. Hey, they prefer W7 over W10! Users, whether private or employees, want the familiar...
How is the iPhone non-optimal? If an app is required for business, you can be sure it is available on iPhone and will be the most up to date. That most certainly isn't the case for Windows Mobile, sometimes even for Android. You can almost be certain it isn't going to be available for Windows Mobile.
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Very very short sighted comments, grab a CTO and ask them what they think.
iOS is not very good for granular MDM, single-step domain authentication, provisiniong and management with Azure AD, it's bad at segrating personal and corporate data, giving conditional access to devices based on remote health attestation, and a lacks a predictable patch-management schedule.
If none of that makes sense to you - and I'm going to guess it doesn't, since you never mention them - then your iPhone is A-OK. Some people, however, have jobs where those things are needed, which case the Elite x3 is an option.
But sure, if you just use Exchange and a few apps, you have a low-level job and an iPhone is perfect for you. Just because you wear a suit to work doesn't make you qualify for this device. Just because you work in a cubical doesn't mean you need (or have) a "business" phone.
If you need all that stuff you carry an Ultrabook or 2:1 that can do it better than a phone that will be abandoned within a year. If you are a "high level user" then a gimped Windows RT isn't going to be sufficient.
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Is that because no current phone does it? So you now need a $1200 Ultrabook because an iPhone doesn't do the job. Alternative: you make a phone that does those things. Not rocket science.
Also, it's not always convenient to use a two in one or ultrabook e.g. airlines, line workers, field agents, police, a construction site, etc. Some people have to do work while on their feet.
"Just because you work in a cubicle"
LOL
So, is this the future of the platform? An $800 device with an (optional) $500-$3000/yr subsricption service that doesnt work on 2 of the 4 major U.S. carriers...? For comparison, Panasonic makes those Toughbooks, which are really cool pieces of hardware, but very niche (used by the mining industry, healthcare, 1st responders.... sound familair?) Is that where this whole W10M thing is going? I haven't heard of any new W10M handsets coming anytime soon (please, no Surface phone rumor nonsense). Looking at the MS store website there's this HP phone, the Lumias (which are at end-stage/discontinued/whatever you want to call it), a couple of BLU phones (which are at end-stage/discontinued/whatever you want to call it) and a couple of Acer phones (one of which is pretty much junk & the other which is similar to this phone & has had it's price whacked down by $200....) So, this is it then?, W10M became the Toughbook of handsets?
Wow, great review Daniel!
This sounded like it was a heck of a device, and after reading this, whoa it actually is. This is super fascinating. It is really in a categorie of its own.
Time to watch the video review now.
A category that nobody wants or asked for, and one which will fail
You really think that HP didn't talk to their enterprise customers before jumping in?