Android flagships aren’t the only exciting thing coming out of this year’s Mobile World Congress. Microsoft and HP Inc. have partnered up to tackle the enterprise market with the new high-end flagship HP Elite x3 running Windows 10 Mobile.
Credits: Chris Velazco/Engadget
| Technology | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.96″ AMOLED @ 1440p with Gorilla Glass 4 |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 @ 2.15GHz |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage | 64GB |
| Connectivity | WiFi: 2×2 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, LTE-Advanced |
| Camera | 16MP rear and 8MP front cameras |
| Micro SD | Yes |
| USB | 3.0 Type-C |
| SIM | Dual SIM |
| Battery | 4150 mAh with wireless charging using both the Qi and PMA standards |
| Software | Windows 10 Mobile |
| Sensors | Iris recognition, Rear-mounted fingerprint reader |
| Water Proofing | IP 67 water resistance |
Windows Mobile flagships have flown under the radar for quite some time, but it’s clear that they’re able to compete with the best of the best of the Android flagships. Taking a look at the specifications, the new HP Elite x3 is easily on par with the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy S7 and LG G5, at least on paper. Of course, the main thing holding back Windows Mobile is its immature app ecosystem (compared to iOS and Android). But that doesn’t matter for HP, because HP isn’t aiming its product at the average consumer. HP wants to get the Elite x3 into the hands of enterprise consumers, and it’s touting a feature set it believes should entice many business-people to make the switch.
HP already sells desktop machines to many enterprise customers, so it’s poising itself to piggyback off of its enterprise customer base to offer a smartphone solution that integrates nicely with existing business-grade hardware. The Elite X3 touts some seriously impressive security credentials: not only does it offer dual biometric support (iris recognition and a rear-mounted fingerprint reader), but also FIPS 140-2 cryptography, 256-bit key full disk encryption, and TPM 2.0. It even offers protections against firmware rollbacks to prevent hackers from downgrading software to exploit vulnerabilities.
HP has also built in 5 pogo pin contacts in the back, which it hopes will be used by third parties to build sleeves that connect to the phone to extend its capabilities for any number of enterprise uses. Connecting to the pogo pins allows for integration with the applications installed on the phone so that installed business apps can take advantage of the hardware within the sleeves. It seems that LG isn’t the only manufacturer offering modularity in its flagship smartphone this year, but we’ll have to wait and see what solutions can be made of this offering.
5 Pogo Pins on the Elite x3
Windows is the Perfect Enterprise Solution
While Windows Mobile may not offer the same breadth of app support as Android does, it has a significant advantage over the other operating systems due to the strength of existing Windows installations in enterprise markets. With the many server control systems, management tools, and other enterprise apps already available on Windows, it’s easy to see why Windows is a solid choice for enterprise users. Plus, with the Universal Windows Platform which provides a common app platform across all Windows operating systems, enterprise apps can be more readily supported on Windows 10 Mobile. Although you can’t run full-fledged Windows 10 apps on Windows 10 Mobile, HP will rectify this issue by offering the ability to run apps from the cloud (assuming your business pays the fees to set this up with HP, of course).
In addition, Microsoft’s Continuum offers enterprise users the ability to plug in their phone to their monitor to pick up their work right where they left off. When combined with HP’s Deck Dock and the Mobile Extender accessories, you’ll have a full-fledged desktop experience right from your smartphone. The Deck Dock is a chrome colored dock with multiple connections to aid in connecting your device to a monitor (two USB Type-A ports, one USB-C, DisplayPort, and an RJ-45 ethernet port) while the Mobile Extender is essentially a hollow laptop that serves as nothing more than a battery (48Wh), full-size keyboard and trackpad, and wireless display (12.5″ @ 1080p) for Continuum. Yes, you read that right, the HP Elite X3 can connect to the Mobile Extender accessory wirelessly, so your phone can rest in your pocket while you work. Although, you’re free to connect to the Mobile Extender via the USB Type-C port if you so desire.
That’s Cool, but for How Much?
HP hasn’t revealed pricing and availability on the smartphone or either accessory, although it will likely sell directly to enterprises in bulk and not through any retail stores or carriers. As for the price, considering the specs and the enhanced focus on enterprise users, it’s likely that the device will cost you a pretty penny. The company has stated that they are unveiling the product months in advance in order to give time for work on getting its cloud/virtual app ecosystem up and running with its partners. While the HP Elite x3 is unlikely to make any waves outside of the enterprise market, its phenomenal feature set and useful accessories should be enough to entice any businessperson who already works on HP hardware. Windows Mobile and HP have both been in a downward spiral lately, but can their partnership help turn the tide? Maybe not, but it’s a promising start.
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