Way back in February, at Mobile World Congress, HP unveiled the Elite x3, a powerful new Windows 10 Mobile flagship phone. Alongside the handset itself, HP also revealed the Mobile Extender, a notebook-style device that supports Windows 10 Mobile's PC-style Continuum mode; that peripheral device would later launch as the Lap Dock.
The Elite x3 went on sale in the US in September priced at $799, including the Desk Dock for Continuum mode, which allows owners to use a mouse and keyboard with the device when connected to a larger display. The Lap Dock accessory costs a further $599 - but as part of its Black Friday promotions, Microsoft is now offering a bundle that combines the Elite x3, Desk Dock and Lap Dock with substantial savings.
The Microsoft Store is now offering a special 'HP Elite x3 Holiday Bundle', which includes:
- An unlocked Elite x3 phone
- Desk Dock
- Lap Dock
- A case for the handset
- Elite x3 Screen Protector
Buying each of these items separately would usually cost over $1460 - but Microsoft is offering the bundle for $1,149, saving you around $312 on the full price. However, if you're thinking of grabbing that Holiday Bundle, don't wait too long - it will only be available until November 28.
The Elite x3's key specs include:
- 5.96-inch AMOLED with Quad HD (2560x1440px) resolution, Corning Gorilla Glass 4, and anti-reflective coating
- Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB onboard storage (plus microSD card support)
- 16MP rear camera
- 8MP front-facing camera
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth 4.0
- NFC support
- 4G LTE connectivity
- Optional dual-SIM support
- USB 3.0 port with Type-C connector
- Iris scanner
- Fingerprint scanner
- IP67 rating for dust- and water-resistance
- MIL-STD-810G rating, assuring device protection for drops from up to 1 meter
- Pogo pins
- Qi wireless charging
- 4150mAh battery
- 161.8 x 83.5 x 7.8mm; 194g
HP has demonstrated its commitment to the Elite x3 since its launch, delivering three firmware updates to the device in recent weeks.
One of the Elite x3's key features is the ability to run x86 desktop apps in Continuum mode, using HP's Workspace cloud virtualization service. However, that tool is aimed directly at businesses, priced from $579 per user per year. That cost may be less of a problem next year, though, as Microsoft is expected to bring x86 app virtualization to Windows 10 Mobile with its Redstone 3 update in late 2017.
You can find out more about the Elite x3 in our feature article from earlier this year, including a chat with a HP executive on its development - and be sure to check out our unboxing and first impressions of the device too. And make sure you stay tuned to Neowin, as we'll be publishing our full review of the Elite x3 very soon.
4 Comments - Add comment