HP 13-inch Elite x2 1013 2-in-1 PC: Quad-Core, Thunderbolt 3

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• PeachNCream - Thursday, May 17, 2018 - link

  Oh that looks really nice, but I do get a sense that the keyboard gets close to covering the bottom edge of the screen based on some of the photos. I guess if you're sitting right in front of it at a desk, it's probably not an issue.
  
  What does "...stereo speakers co-developed with Bang & Olufsen..." actually mean for sound quality when it comes to the integrated speakers? It seems like such a small, cramped tablet wouldn't offer high quality sound without using a set of decent headphones, but not having to carry something extra along with me would be nice if the tablet's built-in speakers were sufficient.

• tipoo - Thursday, May 17, 2018 - link

  All it means is Bang & Olufsen will take money to slap their name on any turd with a speaker cone.
  
  It's possible to make good sounding speakers this small (iPad Pro), but we'll have to see for this specific model.

• niva - Thursday, May 17, 2018 - link

  I'm sure they'll make money, I don't know what their cred is, but speaker design in small devices is a big deal and could make a very dramatic difference in the sound output capabilities. I'd reserve judgment until the stuff is tested and the reviews are out, but this shows they're paying attention to these aspects.

• PeachNCream - Friday, May 18, 2018 - link

  So it's more like just a marketing thing rather than an indication there's actually some effort that speaker quality is somehow better...I mean short of there being a review to verify that anyway.

• vithrell - Thursday, May 17, 2018 - link

  In "Thunderbolt" row of the table it says "1 × TB 3 (for data, DP 1.2 displays)" shouldn't it be 2 × TB 3?

• tokyojerry - Thursday, May 17, 2018 - link

  There is only one thunderbolt 3 port. Thus 1 x TB3. The parenthesis indicates the functions that one port can do. In the cheaper model, charging, in the more expensive model, not.

• vortexmak - Thursday, May 17, 2018 - link

  Anton, can you please find out if this has charger DRM like the old HP convertibles did?
  Also the x2 only took 12V USB C power supplies which made it incompatible with a lot of USB PD power supplies since they are normally 5, 9, 15 and 20 V

• DavidEngineer - Thursday, January 24, 2019 - link

  Review of the HP EliteBook X2 1013
  There isn’t much to complain about when it comes to this tablet/laptop device. I’m a long time Surface Pro user who wanted a larger screened device because of aging eyes. From a hardware standpoint, the HP unit is comparable, or even superior to the Microsoft Surface Pro 6 product in its performance and port selection. When comparing this device to the competition there are a few specifications which make this HP unit more attractive. For instance, increasing the screen size to 13.0” from 12.3”, while maintaining a high pixel count, makes the visual presentation easier on the eyes. That said, the brightness on the HP screen doesn’t quite match up to the Surface, so increasing the settings above the default was necessary. And, the larger screen will consume more power, thereby reducing battery life slightly. But the screen is excellent for productivity work, and most users will greatly enjoy using it. Another welcome addition is the inclusion of a USB-C Thunderbolt port. That said, the absence of a USB-A port on a business device is a serious inconvenience.
  
  Besides the screen, another area where this unit diverges slightly from the winning Microsoft formula is in the keyboard design. For some reason, the key layout feels trickier to type on, even though the physical size is comparable. This might be a personal problem, as the overall keyboard design is very good. But it’s not quite as good a fit for my fingers as the Microsoft products that I am accustomed to.
  
  Another area where the HP implementation differs from Microsoft is the kickstand. The Microsoft design is a flat plane of sheet-metal, whereas the HP product use hollow aluminum frame. Truthfully, it’s not the design of the actual stand that bothers me, but the maximum angle for depressing the screen. In the latest generation of Microsoft product, you can lower the tablet to a very shallow angle that nearly touches the table. This angle is great for taking notes using the optional digital inking pen. The HP product, unfortunately, uses the older Microsoft design with a higher angle off the table. This is fine for digital art, but I found it awkward for taking notes with the included stylus. Unfortunately, this is my primary use of the pen and the sole reason for using a tablet versus a traditional laptop. In fact, I gave up and closed the kickstand altogether and propped the back of the unit on a slim book to simulate the angle of the Surface Pro 6.
  While we are on the topic of pens, HP decided to omit the magnetic edges from this device’s case to allow the pen to snap into place when not in use. They included this on their sister clamshell laptop designs, just like Microsoft does with the Surface. Instead, the 1013 has the now outdated loop on the keyboard to help you from losing you pen during transit. And, Microsoft’s pen design includes a, eraser function by turning over the stylus. This is great for notetakers.
  
  Another difference with the HP kickstand is how it’s angle and weight relates to the larger screen and body shape. Because the screen is taller, and the kickstand is hollow, the HP unit is top heavy when compared to the Microsoft product. I had a few instances, when trying to nudge the computer away from me on the desk, that the unit simply fell over backwards. The Microsoft Surface never did that for me. I suspect this won’t be a problem for most people. But, since I use a standing desk laptop stand, my unit fell off the raised stand onto the desk below with a memorable “thunk.”
  
  By glancing at the imbedded devices and components in the control panel, it appears HP borrowed a lot of it’s design from Microsoft, which is not surprising since Microsoft’s goal for the Surface line is to move the industry forward. As I mentioned, the HP Elite X2 1013 has a lot going for it including the ability to customize the features to your needs, including LTE support, and the ability for your IT staff to perform on-site repairs. Some enterprise IT departments may like the security software loaded on the device, but I was frustrated with the endless amount of bloatware.
  
  Ultimately, there are a few design considerations that make the Microsoft Surface a little more useful on a day to day basis for me. If you are satisfied with the smaller 12.3” screen and limited port selection, you might want to stick with the reigning leader in this form factor.