HP Elite x2 1012 G2 (i5-7200U, 256 GB, 8 GB) Convertible Review
For the original German review, see here.
Tablets are still being bought and are very popular. HP relies exclusively on Intel's latest ULV processors for its newly launched Elite x2 1012 G2 devices. Thus, the tablet is powered by a fast dual-core SoC, which should ensure smooth use. Intel's efficient Core-m processors were still installed in HP's Elite x2 1012 G1. Although their power consumption was better, the performance was at a clear disadvantage.
We are therefore more than pleased to find old acquaintances in HP's Elite x2 1012 G2. Intel's Core i5-7200U operates in our review sample and finds support in 8 GB of RAM. The storage device in our device is a 256 GB SSD. Our review sample almost marks the lowest price limit at 1720 Euros (~$2017). Only devices that sport Intel's Core i3-7100U will likely be a bit cheaper. The premium model based on Intel's Core i7-7600U easily surpasses 3000 Euros (3675 Euros, ~$4416, including 19% German tax configured on HP's website). However, this also includes 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD.
This price design is not a singularity among business devices. For example, Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Yoga is found in the same price region at 3300 Euros (~$3870).
HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 has to compete against the latest models of well-known manufacturers. A small selection can be found in the well-arranged chart below. We did not forget the predecessor for a better direct comparison.
| Microsoft Surface Pro 2017 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 | Dell Latitude 12 5285 | Acer Switch 5 | Toshiba Portégé X20W | HP Elite x2 1012 G1 | |
| CPU | Intel Core i5-7300U | Intel Core i7-7600U | Intel Core i7-7600U | Intel Core i7-7500U | Intel Core i7-7600U | Intel Core m5-6Y54 |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 620 | Intel HD Graphics 515 |
| Panel | 12.3 inch 2736 x 1824 | 14 inch 2560 x 1440 | 12.3 inch 1920 x 1080 | 12 inch 2160 x 1440 | 12.5 inch 1920 x 1080 | 12.1 inch 1920 x 1280 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD | 1024 GB SSD | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD | 256 GB SSD |
| Rating | 90 % | 88 % | 88 % | 84 % | 88 % | 87 % |
Case
Since our review sample's build is similar to that of the predecessor - apart from one small exception - we refer to HP's Elite x2 1012 G1 here.
The only modification involves the fingerprint scanner installed on the rear. It identifies the finger via a simple touch. Compared with the predecessor, it is less conspicuous as it is also made in the casing's silver color.
Connectivity
| SD Card Reader | |
| average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 (Toshiba Exceria Pro M401) | |
| Dell Latitude 12 5285 2-in-1 (Toshiba THN-M401S0640E2) | |
| maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 (Toshiba Exceria Pro M401) | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501) | |
| Dell Latitude 12 5285 2-in-1 (Toshiba THN-M401S0640E2) | |
Accessories
In addition to the power supply, we also find an Active Pen and the matching keyboard dock in the box of HP's Elite x2 1012 G2. The keyboard also serves for protecting the screen when folded together. Furthermore, the keyboard turns the tablet into a small laptop and even features a decent backlight. HP optionally offers the HP Elite x2 1012 Advanced Keyboard (200 Euros, ~$234) that adds NFC, a SmartCard-reader and further security features.
Display
The WQXGA+ screen has a diagonal of 12.3-inches and has a very high resolution of 2736x1824 pixels. Thus, the screen (3:2) has a pixel density of 266 PPI. The surface has a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 4 that protects the screen well from outer influences. The multitouch panel achieved an average brightness of 446 cd/m² in our measurements. This puts HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 in second place as only the screen in Dell's Latitude 12 5285 is even brighter at 522 cd/m². The black level of 0.41 cd/m² is not perfect, but it is still enough for a good contrast (1080:1) thanks to the high brightness. The illumination of 88% is good and the screen is not dimmed in battery mode. We discovered PWM at a frequency of 2119 Hz starting at a brightness of 50% and lower. We also observed light clouding at the edges in a completely black image.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 440 cd/m²
Contrast: 1080:1 (Black: 0.41 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.6 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.86
ΔE Greyscale 3 | 0.09-98 Ø5.1
98% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
68.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
98% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.7% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.38
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA Samsung SDC4A49, , 2716x1824, 12.3" | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 LG Display LP123WQ112604, , 2736x1824, 12.3" | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 LEN4140, , 2560x1440, 14" | Dell Latitude 12 5285 2-in-1 BOE06DC, , 1920x1280, 12.3" | Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 WST KL.1200w.004, , 2160x1440, 12" | Toshiba Portege X20W-D-10R Toshiba TOS508F, , 1920x1080, 12.5" | HP Elite x2 1012 G1 LG Philips, , 1920x1280, 12.1" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 1% | -5% | -12% | 1% | -22% | ||
| Display P3 Coverage | 66.7 | 67.6 1% | 62.8 -6% | 58.8 -12% | 68.7 3% | 53.8 -19% | |
| sRGB Coverage | 98 | 99 1% | 94 -4% | 87.5 -11% | 96.8 -1% | 73.7 -25% | |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 68.7 | 69.1 1% | 64.7 -6% | 60.6 -12% | 70.4 2% | 53.8 -22% | |
| Response Times | -13% | 89% | -18% | -1% | -64% | 11% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 45.6 ? | 42 ? 8% | 3.6 ? 92% | 42.4 ? 7% | 37 ? 19% | 67 ? -47% | 33.2 ? 27% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 21.6 ? | 29 ? -34% | 3.2 ? 85% | 30.8 ? -43% | 26 ? -20% | 39 ? -81% | 22.8 ? -6% |
| PWM Frequency | 2119 ? | 21000 | 240.4 ? | 210.1 ? | |||
| Screen | -3% | -37% | -20% | -49% | -34% | -52% | |
| Brightness middle | 443 | 417 -6% | 243 -45% | 523.2 18% | 369 -17% | 442 0% | 322 -27% |
| Brightness | 446 | 401 -10% | 240 -46% | 522 17% | 331 -26% | 410 -8% | 319 -28% |
| Brightness Distribution | 88 | 88 0% | 95 8% | 88 0% | 75 -15% | 86 -2% | 97 10% |
| Black Level * | 0.41 | 0.29 29% | 0.42 -2% | 0.46 -12% | 0.22 46% | 0.42 -2% | |
| Contrast | 1080 | 1438 33% | 1246 15% | 802 -26% | 2009 86% | 767 -29% | |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.6 | 3.63 -40% | 5.3 -104% | 4 -54% | 5.52 -112% | 5.22 -101% | 6.02 -132% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 4 | 6.74 -69% | 8.9 -123% | 8.6 -115% | 9.29 -132% | 11.84 -196% | 10.06 -152% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 3 | 2.18 27% | 3.7 -23% | 5.5 -83% | 6.95 -132% | 7.88 -163% | 6.29 -110% |
| Gamma | 2.38 92% | 3.09 71% | 1.78 124% | 2.16 102% | 2.58 85% | 2.51 88% | 2.4 92% |
| CCT | 6780 96% | 6767 96% | 6202 105% | 7546 86% | 7009 93% | 6756 96% | 7712 84% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 62.6 | 63 1% | 84.8 35% | 64.86 4% | 56 -11% | 64 2% | 47.8 -24% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 98 | 99 1% | 100 2% | 93.97 -4% | 88 -10% | 97 -1% | 73.2 -25% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -5% /
-4% | 26% /
-12% | -14% /
-17% | -21% /
-35% | -32% /
-31% | -21% /
-38% |
* ... smaller is better
The image quality of HP's x2 1012 G2 is good. Colors are reproduced very well and do not look pale or faded. The color shifts (3 and 2.6) are already very low in delivery state. Calibration improved this even more. Furthermore, this eliminated the light bluish tint. The color-space coverage is suitable even for professional image-editing with 98% in sRGB and 62.6% in AdobeRGB. Only the OLED panel found in Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Yoga is considerably better.
High brightness alone does not ensure unconditional outdoor suitability. The screen's glossy surface limits outdoor use a bit. Nevertheless, it is possible to work outdoors with HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 when direct sunlight is avoided. The viewing angle test turned out well, as is typical for IPS. All test images can be recognized very well even when viewed from a very flat angle.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 21.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 9.2 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 12.4 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 45 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (20.6 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 45.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 23.6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 22 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 76 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.3 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 2119 Hz | ≤ 50 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 2119 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 50 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 2119 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8426 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Performance
In short, the combination of Intel's Core i5-7200U and 8 GB of RAM is more than sufficient for the intended purposes. HP's Elite X2 1012 G2 can also be purchased with a faster Intel Core i7 and 16 GB of RAM. The working memory is soldered and, like the CPU, it cannot be replaced. An LTE modem is installed for unconditional mobility. It is possible to configure the device with a storage device with a maximum of 1 TB optionally.
Processor
Intel's Core i5-7200U is a dual-core SoC. This processor is a member of the Kaby Lake lineup and clocks at 2.5 to 3.1 GHz (2-core Turbo: 3.1 GHz). Thanks to Hyper-Threading, Intel's Core i5-7200U can process four threads at the same time. In terms of performance, Intel's Core i5-7200U is clearly superior to Intel's Core m5-6Y54. A look at the Cinebench R15 outcomes shows that the performance potential of Intel's Core i5-7200U can be retrieved well, at least for a short time. Our HP Elite x2 1012 G2 cannot compete with the faster i5 and i7 models although the difference in the multithread performance is considerably lower than in the single-thread performance.
Further benchmarks concerning Intel's Core i5-7200U can be found here.
The clock speed could be maintained quite well in the first run of our Cinebench R15 loop. However, the processor's temperature increased quickly under this permanent load. A visible downward trend was already seen in the second run. The result was relatively stable at approx. 290 points from the third run. Thus, the processor's performance decreased by almost 10% during permanent load.
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 | |
| Toshiba Portege X20W-D-10R | |
| Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G1 | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Toshiba Portege X20W-D-10R | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 | |
| Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G1 | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G1 | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA | |
| Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 | |
| Toshiba Portege X20W-D-10R | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 | |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
The performance of HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 is throughout good, as the PCMark 8 and PCMark 10 benchmarks also confirm. Our review sample can compete well with Microsoft's Surface Pro that is equipped with an allegedly better processor. The difference to HP's Elite x2 1012 G1 is between 3 and 10%. The subjective system performance was good during the entire test period. No prolonged latencies were observed, and the device responded quickly to inputs. The tablet also coped easily when multiple tabs were opened in the browser at the same time.
| PCMark 10 | |
| Score | |
| Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 | |
| Productivity | |
| Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA | |
| Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 | |
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3289 points | |
| PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 4412 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4036 points | |
| PCMark 10 Score | 3146 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Device
The configuration of our HP Elite x2 1012 G2 review sample has a 256 GB SSD by Samsung. The storage device communicates via a fast PCIe interface and achieves a sequential read speed of up to 2200 MB/s and a sequential write speed of almost 900 MB/s in the AS SSD test. We also like the 4K rates that are an advantage, particularly when loading small files. In total, the SSD presents a very good total performance that the high rating of 4653 underlines. There were no negative occurrences that would have compromised working with HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 during the test period. The system is ready to use very quickly thanks to the very fast SSD. The manufacturer optionally offers SSDs that only operate in SATA speed. HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 can be equipped with a maximum storage of 1 TB.
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 Samsung PM971 KUS030202M | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0) | Dell Latitude 12 5285 2-in-1 Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7 | Toshiba Portege X20W-D-10R Toshiba SG5 THNSNK512GVN8 | HP Elite x2 1012 G1 Liteon L8H-256V2G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 3.0 | -34% | 21% | -30% | -28% | -57% | -56% | |
| Read Seq | 1875 | 723 -61% | 2004 7% | 1294 -31% | 1066 -43% | 469 -75% | 501 -73% |
| Write Seq | 1261 | 853 -32% | 1693 34% | 865 -31% | 593 -53% | 277.3 -78% | 297.2 -76% |
| Read 512 | 1235 | 225 -82% | 1040 -16% | 406 -67% | 653 -47% | 404.4 -67% | 351.7 -72% |
| Write 512 | 844 | 445 -47% | 1292 53% | 589 -30% | 535 -37% | 266.6 -68% | 295.7 -65% |
| Read 4k | 56.9 | 46 -19% | 58.2 2% | 31.75 -44% | 35.92 -37% | 25.24 -56% | 28.31 -50% |
| Write 4k | 145.4 | 125 -14% | 182.2 25% | 72.2 -50% | 128.3 -12% | 89.4 -39% | 90.3 -38% |
| Read 4k QD32 | 398.3 | 423 6% | 632 59% | 493.3 24% | 460.6 16% | 322.5 -19% | 285 -28% |
| Write 4k QD32 | 472.5 | 373 -21% | 507 7% | 434.5 -8% | 425.4 -10% | 208.1 -56% | 268.4 -43% |
Graphics Card
Intel's HD Graphics 620 processor-integrated graphics unit is responsible for video output. The little graphics unit clocks from 300 to 1000 MHz and, thanks to the dual-channel memory, places itself in the midfield. HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 clearly distinguishes itself from the former HP Elite x2 1012 G1 here again. However, not too much should be expected from the little graphics unit. Nevertheless, Intel's Graphics 620 is perfectly suitable for routine work and does not have any bigger problems with high-def videos, either. The hardware supports H.265/HVEC and Google's VP9.
More benchmarks concerning Intel's HD Graphics 620 can be found here.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 1646 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 53450 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 5919 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 855 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score | 395 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 349 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming Performance
We cannot classify HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 as gaming suitable. Only old and undemanding games can be played fairly smoothly in the minimum preset. However, the power of Intel's HD Graphics 620 is often enough for simple games from the Windows Store. The performance of the other comparison devices is roughly on par here.
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BioShock Infinite (2013) | 52.9 | 30.5 | 25.2 | 7.5 |
| Battlefield 4 (2013) | 40.6 | 27.2 | 18.3 | 6.1 |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) | 20.1 | 11.9 | 6.8 | 4.3 |
Emissions
System Noise
The noise development of HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 is audibly within limits although the passively cooled devices have a clear advantage here. However, it is possible to work noiselessly with HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 as the fan first begins to spin during load. An annoying noise is not heard at a maximum of 32.5 dB(A) even during load. Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Yoga was considerably more penetrating with 38.9 dB(A).
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 29.5 / 29.5 / 29.5 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 30.6 / 32.5 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 29.5 dB(A) | ||
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Samsung PM971 KUS030202M | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0) | Dell Latitude 12 5285 2-in-1 HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7 | Toshiba Portege X20W-D-10R HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Toshiba SG5 THNSNK512GVN8 | HP Elite x2 1012 G1 HD Graphics 515, 6Y54, Liteon L8H-256V2G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | -8% | 2% | -2% | ||||
| off / environment * | 29.5 | 29.3 1% | 28.2 4% | 30.4 -3% | |||
| Idle Minimum * | 29.5 | 29.3 1% | 28.2 4% | 30.5 -3% | |||
| Idle Average * | 29.5 | 31.1 -5% | 28.2 4% | 30.5 -3% | |||
| Idle Maximum * | 29.5 | 33.3 -13% | 28.2 4% | 30.5 -3% | |||
| Load Average * | 30.6 | 33.3 -9% | 30.4 1% | 31.2 -2% | |||
| Load Maximum * | 32.5 | 38.9 -20% | 34 -5% | 31.3 4% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
Despite the active cooling unit that is supposed to discharge heat out of the casing, the maximum temperature is 44.5 °C during load. Thus, HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 scores even better than Dell's Latitude 12 5285, which gets a bit warmer at almost 49 °C.
Intel's Core i5-7200U heats up to a maximum of 81 °C in the stress test, which is also the thermal limit that the manufacturer specifies for throttling the clock speed. We observed a clear loss of performance during permanent load already in the Cinebench R15 loop. HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 performs the one-hour Prime95 stress test with an average clock speed of 2.4 GHz. The faster Core i7 models will unlikely benefit much from the higher performance since the cooling unit simply cannot discharge the produced waste heat out of the casing fast enough. The 3D performance was on a similar level after the stress test as after a cold start.
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Samsung PM971 KUS030202M | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0) | Dell Latitude 12 5285 2-in-1 HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP | Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 HD Graphics 620, i7-7500U, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7 | Toshiba Portege X20W-D-10R HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Toshiba SG5 THNSNK512GVN8 | HP Elite x2 1012 G1 HD Graphics 515, 6Y54, Liteon L8H-256V2G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | -9% | 2% | -3% | -9% | 22% | -1% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 42.3 | 39.2 7% | 47.5 -12% | 38.2 10% | 44.7 -6% | 35.7 16% | 39 8% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 44.5 | 40.3 9% | 44.8 -1% | 48.6 -9% | 47.5 -7% | 24.2 46% | 41.2 7% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 29.5 | 37 -25% | 23.7 20% | 29.6 -0% | 29.7 -1% | 23.4 21% | 29.5 -0% |
| Idle Bottom * | 25.2 | 32.3 -28% | 24.6 2% | 28.8 -14% | 30.7 -22% | 24.2 4% | 29.8 -18% |
* ... smaller is better
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42.3 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 35.4 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 60 °C for the class Convertible.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 44.5 °C / 112 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.9 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 30.3 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (35.9 °C / 96.6 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28 °C / 82.4 F (-7.9 °C / -14.2 F).
Speakers
Both speakers come from Bang & Olufsen and are situated on the left and right edges, facing the user. Thus, the sound is transmitted directly toward the user. Furthermore, it is unlikely that the speaker openings will be covered in tablet mode.
The sound is very treble-heavy, which can get unpleasant in the maximum volume of 71 dB(A). The predefined audio profiles did not improve this completely, although the profile optimized for music was still the best. The speakers are sufficient for office use and videoconferencing. Voice is transmitted very clearly. The HP Elite x2 1012 G2's noise suppression for filtering ambient noises is also good. The internal speakers do not stand a chance against an external sound solution, though.
HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (71 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.2% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 8.9% higher than median
(-) | highs are not linear (16.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (35.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 94% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 5% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 20%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 93% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 6% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 audio analysis
(-) | not very loud speakers (68 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 9.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 38% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 55% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 20%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 37% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 56% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Frequency diagram comparison (checkboxes above can be turned on/off!)
Energy Management
Power Consumption
The idle power consumption ranges from 4.4 to 11.1 watts. Thus, HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 needs a bit more than the competition. The consumption settles to 33.8 watts during average load, although we measured peaks of 49 watts. One reason for the slightly higher consumption is the CPU's performance that demands considerably more power until it reaches the thermal limit. Another reason is the very bright screen that achieved an average of 446 cd/m² in our measurements. The convertible is recharged via the USB Type-C port. The power supply has a maximum output of 65 watts.
| Off / Standby | 0.47 / 0.58 Watt |
| Idle | 4.1 / 9.2 / 11.1 Watt |
| Load |
33.8 / 49.2 Watt |
   
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 2716x1824, 12.3" | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM971 KUS030202M, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.3" | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM961 1TB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVLW1T0), OLED, 2560x1440, 14" | Dell Latitude 12 5285 2-in-1 i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1280, 12.3" | Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW512G7, IPS, 2160x1440, 12" | Toshiba Portege X20W-D-10R i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, Toshiba SG5 THNSNK512GVN8, IPS, 1920x1080, 12.5" | HP Elite x2 1012 G1 6Y54, HD Graphics 515, Liteon L8H-256V2G, IPS, 1920x1280, 12.1" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 25% | -4% | 24% | 23% | 37% | 26% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 4.1 | 3.6 12% | 4.9 -20% | 2.85 30% | 3.86 6% | 3.4 17% | 3.7 10% |
| Idle Average * | 9.2 | 8.1 12% | 7.6 17% | 6.76 27% | 6.4 30% | 5.8 37% | 6.8 26% |
| Idle Maximum * | 11.1 | 8.7 22% | 13.8 -24% | 6.91 38% | 7.17 35% | 6.7 40% | 7.6 32% |
| Load Average * | 33.8 | 25.5 25% | 33.4 1% | 32.88 3% | 30.5 10% | 21.4 37% | 22.5 33% |
| Load Maximum * | 49.2 | 23.5 52% | 46.5 5% | 37.41 24% | 32.4 34% | 21.6 56% | 34.5 30% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Runtime
The 45 Wh lithium-ion battery is a bit bigger than that of the predecessor, although the slightly higher power consumption results in a slightly shorter battery life. Our review sample first shuts down after almost 14 hours without load. In contrast to that, one charged battery is only good for two hours of load, which is enough for third place here. Our Wi-Fi test is considerably more realistic, and HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 achieves a runtime of 6:18 hours here. We measure an almost identical runtime of 6:17 hours in our video playback test. The battery is recharged after a good two hours (2:11 hours). The 3D performance is a bit poorer in battery mode than in AC mode. HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 only achieves 1185 points in 3DMark 11, which is almost 500 points lower.
| HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 47 Wh | Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) i5 i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, 45 Wh | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2017 20JES03T00 i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, 56 Wh | Dell Latitude 12 5285 2-in-1 i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, 42 Wh | Acer Switch 5 SW512-52-5819 i7-7500U, HD Graphics 620, Wh | Toshiba Portege X20W-D-10R i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, 44 Wh | HP Elite x2 1012 G1 6Y54, HD Graphics 515, 37 Wh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 49% | -4% | 11% | -17% | 40% | 4% | |
| Reader / Idle | 833 | 1054 27% | 784 -6% | 1075 29% | 711 -15% | 1001 20% | 732 -12% |
| H.264 | 377 | 408 8% | 432 15% | ||||
| WiFi v1.3 | 378 | 744 97% | 368 -3% | 486 29% | 355 -6% | 719 90% | 443 17% |
| Load | 138 | 168 22% | 120 -13% | 105 -24% | 95 -31% | 150 9% | 130 -6% |
Verdict
Pros
Cons
HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 is an elegant convertible that is primarily situated in the business sector and takes over from HP's Elite x2 1012 G1. The familiar stylish, basic design looks appealing and the good choice of materials conveys a high-quality feel to the user when holding the device. HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 costs 1720 Euros (~$2017) in our test configuration. The buyer gets a fast Intel Core i5-7200U processor that can deal with the requirements of daily office work. The 8 GB of RAM and the 256 GB SSD both ensure a fast-running system.
HP's Elite x2 1012 G2 convinces with an immaculate build and very good screen. Useful accessories, such as the keyboard dock and Active Pen, extend its possible applications and encourage creativity.
In addition to the immaculate build, we liked the high-resolution panel and the accessories in form of the keyboard dock and Active Pen. The system performance is also on a good level, although the cooling unit quickly finds its limits during permanent load. Therefore, buyers should consider whether it is really sensible to opt for the Core i7 model before purchasing it. HP managed to boost the performance clearly in all aspects compared with the predecessor.
HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA
- 09/22/2017 v6 (old)
Sebastian Bade
More articles related to this device
HP Elite x2 1012 G2-1LV76EA (Elite x2 1012 G2 Series)Related Articles
Price comparison
