HP Elite x3
Specifications
Secondary Camera: 8 MPix
Price comparison
Average of 16 scores (from 37 reviews)
Reviews for the HP Elite x3
Business racer. HP is the only manufacturer offering a premium device with Windows 10 Mobile, which is mainly targeted towards business customers. Besides a large display, the customer also receives a strong battery, and a robust case, which can even run x86 programs with HP Workspace.
Source: T Break Archive.org version
For IT departments, the Elite x3 is a dream come true. No more worrying about deploying a phone, laptop, and desktop for a user, when all you have to do is configure and roll out one device that does all three. It sounds too good to be true, and sadly it’s exactly that. The HP Elite x3 is a phenomenal device that shows a lot of promise, but it’s ultimately let down by the shortcomings of the Windows 10 OS. From a price point, you’re looking at about $699 for just the Elite x3. Throw in the Desk Dock and the price bumps up to $750, and with the Lap Dock included it goes up to $1,200. That’s still considerably cheaper than supplying a phone, laptop, and desktop to a user, but no price can be put on user experience if the overall system just doesn’t want to cooperate. Microsoft's next version of Windows 10 will run on ARM processors, which will then allow HP to create a better device to fulfill what they had hoped to achieve with the Elite x3.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/26/2017
Rating: Total score: 75% price: 75% performance: 70% workmanship: 85%
Source: Hot Hardware Archive.org version
All told, the HP Elite x3 is excellent hardware hampered by a mobile Windows ecosystem which makes it difficult to recommend to any average consumer over an iPhone or Android alternative. However, for a corporation interested in building out the requisite infrastructure, the Elite x3 is a very compelling option to replace or complement traditional thin client deployments.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 02/28/2017
Source: Mobile Syrup Archive.org version
The Elite X3 also has the kind of specs you would expect from a phone at its price point. These include a whopping 4150 mAh Li-ion polymer battery that is wireless charging compatible, USB-C wired charging, a 16-megapixel FHD rear-facing camera, an 8-megapixel FHD front facing camera, great front-facing B&O PLAY speakers, a noise-cancelling microphone, iris and fingerprint scanners, and 64GB of internal storage (expandable to 2TB if you are not using the second SIM card slot). HP has also produced a nice range of accessories such as a variety of cases, a dedicated stylus and the aforementioned Desk Dock.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/11/2017
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
The HP Elite x3 is an excellent smartphone, melding high-end specs with a solid design and good user experience. The Windows app store is still underrated, and the battery lasts for ages. However at £699 without the lapdock, this is not a cheap device.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 02/07/2017
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 50% performance: 80%
Source: Neowin Archive.org version
HP's Elite x3 fills a very specific niche. If you're running a business and you're looking for one device to give your employees to fill every role, then look no further. And to be clear, that's exactly who this handset is aimed it.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/25/2016
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Good Gear Guide Archive.org version
Maybe the concept of a universal PC that adapts to be a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop as needed is one that should be filed away in the failed-experiments room. Or maybe one day, someone will figure out how to make the universal computer. In the meantime, two devices -- real laptop and real smartphone -- are still better than one.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/27/2016
Source: Tom's Guide Archive.org version
HP's Elite x3 can bolster productivity by transforming from phone to desktop to laptop. We certainly give the phone points for versatility, and the battery life seems impressive. But the process of going from handheld device to workstation mode wasn't as seamless as we'd hoped, and the lack of Windows Mobile apps remains a challenge if you do more than the very basics with your work phone. In addition, the Elite x3's camera struggles in low light.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 10/25/2016
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
The HP Elite x3 looks like a great solution for enterprises that want to consolidate their hardware layouts, are willing to buy into the full Microsoft stack (Office 365, Skype for Business, SharePoint, domains) and don't allow BYOD. If employees want to play Pokémon Go, they can do it on their own phones.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/20/2016
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Engadget Archive.org version
The Elite X3 is basically pure potential. It's the best stab I've seen yet at making Microsoft's Continuum feature genuinely useful. And it could be a compelling mobile option as businesses look beyond BlackBerry. But right now, it's hampered by Microsoft's disinterestedness in mobile and the inherent limitations of virtualized software.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/17/2016
Source: Good Gear Guide Archive.org version
Let’s not forget Windows phone’s distinguishing feature, Continuum. The HP Elite x3 is the best example yet of this phone-to-PC mashup, and it remains a feature that Android and iOS just can’t match. Speculation is flying about what’s next for Windows phone: A Surface phone? Maybe. For now, HP’s Elite x3 is the best Windows phone. Whether it’s the last great Windows phone is the unanswered question.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/17/2016
Source: CNet Archive.org version
Even the flagship Continuum feature became frustrating once I ventured outside of Microsoft's ecosystem of apps. While Word, PowerPoint and Outlook worked perfectly, there are still some apps that don't support the feature, such as the collaboration tool Slack. To get around this I was able to use the web version of Slack, which worked fine, but 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.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/17/2016
Source: PC World Archive.org version
The real kicker, though, is the monthly usage: 40 hours per user for the Essential tier, and 80 hours per month for the Premium tier. Granted, that’s a solid workweek for the Essential user. Still, I’d hate to be the mobile worker who comes to depend on Workspace and then runs out of their allocated time while on the road.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/17/2016
Rating: Total score: 90%
Source: Techradar Archive.org version
Windows 10 Mobile is already in a slump, with almost no devices coming out. Enter the 5.96-inch HP Elite x3: one of the most intriguing, versatile and overpowered phones on any platform. That said, good hardware doesn't fix Windows 10 Mobile's other big problem: a stagnant app store. Until I have more time with it, I'm also not 100% confident the Elite x3 can smoothly transition between its three modes.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/17/2016
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
Although we saw a prototype we're impressed with the HP Elite x3. It's a big on the large size but this means a huge battery to go with it and the other core specs largely match up or beat the Galaxy S7. With the docking station, dummy laptop and Windows Continuum the Elite x3 could be the best Windows phone we've seen.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 07/19/2016
Foreign Reviews
Source: Chip.de DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/02/2017
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Cyberbloc DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/31/2017
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Notebooksbilliger Blog DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 03/28/2017
Source: c't - 6/2017
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 03/15/2017
Source: Computerbase DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/21/2017
Source: Tom's Hardware DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/13/2017
Source: Netzwelt DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/07/2016
Rating: Total score: 83% features: 90% mobility: 90% workmanship: 60%
Source: Notebookinfo DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/29/2016
Rating: Total score: 88% performance: 95% display: 90% mobility: 85% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 90% emissions: 90%
Source: PocketPC DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 09/11/2016
Source: Tuexperto ES→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Good speakers; nice display; decent hardware; nice performance. Negative: Relatively high price.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 02/15/2017
Source: Mobile World IT→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/30/2016
Rating: Total score: 72% price: 60% features: 80% display: 80% mobility: 80% ergonomy: 70%
Source: Bright.nl NL→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Impressive design; solid workmanship; powerful hardware; support waterproof. Negative: Relatively high price.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 10/06/2016
Source: Spiders Web PL→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Beautiful design; decent performance; high autonomy; good cameras.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/20/2016
Source: Spiders Web PL→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Powerful hardware; high performance; high autonomy; impressive design. Negative: High price.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/30/2016
Source: Komorkomania PL→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Large screen; impressive hardware; long battery life.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 10/12/2016
Source: Mobileimho.ru RU→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Solid workmanship; nice performance. Negative: Relatively high price.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 05/27/2017
Source: Hitech Vesti RU→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Good display; powerful hardware; nice performance. Negative: High price.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 03/03/2017
Source: Zoom RU→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Decent hardware; nice performance; good display. Negative: Poor cameras; high price.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 01/26/2017
Source: PC Store BU→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Solid workmanship; nice performance; beautiful design.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/19/2017
Source: Smartphone.bg BU→EN Archive.org version
Positive: Impressive design; excellent display; high performance. Negative: High price.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 01/09/2017
Source: Tek.no NO→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/13/2016
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Alt om Data DA→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 04/28/2017
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 90% performance: 70% display: 90% mobility: 100%
Source: Mobil.se SV→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 02/21/2017
Rating: Total score: 76%
Comment
Model: The HP Elite x3 is a productive, business oriented smartphone targeted for on-the-go business people. This is a device that promises to be your all in one computing device. Technically, it is able to perform as a smartphone, tablet and a computer if you need that for some reason. Weighing in at just 195 g, the sleek design feels good in hand highlighted by a metallic section at the bottom that holds in the beautiful, laser cut speaker grills. Under that grill are the Bang & Olufsen PLAY speakers and active noise cancellation microphones for clearer calls. The rear of the device contains the camera, fingerprint sensor and modernized HP emblem and the only color option is black. Apart from the small grille for its speakers, the HP Elite x3 is practically all display due to its thin bezels. It has a 5.96 inch touchscreen with 1440 x 2569 pixels panel, which produces sharp images at 494 ppi pixel density and is protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 4. Not many would like to carry around a 6" smartphone but the quality of this display makes it all worth it.
The Microsoft Windows 10 device is a perfect ecosystem, since it is especially useful when docked to a larger screen for seamless productivity. Like the Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL, you can hook this handset up to an external monitor to use it as a Windows 10 desktop and it has an Iris scanner for easy unlocking. There are two variants; single SIM or dual SIM. On-board is a Snapdragon 820 processor which contains 2 Kryo cores at 2.15 GHz and 2 Kyro cores at 1.6 GHz. The processor is paired with an Adreno 530 GPU for graphic enhancements. Besides this, there are 4 GB of DDR4 RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. The storage capacity can be expanded by up to 256 GB using the microSD slot. The HP Elite x3 comes with a 16 MP f/2.2 rear camera and an 8 MP front facing shooter.
Other features on the device include A-GPS, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 and a USB Type-C connector. Battery life on the HP Elite x3 is provided by a removable Lithium-Ion cell rated at 4150 mAh. The battery is said to last more than a day with full usage and utilizes a v3.0 USB Type-C port for charging. It also supports both the Qi and PMA wireless charging standards. Like other business oriented devices, the Elite x3 has been designed to be durable and meets the 810G military spec. The phone is also waterproof up to IP67 which should keep it safe from minor spills and rainy days. The HP Elite X3 is a good phone for someone who prefers the Windows platform. Its main rival is the Microsoft Lumia 950XL. In comparison to Android devices, it comes close to the Nexus 6 and Samsung Galaxy Note 7.
Handy-On by: Jagadisa Rajarathnam
Qualcomm Adreno 530: Integrated graphics card in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 that is clocked at up to 624 MHz. Early 2016 it is a high end graphics card for Android based smartphones and tablets that should be able to coop with very demanding games.
Non demanding games should be playable with these graphics cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
820 MSM8996: High-end ARM SoC with 4 CPU cores (two fast 2.15 GHz cores in a cluster and two power saving 1.6 GHz cores) and an Adreno 530 GPU. Manufactured in a 14 nm HPM process.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
5.96":
It is a very small display format for smartphones. You should by no means be mis-sighted and you will generally see very little on the screen and only have a small resolution available. In return, the device should be very small and handy.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.HP: Founded in 1939, the US company is a major server and printer manufacturer and one of the leading IT companies in the world. Until 2015, the company was called Hewlett-Packard Company. After a split, the computer division was renamed HP Inc.
In 2023, HP had an approximate market share of 22% of global PC sales, making it number 2 after Lenovo.
78.1%: This rating is not earth-shattering. This rating must actually be seen as average, since there are about as many devices with worse ratings as better ones. A purchase recommendation can only be seen with a lot of goodwill, unless it is about websites that generally rate strictly.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.