Review: HP Elite x2 1011

Introduction and design

The HP Elite x2 1011 (starting at $688, £437 and AU$800) is a business-grade hybrid laptop that is ideally suited for those who need durability and portability more than they require high-end performance and beauty.

Competing in the same class as the popular consumer hybrid, the Microsoft Surface Pro 3, and the business-focused Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000, the HP Elite x2 1011 is a capable device that can satisfy you as both a tablet and as a laptop.

Unfortunately, in order to make this ultra-durable hybrid work in multiple form factors, sacrifices had to be made on both ends. As a result, you're getting a versatile and rock-solid machine that won't excel as a laptop or as a tablet.

Design

Built with a bead-blasted aluminum shell that can be found on the entire HP Elite lineup, the Elite x2 is noticeably heavier and thicker than the Surface Pro 3 and the Venue 11 Pro. Starting at 3.63 pounds (1.65kg) when attached to its accompanying power keyboard, and 1.71 pounds without a keyboard, there's no denying the Elite x2 is hefty, both as a tablet and as a laptop.

For reference, the Surface Pro 3 and Venue 11 Pro weigh 1.76 pounds (0.72kg) and 1.6 pounds (0.68kg) when attached to their keyboards, respectively. To be fair, neither of those keyboards will add four hours of battery life or USB ports to the device's capabilities, so a few extra ounces is to be expected here.

All of the Elite x2's bulk is specifically designed to withstand the rigors of outdoor work environments. The Elite series undergoes 115,000 hours of testing, all of which ensure that the Elite x2 can handle up to 26 drops on each corner and 18 mechanical shocks before it goes kaput.

The sturdy outer shell is attached to a magnesium alloy panel that houses the full HD-resolution display (FHD) 1,920 x 1080, which is much too dull and produces too much glare. The screen, which is 11.6 inches, occupies too little of the top panel's 11.73-inch width. As opposed to new devices like the Dell XPS 13, which features almost no screen border, the Elite x2's display is surrounded by a thick section of wasted material.

Compared to the Surface Pro 3's 2,160x1,440 (FHD+) resolution screen, and the Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000's comparable 1,920x1,080 (FHD) screen, the Elite x2 is noticeably weaker.

I took this device to the roof of my apartment building to take photographs. With even a hint of sun above the screen I found it difficult to make out colors, let alone text or images. This is a major issue, especially for a device that's so perfectly suited for outdoor and rugged use.

The tablet is built with a rounded base that is slightly awkward to handle, but sits nicely when mounted with the keyboard. Even after repetitive jiggles, rocks and shakes, the base showed no sign of give.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to connect the tablet to the keyboard in the reverse display mode seen on Lenovo Yoga devices. Additionally, the Elite x2 will only bend back 130-degrees when mounted, so you'll have to detach the tablet from the keyboard if you want to do any show-and-tell.

However, when the device sits on the dock, it's there to stay. The sturdy metallic connectors won't pop open unless you absolutely want them to. In order to remove the tablet from the keyboard, you simply press down on the center button and lift. Otherwise, the tablet itself is firmly mounted.

The mounting isn't a hindrance. Unlike flimsier hybrids, the hinges on the Elite x2 are both firm and fluid. This means you can press on the touchscreen without worrying about causing the tablet to wobble and wiggle.

Specifications and performance

Like the Dell Venue 11 Pro, the Elite x2 runs on an Intel Core M chip, which is designed for mobile computing. This means it lacks a bit of the pop you'll find on laptops and hybrids with a more powerful Core i processor, like the Surface Pro 3.

The powerful Core i processors are especially suited for Windows 10, which is designed to enable enhanced productivity, such as multitasking between spreadsheets and video editing. I was still able to perform tasks at a high level with the Elite x2, but as you'll see below in our "Performance" section, even a previous generation Core i processor is still preferable for heavy-duty tasks.

Specifications

Here is the HP Elite x2 1011 configuration sent to techradar for review:

• CPU: 1.2 GHz Intel Core M 5Y71 (dual-core, 4MB cache, up to 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 5300
• RAM: 8 GB LPDDR3-1600 SDRAM
• Screen: 11.7-inch 1,366 x 768 HD resolution
• Storage: 128 GB, 512 GB M.2 SSD
• Ports: 1 x microSD; 1 x micro SIM; 1 x smart card reader (power keyboard); 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 (power keyboard); 2 x USB 3.0 (power keyboard)
• Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Size: 11.73 x 8.12 x 0.82 inches (W x D x H) (tablet with keyboard)

Don't let processors and graphics cards fool you, some laptops lag behind competitors with exactly the same chipset. This is the case with the Elite x2 and the Venue. Both feature a Core M chip and the same Intel graphics card, but the Elite was slightly behind in every task, and dramatically behind the Surface Pro 3 and its fourth generation Core i processor.

This doesn't bode well for the Elite x2 moving forward. Microsoft just unveiled the Surface Pro 4, which will run on the relatively new sixth generation Intel Core i series. Expect Dell to introduce its own new Venues within the coming months as it improves its chipset as well. This means the Elite x2 is losing head-to-head battles against hybrids that are already being replaced by better, newer devices.

Benchmarks

Here's how the HP Elite x2 1011 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

• 3DMark: Cloud Gate: 2,992; SkyDiver: 1,491; Fire Strike: 400
• Cinebench CPU: 153 points; Graphics: 14 fps
• PCMark 8 (Home Test): 1,992
• PCMark 8 Battery Life: 7 hours and 41 minutes

In the Cinebench graphics test, the Elite x2 1011 managed a frame rate of 14 frames per second (fps), which is about 7 frames slower than the Venue, and 11 frames worse than the Surface. For the CineBench CPU test, which measures a processor's multi-core performance via a 3D image rendering task, the Elite scored 152 points, which is about 30 points lower than the Dell, and 50 points lower than the Surface.

The Elite scored 400 points in 3DMark's Fire Strike test, which measures graphics rendering. The Dell scored 512 points. The Surface scored only 347 points. So a minor victory for the Elite in this category.

The Elite lost in a head-to-head against the Dell and the Surface on the 3DMark Sky Diver test by a wide margin (1,491 to the Dell's 1,862 and the Surface's 2,242).

So what you're seeing is a processor that is fully capable of managing basic mobile tasks, but can't compete with a hybrid that packs a laptop's processor under its hood. Keep this in mind when making your purchase.

Battery

But what's also incredibly relevant to this conversation is how fantastic the Elite x2 1011's battery performance is. Thanks to the Core M processor, which is built to conserve energy and to simplify the energy output of computing tasks, the Elite x2 ran for 7 hours and 41 minutes during the PCMark 8 battery test.

This score wallops the competition. The Surface only ran for 2 hours and 38 minutes during this test, while the Venue ran for 4 hours and 1 minute. This isn't an anomaly. When playing looped video on the Elite x2, I was able to run the battery for 7 hours and 15 minutes as a tablet and 11 hours and 20 minutes when connected to the power keyboard.

So, yeah, you may not be as productive in short spurts with this hybrid, but you'll be able to outpace someone using a competing hybrid with very little issue.

Verdict

The Elite x2 is a rock-solid device that you'll feel comfortable using in rugged environments, but what happens under the hood isn't exactly revolutionary. The x2's Intel Core M processor is good enough to get you through one or two tasks at a time, but if you're keen on performing heavy-duty business tasks, you'll want to look for a device with at least an Intel Core i processor.

We liked

If your job takes place outdoors or in a factory with heavy machinery, you'll need a device that can take a beating. The Elite x2 is a bull of a tablet. Drop it without wincing. It'll get back up.

I can't say enough about this tablet's battery life. As a tablet it will run for more than 7 hours, and as a laptop it will top 11 hours.

We disliked

If you stare at a screen all day, you're going to want to find another tablet. This FHD-resolution display leaves a lot to be desired, especially in outdoor environments.

Additionally, the added weight needed to make this hybrid durable makes it almost unbearable to carry around. It's definitely manageable if you're undocking in your office, running to the factory floor and then coming back to your office. But if you'll be on your feet all day, carrying this tablet around as your main computing device, you may want to consider something lighter.

Final verdict

Considering the HP Elite x2 1011's durability, it's not as bad as my assessment might read. Rugged laptops and tablets typically cost thousands of dollars and they're ugly as sin. The Elite x2 sits somewhere between one of these awful rugged tablets and a pretty consumer device like the Surface Pro 3. So, yes, it's a bit heavy, but it's also Fort Knox-level sturdy.

Unfortunately, the areas where a compromise won't suffice is where the Elite falters. It's performance isn't as good as similar professional devices, like the Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000, and it lacks the superficial specs like a gorgeous screen or thinness to compete with mass market tablets.

So the decision is yours. If you want a pretty device that can handle tough work environments, the Elite x2 is a solid choice. But if you want the highest level of performance possible, or if you just want something that's easier to carry that has a nice screen, there are better options available.

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