While the first Chromebook tablet, announced by Acer just last month, is aimed squarely at the education market, HP’s new Chrome OS detachable has a wider audience in its sights. In fact, early previews of the Chromebook x2 indicate it could pose a threat to Apple’s iPad Pro.
HP is touting the $599.99 Chromebook x2 (pictured above), set to hit the U.S. market in June, as a premium device that’s built for both work and entertainment. The company said it’s also designed for both flexibility and durability and includes an HP Active Pen and a magnetic hinge design that allows the device to be used effectively as either a laptop or a detachable tablet.
By comparison, Apple’s 10.5-inch, iPad Pro starts at $649, not including the additional cost for the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard accessories.
Detachable tablets will be the bright spot in an otherwise stagnant or declining market for personal computing devices over the next five years, according to a recent forecast from the analyst firm IDC. The organization predicts that by 2022 detachable tablets will account for 9 percent of all personal computing devices shipped, compared to 5.2 percent in 2017.
Specs
- Processor: Intel® Core™ M3-7Y30
- Memory: 4GB or 8GB LPDDR3-1600 SDRAM
- Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics 615
- Storage: 32 GB eMMC
- Cameras: Wide Vision 5MP Front-Facing Camera / 13 MP Rear-Facing Camera
- Screen: 12.3-inch diagonal 2K IPS WLED-backlit touchscreen (2400 x 1600)
- Wireless: Intel® 802.11b/g/n/ac (2×2) and Bluetooth® 4.2
- Audio: B&O PLAY with dual speakers
- Inputs: Full-size island-style keyboard / Touchpad supporting multi-touch gestures / HP Active Pen
- Ports: 2 USB-C 3.0 Gen 1 Ports / Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack
- Dimensions: 11.50 in (W) x 8.32 in (D) x 0.33 in (H)
- Weight: 1.62 lb (tablet) / 3.07 lb (tablet + base)
- Battery: 4-cell, 48 Wh lithium-ion battery.
Arriving June 10
Powered by 7th-generation Intel Core processors, the HP Chromebook x2 features a 12.3-inch touch display, with 10 hours of battery life, a total width of just 15.3 millimeters, and a weight of 3.14 pounds. Detached for use as a tablet, the screen is 8.2 millimeters thick and weighs 1.62 pounds.
In addition to providing up to 8 GB of memory for browsing and running Android apps, the Chromebook x2 also comes with up to 32 GB of built-in storage and can be boosted with a MicroSD card to support up to 256 GB of storage. The device also offers 100 GB of free Google Cloud storage for two years.
Two USB Type-C ports enable data transfers, charging, and other connections, while there is also an audio jack for headphones and other sound system accessories. The Chromebook x2 is scheduled to be available on June 10 through HP.com and Best Buy.