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Meet the New HP Elite x2 G4 Detachable Laptop
Tom Gerencer
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September 1, 2019
The days when a one-size-fits-all laptop could serve all our business needs are history. Today’s machines must flow from desktop to meeting room to couch to plane to mobile office. That versatility is what makes the new HP Elite x2 G4 detachable laptop such a welcome ally in the working world.
The HP Elite x2 is a modern business powerhouse with multi-level security and military-grade durability. You also get full conference sound from Bang & Olufsen, 360-degree microphone pickup, 5 work modes, and a 1000-nit bright screen for easy collaboration. It’s light, slim, and stylish, too, which you can ramp up with the optional leather folio keyboard.
Let’s dig in to see how the HP Elite x2 paves the way for an unprecedented at-work experience.
What makes a good business laptop?
A good business laptop should fit the changing demands of modern work. Like a briefcase or watch, it should be attractive in the boardroom but have features that provide an edge, like a conference-worthy screen and audio, mega-storage, high security, and a high-performance processor.
The HP Elite x2 is stylish, with a detachable keyboard in aluminum or leather, but it’s also small and lightweight at 2.64 lbs, so you can move it around with ease.
HP Elite x2 laptop review
The true measure of a good business laptop is how well it stands up to everyday office use, and whether it makes every aspect of your work life easier. With the HP Elite x2 detachable laptop, every angle of the business computing experience has been rethought to pleasantly surprise the user.
What’s new since the HP Elite x2 Generation 3 (G3)
- Optional super bright 1000-nit display
- Gigabit speed WiFi with WiFi 6™
- Folio leather keyboard option
- 4G LTE connectivity option
- Supports new HP rechargeable Active Pen G3
Bright screen for seamless teamwork
A big part of business collaboration is how bright and clear the screen is. Squinting, leaning, and shading are things of the past with the HP Elite x2 G4 detachable laptop’s optional ground-breaking 1000-nit display, an unheard-of leap forward in laptop screen brightness.
This ultra-bright screen makes it easy to work outdoors or for team members to catch what you’re showing even from across the meeting room. The device is bright and colorful even without the 1000-nit panel thanks to your choice of a 3000 x 2000 resolution screen for enhanced clarity.
Business audio
Remote work is ramping up our teleconferencing needs. Bang & Olufsen audio and noise-cancellation keep voices clear while cutting out background noises like traffic, wind, or office chatter to make remote meetings feel face-to-face. The 360-degree microphone pickup means other team members can share in the conversation with being-there clarity.
Bang & Olufsen sound is custom-tuned to preserve the crystal-clear tones of the human voice, either in a coffee shop or a meeting-room huddle. The HP premium collaboration keyboard lets you launch video chats and calls with the touch of a button. Plus, a 1080p webcam with optional rear-facing camera means everyone can join in.
Dressed to impress
All business laptops are not created equal. The HP Elite x2 G4 detachable laptop is the world’s smallest business detachable, and it just may be the most attractive. You can even upgrade it to sport the world’s first detachable leather keyboard.
Military toughness
The HP Elite x2 G4 passed military-grade safety testing to ensure it can stand up to drops, shocks, vibration, dust, humidity, altitude, and a gauntlet of other dangers. This laptop can withstand extreme temperatures, sand, freezing, and explosive atmospheres and still show up to your 10 a.m. standup.
Plus, a 9 out of 10 score on the iFixit repairability scale makes this a shockingly easy-to-repair laptop [1]. With points awarded for ease of disassembly, upgradability, and use of common tools to repair, the HP Elite x2 G4 won’t leave you scratching your head at service time.
5 work modes to stay flexible
The HP Elite x2 was designed with work in mind. It switches easily between modes depending on where you are and what you’re doing. It can be a laptop, a true tablet (with keyboard detached), a presentation screen, a standing display, or a conferencing tool.
1. Laptop mode
We’re all familiar with how a standard laptop works. But the magic of the HP Elite x2 G4 is that it’s small, light, and attractive, yet it doesn’t skimp on power or quality. That makes it easy to pull it out and get micro-slices of work done on a plane, train, or anywhere else.
2. Tent mode
Flip the keyboard around and tent your device on the conference table or a co-worker’s desk to view files, data, or video together. The ability for multiple people to swipe and scan documents in unison makes collaboration seamless.
3. Full tablet mode
Pop the keyboard off and on quickly to convert this laptop into a pure tablet for quick messaging, note-taking, or sketching with the optional HP rechargeable Active Pen G3. Plus, without the keyboard, the tablet weighs in at a mere 1.83 lbs.
4. Stand mode
Fold the keyboard out of the way for added stability when sharing insights, tables, charts, images, or videos with coworkers. Stand mode puts the screen in full view while making it easier to access the touch screen in an extra-stable setup.
5. Conference mode
Working with others around a shared table is easy when you fold the HP Elite x2’s display flat on the tabletop for conference mode. This setup creates easy sharing, and it enables 360-degree microphone pickup and clear conference audio with built-in Bang & Olufsen speakers.
Maximum security
Security is a must in modern business. With black-hat attacks becoming more common, it’s imperative to partner with a company that’s locked down all the backdoors. The HP Elite x2 G4 detachable laptop is one of the world’s most secure and manageable PCs.
Its webcam kill switch gives you a physical interruption for the machine’s 1080p webcam. While camera shutters are becoming commonplace, this is one of the first on a laptop. An integrated fingerprint reader transforms your fingerprint into your password, making sure your laptop is accessible only by you.
Maximum malware protection
New malware pops up like digital dandelions, but the included HP Sure Sense tool uses deep learning AI to spot new threats before they’re listed in online registries. It then traps any offenders in an isolated virtual machine where they can do no harm, like the computing equivalent of Dr. Strange’s mirror dimension.
Should something go wrong, the laptop’s self-healing BIOS and resilient security protections bring you back online clean and fast. Finally, an isolated HP Endpoint Security Controller means the security features work from an isolated environment that malware can’t touch.
Benefits of a privacy screen
The HP Elite x2 G4’s optional privacy screen lets you cloak your work from others’ eyes in the room at the touch of a button.
- Privacy - Stop nearby peepers from seeing what you’re working on
- Screen protection - A privacy screen adds an extra layer of physical protection from scratches or smudges
- Glare protection - The added anti-glare coating softens glare from direct sunlight or bright fluorescents
HP Elite x2 G4 detachable laptop performance
There’s no denying that security, flexibility, and style are vital to today’s business laptop users. But power and performance are like the engine in this sports car among laptops. The under-the-hood horsepower of the HP Elite x2 G4 is among its main attractions.
1. Powerful Intel processing and graphics
Choose from a range of processor options, like optional Intel® vPro™ Core™ i7 processors with unprecedented power and responsiveness. Whether you’re presenting with PowerPoint or Prezi, teleconferencing, or running multiple business apps at once, the HP Elite x2 G4 keeps pace without a glitch.
2. Memory and storage
Running out of memory is not an option in the modern silicon jungle. As file sizes get beefier, this laptop stays cool with a max of 16GB of LPDDR3 SDRAM memory and up to a massive 2TB PCIe® NvME™ solid-state drive (SSD).
3. Blazing connectivity
“Hang on, I need to find a WiFi hub.” That plea is ancient history with the onboard 4G LTE. But when you do use WiFi, it’ll be fast thanks to zippy gigabit file transfer speeds that make sharing a snap.
4. Windows 10 Pro7
If you want Windows 10 Pro7 without added cost, the HP Elite x2 can soothe your wallet. It comes pre-configured with Windows BitLocker to keep you safe on those dubious “unsecured networks,” and it sports other office-friendly features like remote desktop access.
5. Long battery life
Up to 10 hours of battery life is a beautiful thing. When you’re away from your charger for long bursts and don’t have to obsessively check battery status, you’ll notice a sharp drop in your stress levels. That’s thanks to an HP Long Life 2-cell lithium ion polymer power pack.
6. Fast-charging pen
The optional HP rechargeable Active Pen G3 will have you wondering how you lived without it. It’s got the lowest starting pressure of any active pen, giving it a pen-on-paper feel. Just 15 seconds of charging give it 1.5 hours of sketching or note-taking, and a full charge takes only 30 minutes to complete.
7. Small environmental footprint
The HP Elite x2 G4’s ENERGY STAR® rating means you’re fighting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while you work [2]. It’s a certified EPEAT device by the Green Electronics Council, and its low halogen light source is gentler on the environment [3].
8. Lots of ports and connections
There are dozens of devices and connections in contemporary business, and this laptop has your back. It includes 2 USB 3.1 Type-C™ ports with Thunderbolt™ support and a USB 3.1 port, plus a headphone/microphone combo to keep your listening private.
The right tool for business
The HP Elite x2 detachable laptop is designed with work in mind, with its optional leather keyboard, conference-worthy 1000-nit screen, and Bang & Olufsen audio. Plus, the 5 flexible work modes, military-grade durability, and hardened security mean you can compute with confidence. Perhaps best of all are the powerful under-the-hood specs and small size that make it the perfect sidekick for a busy business life.
[1] IFixit.com; Laptop Repairability Scores
[2] EnergyStar.gov; How a Product Earns the ENERGY STAR Label
[3] Green Electronics Council; EPEAT
About the Author: Tom Gerencer is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Tom is an ASJA journalist, career expert at Zety.com, and a regular contributor to Boys' Life and Scouting magazines. His work is featured in Costco Connection, FastCompany, and many more.
