HP is unveiling the new Chromebook x2, the first of its kind.
It's a laptop that's actually detachable, making it stand out among the current brood of 2-in-1 Chromebooks in the market. That's because it's the only one that can really be teared away from its keyboard.
Redefining The Chromebook
The typical 2-in-1 Chromebook can only be used as a tablet by flipping the keyboard to behind its screen. With the Chromebook x2, users get to do that and more.
"The HP Chromebook x2 hits a trifecta for customers, combining the productivity of the Chrome OS and power of the world's most-used app platform into a versatile form factor ideal for experiencing all the Google ecosystem has to offer. As the world's first Chromebook detachable, it will unlock new ways for people to create, collaborate and consume within Chrome and the Google Play Store," Kevin Frost, HP's vice president and general manager of consumer personal systems, said.
Chromebook x2 Specs, Pricing, And Availability
Under the hood, the Chromebook x2 houses a seventh-generation Intel Core m3 chip, along with 4 GB of RAM that can go up to 8 GB. There's 32 GB of native storage to work with, and if that's not enough, it's expandable up to 256 GB via a microSD card.
It sports a 12.3-inch Corning Gorilla Glass 4 display with a 2,400 x 1,600 resolution. HP claims that it can last 10 hours on a single charge. It weighs 3.14 pounds with the keyboard attached but only 1.62 pounds without it. To put two and two together, these aspects make it more or less the perfect tablet for Netflix, taking notes, and whatnot.
In terms of ports, it boasts two USB-C ports, including a headphone jack and a microSD port to boot.
One last thing: There's a 13-megapixel rear camera for those into tablet photography and a 5-megapixel front snapper for video calls and the like.
The Chromebook x2 will roll out with a starting price of $599.99, and it's expected to be available from Best Buy and HP on June 10. It's worth mentioning that certain models will come bundled with a digital pen.
Now from what can be gathered here, it's a decent device. It's not exactly a computing "powerhouse," but based on what it can offer, it's more than just a run-of-the-mill Chromebook.
In the same vein, Acer also recently took the wraps off the world's first Chrome OS tablet, calling it the Chromebook Tab 10. Put differently, these two companies are paving the way to a future of keyboard-less, Chrome OS-powered devices.
On an interesting note, one more takeaway here is that HP may have beaten Samsung to the punch in launching a detachable Chromebook.
