For starters, the company opted for a much smaller screen than the previous model at 11-inches. Positioning the gadget to more readily compete with other Chrome devices in the detachable category. Albeit with much better specs. That’s compared to the prior device at 13.3-inches. But with the same 2K resolution at a 3:2 ratio for the multitouch screen. So the pixel density here should actually be much higher than the original Chromebook X2. While the company did stick with the completely detachable keyboard, this time coupled with an HP Wireless Rechargeable USI Pen, Audio by Bang & Olufsen on dual speakers, and a multitouch-enabled HP Imagepad touchpad, it also ramped up elsewhere. Now, there are both a Fingerprint reader and, internally, an H1 secure microcontroller onboard as well. And that should improve the security of this updated detachable significantly. But there’s a lot more to this package than meets the eye at first glance as well.
What makes the HP Chromebook X2 11 special?
As noted above, there are plenty of differences between the original HP Chromebook X2 and the ’11’ model. And there are still plenty more of those to discuss as well. But this Chromebook also brings forward all of the best of what that previous device offered. Beginning with its 170-degree, user-positionable magnetically attached keyboard. That’s in addition to the dual-camera setup, featuring a 5-megapixel wide vision front-facing camera and 8-megapixel world-facing snapper. And in addition to the newly-added fingerprint reader. Coupled with the 3:2 ratio display and newly added USI stylus support, that’s going to make this Chromebook a portable workhorse. As are the optional 4G LTE support, Wi-Fi 5, and up to 11-hours of battery life. HP is also stacking in more support for all of that hardware, with HP QuickDrop, Concepts, and Google’s Cursive App. But, unlike the prior model, this 11-inch HP Chromebook X2 comes stacked with Snapdragon instead of Intel. And it’s the industry’s first to sport the Snapdragon 7c compute platform. That’s backed by up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and up to 128GB of storage. Additionally, that’s backed up by an Adreno 618 GPU and 45W fast-charging battery capable of up to 11-hours of usage on a single charge. Finally, HP has abandoned the Navy and Ceramic White finish of the original Chromebook X2. That’s in favor of two new color options, still in a sand-blasted aluminum finish with all of the same ports as before, now upgraded to the latest versions — embedded in the tablet portion of this detachable Chromebook. Namely, Shade Gray and Night Teal. Those include two SuperSpeed USB Type-C ports with a data rate of up to 5Gbps. In addition to a microSD card slot and a Nano-SIM combo. With the latter slot appearing on versions of the gadget that support 4G LTE data. HP has not specified exactly which carriers the Chromebook X2 11 will work with.
Specs
Those looking for a straightforward rundown of the specs will find those included below, as provided by HP.
What else did HP announce?
Now, sustainability was a big part of HP’s announcements today. And that doesn’t just extend to the HP Chromebook X2 11 — which features sustainably sourced packaging as well as ePeat Gold and Energy Star certifications. It also extends to two other products launched as part of today’s event. Namely, the new HP Chromebase All-in-One (AiO) with the same green perks as the new Chromebook as well as a speaker wrapped in 100-percent recycled polyester. And to the newly-announced HP M24fd USB-C Monitor, partially made from recycled materials and ocean-bound plastics, and packaged in 100-percent recyclable packing. The first of those two devices is best described by its branding. Billed as a social hub for the home, the HP Chromebase AiO stacks a rotating 21.5-inch FHD display with up to a 20-degree tilt in either configuration atop a polyester cloth-wrapped dual-5W speaker powered by Audio by B&O. And that comes with a 5-megapixel camera atop a larger-than-usual 1.4 μm sensor for better lighting and higher quality imaging. As well as a privacy switch to deactivate the camera as needed. By the way, the display features 10-point multitouch support and the wireless experience is powered by an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX 201 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5 Combo arrangement. The all-in-one device also features a Works With Chromebook-certified wireless Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, 256GB of SSD storage, and up to 16GB of DRAM memory. And, of course, that’s backing up a powerful chipset. Users can pick between the dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 6405U processor or the 10th Generation Intel Core i3-10110U processor. In terms of the software experience, HP is bringing all of the same additions as the Chromebook above. But with a new split-screen feature that allows better productivity for those who want this for the home or office. And the entire package comes in a brilliant snowflake white colorway that should fit in nicely in either space. The second of the other products launched by HP at today’s announcement, pictured above, is the HP M24fd USB-C Monitor. And that might seem like a strange inclusion to have here but this monitor is certified as a “Works With Chromebook” device as well. So it’s going to fit right in with any Chrome OS setup in need of an expanded display area. That certification, of course, means that it connects to a Chromebook with no extra setup required, right out of the box. And it’s been tested to meet that standard as well as connectivity, input, and power requirements put in place by Google. With its FullHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution, the HP M24fd USB-C Monitor measures 23.8-inches at a ratio of 16:9. Touch isn’t supported, but AMD FreeSync Technology is. And that will make this monitor a great fit for those looking for a screen they can use with their Chromebook and other devices. Especially where gaming is concerned. Eyesafe and TÜV certification are part of the bundle too, with HP Eye Ease cutting down on blue light without the usual color accuracy issues. The 178-degree vertical and horizontal viewing angles, 10M:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and inclusion of a 65W USB-C cable for power, are all just icing on the cake. As is the 5ms response time and 99-percent sRGB color gamut support. But HP didn’t only make this display compatible with Chromebooks either. Or at least not solely with USB-C output Chromebooks, although those are much more common. Users can also connect via HDMI 1.5 or VGA. And two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports are included as well. Last but not least, HP includes a detachable stand for this monitor and the entire package is security lock-ready. And all of that is available for a considerably low asking price. HP expects to sell the HM M24fd USB-C Monitor for $249.99 at its official web-based storefront starting from October.
HP Chromebook X2 11 pricing and availability
In terms of pricing and availability, the HP Chromebook X2 11 is in a somewhat unusual position, likely because of chip shortages and other factors. Namely, HP says it’s going to be available at Best Buy before it’s available anywhere else, and even before the HP store. The company plans to begin selling the device sometime this month, with a starting price tag of just $599.99. Now, HP hasn’t indicated how much the more powerful variants of its new Chrome OS gadget will cost. But that price won’t be changing when it launches on HP’s official web store in October either. Although HP also hasn’t provided any specifics regarding which configurations will be available where and when.
