You can order an HP Chromebook x2 for just $599 at Best Buy today, even though the premium convertible isn’t set to ship until June 10 — a great price for a really interesting 2-in-1.
Android Central first noticed Reddit users posting about the preorders (although aren’t they just orders? Why must we call it a preorder?), although the Best Buy site still lists the ship date as June 7.
HP introduced the Chromebook x2 on April 9. It’s classified as a detachable, meaning you can remove the screen from the base keyboard with just one hand. The two components are married by a rolling, magnetic hinge that still supports 2-in-1 modes such as clamshell, tent, stand, and tablet. The new Chromebook measures just 0.60 inches thick when closed with the keyboard attached, and a mere 0.32 inches thin just in the tablet portion alone.
Key Specs
- Screen size: 12.3 inches
- Resolution: 2,400 × 1,600
- CPU: Intel Core m3-7Y30
- Memory: 4GB or 8GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Front camera: 5MP
- Rear camera: 13MP
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Ports: 2x USB-C, Micro SD
- Battery: 48WHr
- Size: 11.49 × 8.30 × 0.60 inches
- Weight: 3.17 pounds
- Price: $599
- Availability: June 10, 2018
As the specifications show, you only get 32GB of local storage on HP’s new Chromebook. That limitedd capacity isn’t anything new for Chrome OS given the platform’s cloud-dependent nature. Yet the HP Chromebook x2 supports Google Play (like the Acer Tab 10), so you’ll need to take advantage of the Micro SD card slot’s supported 256GB capacity to store media while your downloaded Android apps consume the primary storage.
The Chromebook’s port complement consists of the Micro SD card reader, two USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports, and a headphone / microphone combo jack. Connectivity spans your typical wireless AC component supporting up to 867Mbps and Bluetooth 4.2. The 48Watt-hour battery resides in the tablet portion along with five sensors: an accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light, hall, and compass.
Powering this detachable Chromebook is Intel’s seventh-generation Core m3-7Y30 dual-core processor. This fanless chip sports a base speed of 1.00GHz and a maximum speed of 2.60GHz and consumes only 4.5 watts of power. HP said in a conference call that the company chose an Intel chip over the typical ARM-based processor used in mobile devices because Intel’s solution delivers the right balance of performance, thermals, and battery life.
HP set out to create a premium product that doesn’t require a premium price. The cover includes a protective and decorative coating, creating a white, ceramic-like finish. The 13-megapixel camera resides in the upper right-hand corner on the back of the tablet while the 5MP camera resides on the tablet’s face, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass.
Given the specifications show two system memory amounts, we assume $599 is the starting price. Memory seems to be the only variation, thus you should see two listed models sporting 4GB or 8GB of system memory.
With the Chromebook x2, HP is targeting Apple’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro selling at a higher $799 price. Although HP’s Chromebook has a slightly smaller screen and storage capacity, customers aren’t required to purchase the keyboard and pen separately. Ultimately, Apple customers pay $1,067 for the iPad Pro whereas the complete Chromebook x2 package costs $599.
Along with the launch of its new Chromebook x2, HP is also now supplying accessories including USB-C adapters, a 65-watt power adapter for traveling, colorful wireless mice, and more.
Updated June 3 with information on presale at Best Buy.
