HP has revealed the new 2-in-1 systems it has planned for this year’s holiday season at IFA 2014. There are new three models in total: two sold under the Envy brand, and a Pavilion unit as well. All of them have a detachable display that can be used as a tablet, but vary in size and hardware offered.
The most affordable is the entry-level Pavilion X2, an Atom-powered 2-in-1 with a tiny 10.1-inch display. Such a small screen means the tablet alone weighs in at just 1.2 pounds and is 10.5 millimeters thick. Attaching the keyboard adds half a pound and only 7 millimeters of additional girth.
While that’s impressive, it’s unfortunately the result of compromise; the keyboard is a cover rather than a sturdier, thicker dock. The Pavilion X2’s connectivity will include a full-sized USB port, mini HDMI, a micro-SD slot and a combo audio jack. You can expect this 2-in-1 to show up in the United States on October 29 at a starting price of $330.
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The Envy X2, while much more powerful (and expensive), shares a similar dockable 2-in-1 design, albeit one with a thicker keyboard cover that has a backlight for easier use in a dim environment, and a built-in battery for longer life. HP will sell 13.3- and 15.6-inch models, both of which are designed to accommodate Intel’s new fifth-generation Core M processors. The smaller of the pair will be available with a 1,366 x 768 or 1080p touchscreen, while the larger model will ship only with 1080p.
HP has remained silent on the size and weight of these new options, but photos indicate they’ll be quite slim indeed. The same photos also suggest the Envy x2 will be passively cooled; vents are nowhere to be found. We also noticed that both the Pavilion and Envy models seem to require a stand to hold the display upright. This could be a problem if the stand is required to use these systems as notebooks.
HP says the 13.3-inch Envy x2 will hit stores on October 29 starting at $1,050. Its big brother, the 15.6-inch model, will arrive a week later on November 5 at a base MSRP of $950.
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