HP unviels new range of laptops for 2016

HP is updating its line of portable, business-class laptops and 2-in-1s with a new 12.5 inch EliteBook Folio laptop, a third-gen EliteBook 1040 notebook with a 14 inch display, a third-gen EliteBook 800 lineup featuring 12.5 inch to 15.6 inch displays,Spectre X360 will feature a 15.6-inch 4K diagonal touchscreen display and a Pavilion X2 featuring a 12-inch display.

EliteBook Folio G1

The EliteBook Folio is HP's answer to the MacBook. It isn't the most powerful computer in the world, but it's easy to take around with you and, in future generations, will likely grow much more capable. The machine is running on one of Intel's Core M processors (either an M3, an M5, or an M7), all from the new Skylake line.

This compact notebook measures less than half an inch thick and weighs less than 2.2 pounds. It has a CNC aluminum case, a durable MIL-STD tested body, and support for options including a 3840 x 2160 pixel display and a touchscreen display.

The notebook has two Thunderbolt 3/USB Type-C ports and a headphone jack,a hinge that lets you fold the screen down 180 degrees, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, a 38 Whr battery which is supposed to run for about 10 hours., 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of solid state storage. Compared to the MacBook, it's slightly larger but then again you're getting more connectivity in return. HP says it'll stand up to MIL-STD 810G4 ruggedness testing too.

HP will offer models with Core M5 or Core M7 processors and prices are expected to start at $999 when the Elitebook Folio G1 goes on sale later in March.

EliteBook 1040 G3

The 14 inch EliteBook 1040 G3 appears similar to its predecessor, the EliteBook Folio 1040 G2, save for a more rounded trackpad. This now houses a new, stiffer mechanism for the left and right buttons, which is also used in the EliteBook Folio. Though it's a little bigger, but it’s also more powerful, with support for up to a Core i7 Skylake processor, and up to 16GB of RAM.

The EliteBook 1040 G3 is significantly lighter than the older model, down from 1.5kg to 1.3kg. It also switches up its extensive range of ports, replacing the DisplayPort with one USB-C and one full-size HDMI connector. That's in addition to two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader and, unusually, a SIM card slot, which enables 4G LTE connectivity. An optional fingerprint scanner can be fitted as well.
As for battery life, HP Inc claims that the EliteBook 1040 G3 can last for up to 11 hours of mixed use, while the EliteBook Folio can manage up to 10 hours.
The EliteBook 1040 G3 will be the first to launch, arriving in the UK in late January starting at £1,000. UK prices for the EliteBook Folio have yet to be confirmed, but will start at €999 when it launches throughout Europe - including the UK - in March.

EliteBook 800 G3 Series

The EltieBook 800 G3 series covers a lot of ground: there are models with 12.5 inch, 14 inch, and 15.6 inch displays which also has some more powerful internal specs with Intel Core processors, AMD R7 Radeon Discrete graphics, and a full HD, quad HD, or Ultra HD resolutions. It’s spill resistant, has a backlit premium keyboard, and a full-sized VGA port.

What these new business-class notebooks have in common is an upgrade to Intel’s 6th-gen Core “Skylake” processors and designs that are about 10 percent thinner and 13 percent lighter than last year’s models.
The new EliteBook 800 G3 notebooks should be available this month starting at $949 USD.

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Spectre X360 and Pavilion X2 

The new Spectre X360 will feature a 15.6-inch 4K diagonal touchscreen display, which is capable of resolution up to 3820 x 2160. Consumers will get to choose between an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, an up-to-512GB solid-state drive, and an optional Intel Iris GPU. This supersized version of the Spectre X360 will be available through Best Buy, with a starting price of $1,150.
The smaller of the two products, the Pavilion X2, is getting a boost from a 10-inch to a 12-inch display. HP is also offering solid-state drives up to 256GB — a major jump from the previous model, which maxed out at 64GB. Processor choices on this larger Pavilion X2 appear to be tied to which solid-state drive option you select. If you want the 256GB version, I have to stick with an Intel Core M solution. Otherwise, it’s the Intel Atom for solid-state drives up to 128GB. I’ll have about a month to make my decision, as this new 12-inch Pavilion X2 isn’t launching until February 7, when it will be available online and at select retailers for $500.