HP Chromebook X2 review: Do we really need a Chrome OS convertible?

Chrome OS tablets don’t have a reasonably previous. In 2018, Google launched the Pixel Slate, its try to jumpstart the market, however poorly optimized software program and costly {hardware} made the device a non-starter for most individuals. Since then, Google stopped making tablets entirely, whereas most producers making Chrome OS units have additionally caught with extra conventional designs.

That began to vary final yr, when Lenovo constructed an inexpensive but useful Chrome OS tablet, the Chromebook Duet. This yr, HP has adopted an identical sample with the HP Chromebook X2, an 11-inch pill that’s pricier and higher-end than Lenovo’s Duet (the mannequin I’m reviewing prices $600). However, just like the Duet, it makes use of a cellular processor (on this case, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c) and features a keyboard and pen at no further cost. Primarily based purely on specs and design, the Chromebook X2 must be a high-quality performer — however is its convertible type issue definitely worth the premium over a extra normal laptop computer?

Professionals

• Nice battery life
• Nicely-built {hardware}
• Keyboard and pen are included
• Glorious (although small) show

Cons

• Sluggish efficiency if you happen to push it too arduous
• Keyboard is simply OK
• Costly if it’s not on sale

{Hardware}

We’ll get into how helpful Chrome OS tablets are quickly, however primarily based purely on {hardware} alone, HP’s Chromebook X2 makes an incredible first impression. The pill itself is a metal-clad slap that feels sturdy and properly constructed. There’s a small digicam bump on the again, together with metallic HP and Chrome logos, however total it’s a easy system with few adornments. The system has squared-off sides with rounded corners, very like the iPad Professional and iPad Air, nevertheless it feels totally different sufficient from these units regardless of the actual fact there are solely so some ways to make a pill.

When wanting on the entrance, you’ll discover a small digicam on the highest bezel, with stereo audio system positioned close to the highest of the display screen. On the left facet edge you’ll discover two USB-C ports and a quantity rocker. Within the prime left nook there’s a multi-function energy button with a fingerprint reader. Once you’re utilizing the Chromebook X2 with a keyboard hooked up, urgent the facility button reveals choices to close down, log off or lock the system. Once you’re utilizing it as a pill, although, the button has the extra normal “lock the system and switch off the display screen” perform. The fingerprint scanner is simple to arrange, and I want that extra Chromebooks had them.

The proper facet of the pill is principally unadorned, apart from a mark that reveals the place you possibly can magnetically connect the Chromebook X2’s pen to its facet for simple entry. The iPad Professional and numerous Microsoft Floor units additionally allow you to magnetically connect a stylus, so this isn’t actually a giant innovation — nevertheless it’s nonetheless good to have.

Once I reviewed the Pixel Slate again in 2018, my principal takeaway was that Chrome OS nonetheless required a keyboard. As such, I used to be glad to search out that the Chromebook X2 had one included. To show the X2 from a pill right into a useful laptop computer, HP designed a two-piece case. The keyboard cowl goes on the entrance, very like Microsoft’s Floor Keyboard. However as a substitute of getting a built-in kickstand, the X2 has a second cowl that serves as a kickstand which magnetically snaps on to the again. After getting that set, the X2 is principally an identical to the Microsoft Floor Go, at the least in seems.

The Chromebook X2’s keyboard is fairly good contemplating it has to suit a comparatively small system. The keys have strong journey and are fairly responsive, although they’re just a little bit loud. It feels just a little cramped, however not any worse than the Floor Go’s keyboard. However it positively feels extra cramped than the Magic Keyboard I take advantage of with my 11-inch iPad Professional. (That’s a $300 accent, although, so it actually must be higher than a keyboard HP contains with each X2.)

The principle concern with the X2 keyboard is that it’s not splendid for utilizing in your lap. As I’ve observed with another keyboard folios, making use of just a bit strain on palm rests typically causes the trackpad to register a click on, which will be infuriating while you’re, say, typing a assessment and hold getting interrupted. It’s a lot better on a desk, the place the keyboard is extra secure. Microsoft’s Sort Cowl for the Floor lineup doesn’t have this drawback, so it’s only a matter of construct high quality in the long run. And for a small, mild system meant for use on the go, having a keyboard that solely works on a tough, flat floor is lower than splendid.

Regardless of occasional unintentional clicks, the X2 trackpad is fairly good. It’s bigger than the one on the iPad Professional’s Magic Keyboard and in addition to the Floor Go’s keyboard, and it’s quick and responsive for each single-finger and multi-finger gestures. It’s nonetheless fairly small, although, so that you would possibly choose an exterior mouse for prolonged work periods.

The Chromebook X2 could also be a small machine, however its 11-inch touchscreen with a 3:2 facet ratio is a standout. It’s a high-resolution show, coming in at 2,160 x 1,440, and the taller facet ratio makes it really feel lots much less cramped for work than a 16:9 display screen would, particularly at this smaller dimension. It’s additionally a really vibrant display screen, nearly painfully so — even when working in a sunny workplace, I not often turned brightness up larger than midway.

As I discussed earlier, HP included a stylus with the Chromebook X2. I’m no visible artist, so I’m not certified to actually choose its efficiency — however there’s no query stylus efficiency on this system lags behind Microsoft’s Floor Go 3 and any iPad I’ve tried. However once more, HP included a stylus at no cost, whereas Microsoft and Apple cost further for it. That doesn’t make efficiency higher, however at the least you’re not shelling out more money for a sub-par expertise. The pen is perhaps high-quality for fast sketches or notes, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel like one thing I’d wish to use for very lengthy.

Pill mode

Although there aren’t many Chrome OS tablets, Google has made enhancements to the OS’s pill mode over time. It’s fairly a bit extra secure and user-friendly than it was when the Pixel Slate got here out in 2018; the primary UI ideas are a mixture of what you’ll discover on iPadOS and Home windows. Apps mechanically launch in full display screen, and the house display screen is a grid of all of the apps you might have put in. Swiping up while you’re utilizing an app brings you again to the house display screen, and a extra deliberate swipe from the underside reveals the Chrome OS dock. Lastly, you possibly can run two apps in split-screen mode while you wish to multitask.

I haven’t used the Chrome OS pill mode shortly. I’ve reviewed a ton of Chromebooks with 360-degree hinges that can be utilized in pill mode, however they’re normally too heavy for that. However the Chromebook X2 feels nice within the hand; with its 11-inch display screen and a weight of 1.23 kilos, it’s not too large or heavy for use as a pill. The principle concern with Chrome OS on a pill is acquainted to anybody who has used Android tablets: there simply isn’t a lot software program optimized for a big display screen. That stated, utilizing the X2 to casually browse the net, watch movies and play the occasional sport labored properly. HP is aware of that this isn’t the first method anybody ought to use a Chrome OS system, therefore the included keyboard — however for informal sofa shopping or watching a film on a plan, the X2 does the trick.

As a laptop computer

The principle method I used the Chromebook X2 was as a laptop computer, with the included keyboard hooked up. The most important query I had was whether or not the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c processor was sufficient for my regular workflow. The reply was “kind of.” The X2 ran higher than I anticipated, and I might normally have most of my regular apps operating always. Which means a pair Chrome home windows with a handful of tabs in every, plus Chrome apps for Slack, Todoist, Maintain, Trello and Tweetdeck. I additionally typically had the Android model of Spotify operating for music.

This all ran acceptably, nevertheless it positively wasn’t the quickest — notably if I had too many Chrome tabs going. The X2 that I examined has 8GB of RAM, and that helped hold most of my packages operating with out the necessity to refresh once I switched between them, however I ended up instinctively limiting what number of tabs I had going at any given time to keep away from pushing the X2 too arduous. I additionally didn’t play music straight from the X2 a lot once I was operating quite a lot of different apps, as I ultimately would run into slowdowns or low reminiscence skips if I had an excessive amount of occurring.

Whereas I want efficiency was just a little higher, it’s essential to take a look at it within the context of how HP designed the system. Given its small dimension, I considered it extra as a secondary or journey pc reasonably than one thing most individuals would sit down and use for hours on finish each single day. The show is actually too small and efficiency not fairly sturdy sufficient for me to make use of it that method, anyway.

One benefit of utilizing a Snapdragon processor is that the Chromebook X2 had wonderful battery life. Whereas it’s too small of a pc for me to comfortably use all day lengthy, I routinely acquired round eight hours of labor once I used it as my major machine, and nonetheless had cost left on the finish of the day. It additionally carried out extraordinarily properly in our battery drain take a look at, which loops an HD video with the display screen set at 50 % brightness. The X2 lasted about 11 and a half hours in that take a look at, which implies this system must be a strong movie-watching companion if you happen to’re on an extended flight.

At only one.23 kilos as a pill and just a little over 2.25 kilos with the keyboard and kickstand hooked up, the Chromebook X2 is an especially moveable pc for while you don’t want the total dimension and energy that you simply get in a bigger laptop computer. It once more jogs my memory of Microsoft’s Floor Go 3, not simply in the best way it seems. Each units are a bit underpowered, and I wouldn’t advocate both be somebody’s major pc. However, they are often nice secondary computer systems if you happen to’re conscious of their limitations.

Pricing and the competitors

In fact, value is a giant a part of the equation. That was in all probability the largest drawback with the Floor Go 3 once I reviewed it just lately: The equipment I examined price $860, and for that cash it must be highly effective sufficient to make use of as your solely pc. However the Chromebook X2 is cheaper; the mannequin I reviewed prices $600. That will get you the aforementioned Snapdragon 7c processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, the keyboard and pen. And the X2 has already been on sale quite a few occasions at Finest Purchase for under $400. At that value, it’s a reasonably nice moveable secondary pc.

At $600, it’s just a little expensive for what you get, although. That’s largely as a result of you should buy a bigger, extra highly effective Chromebook for just a little more cash. Each the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 and Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 price $700 and include sooner Intel chips, higher keyboards and bigger shows. You need to be actually dedicated to the pill type issue to not give these computer systems a glance as a substitute. Or, you may get Lenovo’s Flex 5 Chromebook for under $300 on Amazon as of this writing; you’ll save your self cash and have a greater total expertise. If you’ll find the Chromebook X2 on sale for $400, it’s a way more compelling purchase, nevertheless it’s nonetheless not the most effective Chromebook in that value vary.

Wrap-up

The principle concern with the Chromebook X2 is neither its value nor its efficiency. It’s the truth that most individuals will probably be higher served with a normal, laptop-style Chromebook. Positive, most Chromebooks are just a little larger and heavier than the X2, however they’re additionally typically extra highly effective and have higher keyboards. The X2 solely is sensible if you happen to worth portability and battery life over efficiency. If you’ll find the X2 for $400, it’s value contemplating if you happen to’re a Chrome OS person searching for a secondary pc that you may take with you anyplace. In any other case, you’re in all probability higher off contemplating one of many many different Chromebooks available on the market.