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Last Updated on March 29, 2020
Despite the recent proliferation of tablets in any and all forms, as well as the inclusion of optional keyboards for many devices, the ASUS Transformer line has remained one of the few devices clearly built for the purpose of bridging the gap between tablet and laptop.
HP hopes to change all that, and jump-start its fledgling tablet line, with the new HP SlateBook x2. It’s a promising idea, but the manufacturing giant will have some stiff competition from ASUS and others.
Hands-On Impressions
Compared to tablets such as the Toshiba Excite Pro, the HP SlateBook x2 is light (slate without keyboard). At 10.16-by-7.17-by-0.38 inches and a svelte 1.34 pounds (0.61 kg), it’s easy to hold and comfortable to use for an extended period of time.
Even with the keyboard dock, the weight only bumps up to 2.8 pounds (1.27 kg). Unfortunately, that’s where the good news ends. The tablet is constructed from disappointingly cheap-feeling plastic, and fingerprints and other smudges stand out entirely too much.
Even more unfortunate is HP’s decision to use a proprietary charger with a power brick, something that’s hardly acceptable today even for laptops.
Tablet Tour
Button design is another area in which the Slatebook x2
The decision to make the buttons almost perfectly flush with the back panel means they’re awfully difficult to find by touch. On the bottom of the tablet are a standard headphone jack, a microSD slot and a port for the proprietary charger.
The keyboard dock beefs up the connectivity, featuring a second headphone jack, a charging port and full-sized USB, HDMI and SD card slots.
Resolving the Details
At 1,920-by-1,080 pixels, the SlateBook x2’s 10.1-inch display is sharp and crisp. While it may not have the same “wow” factor as compared to tablets such as the Toshiba Excite Pro, which features a 2560-by-1600 resolution, it’s still pleasing to the eye and sharp enough to handle small details well.
Where the display falters somewhat is its color balance, which just seems a bit off. The contrast and black levels are okay, but colors seem to be a bit skewed compared to other premium displays. The brightness is also less than idea, but it’s rarely a problem in real-world use.
Under the Hood
While the display may not live up to its potential, the SlateBook x2’s hardware does. Its 1.8-gigahertz NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor and two gigabytes of RAM makes for one of the most powerful tablets in its price range.
While the specs are similar to the Toshiba Excite Pro tablet, comparisons reveal the SlateBook to be considerably snappier and, most importantly, more consistent. It also outpaces the ASUS Transformer Infinity’s Tegra 3 processor and compares well with the 1.9-gigahertz Tegra 4 processor powering the newest Transformer Pad.
With such solid performance comes poor battery life, however, as the x2 is near the bottom of the barrel where longevity is concerned.
Tablet Roundup
The HP SlateBook x2 is an intriguing product, and it’s likely to be an appealing alternative to the ASUS Transformer line. Although the construction quality cannot compare to tablets like the Toshiba Excite Pro and the display has some issues with reproducing accurate colors, the extremely impressive performance and decent price are solid selling points.
The keyboard dock is also among the best available and, considering it’s included with the tablet, that may be enough to set the SlateBook x2 apart for those who intend to make heavy use of the keyboard.