HP originally unveiled its new flagship-class Windows 10 Mobile device, the Elite x3, way back in February at Mobile World Congress. Now, at long last, the device has started shipping in the UK.
The company opened pre-orders for the device earlier this month, priced at £706.80. The Microsoft Store also began accepting pre-orders a week earlier for £749, but later reduced its price to match that of HP.com. The price includes not just the Elite x3 itself, but also the Desk Dock accessory, allowing owners to use a mouse and keyboard with the phone when connected to a larger display.
The handset"s UK launch has come a little later than planned. Microsoft originally said that it would be available on August 18, before delaying its release date to August 22, and then pushing that date back again to September. Meanwhile, HP has been promising delivery "in 5-10 working days" for almost three weeks.
But now, HP has dropped the pre-order tag, allowing buyers to order the Elite x3 for immediate shipping. The company is promising "delivery within 48 hours", adding that "the majority of orders placed before 4.00pm are delivered next working day". However, HP.com warns that there is only limited stock available to buy now.
By the way, if you use the e-voucher code CQ416HPAF11 on the HP.com checkout page, you can get 4% off your order, reducing the purchase price to £678.53, saving you £28.27. (The code won"t work indefinitely, so if you"re thinking of using it, don"t waste too much time.)
The device is also available to order immediately on the Microsoft Store. The Elite x3 listing there no longer displays a "pre-order" button, allowing buyers to add the device to their cart...
...and proceed to checkout, either with free delivery in 2-3 days, or next business day delivery for an extra £10.
Here"s a reminder of the Elite x3"s key specs:
- 5.96-inch AMOLED with Quad HD (2560x1440px) resolution, Corning Gorilla Glass 4, and anti-reflective coating
- Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB onboard storage (plus microSD card support)
- 16MP rear camera
- 8MP front-facing camera
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth 4.0
- NFC support
- 4G LTE connectivity
- Optional dual-SIM support
- USB 3.0 port with Type-C connector
- Iris scanner
- Fingerprint scanner
- IP67 rating for dust- and water-resistance
- MIL-STD-810G rating, assuring device protection for drops from up to 1 meter
- Pogo pins
- Qi wireless charging
- 4150mAh battery
- 161.8 x 83.5 x 7.8mm; 194g
You can find out about HP"s official accessories for the Elite x3 here, including their prices.
Bear in mind that the Elite x3 ships with an older version of Windows 10 Mobile onboard, but it will be upgraded to the latest Anniversary Update "on or about September 13, 2016".