When it comes to technology and devices, there is always a design that becomes popular enough to set a trend. Such trends are usually due to foresight of people who are able to predict and cater to the needs of the masses at the time. The latest one when it comes to notebooks is the 2-in-1 convertible design, and today’s marquee is HP’s Pavilion X2.
Shiny and New
The new HP Pavilion X2 has gone through quite a bit of redesigning, with good looks even though it is made mostly out of plastic. Despite its plastic body, the machine looks and feels premium, and is actually a pretty sturdy piece of machine. It is now easier remove from the magnetic hinge, compared to its predecessor. In addition, the magnets are much stronger now, so accidental removals aren’t an issue. Also, since the surface of the Pavilion X2 has a type of pearl-like finishing to it, you can avoid it turning it into a fingerprint smudge-fest, which I think is important since you would most likely be switching from laptop to tablet mode pretty often.
It is all about positions
One cool feature we liked about the Pavilion X2 is the way you can adjust the incline of the machine. There are multiple ways you can use this 2-in-1, either in tent mode, propping it on the side like an opened book, or using it like a laptop but in a slightly raised position.
Input Sensations
When it comes to 2-in-1s, the problem sometimes lies with the keyboard; whether is it suitable for its form factor and the typing experience on it. Despite the Pavilion X2 being on the smaller side, its keyboard is decent with comfortable travel distance. The keys are chicklet styled, which makes it easier to type on. My only gripe was the trackpad, which seems quite shallow and not sensitive enough to be used to scroll smoothly when browsing websites.
On Real Estate
With a 10.1-inch display, we were hoping for some higher resolution since when we are talking about streaming movies and such, we would tend to prefer higher-resolution movies. Unfortunately, the Pavilion X2 only offers 1280 x 800 resolution, which while decent enough for enjoying HD content, tends to look a little fuzzy in playbacks. But if you’re using this laplet mostly for productivity, everyday surfing and reading, then you won’t really mind it.
Working like a horse
When I found out that the Pavilion X2 was powered by an Intel Atom, I was a little disappointed and expected poor performance. But I was proven wrong and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t so. It could be most likely thanks to how lightweight Windows 10 can be, but really, working on this machine was a pleasure. The most noticeable difference was when loading websites on Google Chrome and on Microsoft Edge; I could actually tell the difference especially when loading image-heavy websites. Just don’t expect to be playing heavy games, or do any major photo editing on it as it won’t be able handle that kind of stress well.
Sound department
This time round, HP has partnered with Bang & Olufsen to provide the audio for this machine. Despite having a renowned audio company to tinker with its sound system, the audio that the Pavilion X2 exudes from its speakers is just too squeaky and tiny. You would be better off using a pair of headphones to get your entertainment fix.
Latest in Connectivity
Surprisingly, with the Pavilion X2 being a budget machine, it comes with a USB-C port for charging on top of a full-sized USB 2 port, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headset jack. That’s quite generous of HP since when it comes to budget devices, as a lot of brands tend to cut back on IO ports to keep the budget low.
Space Constraint
Another thorn on the side is the amount of storage this machine offers. With a paltry 32GB of flash storage space, you would probably need to keep your microSD card in its slot all the time in order to have enough space for all the things you will be saving in this 2-in-1 machine.
Good Looks, Budget-Styled
Generally, the HP Pavilion X2 is pretty decent especially since it is, after all, a machine built for the budget-conscious. Although it could definitely use some improvements in terms features it could’ve offered internally, it makes up for the lack with good looks and premium feel.
Price RM n/a
Dimensions: 260.4 x 170.3 x 10.98 mm
Weight: 1.18 kg
Processor: Intel Atom Quad-core Z3736F @ 1.33 GHz, 2 MB cache
Memory: 2GB DDR3L-1600MHz RAM
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
Display: 10.1″ (1280 x 800) anti-glare, WLED-backlit touch screen
Storage: 32 GB eMMC
Battery: 2-cell, 33 Wh Lithium polymer
Ports: 1x USB Type-C, 2x USB 2.0 Port, 1x HDMI Output, 1x Audio out/Microphone jack, 1x microSD Card Reader
Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n (1×1) and Bluetooth 4.0 combo
PCMark 7 2,261
Value 9
Performance 7
Features 7
Design 9
Usability 8
Score 8
Verdict: Budget friendly with good looks. Certainly a plus.
