HP is trying to establish a foothold in the the tablet market and after launching its budget-friendly Slate 7, the company has now released the higher-end 10-inch SlateBook x2.
The HP SlateBook x2 tablet packs top-end specs and, unlike the affordable 7-inch Slate 7, the new offering sports a hefty price tag of $479. With the SlateBook x2, HP is apparently looking to take on rival ASUS' Transformer series.
The HP SlateBook x2 comes bundled with a keyboard and does not have any tablet-only purchase option. As the device launched ahead of schedule, it is currently available for purchase only from HP's official online store, but it is expected to go on sale in other online and brick-and-mortar stores soon.
The HP SlateBook x2 touts a 10.1-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels with a pixel density of 224 pixels per inch (ppi). The tablet runs Nvidia's new Tegra 4 SoC with a quad-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz. The device also packs 2GB of RAM.
The tablet supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and there is a magnetic docking mechanism which enables users to switch from tablet to laptop mode. The SlateBook x2 also comes with a full-size keyboard in tow.
Moreover, just like the ASUS Transformers, the HP SlateBook x2 is able to use the primary battery in the main housing and gets extra power when docked with the keyboard. HP claims that the tablet offers 10 hours of battery life and it gets an additional 8 hours when docked.
The device has 16GB of on-board storage and the option to expand the memory further via a microSD card slot. The tablet also has a rear-facing camera.
The new tablet comes pre-loaded with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and includes several HP apps, as well as Kingsoft Office.
HP attempted to re-enter the tablet market with its Slate 7, which unfortunately for the company has not been well-received. With the SlateBook x2, HP would be hoping to turn its fortunes around and take on the bevy of Windows-powered tablets.
Currently, the SlateBook x2 is only available in gray. To purchase the tablet online from HP's store for $479 head here.
