HP Elite x3 Launches On Verizon Too Little Too Late

Talk about beating a dead horse. The HP Elite x3 is practically what the Surface Phone should have been, at least in terms of features and specs. It wasn't perfect but it definitely deserved a follow-up. HP, however, says that will never come to pass, thanks to Microsoft reversing directions and practically abandoning Windows 10 Mobile. Imagine people's surprise, then, when HP put the Elite x3 up for sale again, this time compatible with Verizon's network, a good year after the device was launched.

It is, perhaps HP's subtle way of assuring customers and still-interested buyers that it hasn't abandoned the device just yet. There were rumors that HP would be putting an end to support for the Elite x3 in early 2018, which the company strongly denied. Putting it up again for sale probably aims to reinforce that.

However, the Elite x3 is far from being a new device, though it's not completely dated either. It ran on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. The display is a large 5.96-inch WQHD AMOLED screen and naturally ran Windows 10 Mobile.

Its biggest appeal, however, was the HP Desk Dock, which comes for free with this purchase, and Windows 10 Mobile Continuum. Like the Lumia 950, it promoted the idea of turning the phone into a desktop with the right peripherals. An idea that Microsoft has all but abandoned and picked up by Samsung and its DeX feature.

While the uncertainty around Windows 10 Mobile's future continues, HP is trying to make it clear in no uncertain terms that the HP Elite x3 will live on. It is selling the Verizon-compatible model for $599 to even prove that. Ironically, the unlocked GSM model is now selling for $799, back to its original price.

SOURCE: Microsoft Store