HP Pro x3 review: This unreleased Windows Phone could have been awesome

The HP Aristocracy x3 is considered by many to be the ultimate Windows Phone. It was undoubtedly the most powerful, with the best screen and longest bombardment life, but with a weak camera for a flagship. The Elite x3 was a smartphone built with the enterprise in mind, featuring an expensive desktop dock in the box, enterprise-grade software such as the HP Workspace, and an unabridged ecosystem of accessories for all kinds of workers.

Because of this, the HP Elite x3 was priced rather high. Launching in 2022 for $800, it was too expensive for your average consumer. The HP Elite x3 wasn't the only Windows 10 Mobile handset the visitor was working on, however, with plans to launch a more consumer-focused variant a yr afterward. Known as the HP Pro x3, this handset was designed to be more approachable thanks to a lower price tag, more premium build, and many of the enterprise-course additions removed. Simply it never reached the market. (More than on why coming up.)

HP Pro x3 tech specs

Category	HP Pro x3	HP Elite x3
Operating system	Windows 10 Mobile	Windows 10 Mobile
Display	5.99 inches 1080x1920 (368 ppi) resolution	five.96 inches 1440x2560 (492 ppi) resolution
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
Graphics	Adreno 530	Adreno 530
Memory	4GB RAM	4GB RAM
Storage	32GB	64GB
Expandable storage	Yeah	Yes
Rear photographic camera	15.9MP	15.9MP
Front camera	12MP	12MP
Security	Iris/Fingerprint	Iris/Fingerprint
Bombardment	Unknown	4150mAh

Specs-wise, the HP Pro x3 was just as much of a flagship as the Elite x3. The only downgrades here are with the display resolution, internal storage, speakers, and battery capacity, simply not by much. Either way, battery life is excellent, thanks to the lower-resolution screen.

About that display ... it'south still peachy. It's non as sharp as the Elite x3 when compared side-by-side, and colors don't pop as much, but this would have been more than fine for most people. Just like how the iPhone XR display is fine for most people, even with the iPhone XS having a better screen.

Other differences with the HP Pro x3 that stand out compared to the Elite x3 include the positioning of the speakers. Information technology's been downgraded to a single-firing down-facing speaker. It'south OK, just information technology doesn't concord a candle to the front-facing B&O tuned speakers on the Elite x3. Around the dorsum, the five-pins designed for external enterprise-grade accessories has been removed, meaning information technology wouldn't back up any specific accessories that required those pins. It would take yet supported the same desktop dock and lapdock and all the enterprise software found on the Aristocracy x3.

Also around the back is the fingerprint reader, which is somewhat smaller simply just as authentic. On the within, the Pro x3 and the Aristocracy x3 share the same processor forth with 4GB RAM. The cameras on the Pro x3 are identical to the Elite x3, also, so if you weren't impressed with the camera performance on in that location, you would've hated them on the Pro x3 just as much. The merely difference is the wink has been upgraded to a dual-tone LED instead of single.

Surprisingly, the brandish on the Pro x3 is a tiny bit larger than the Elite x3, simply it's non by much. It'southward fair to say that both devices are 6-inch phones. Operation of the biometric hallmark methods are unchanged from the Aristocracy x3, but it is nice to come across both still hither. Finally, considering of the metal body, wireless charging is not supported.

HP Pro x3 hardware and pattern

The HP Pro x3 would accept been one of the more than premium Windows phones when information technology comes to design. HP swapped out the polycarbonate trunk of the Elite x3 with an aluminum body, featuring a metallic frame around all iv sides of the device that makes it look and feel nifty. It'due south cold to the touch and is ane of very few Windows phones to characteristic a metallic chassis.

The Pro x3 feels more premium than the Elite x3 did, and that's thanks to the chassis. In add-on, the metallic frame is cut in a way that makes it fade a footling better into the front drinking glass, further adding to the overall quality of this design. The glass on the front spans the entire face, unlike on the Elite x3, which had a metallic grill along the bottom for the front-facing speakers.

Regarding the front end design, the Pro x3 features nighttime gray accents along the height and bottom of the display and super thin side bezels. While the device still has a relatively large "chin" and "forehead," all 4 bezels are much thinner than what was nowadays on the Elite x3. Because of this, even though the Pro x3 technically has a bigger screen, the device is overall smaller in manus.

It'south thinner, too. Simply it'due south also slightly heavier than the Elite x3. I call back this adds to the premium feel of the device, but I know many people adopt their smartphones to experience light in the pocket. There are three buttons on the right side of the device (lock, volume upwards, and book down) that are positioned in the exact same place as on the Aristocracy x3.

Because this device was more consumer-focused and less enterprise orientated, it used the erstwhile-schoolhouse rounded HP logo on the back instead of the premium stylized logo found on the Aristocracy x3 and other premium HP products.

Then what happened to the HP Pro x3?

This device was briefly spotted during Mobile Globe Congress 2022 at HP'southward booth merely was swiftly removed from the show floor once images got out. It'due south unclear how the unannounced device ended up on display, just it was obvious that it wasn't supposed to be there.

I'm told HP was planning to launch the Pro x3 around the middle of 2022, which unfortunately means the Pro x3 was the victim of poor timing. Microsoft had already made the decision internally to begin winding down evolution of Windows x Mobile afterward the Creators Update, which launched in March 2022.

Microsoft had started communicating this with partners, and it's likely that is what killed the Pro x3. Why release a new flagship smartphone with a mobile platform that isn't going to be around for much longer? This too plays into why there were rumors that HP was working on an Android version of the Aristocracy x3 in tardily 2022. HP was attempting to load Android onto the Pro x3 since Windows 10 Mobile was going away. The visitor before long gave upwardly on this idea, and the Pro x3 was laid to rest.

So, in brusk, the reason the Pro x3 never shipped is basically on Microsoft. I'm certain other factors play into this, including market functioning of the Aristocracy x3, merely the primary source for the cancellation of this device tin be traced back to Windows 10 Mobile being killed off.

Final thoughts on the HP Pro x3

Every bit a Windows Telephone fan, I'm upset that this never shipped. Information technology's the phone I would've been using if I had the choice between the Aristocracy x3 and Pro x3, mainly considering of the premium build quality. I really like the metal back and sides of the device, and the thinner bezels effectually the forepart. It'south easier to handle and would've been cheaper.

Unfortunately, as with all smashing things with Windows Phone, it's expressionless now. Information technology would take been interesting to see HP successfully transport the Pro x3 with Android, merely I'm not sure how many consumers out at that place are interested in an Android smartphone from HP. Either way, the Pro x3 would have been an excellent addition to HP's Windows 10 Mobile lineup.

Pros:

Premium build quality.
Cheaper.
Flagship processor.

Cons:

Was never released.
IPS display.
Single down facing speaker.

Interested in other unreleased products?

We've been collecting and reviewing all kinds of unreleased devices. Bank check out some of our other reviews:

Nokia McLaren Review
Nokia Lumia 2022 Review
Unreleased "Bezel Free" Lumia Review
Microsoft Band three Review
Microsoft Lumia 650 Twoscore Review

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