Here is the near-finalized HP Elite x3 'superphone' at Computex 2016

Microsoft and HP have started their ramp up to the HP Elite x3 megaphone running Windows 10 Mobile. The powerhouse of a device was featured in numerous promo videos from Microsoft, HP, and even Qualcomm (boasting about their Snapdragon 820 processor).

While on the ground at Computex in Taipei we managed to get our grubby hands on the near-finalized hardware for the future phone which you can see in our new video. The biggest change was the addition of the rear fingerprint reader, which while knew it was coming, was not yet built into the device back when the x3 was first announced a few months ago.

There is still no word on availability and pricing, but most guestimates put the phone releasing after the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which itself is expected at the end of July. The Elite x3 uses many new features found in that update including fingerprint reader support, Enterprise data protection for MDM (InTune), Ethernet support, and general improvements to Continuum, so it would make sense for its release to be timed with the Anniversary Update.

HP Elite x3 specifications

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CategoryFeatures
Product ColorHP Graphite
Operating SystemWindows 10 Mobile
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 820 (2.15 GHz, 4cores)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8996
Memory4GB LPDDR4 SDRAM (onboard) Dual channel x32 PoP 32Gbit
Internal Storage64GB eMMC 5.1
Display5.96" diagonal WQHD (2560x1440)
AMOLED multi-touch display
Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Anti-reflective coating
Available GraphicsQualcomm Adreno 530 GPU
Audio2 Stereo speakers (one with earpiece)
3 integrated omni-directional microphones with HP Noise Cancellation Software
1 external microphone (from headset jack)
Snapdragon Audio+ support
Audio by B&O PLAY
Wireless Technologies802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2x2)
WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 LE combo (Miracast supported)
NFC
WWAN:2G/3G/4G,LTE-A with carrier aggregation 4,5,6,13
Expansion Slots1 microSD (Expandable up to 2TB)
Ports and ConnectorsOne 3.5mm 3 and 4 pole headphone jack
1 USB 3.0 Type-C connector
Dual nanoSIM or nanoSIM + microSD card via 3-in-2 card tray
Pogo pins
Camera16MP f/2.0 FHD rear-facing camera
8MP FHD front facing camera and Iris camera
Available SoftwareHP Workspace
HP Device Hub
HP Registration and device onboarding
Adobe PDF Reader
Security ManagementElite x3 device has dual biometrics with Iris recognition and Fingerprint reader
FIPS 140-2 cryptography
Qualcomm processor includes Secure Boot
128-bitkey Unified Image Encryption
256-bitkey Full Disk Encryption
Anti roll back
fTPM2.0security; Windows 10 includes 128 key Bitlocker encryption
Enterprise grade VPN
Dimensions3.29 x 0.31 x 6.36 in
83.5 x7.8 x 161.8 mm
WeightStarting at 0.43lb
Starting at 195g
Power10W 5V/2 Aadapter
Non-removable 3.85V battery pack
4150 mAh Li-ion polymer
Wireless ChargingQi and PMA
SensorsAmbient light sensor + proximity combo
Accelerometer+gyro
eCompass
Pressure
Hall effect
NFC
GPS
Energy Efficiency ComplianceENERGY STAR certified
EPEAT Gold
registered where applicable
EPEAT registration varies by country
Durability featuresDesigned to pass IP67
Providing seals against liquid and dust ingress to IP67 rating
Designed to pass MIL-STD810G testing

HP is expected to sell the Elite x3 in direct business deals with its vast array of enterprise customers. While not marketed as a consumer device per se we are expecting the phone to be sold directly from Microsoft and HP for people who want one. The phone will likely be bundled with the desktop dock with the Mobile Extender ("ME Dock") coming in as a separate purchase.

You can read all our coverage of this exciting Windows 10 Mobile device on our main HP Elite x3 landing page or check out these in-depth articles about it below:

Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and watches. He has been reviewing laptops since 2015 and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, ARM processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.