What’s new? What do we think? What do you need to know? New devices are being pitched at the education market all the time. INTERFACE Editor Greg Adams checks out an upgrade to a TELA favourite.

HP chose well when it decided to call this range ‘Elite’. The latest model – Elite x2 1012 G2 – remains a stylish, 2-in-1 Windows device built to impressive standards … but with a few tweaks and improvements.

There’s a subtle updating of the look of the keyboard. Everything’s a little squarer and angular, more modern. The speakers are now facing front. The decreased bezels has increased the display to 12.3 inches. Even the case has a more leathery, upmarket feel. Yet, it’s no shrinking violet either, having passed the US military’s drop-em and bash-em MIL-STD 810G testing.

The LED-backlit, multi-touch display is better than Quad High Definition (2736 x 1824). It offers simultaneous pen and touch (with palm rejection), meaning writing and sketching is nice and natural.

Packs a mighty punch

The tablet weighs in at a measly 803grams and is 8.05mm thick. Nevertheless, inside, it still manages to pack a mighty punch with a Core i7 processor and 256GB Solid State Drive. As you’d expect, HP’s security solutions are standard. The model available via the MOE Laptops for Teachers Scheme will also include the USB-C Travel Hub. This definitely brings added convenience by providing HDMI/VGA, two additional ports and power pass through.

Lastly, battery power seems fine. The paperwork says 10 hours, 15 minutes. It put in a good day’s shift at the INTERFACE office, with juice to spare (besides it only takes half hour for a half charge).

This is a quality machine. It looks and feels good, and performs extremely well. For your next TELA upgrade, give it some serious consideration.

Performance: 

Design: 

Affordability: