Category: Laptops

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iPad Pro (2018) Review:

Laptop Alternative or Overpriced Tablet?

The iPad is a device that Apple has been marketing to the masses as a computer. A device that you can play, work, and create on. While the iPad is a device that you can do pretty much anything (except code) on, thanks to an awesome set of apps made available by the talented iOS’s developer community, along with great contributions by Apple as well.

The iPad Pro on the other hand, is the top-tier device in the lineup that Apple has been trying to push to the masses as THE laptop replacement. The laptop-benchmark-beating specs are present, and for the first time Apple has added the industry standard, future -proof USB-C in place of it’s proprietary lightning port as well. Is that enough to place the iPad Pro at the top, the apex of computing? Read on to find out.

The iPad Pro has an 11-inch LED Liquid Retina display with IPS (in-plane switching) has a pixel resolution that comes out to 2388-by-1668 at 264 pixels per inch, with ProMotion technology that boosts the frame rate to 120 from the standard 60 frames per second. Touch ID is absent, so the front is nearly all screen with just enough bezel to allow the iPad to be manageable for it’s size. It’s also (P3) Wide color display compliant.

The display is crisp and color accurate, definitely one of the best on the market. Photographers, Professionals working in industries where color accuracy is paramount, will have a blast working on the go on the latest iPad Pros.

The Bencharks

Geekbench 4 Compute Scores
Geekbench 4 CPU Scores

The Antutu scores are off the charts as well with the latter iPad Pro scoring nearly twice as much as the 2017 iPad Pro 5th generation. Apple’s A12X processor is a beast and a benchmark achievement (no pun intended) far as mobile processing is concerned, but the Intel Core i7 (8th gen) inside the Lenovo Legion Y740 gaming laptop scored 819612 (with 13 tabs open in the Edge Browser while Forza Street downloading in the background), so I wouldn’t say it’s time to take desktop level workloads mobile just yet.

Antutu Benchmark Score
Antutu Benchmark Ranking

This is in large due to limitations in iOS more than anything else, so let’s hope Apple has more iPad focused features come this fall when iOS 13 is released.

Conclusion

So who’s the newest model of the iPad Pro for? The mobile businessman (or woman) who wants the best Apple has to offer, the photographer, visual designer or CAD modeler who wants to make sure the device they use on the go has all the power that they would need. The videographer or musician, who would like to converge the best touchscreen tools into their traditional workflow and setup are the exact demographic that Apple made the iPad Pro for. Creative professionals who want access to the same power on the go as they have in their work environments. In fact, the iPad Pro is such a luxury tier model of the iPad family that it’s hard to justify its price without it being used for work in some capacity. The other, cheaper iPads serve as great media consumption device just fine.

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HP comes out swinging with the Chromebook X2

There’s no other way to say it, Chromebooks have come a long way.

The HP Chromebook X2 is a well-built premium detachable running Chrome OS, which is both the biggest strength and greatest limitation of the device. I say this because Google’s ChromeOS has a reputation for not being good for much more than Web browsing and watching videos. But over the last few years, there have been tons of changes made to being the operating system up to snuff with MacOS and Windows 10. Read on for more info about that, but for now let’s check out the internals of the HP Chromebook X2.

I have to admit the hardware is premium, from the Pogo Keyboard to the aluminum trimmed tablet – the X2’s build quality is top-notch. The stainless steel and ceramic build of the top-screen half, where all of the internals reside, is light thin. The weight of the internals, from the Hard Drive to the Processor – are evenly balanced along the 2K Display. Yes ladies and gentleman,the HP Chromebook X2 is a well designed and engineered device. 

    HP Chromebook x2 Specs

  • Processor: Intel Core m3-7Y30
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 32GB
  • Ports: Two USB-C, microSD, headphone jack
  • Display: 12.3-inch, 2400 x 1600 pixel
  • Battery: 48Wh, rated to 10.5 hours
  • Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.32 x .33 inches
  • Weight: 3.07 lbs. with keyboard; tablet 1.62 lbs.
  • Keyboard (not backlit) and stylus included

Chrome + Linux + Android Apps = 
ChromeOS for the General Consumer

 

 The HP Chromebook X2 keeps the latest version of Chrome installed, as the OS updates automatically during reboot. As of today (12/6/2018) its running on Chrome OS 71.0.3578.85. The 12.3-inch display packs 2400 x 1600 pixels across its vibrant screen. The Chromebook X2 sports the same display that you’ll find on the Google’s 2017 Pixelbook.  

You wouldn’t be blamed for assuming that Chrome OS is nothing more than a glorified browser with web shells posing as apps – IF this was last year. But now, the light web-centic OS has two tricks up it’s sleeve; Android andLinux apps.

These two features open up productivity and work options that make Chromebooks one step closer to being an all-around, do all platform. The inclusion of the Google Play store means tools like Microsoft Office, Powerdirector (Video Editing) and Adobe Touch Apps, and FL Studio Mobile (Music Production) are now available for ChromeOS – even if these apps arent as full featured as their Desktop counterparts.

 When it comes to multitasking and stability, HP’s Chromebook X2 holds it’s own against the Surface and Macbook Pros of the world.

 

Linux Apps on the other hand, (which were just released out of beta) – is a bit rough around the edges. Programs now have been granted storage access along with Chrome and Android apps, but features like audio or video streaming and recording aren’t available from Linux Apps/Programs as of today (12-7-2018).

 

 

 

Benchmarks and Performance

 The Intel Core m3-7Y30 surpasses just about every Android flagship of 2018 in the Geekbench scores, with an impressive score of 3515 (Single-core) and 6786 (multi-core) .

 

 The single core benchmark comes in a nearly twice the score of the Galaxy Note 8.

 

 

While the multi-core scores we’re a little more modest, the Chromebook x2 did manage to score 300 points higher than the Note 8.

Conclusion

 

The HP Chromebook X2 is an excellent all around 2-in-1, with a build that rivals the Surface Pro, with the thin and sleek build of a MacBook. The addition of Android and Linux apps make for a compelling alternative to more popular computers. Just make sure to add an SD card and not expect much out of Linux Development for now.

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