Which Magazine?
verdict:
Very good tablet-laptop convertible 72%
LAUNCHED 07 JANUARY 2013TESTED 28 OCTOBER 2013
The HP Slatebook 10 x2 is a tablet which thinks it's a laptop, thanks to the detachable keyboard. The keyboard is easier to use than typing on screen, but does the Slatebook have the necessary processor power and battery life to make a good tablet-laptop combo? We ran it through our full test programme to find out.
PROS Detachable keyboard, fast processor, clear and bright screen, lots of ports.
CONS Heavy and bulky with keyboard attached, battery life of tablet alone is poor, not a laptop replacement
Although this tablet was at the top of its game when we tested it, new releases have now superseded it. We have updated the way that we test and evaluate tablets to reflect the latest developments in the market and under our new evaluation; this tablet is no longer a Best Buy. The Slatebook is a great Android tablet - the detachable keyboard gives the battery life a boost and makes typing a lot easier than using the onscreen keyboard. However, this is no replacement for a laptop.
What is it?
The Slatebook is a 10-inch tablet running Google's Android operating system. It comes with a detachable keyboard which contains an additional battery pack.
What's it like to use?
The high-resolution 1,920x1,200-pixel screen is crisp and sharp - great for watching films.
The Slatebook's 1.8GHz processor is very fast for a tablet, making for smooth video streaming and fluid web browsing. It also has enough power for simple work tasks such as word processing and email. And it took less than one minute to copy 500MB of data -so it shouldn't keep you waiting around.
Although the keys on the keyboard are a little cramped, it is still pleasant to use - which is good news for anyone who doesn't like typing on a touchscreen. And it's quick and easy to attach and detach the keyboard - so there's no fiddling around.
It has lots of useful connection ports, including a USB port, full SD card slot for transferring files and expanding the memory, and an HDMI output so that you can hook it up to a bigger screen, such as your TV.
The stereo speakers produce good sound - which is quite unusual for a tablet.
The build quality is tank-like - it feels sturdy, if a little chunky.
What's the battery life like?
Without the keyboard, you'll get around four and a half hours of video playback, or just under five hours of wi-fi web browsing. This is a little below average for a premium-priced tablet of this size. But add the keyboard which contains an additional battery and it should keep going for much longer. You'll get around 11 and a half hours of video playback or 12 hours of wi-fi web browsing. This doesn't quite live up to the likes of the iPad, but will still see you through a working day on one charge.
Is there anything I should watch out for?
When you have the keyboard attached, it's a heavy and bulky piece of kit, weighing in at 1.264kg. It's also not as stylish as the likes of the iPad or Sony Xperia Z tablet.
Is there anything else I should know?
At the time of testing it was running Android 4.2.2, which isn't the latest version of Android. However, there might be an upgrade coming down the line soon.
Should I buy it?
This is a good tablet - the keyboard makes it more useful for work tasks than your average tablet. However, it isn't a replacement for your laptop - so if you're after one main computing device, this probably won't do the job.