The HP Elite x3 is one of the few smartphones that uses Windows 10 Mobile. In the menu sequence and design, the system does not differ from any other smartphones with Windows 10 Mobile, since there are no provisions for customization by a manufacturer. In the course of the test, our device has received the current Creators Update which brings numerous innovations. For example, further Bluetooth APIs were added, microSD cards can now be encrypted, Windows Hello was improved, and much more. Furthermore, there is now a 3D Viewer app, which allows viewing 3D models on the smartphone. The fbx, obj, stl, and 3mf file formats are supported. You can find a detailed list of the innovations at our colleagues' site at WinCentral.

With the Elite x3, it is also possible to run x86 applications. This does not happen on the Phablet itself, but in a virtual machine in the cloud. For this purpose, HP offers its own Workspace solution. This is offered in two variants, which differ in the performance of the Cloud-VM and the number of programs that can be used. To run a program in the cloud, it is first sent to the HP cloud service, which then checks it and installs it in its own Workspace environment. Data transfer or printing are possible as in conventional VM environments and do not represent any obstacles. The user benefits from the maintenance-free hardware and high system security and can fully concentrate on his work.

HP Workspace is an optional product. The Essential package offers a single workspace with a two-core vCPU, 4 GB of RAM, and up to ten programs that can be installed for unlimited usage. The Premium variant has twice the RAM and enables an unlimited number of programs. HP Workspace is available starting from $579 per year (Euro prices upon request), which represents a comparatively affordable entry into cloud computing. Those who already have their own server infrastructure can also work with a conventional remote connection, which is supported by Windows 10 Mobile and worked well in our test.