HP has joined the growing roster of manufacturers equipping their products with the burgeoning USB-C standard.
The company today unveiled a hybrid laptop that ships with the new port, following suit from Apple’s latest 12-inch MacBook.
Unlike the MacBook however, the new version of the Pavilion x2 doesn’t just come with a USB-C port.
It also has a host of other ports, including a comparatively archaic USB 2.0 connector.
It’s expected that USB-C will appear on a large number of products throughout the year, as manufacturers rush to utilise the new standard.
As well as Apple’s MacBook, we’ve seen USB-C included on a number of products including smartphones, a tablet, and a thumb-drive.
What’s special about USB-C is that unlike standard USB, the new connection is reversible.
This means that just like Apple’s Lightning connector, USB-C can be plugged in either way up.
It can also charge large devices like laptops, while current USB connections simply can’t provide enough power.
Other perks include boosted bandwidth for carrying display signals, and increased data speeds.
Related: Best Laptops, Ultrabooks and Hybrids 2015
Aside from its connection credentials, the Pavilion x2 is not incredibly exciting, and lands as an iterative update.
The device makes use of a 10.1-inch touch display, a quad-core Intel Atom processor, and 32GB of built-in storage.
The biggest improvement with the new version is that removing the keyboard leaves you with a somewhat stylish tablet, compared to its ugly, bulky forebear.
There’s no UK release or pricing information just yet, however, it’s due to go on sale in the US from July 21 for $300 (£190). Just don’t expect a huge selection of USB-C accessories to be available alongside it…
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
