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Windows OEMs Focus on Mobility, Connectivity at CES 2018
As this year's installment of the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) wraps up in Las Vegas, a theme has emerged. Microsoft and its hardware partners are increasingly focused on mobility, enabling PC users to take all of their digital workloads with them as they commute between the home, classroom, office, coffee shop and airport.
OEMs showcased a raft of new Windows 10 devices at CES aimed at helping users stay productive and connected wherever they are. Here are some of the highlights from this year's event.
Lenovo Miix 630
The Miix 630 is one of several detachables debuted by Lenovo. This device runs on Windows 10 S, a lightweight version of Windows 10 aimed at students, freelancers or other users who do the bulk of their computing outside the home or office. Lenovo touts the Miix 630 as an oversized smartphone, providing constant connectivity via built-in 4G LTE. It's also built for portability, with a total weight (tablet and keyboard combined) of 2.93 pounds and up to 20 hours of battery life. An included digital pen completes the package.
- Price: From $799.99 (tablet, keyboard and pen)
- Availability: Q2 2018
- More Info: Lenovo
Lenovo ThinkPad X280 and X380 Yoga
Lenovo also refreshed its ThinkPad lineup, introducing lighter-weight and thinner versions of the ThinkPad X. Both the X280 and the multi-way X380 Yoga (pictured) are ruggedized according to military specifications and suitable for "some of the world's most inhospitable places," according to Lenovo. Users can expect to charge their batteries to 80 percent in just one hour. The X280 promises up to 16.6 hours of battery life, and the X380 Yoga up to 13.6 hours.
- Price: From $999 for the X280, $1,459 for the X380 Yoga
- Availability: January 2018
- More Info: Lenovo
Dell XPS 13
The latest iteration of Dell's popular XPS 13 device is lighter, faster and sports a higher-res display than its predecessor. Coming in at 2.67 pounds and at just 3.4mm thick, with a battery life of up to 19 hours, the new XPS 13 is well-suited for power users on the go. Dell promises double the performance of the previous generation, while a new "Power Manager" feature gives users a better handle on their usage, from battery life to acoustics. It also comes with Windows 10's biometric features, including Windows Hello for security and the Cortana voice-activated assistant.
- Price: From $999 to $2,049
- Availability: Now available
- More Info: Dell
Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
The new XPS 15 2-in-1 is geared toward "both hobbyists and professional creators," according to Dell. The rotating touch- and pen-responsive screen supports the new productivity features in Windows 10. It also has ample processing power to run games, graphics-focused applications and large file sizes.
- Price: From $1,299.99
- Availability: April 2018 (United States)
- More Info: Dell
HP Envy x2
Another entry in the detachables space, HP's Envy X2 features a textured case that does double-duty as a keyboard and a kickstand, but also lays flat, letting users switch between tablet mode and traditional laptop computing. Travel-friendly features include a lightweight design, a backlit keyboard for typing in dim conditions, a battery that lasts up to 17 hours, and a 4G LTE option for situations when Wi-Fi is not available.
- Availability: Spring 2018
- More Info: HP
HP Spectre x360 15
For power users, HP also unveiled the new Spectre x360. The device is built to handle intensive, graphics-heavy workloads, including gaming, 4K video and 3-D files. It also supports digital inking with an optional HP Tilt Pen. The Spectre x360 15 comes in at 4.6 pounds and has a battery that lasts up to 13.5 hours on a single charge.
- Price: From $1,369.99
- Availability: March 18
- More Info: HP
Samsung Notebook 7 Spin
With its 360-degree touchscreen display, the Notebook 7 Spin from Samsung takes full advantage of the new productivity and media features that were launched with the Windows 10 "Creators Update." The 13.3-inch display can be flipped into a standing position for video viewing, or lay flat to mimic a tablet. An additional Active Pen accessory delivers digital inking capabilities, while a built-in voice recorder automatically records audio from lectures and meetings. In terms of battery power, Samsung promises that Notebook 7 Spin users will have enough power to keep "connected throughout the day."
- Availability: Q1 2018 (United States)
- More Info: Samsung
Acer Swift 7
Designed with on-the-go professionals in mind, the new Swift 7 promises up to 10 hours of battery life and high connectivity with built-in 4G LTE. It supports eSIM technology to let users quickly tap mobile data plans, and comes with a complimentary 1GB of mobile data courtesy of Transatel.
- Price: From $1,699
- Availability: March 2018 in North America, April 2018 in EMEA
- More Info: Acer
Asus NovaGo
Asus first took the wraps off the NovaGo last month at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Technology Summit, touting it as the industry's first gigabit LTE laptop powered by the Snapdragon processor. The company put the NovaGo in the spotlight again at CES. Based on Windows 10 S, the NovaGo boasts download speeds that are up to seven times faster than regular Wi-Fi, 22 hours of maximum battery life, up 30 days of modern standby, quick boot-ups, and multiple features to ensure constant connectivity. The multitouch display rotates 360 degrees and provides digital inking capabilities when used with the stylus accessory (not included).
- Price: $599 to $799
- Availability: Spring 2018
- More Info: Asus