After several days of trying out the new HP Elite x3 at the CRN Test Center, we're not ready yet to predict whether this is the future of computing. But the device is definitely futuristic. It feels legitimate to say, as HP does, that the Elite x3 is a new category of device-the "3-in-1.

Everything about HP's Elite X3 seems like a gamble. It's the company's first phone in two years, and it's the first major Windows Phone device since Microsoft's Lumia 950 debuted last year.

Workspace virtualized apps are something special; Desk Dock provides an excellent Continuum experience; Two (not one!

Extremely high price out of reach for most consumers; Workspace interface could use some ease-of-use refinement; Mediocre camera

What if there was one device to replace them all? What if you no longer needed a laptop or a desktop to get work done? That's what HP is trying to provide with the new Elite X3 phone.

The HP Elite X3 is a high-end Windows phone built with serious business in mind.

HP's Elite x3 smartphone has achieved at least one thing: It has triumphantly realized Microsoft's dream of phones that could eventually replace your PC. Microsoft's vision was meaningless unless those phones could support the PC's legacy apps.

The HP Elite x3 looks like a great solution for enterprises that want to consolidate their hardware layouts, are willing to buy into the full Microsoft stack (Office 365, Skype for Business, SharePoint, domains) and don't allow BYOD.

Big, clear screen; Easily IT managed; Integrates well with Microsoft Cloud and Salesforce; Turns into a desktop or laptop with Continuum

Not as well supported by third parties as Android or iOS device; Continuum only works with a limited subset of apps; Main camera experienced focus problems in testing

It may be all work and no play, but the $699 HP Elite x3 is far from dull. It's the flagship Windows 10 Mobile device for the year, and it's potentially a mobile worker's dream when supported by the right line-of-business apps. In the hands of the right IT department, it can be a clean, secure mobility solution that replaces corporate-liable phones, tablets, and thin-client terminals with one set of devices. The phone isn't going to appeal to individuals, though, as it lacks many apps and experiences average users want. Physical FeaturesThe Elite x3 ($549.99 at Amazon) is a very large phone. It measures 6.26 by 3.29 by 0.31 inches (HWD) and weighs a hefty 6.84 ounces. It has a striking 6-inch, 2,560-by-1,440 screen. Below the screen, there's a chrome bottom bezel with a stylized speaker grille highlighted by a small Bang & Olufsen logo. An 8-megapixel camera, which includes an iris scanner for Windows Hello facial recognition, sits above the screen. The phone is water (3 feet ...

The HP Elite x3 is an unusual business-focused phone that could really pay off for imaginative IT departments.

Big, clear screen; Easily IT managed; Integrates well with Microsoft Cloud and Salesforce; Turns into a desktop or laptop with Continuum

Not as well supported by third parties as Android or iOS device; Continuum only works with a limited subset of apps; Main camera experienced focus problems in testing

HP touts the new Elite x3 as more than just a smartphone. Instead, it says the $699 device can serve as a 3-in-1 system for work. When bundled with a desk dock for $799 or with both a desk dock and a lap dock for $1,299, the Elite x3 can expand into a full-on PC workstation.

Transforms from phone into mini PC; Dual SIM option; IT-department friendly; Impressive battery life

Windows Phone lacks apps; Difficult to type with one hand; Occasional lags when switching apps

Imagine being able to carry around your PC in your pocket, using it as a smartphone by itself and as a full-fledged PC when connected to a display, keyboard, and mouse. For people who work on the road or in multiple locations, that sounds like nirvana.

Imagine being able to carry around your PC in your pocket, using it as a smartphone by itself and as a full-fledged PC when connected to a display, keyboard, and mouse. For people who work on the road or in multiple locations, that sounds like nirvana.