HP's new Windows 10 phone arrives in August, won't play 'Pokémon Go'

HP's one of the few companies keeping up the good fight for Microsoft's all-but-dead Windows 10 Mobile platform.

The Elite x3 phablet that I called "the hero Windows 10 Mobile needs" when it was announced in February now has a price and release date: It starts at $699 and launches on Aug. 29.

A bundle, which includes the Desk Dock -- which enables Continuum for use with a monitor and keyboard and mouse, and adds additional ports -- will sell for $799 and also ship on the same date.

Pricing and release for a second bundle with the Elite x3, Desk Dock and Lap Dock (originally called Mobile Extender) laptop shell are TBA.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

As I said in my hands-on earlier this year, the HP Elite x3 isn't a bad phone. The plastic device has a huge 5.96-inch Quad HD display and Bang & Olufsen audio.

It also packs powerful performance that rivals premium Android phones with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card) and 4,150 mAh (milliamp-hour) battery and 16-megapixel rear and 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

It's a good deal on paper, but it runs Windows 10 Mobile, which has been in decline since Microsoft stopped pushing it hard about a year ago. Pokémon Go isn't even on it and likely never will be.

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But this phone is aimed at businesspeople, you say! That's true. It's very much a phone designed for suits and the enterprise. Who knows, maybe it'll be a hit with the IT crowd even if they can't play Pokémon Go or Snapchat with it.

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