Up close with HP's Elite x2 hybrid

HP's Elite x2 is a thin, fanless Windows tablet that transforms into a laptop by magnetically snapping into a fabric-backed keyboard dock that flips up to cover the screen.

When closed, the Elite x2 looks like a fabric-bound notebook, complete with pen...

...but pop out the integrated kickstand and flip down the keyboard, and it works like a laptop PC.

Each HP Elite x2 comes with both the stylus pen and the keyboard cover for free. No need to buy the keyboard separately like with Microsoft's Surface Pro.

The pen can fit right underneath the lip of the keyboard, where magnets (the same strong magnets that let you snap the two halves of the PC together) hold the pen in place as well.

With screws underneath the kickstand, you can open up the Elite x2 to change its battery, storage or Wi-Fi module. (You may need to wait for this animated GIF to load.)

Even with the keyboard cover attached, the HP Elite x2 weighs under 2 pounds and is just half an inch thick.

You don't get a lot of ports with the Elite x2: one full-size USB 3.0 port, one microSD slot for expanded storage, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the USB-C port you'll use for charging and docking.

Around back, you do get a handy fingerprint reader to quickly sign into Windows. It's the swipe-your-finger-across variety, not one where you just touch your finger down.

While the Elite x2 has Bang & Olufsen-branded speakers, they're nothing to write home about. The screen, on the other hand, is crisp and colorful with wide viewing angles.

One last shot of the new Elite x2.

Don't confuse the new Elite x2 for last year's model, which had a fabric tri-fold kickstand instead of the current metal arm that pops out of the frame. Last year's model is the 1011, this year's is the 1012.