HP Elite x3 vs Microsoft Lumia 950 XL: A Detailed Comparison of Windows 10 Mobile Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a more responsive experience and future-proofing, the HP Elite x3 is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 820 chipset, built on a smaller 14nm process, offers a performance advantage over the Lumia 950 XL’s Snapdragon 810, despite the Lumia’s faster wired charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | HP Elite x3 | Microsoft Lumia 950 XL |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41 - EMEA | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40 - EMEA |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, 20, 29, 30 - Americas | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2016, February. Released 2016, August | 2015, October. Released 2015, November |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 161.8 x 83.5 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 3.29 x 0.31 in) | 151.9 x 78.4 x 8.1 mm (5.98 x 3.09 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 165 g (5.82 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins) MIL-STD-810G compliant* *does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~494 ppi density) | 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~518 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.96 inches, 97.5 cm2 (~72.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.7 inches, 88.5 cm2 (~74.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 350 nits (typ) | AMOLED |
| - | ClearBlack display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo) | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 530 | Adreno 430 |
| OS | Microsoft Windows 10 | Microsoft Windows 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.0 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, triple-LED RGB flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 1.31µm, PDAF | 20 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/2.4", 1.12µm, AF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, stereo sound rec., 1080p@30/60fps (after SW update) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Tuned by Bang & Olufsen | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE | 4.1, A2DP |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, magnetic connector | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Iris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Iris scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, sensor core |
| Microsoft Continuum support | Microsoft Continuum support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 10W wired Wireless (Qi) | 18W wired Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Music play | - | Up to 75 h |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 288 h (2G) / Up to 288 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 25 h (2G) / Up to 19 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 4150 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3340 mAh, removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gold, Graphite/Chrome | Black, White |
| Price | About 700 EUR | About 350 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -91.6dB / Crosstalk -89.3dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 62h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.837 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 74dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 84dB |
| Performance | - | Basemark OS II 2.0: 1472Basemark X: 32178 |
HP Elite x3
- More efficient Snapdragon 820 chipset
- Sleek and compact design
- Potential for smoother multitasking
- Slower 10W wired charging
- Smaller display size compared to the Lumia 950 XL
- Limited camera details available
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
- Faster 18W wired charging
- Larger display for immersive viewing
- Historically strong camera performance
- Less efficient Snapdragon 810 chipset
- Potential for thermal throttling under load
- Larger form factor
Display Comparison
Both devices share an identical contrast ratio specification of infinite (nominal) and 3.837 in sunlight, suggesting similar outdoor visibility. However, detailed panel characteristics like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are not provided. The Lumia 950 XL’s larger display size is a notable difference, potentially offering a more immersive viewing experience, but the Elite x3’s smaller form factor may appeal to users preferring a more pocketable device.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are advertised with photo and video capabilities, but specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, and image processing are absent. The Lumia 950 XL was known for its camera prowess during its release, often praised for its low-light performance. Without detailed specifications, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Lumia 950 XL likely holds an edge due to Microsoft’s historical focus on mobile photography. The absence of information on features like optical image stabilization (OIS) hinders a more precise comparison.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The HP Elite x3 utilizes the Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820, fabricated on a 14nm process, featuring a quad-core CPU with a Kryo architecture. This architecture, combined with the smaller node size, delivers improved performance and thermal efficiency compared to the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL’s Snapdragon 810 (MSM8994), built on a 20nm process. The 810’s octa-core configuration (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) attempts to compensate with core count, but the 820’s superior architecture and process node provide a clear advantage in sustained performance and reduced throttling. This translates to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking on the Elite x3.
Battery Life
Both devices boast a 62-hour endurance rating, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Lumia 950 XL offers significantly faster 18W wired charging compared to the Elite x3’s 10W charging. Both support Qi wireless charging, though market availability of this feature on the Lumia 950 XL was dependent on region. The faster charging on the Lumia 950 XL is a practical benefit for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery, while the Elite x3’s more efficient chipset may offset the slower charging speed with longer overall usage time.
Buying Guide
Buy the HP Elite x3 if you need a device that prioritizes smooth multitasking, benefits from the more efficient Snapdragon 820, and appreciate the potential for Continuum desktop integration. Buy the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL if you prioritize camera performance, especially in low-light conditions, and value the faster 18W wired charging, understanding that the older chipset may exhibit more thermal throttling under sustained load.