HP Slate 21
| Company type | Product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
| Founded | June 24, 2013 |
| Founder | Hewlett-Packard |
| Successor | HP Slate 21 Pro |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Android-based all-in-one computer / large tablet |
| Owner | Hewlett-Packard |
| Parent | Hewlett-Packard |
The HP Slate 21 is an Android-based computing device created by Hewlett-Packard, announced on June 24, 2013, and launched in September of the same year at a starting price of $399. It is marketed as either a large tablet or an All-in-One Computer desktop solution.
Equipped with a 21.5-inch touchscreen and powered by an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, the device does not include an internal battery. Operating on Android Jelly Bean, it received varied feedback; its Full HD IPS display and broad viewing angles were well received, while software limitations for the expansive screen drew criticism.
Hardware and design
The Slate 21 runs on a Nvidia Tegra 4 system-on-chip clocked at 1.66 GHz, paired with 1 GB of DDR3 RAM and 8 GB of built-in storage expandable through an SD card slot. It offers multiple connectivity options: three USB 2.0 ports, a 10/100Mbit/s Ethernet jack, a headphone output, Bluetooth 3.0, and dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11n).
Its 21.5-inch IPS display delivers a resolution of 1920×1080 with a glossy finish and supports two-point multi-touch input via an optical touchscreen technology that employs three cameras, unlike conventional capacitive touchscreens. A front-facing 2.1 MP camera enables HD video recording; however, the absence of an accelerometer restricts compatibility with some Android games.
The casing is constructed from white plastic and features an easel-style rear stand adjustable between 15 and 70 degrees. Additionally, it supports VESA mounting once the hinge screws are removed.
Included accessories are a USB keyboard and mouse; the keyboard incorporates Android-specific shortcut keys in place of traditional function and Windows keys.
Importantly, the Slate 21 lacks an internal battery and must remain connected to external power continuously, requiring shutdowns when unplugging or relocating.
Software
Operating on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the Slate 21 comes preloaded with applications such as Google Chrome, HP’s media playback software, and the mobile edition of Kingsoft Office.
Reception
Cherlynn Low from Tom's Guide provided a mixed assessment, describing the Slate 21 as an affordable all-in-one suitable for users with basic computing requirements. She commended its budget-friendly price point and display quality but pointed out drawbacks like limited internal storage and software constraints, including no support for running two apps simultaneously and absence of parental controls.
Sascha Segan and Joel Santo Domingo of PC Magazine assigned it a rating of 1 out of 5 stars, labeling the user experience as "painful" and fit only for minimal tasks. They criticized sluggish touch responsiveness, default behavior to mobile websites with oversized text, and insufficient memory (1 GB) alongside limited storage (8 GB).
Dave Oliver from Wired UK rated it 7 out of 10, acknowledging that while the Slate 21 was a sensible progression, the shortage of apps tailored for its large display meant it was "not quite ready" to replace traditional Windows PCs.
In contrast, Alun Taylor at The Register praised the product as "a rather good notion realised equally well," highlighting its screen quality and speakers while recommending it for home web browsing, light computing duties, social media use, and media playback.
HP Slate 21 Pro
Unveiled at the 2014 CES, the HP Slate 21 Pro offers enhanced specifications, including 16 GB of storage and 2 GB of RAM—twice the capacity found in the original Slate 21. It is equipped with an HDMI input and an upstream USB port, allowing it to function as a touchscreen monitor for standard Windows PCs. Additionally, the device comes with Citrix Receiver preloaded.
Michael Brown from PCWorld awarded the Slate 21 Pro a rating of four out of five stars, emphasizing its business-focused design while describing it as a "significantly better value" for consumers compared to the initial Slate 21, thanks to its expanded feature set.