HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook review
The HP HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook ranks as the #307 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 75. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #69-ranked features among 318 laptops. Consider the GIGABYTE AERO 17 or Dell XPS 17 9700, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a premium device with excellent display, keyboard, and trackpad. Its 12th gen Intel Core i5 processor, LTE, and 8GB RAM make it highly capable for Chrome OS tasks. Battery life is decent, but not spectacular. The issue lies in the hefty price tag, starting at $1150 for the base model. At this cost, other options like Windows laptops or MacBook Air are more compelling choices. Unless you're deeply invested in Google's ecosystem and value the Chrome OS experience above all else, it's hard to justify the expense.
Build
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook exudes elegance in its dark gray finish with subtle silver accents. Weighing 2.8 pounds and measuring just 0.65 inches thick, it's comfortable to use and easy to travel with. The sleek design is a deliberate choice for Enterprise users, who value understated style. Despite its slim profile, the laptop boasts an impressive array of ports, including USB-C, HDMI, and a Micro SD slot. A true showstopper is the stunning 13.5-inch touchscreen display with a 3x2 aspect ratio. Give HP ProBook 430 G7 a try—it’s designed to provide an unparalleled build.
Display
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook boasts an exceptional display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, providing more vertical space than a standard 16:9 screen. The configuration I tested features a 2256 x 1504 resolution, resulting in 200 pixels per inch for sharp text and images. With no visible pixels, this is the nicest screen on a Chromebook I've seen in a long time. The only minor drawback is its unremarkable 60Hz refresh rate, which shouldn't be an issue for most users. Overall, the display is stunning, making it easy to work and browse with comfort. Get your hands on HP Elite Dragonfly G3 if you're looking for better display.
Performance
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a powerhouse of a device, boasting a 12th generation Intel Core i5 processor, built-in LTE, 256GB of storage, and 8GB of RAM. This configuration provides seamless performance in Chrome OS, with swift app switching and playback of music and video. The high-resolution screen (2256 x 1504) looks stunning, with sharp text and images. Battery life is solid, offering 6-8 hours of normal usage. With this level of power, the only limitation is the price - starting at $1,150 for a model with an i3 processor and 128GB of storage. For that cost, you could buy a capable Windows laptop or MacBook Air. Consider discovering the power of HP EliteBook 830 G7, featuring the latest advancements in performance.
Battery and Charging
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook's battery life is solid but not spectacular, lasting around 6-8 hours with normal usage. The device charges relatively quickly, with the manufacturer claiming it can reach 50% charge in just 30 minutes. However, the high price point makes it difficult to recommend, especially considering more affordable options with similar specs and features.
Connectivity
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook offers an impressive array of ports, given its slim profile. You'll find two USBC Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A connection, a headphone jack, HDMI, and a Micro SD slot. This is a welcome surprise in a laptop this thin. The inclusion of these ports makes the Dragonfly a more practical choice for those who need to connect multiple devices or peripherals on-the-go. For a superior connectivity, HP Elite Dragonfly G3 could be the right choice.
Features
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook boasts an excellent display with a 3x2 aspect ratio and 2256 by 1504 resolution, providing more vertical view space. It features a firm keyboard, large responsive trackpad, and cutting-edge specs including a 12th gen Intel Core i5 processor and built-in LTE. A better alternative might be HP Elite Dragonfly G2, featuring a next-level features.
Support and Maintenance
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a premium device that shines in design and performance, but its high price point makes it hard to recommend. With no official support from Google, the future of Chromebooks is uncertain. HP's Enterprise focus might make sense for businesses, but individual buyers may want to consider more affordable options with better support.
Pros
1. the dragonfly is comfortable to work on and is easy to travel with
2. it has an excellent display with a 3x2 aspect ratio that provides more vertical View doing space than your average standard 16x9 screen
3. the keyboard and trackpad are also unsurprisingly excellent, the keys are firm but not too firm and have plenty of travel for a relatively thin laptop
4. the touchpad provides a very good experience overall, it's a haptic touchpad with customized vibrations for some specific actions
5. Cutting Edge specs with a 12th generation Intel Core i5 processor built-in LTE 256 gigs of storage and 8 gigabytes of RAM that's plenty for basically anything you want to do in Chrome OS
Cons
1. the cheapest model costs an eye-popping eleven hundred and fifty dollars, which is crazy money for a Chromebook
2. battery life is solid if not spectacular, I got between 6 and 8 hours of normal usage
3. for the cost of the dragonfly you could also pick up an extremely capable Windows laptop or MacBook Air
4. the price starts at over $1000, making it hard to recommend due to its high cost compared to other Chromebooks on the market
5. the screen has an unremarkable 60hz refresh rate, but that shouldn't be a major issue for most people
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