HP Elite Dragonfly G2 review: Updated premium 2-in-1 gains performance, but not weight Review

HP’s Elite Dragonfly made an remarkable debut back in September 2019, with a slimline convertible structure and a starting fat of just below 1kg that made it one of the most portable thirteen.three-inch laptops on the marketplace. This year’s G2 update, announced at CES back in January, will not make any drastic modifications to that successful method, but it does deliver several enhancements that help to continue to keep this beautiful but high quality-priced ultraportable appropriate up to day. 

hp-elite-dragonfly-g2-main.jpg

HP’s high quality Elite Dragonfly G2 runs on Intel’s 11th-generation Main processors with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of SSD storage, with FHD or 4K touch screens. Mobile broadband (4G LTE or 5G) is out there as an selection.


Pictures: HP Inc  

Selling price & options 

Thankfully, the Elite Dragonfly G2 measures up from the eighth generation Intel Main processors of its predecessor (which appeared like an odd alternative even in 2019). HP’s US website now gives a selection of pre-built configurations using 11th generation Main i5 and Main i7 processors, starting at $1,819 for a model with a Main i5-1135G7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of reliable-point out storage and a thirteen.three-inch FHD touch screen (1920 x 1080, one hundred sixty five.6ppi). 

There’s also a ‘build your own’ selection out there in the US that delivers a selection of supplemental updates — or even downgrades if you want to help save some money with a Main i3 processor or a more compact SSD.  

Our assessment device integrated one major enhance, in the sort of a touch-delicate 4K touch screen (3840 x 2160, 331.26ppi). Other features integrated a Main i7-1165G7 CPU jogging at two.8GHz (up to four.7GHz with TurboBoost), 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a three-year warranty, all of which deliver the total rate to $two,118.forty. 

That develop-your-have selection won’t be out there in the United kingdom for a number of a lot more weeks, so prospects in the United kingdom now have to make do with just a single Elite Dragonfly G2 model that fees £1,319 (ex. VAT £1,582.80 inc. VAT) with a Main i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, an FHD display screen and HP’s not too long ago launched Wolf Security software. 

Design 

The Elite Dragonfly’s external structure has scarcely transformed at all for the G2 model, with the exact deep-blue ‘dragonfly’ finish that presents the laptop computer its identify, and a adaptable convertible structure that will allow you to fold the display screen appropriate back so that you can keep it like a tablet, or reverse the screen when providing displays to consumers or colleagues. It can be truly worth noting, even though, that the first Dragonfly — with its eighth-generation Main processors — is even now broadly out there on the web, so make guaranteed you pick the most current ‘G2’ model if you happen to be not buying right from HP. 

Top ZDNET Reviews

The Dragonfly’s ultraportable credentials continue being intact way too, irrespective of its improved efficiency and features: it even now measuring a svelte sixteen.1mm thick, 304mm broad and 198mm deep. And, even with the 4K display screen and larger sized 56Whr battery in our assessment device, the Dragonfly even now weighs in at just 1.04kg — a fat that even Apple’s 1.29kg MacBook Air are not able to match. You can pick it up with one hand really effortlessly when you want to transfer all around at home or in the business, and you are going to scarcely discover it if you happen to be carrying it in a bag whilst travelling. 

Features 

hp-elite-dragonfly-g2-sanitization.jpg

‘Sanitization’ manner temporarily disables the keyboard and touchpad so you can clean up and disinfect it.


Picture: HP Inc  

Just as remarkable as the Dragonfly’s lightweight structure is the fact that it hasn’t experienced to make many compromises to lower its sizing and fat. The strong magnesium casing consists of a business and responsive keyboard, which was presently spill-resistant but now also consists of a ‘sanitization mode’ that can be activated from the taskbar: this disables the keyboard and trackpad for two minutes so you can rapidly operate an anti-bacterial wipe about it devoid of getting to fully shut the program down. 

Connectivity is superior way too, with two Thunderbolt four ports, one USB-A, HDMI for connecting to an external display screen and a three.5mm jack that handles both of those audio enter and output. The only omission in this article is Ethernet — unavoidable, presented the Dragonfly’s slimline structure — so you are going to want an adapter or a hub if you want to use a wired community. However, wireless support is bang up to day, with Wi-Fi six (802.11ax) along with Bluetooth 5 and optional mobile broadband (4G LTE for $154 excess or 5G for $437). 

The High definition (720p) webcam is a minor disappointing in a high quality laptop computer such as this, although there is another model out there in the US — the Elite Dragonfly Max — that gives a 5MP digicam, an supplemental microphone, and even throws in a set of earbuds way too, for consumers who want to target on online video conferencing and collaboration. 

hp-elite-dragonfly-g2-sides.jpg

Remaining side (prime): USB-A, ability button, lock slot, SIM tray. Suitable side (higher than:) 2x USB-C Thunderbolt four, audio in/out, HDMI two..


Pictures: HP Inc  

The stand-out aspect with our customised assessment device is, of study course, the 4K display screen. This delivers 550 nits of brightness and supports HDR-400, ensuing in an attractively brilliant, vibrant and sharply thorough image. The display’s brightness and broad viewing angles will work well for displays way too, as will the incredibly loud and compact speakers, which are designed by Bang & Olufsen. 

It can be not excellent, even though. The shiny Gorilla Glass 5 panel is really reflective in brilliant sunlight, and the distinction could be enhanced way too. Lighter tones occasionally glance a minor washed out, and a rapid glimpse at HP’s data sheet reveals that the display screen only supports ninety five% of the sRGB color normal. That is sufficient for primary world-wide-web browsing, displays and streaming online video, but HP acknowledges that the Dragonfly is largely designed for common productiveness and business work, relatively than substantial-close graphics or structure work. 

Effectiveness & battery life 

The Dragonfly G2 is well suited to the purpose of responsible business workhorse. The stage up to 11th-generation Main processors means that the G2 model easily outpaces its predecessor, achieving Geekbench 5 CPU scores of 1565 (single core) and 4330 (multi core), when compared to 1115 and 2862 respectively for the to start with-generation model.  

Graphics efficiency is more powerful way too, stepping up from 50.7fps on the Cinebench R15 Open GL take a look at to a pretty respectable 85fps. Its built-in Iris Xe Graphics even manages 16fps in the demanding Unigine Valley benchmark.  

SEE: Cheat sheet: Home windows ten PowerToys (no cost PDF) (TechRepublic)

Admittedly, the Elite Dragonfly G2 is outpaced by rivals such as Apple’s M1-dependent MacBook Air, which scores 1730 (single core) and 7590 (multi core) on Geekbench 5, but the Dragonfly outguns the MacBook Air in most other respects, together with its 4K touch screen, convertible structure and connectivity — not to point out, of study course, sheer portability. 

Battery daily life is superior, but not exceptional. HP estimates a battery daily life of ‘up to sixteen.5hrs’ but which is barely definitive, presented the array of processor and display screen choices out there. The 550-nits 4K display screen applied in our assessment device clearly can take its toll on the battery, which lasted for just a couple of minutes quick of 7 hours when streaming online video via Wi-Fi from BBC iPlayer. You really should be able to stretch that out to a full 8 hours of work if you happen to be not using Wi-Fi all the time, but the 4K display screen is really ability-hungry, and it is a disgrace that the only two choices for the display screen are FHD and 4K, with very little in-among. 

hp-elite-dragonfly-g2-verdict.jpg

Picture: HP Inc

Conclusions 

Many ultraportable laptops have to make compromises to lower their sizing and fat, but HP’s Elite Dragonfly G2 manages to supply a completely-showcased and adaptable two-in-1 convertible, wrapped up in a lightweight and sophisticated structure that number of of its rivals can match. It can be not low-priced, and the 4K display screen does take a toll on battery daily life, but if portability is your prime precedence then the Dragonfly G2 will undoubtedly earn its continue to keep. 

Recent AND Relevant Information

HP Elite Dragonfly assessment: A prime-top quality lightweight thirteen-inch enterprise convertible

CES 2021: HP updates home business line-up with Elite Dragonfly G2 and Folio headlining

Dell Latitude 9420 assessment: A sleek 14-inch ultraportable with adaptable two-in-1 structure

Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable assessment: A deserving Surface area Professional alternate

Very best two-in-1 laptop computer 2021: Top hybrid notebooks

Examine a lot more reviews

Maria J. Danford

Next Post

2022 Genesis GV70 first drive review: Usurper of the throne

Wed Aug 4 , 2021
You can find a pecking buy in the luxurious-car organization. Excluding area of interest organizations that sell ultra-significant-conclusion autos, European makes like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo normally reign supreme. Then arrive the Japanese, who are a rung or two previously mentioned America’s Cadillac and Lincoln. This hierarchy is well […]

You May Like