The HP Elite Dragonfly debuted three and a half years in the past and has been one in all my favourite laptops ever since. So it’s maybe not stunning that I used to be desperate to see how HP would attempt to enhance on the close to perfection of its predecessors with this new era mannequin Elite Dragonfly.
I’ve but to be briefed on this new PC, however it seems that the theme this time round is “don’t repair what ain’t broke”: the Elite Dragonfly G4 that arrived as we speak seems to be almost similar, bodily, to the G3 model that I reviewed in October final yr. However there are some upgrades, in fact: the G4 is powered by a thirteenth Gen Intel Core i7-1365U processor, together with Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of SSD storage.
Just like the G3, the Elite Dragonfly G4 is a conventional clams shell laptop computer, the place earlier variations had been convertible PCs, and it carries ahead with the fantastic 13.5-inch 3:2 show panel, which on the overview unit presents a Full HD+ decision of 1920 x 1280 with no multitouch capabilities. It appears uniquely excellent for this kind issue.
The design is unassuming and premium, and it appears to be like and appears like the identical magnesium/aluminum mix with diamond-cut edges across the touchpad and comfortable, curved “pillow corners” on the show lid and base outer edges.
As at all times, I really like the discrete HP branding, particularly the Dragonfly textual content on the show hinge.
Connectivity appears to be like stable, with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth, and 5G mobile wi-fi. And growth appears to be like similar to the earlier mannequin (or almost so). There’s a full-sized HDMI port, a nano-SIM card tray, and a Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Sort-C port on the left.
And on the proper, we see a 3.5-mm mixture headphone/microphone jack, a full-sized USB-A port with a drop-jaw, a Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Sort-C port, and a nano lock slot.
As with different premium HP PCs, the Elite Dragonfly G4 sports activities Bang & Olufsen-tuned audio system, however there’s no Dolby Atmos immersive sound. The bundled HP Audio Management app can at the very least improve the speaker expertise primarily based on the content material you’re having fun with.
It’s not clear but what’s occurring with the webcam, although the earlier mannequin shipped with a wonderful 5 MP webcam and twin edge microphones. However the G4 does assist each Home windows Whats up fingerprint and facial recognition, and the keyboard has toggles for the webcam and microphones, which I wish to see.
The keyboard already feels superior to my fingers, so it seems that HP—which makes the perfect moveable keyboards within the PC trade—is carrying ahead this laptop computer’s finest function. The massive glass touchpad additionally seems to have carried ahead. If it’s good as its predecessor, you’ll hear no complaints from me.
The Elite Dragonfly G4 arrived with Home windows 11 Professional model 22H2, in fact, and extra third-party utilities than I’d wish to see. There are 11 HP utilities and 4 Intel utilities (together with a brand new one, Intel Unison), plus a superfluous TCO Licensed icon within the Begin menu that doesn’t serve any function. The one actual crapware is an Adobe presents entry.
Earlier Elite Dragonflies had been fairly costly, with beginning costs of about $2000, and I might be stunned if this was priced any in another way. However I’ll be taught extra about this PC and its availability quickly throughout my briefing and can report again quickly with a full overview. Thus far so good: I don’t see something stunning right here, and barring any unexpected points, suspect that it will measure as much as the standard of its predecessors.
Extra quickly.
