Hands-on: HP’s new Elite Dragonfly G3 with 3:2 display is one light, good-looking laptop
With an all-new form factor, taller display, and 12th Gen Intel, HP’s Elite Dragonfly G3 looks like a winner.
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CES 2022 was a busy time if you’re into the world of laptops and PCs (see ourbest of CESfor a recap). Between Intel and AMD announcing next-gen processors and the sheer number of new laptops revealed, this year’s CES was easily one of the most PC-centric CES events in modern history.
HP had plenty of devices, too, mainly focused on the enterprise segment, but it was the refreshedElite Dragonfly G3that caught our attention. Ditching a 16:9 display for a taller 3:2 and delivering a completely new design language, this Elite Dragonfly could be one of the more interesting professional Ultrabooks for 2022.
HP sent us a (mostly) working prototype of the Elite Dragonfly G3, and I compared it to theoriginal model. Here’s what you need to know.
HP Elite Dragonfly G3: Who’s it for and what’s new
The Elite Dragonfly is unique amongst HP’s laptop lineup. HP has its Spectre line (high-end consumer products like theSpectre x360 14), while the 1000 series EliteBooks are its premium business laptops.
The Elite Dragonfly fits in between those two product lines.
With a full HDMI port, Sure View privacy screen, IntelvPro, and HP’s security suite of software, the Elite Dragonfly is enterprise-friendly and brings some prosumer flair to its design like discrete amplified quad speakers, IntelEvo, and optional high-res OLED.
For 2022, HP made the following significant changes to G3 from G2:
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There are also a lot more changes to the overall design language. For instance, one complaint I’ve had, in general, with laptops is when OEMs create sharp edges near the palm rest. While the angles look good on a short keyboard deck, they can dig into your palms, causing discomfort. That was the case with the original Elite Dragonfly and G2 versions. With G3, the edges of the laptops are all now smooth and rounded, making them much more comfortable to use.
Interestingly, HP has shifted from a very blue colorway to a darker blue that looks like a mix between the original Dragonfly Blue and the Sparkling Black of 2021’s HPElite Dragonfly Max. There’s also a Natural Silver option, which matches HP’s EliteBook product line.
The four speakers have moved slightly, with two now on the bottom front edge and the others behind the keyboard. Audio is booming and clear thanks to all four featuring discrete amplifiers.
The most significant change, however, is that much taller 3:2 display. I’ve been arguing for this screen aspect ratiosince 2018, not only because you see so much more content, but also because of the resulting design changes, including the need for a more extended keyboard deck to match that taller screen. That gives you two substantial benefits:
With the Elite Dragonfly G3, we get just that. The new touchpad is massive, and this laptop is simply more comfortable on which to type compared to the cramped older one.
The other major difference is shifting from a 2-in-1 convertible laptop with pen support to a non-touch clamshell. I can’t recall many times where an OEM has completely shifted a laptop’s design so much and kept the same name. I’m going to assume that HP saw that data, and most of its customers were OK with it just being a regular laptop (HP still offers the brand-newEliteBook x360 1040 G9to fill that niche).
HP Elite Dragonfly G3: More to come
Overall, the feel of the Elite Dragonfly G3 is radically different from the G2 model, but in a good way. Weighing just 2.2 pounds and with that larger 13.5-inch screen, this is one of the lightest laptops I’ve used with this many ports and features.
Of course, this is just a prototype, so things like the 12th Gen Intel processor are not yet optimized or ready for testing. There are also features not working, like the 5MP webcam, so it is too early for more in-depth comparisons.
We’ll be doing more on HP’s refreshed product line in the coming months. As to when you can get the new Elite Dragonfly G3, HP says it is expected to be available in March (assuming there are no supply constraints). Pricing will be available closer to product availability, but the Elite Dragonfly usually begins at around $2,000.
Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central. He is also the head reviewer,podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007, when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and watches. He has been reviewing laptops since 2015 and is particularly fond of 2-in-1 convertibles, ARM processors, new form factors, and thin-and-light PCs. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.
