The Elite Dragonfly has been HP's go-to super light and premium laptop, but for 2022, it's finally fixing its biggest flaw.
What you need to know
- The 3rd Gen Elite Dragonfly finally gets a 3:2 display and goes up to 3K OLED
- The G3 version also adopts Intel 12th Gen Evo and vPRO processors.
- However, HP has reverted the design to a clamshell laptop instead of a convertible.
- Look for the new Elite Dragonfly G3 later in March.
The Elite Dragonfly is a fantastic business laptop that merges high-end consumer design with pro-business features. It's incredibly light at less than 1kg, comes in a fantastic slate blue colorway, and can go up to a 3K resolution.
HP has made some exciting changes for 2022 and the third generation "G3" model.
First up, it now has a taller 13.5-inch 3:2 display, whereas the previous version had a very cramped 13.3-inch 16:9 one. You can also now get it in silver if blue is too bold for you.
And because the screen is taller, the keyboard deck now needs to match it, meaning HP can add in a taller trackpad too. Even the keyboard now has larger spill-resistant keys.
Surprising no one, HP is also upgrading to new 12th Gen Intel processors with vPro and Intel Evo certification, maximizing performance and battery life.
HP Elite Dragonfly G3 in new natural silver.
| Category | HP Elite Dragonfly G3 |
|---|---|
| Display | 13.5-inch 3:2 WUXGA (1920x1280) or 3K2K OLED (400 nits) |
| Processor | Intel 12th Gen Intel vPRO, Intel Evo |
| Graphics | Intel |
| Memory | Up to 32GB LPDDR5 (soldered) |
| Storage | Up to 2TB PCIe SSD |
| Front Camera | 5MP (separate RGB and IR sensors) with HP Sure Shutter |
| Security | Windows Hello IR and fingerprint |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.2 Optional: 4G LTE, 5G, NFC, Tile |
| Ports | 1x USB-A 3.1 (charging port) 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) HDMI 2.0 Nano SIM slot Combo Headphone/Mic |
| Audio | Quad speakers with discrete amplifiers |
| Battery | HP Long Life 4-cell 45WHr and 6-cell 68WHr Fast Charge Up to 100W Type-C charger |
| Dimensions | 297.4 x 220.4 x 16.4 mm (16.9mm in AG) 11.71 x 8.68 x .65 in (.35 in AG) |
| Weight | Starting at 2.20 lbs. / .99 kg (Weight will vary by configuration) |
| Colors | Slate blue or Natural Silver Hybrid Mg/Al |
However, one odd choice is the dropping of the "x360" branding from this laptop, which makes sense since it is no longer a convertible. Yup, HP has reversed itself and made this laptop a traditional clamshell (that can lay flat), but now lacks the inking ability of its predecessor. Instead, HP made a new Elite Dragonfly Chromebook Enterprise, which features that 360-degree design.
Think of the new HP Elite Dragonfly G3 as a supped-up Microsoft Surface Laptop as they both share similar screen dimensions.
You can now configure it up to 32GB of RAM (still soldered, however, but it's LPDDR5), 2TB PCIe SSD, up to a 68WHr battery, opt for 5G and even add in Tile support (to track your laptop if misplaced).
For conferencing, HP continues the 2022 trend of separating the IR and RGB sensors into two separate cameras to give higher fidelity to the RGB (webcam) for meetings. And, while the Elite Dragonfly Max had an exclusive 5MP full HD camera, it is now part of the regular Elite Dragonfly G3.
Rounding out that focus on video conferencing is HP Presence with "AI-driven audio and lifelike video," four discrete amps working together to create immersive sound, HP Dynamic Voice Leveling, and human presence detection (to auto-lock and unlock your PC when you leave and approach it).
HP Elite Dragonfly G3 is expected to be available in March. Pricing will be available closer to product availability but usually begins around $2,000.
