What you need to know
- Elite Dragonfly weighs just 2.2lbs with a 4K display.
- Elite Dragonfly gets up to 24 hrs battery, has LTE.
- This is another Intel Project Athena creation.
- Available November globally starting at $1,549.
Imagine if HP combined its business-focused EliteBook series with the chic design of its consumer Specter laptops. The result would be the brand-new Elite Dragonfly. And, yes, that is its real name.
A closer look at HP's Elite Dragonfly
The Elite Dragonfly is a standard 13-inch convertible Ultrabook aimed at premium business users. Specifically, the Elite Dragonfly is for those who travel a lot but who also want an aesthetically pleasing laptop that lasts a full day. But it is all the smaller details that matter, and HP is breaking new ground in laptop design with the Elite Dragonfly. Weighing just under 1 kg (or 2.2 lbs), this PC is fast, agile, and packed with a ton of tech.
Three display options offer a 4K HDR display (550 nits), optional privacy protection with HP Sure View, and full HD (1,000 nits) or regular full HD panel (400 nits). Those displays have an impressive 86 percent screen-to-body ratio.
For processors, HP is using the 8th Generation Intel U-series (Core i5-8365U and Core i7-8665U) with vPro, which were announced in April this year. These CPUs bring added security, manageability, and scalability for businesses while also being clocked higher than non-vPro versions. RAM goes up to 16GB of DDR3 along with up to 2TB of storage, though users can also choose a 512GB solid-state drive (SSD) with 32GB of Intel Optane for exceptional performance.
| Category | DeviceNameTKTKTK |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 Home or Pro |
| Display | 13.3 inches, 16:9 aspect ratioFull HD, Full HD w/Sure View, 4K UHD HDR400 |
| Processor | Intel 8th Gen U-series w/vProCore i3, i5, or i7 |
| Graphics | Intel UHD 620 |
| Memory | 8 or 16GB DDR3 (2,133MHz) |
| Storage | Up to 2TB NVMe512GB PCIe NVMe w 32GB Intel Optane H10 |
| Front camera | 720P HD, HD Privacy IR webcam |
| Security | Face and fingerprint |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, 4G LTE Cat 16 (optional) |
| Ports | 2x Type-C with TB31x Type-A 3.1HDMI 1.4Headphone |
| Audio | Quad Bang & Olufsen |
| Battery | 38 or 56 WHr16.5 or 24.5 hours battery life |
| Dimensions | 11.98 in x 7.78 in x 0.63 in30.43 cm x 19.75 cm x 1.61 cm |
| Weight | Starting at 2.2 lb (0.99 kg) |
| Colors | Dragonfly Blue |
| Price | Starting $1,549 |
| Availability | November, global |
Quad-firing Bang & Olufsen speakers (two on the top deck, two below) provide premium audio that matches the excellent display.
Ports are also exceptional, catering to those who still need some legacy ports for work. Despite how small the Elite Dragonfly is, HP squeezed in one Type-A 3.1 port, two Type-Cs with Thunderbolt 3, a full HDMI 1.4 port and a headphone jack.
HP is also switching to a CNC-machined magnesium alloy for the chassis for the first time, which is then coated with unique material. This finish gives the laptop what HP calls its "Dragonfly Blue" color, and it is oleophobic, so the computer does not collect fingerprints. The chassis is also durable, and HP ran 19 military spec 810G tests to make sure it holds up on the road.
Wi-Fi 6 and optional 4G LTE (Gigabit) ensure this laptop is always connected thanks to the hidden 4x4 antenna. HP also worked closely with Intel on its Project Athena program for instant-on and long battery life. HP states the standard 38Whr Elite Dragonfly can achieve up to 16.5 hours of battery life, but another version packs a larger 56WHr battery and gets a claimed 24.5 hours.
For security, there is a full HD web camera with a privacy shield, and yes it has Windows Hello infrared for facial recognition and a fingerprint reader, too.
Another first for HP is using recycled plastic from the ocean for the Elite Dragonfly's speaker housing. The company says it plans to use such tech in all its laptops by 2020.
HP Elite Dragonfly first impressions
HP is combining the best of its two separate EliteBook and Spectre teams. The laptop is absurdly light, but it does not feel flimsy nor too flexible. The Dragonfly Blue color is so bizarrely blue it affects our camera's sensor. The fact that this is the first laptop with a built-in oleophobic finish is also noteworthy.
The keyboard follows the HP Spectre series, but HP notes it is significantly quieter than previous versions. Two-stage backlighting keeps things easily visible too. The giant glass Microsoft Precision touchpad feels excellent. And the displays look fantastic, mostly due to the direct-bonded glass and exceptional brightness that provides very vivid color reproduction.
The fact that this laptop also turns into a tablet or goes into presentation mode using a dual-hinge design is also impressive considering its weight. The included HP Active Pen (Gen 3) should provide an exceptional inking experience.
Combined with 4G LTE (optional), Wi-Fi 6, and what HP says is crazy battery life, this laptop could be a disruptor in the premium business world.
Look for the HP Elite Dragonfly to hit shelves globally in November with a starting price of $1,549.
So blue it hurts
HP's forthcoming Elite Dragonfly is a 2-in-1 premium business laptop that can do it all. With a 4K HDR display, support for inking, quad-speakers, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, and insane battery life it's hard to not love the specs. The dazzling blue color will also turn heads. Look for it this November.
