HP Elite Dragonfly Review: A Super Stylish 2-In-1 Laptop

It might seem from the above like we're down on the HP Elite Dragonfly, but that's not entirely the case. There aren't many systems on the market that catch the eye quite like this machine. That beautiful blue finish stands out in a world of black and silver, and this machine's premium design extends beyond its finish, too. The HP system's 2.5 pound weight and flexible 360-degree hinge turn the Elite Dragonfly into a tablet that's much less awkward than most convertibles of a heavier weight class. HP's optional Active Pen G3 also provides artists and handwritten note takers alike the ability to draw, paint, and jot down everything they need for just over 75 bucks.


To be objective, however, we have to look again at the hardware configuration. The older 8th Gen CPU is a configuration you'll need to take into consideration with this brand new laptop family, for now at least. Intel's Core i7-8665U comparatively doesn't have enough processing power in its standard 15 Watt TDP configuration to justify the system's price tag, versus more current-gen platforms. Fortunately, help is on the way and a 10th Gen version of the Elite Dragonfly is due to arrive in just a few weeks. 

Conversely, there are positive aspects to this laptop's performance. Lightly-threaded workloads, which encompass the majority of work a convertible laptop will likely be asked to do, were pretty quick, and the Elite Dragonfly's battery life was excellent. Getting seven full hours out of a single charge in our video playback test isn't unheard of, but it's still pretty rare for a system so lightweight. 

Apart from its unique and stylish good looks, HP's newest convertible notebook has a lot going for it that isn't strictly about performance. The Elite Dragonfly has plenty of useful safety and security features. Sure Click's micro VM architecture separates unknown or suspicious websites from the rest of the system. HP's self-healing BIOS should help prevent firmware-based malware attacks from gaining a stronghold. In addition, its upgraded Sure View display option should keep your data safe from nosy neighbors at Starbucks or on the road, too. Self-healing BIOSes and good anti-virus protection aren't unique to just one vendor, though, as Dell and other vendors have these features too, of course. The machine is also rigid, feels durable, and passed 19 MIL-SPEC-810G testing to withstand some shocks, drops, and vibration.



When it comes to pricing, HP has set the Elite Dragonfly's price tag well into MacBook Pro territory. The base configuration has a Core i5-8265U, 8 GB of memory, and a 256 GB NVMe SSD for $1,549. That system also has a smaller 38 Watt-hour battery, too. That's almost exactly what a similarly configured MacBook Pro would cost, and quite a bit more than other 2-in-1 systems go for these days. For example, a similarly configured XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 will set you back just $1,299, so it's up to buyers to decide if the Elite Dragonfly's safety features are worth the extra scratch.

Once you get into well-endowed systems like our test configuration, the Dragonfly's price escalates quickly. HP's recommended configuration has a Core i5-8365U with vPro, 16 GB of memory, a 256 GB SSD, and the Sure View panel set for $1,849. Our test unit with the Core i7-8665U, 16 GB of LPDDR3-2133 RAM, the 512 GB SSD with Optane cache, (but still the base display panel) would set you back $2,079, according to HP's current pricing. In short, this is a premium product with a premium price tag to match. 

Overall, we like the new HP Elite Dragonfly, with a few caveats. The most important issue is that it's best to wait on a purchase if you're considering this machine. While we like so many aspects of the Elite Dragonfly, it's only going to get better when the revised systems hit in February. With Intel 10th Gen-powered Elite Dragonfly systems right around the corner, we feel that the next generation of this machine will go from generating buzz to soaring to new heights.