Review: HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is the best solution for ChromeOS
| Specs at a Glance: HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Worst | Best | As verified | |
| Screen | 13.5″IPS touchscreen with 1920 x 1280 resolution | 13.5″IPS touchscreen with 1920 x 1280 resolution | 13.5″IPS touchscreen with 2256 x 1504 resolution |
| OS | Chrome OS | ||
| CPU | Intel Core i3-1215U | Intel Core i7-1265U vPro | Intel Core i5-1245U vPro |
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR4-4266 | 32 GB LPDDR4-4266 | 8 GB LPDDR4-4266 |
| storage | 128 GB NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD | 512 GB NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD | 256 GB NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD |
| GPU | Intel Iris He | ||
| Net | WiFi-6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | ||
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x 3.5mm jack, 1x MicroSD card reader | ||
| Size | 11.59 x 8.73 x 0.65 inches (294.38 x 221.74 x 16.51 mm) |
||
| Weight | Starts at 2.8 lbs (1.27 kg) | ||
| Battery | 50 Wh | ||
| Guarantee | 1 year | ||
| Price (suggested retail price) | $980 | 1800 USD | $1,709 when configured at HP.com |
| Another | N/A | 4G optional |
Chromebooks are tired of being treated like second-class citizens.
Over the past decade, ChromeOS developers have tried to develop an operating system with features that could put it on par with macOS and Windows. Google is promoting Chromebooks as business machines, touting the supposed simplicity and security benefits of its stripped-down operating system.
The new HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a ChromeOS device taken to the limit, from looks to components.
The laptop looks like some of HP’s most desirable business machines and features a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with Intel vPro support. The performance and style are noticeably superior to what many people think of a Chromebook.
But while it’s only suitable for business users with simple web-centric needs, its performance doesn’t match Windows machines in the same price range.
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Promising business-class performance, the Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is one of the most expensive Chromebooks available, priced over $1,000, with top specs. Of course, there are still Chromebooks available for a few hundred dollars, but with the growing interest in promoting Chromebooks as enterprise-ready computers, possible gaming devices, and ultraportables in versatile form factors, there are already several Chromebooks in the Chromebook Dragonfly elite. price class.
Here’s what you can get from other expensive Chromebooks when configured similarly to our review machine and based on what’s available at the time of this writing. Please note that our configuration is not a specific WeU but was set up on HP.com. You can find a WeU similar to my review unit but with 1920×1280 resolution for $1450.
| Model | CPU | RAM | storage | Display | Price (at the time of writing) | Mobile network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook | i5-1245U vPro | 8 GB | 256GB SSD | 13.5″2256 x 1504 pixel touchscreen | $1709 | 4G, 5G on the way |
| Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise | i5-10310 | 16 GB | 256GB SSD | 14″1920 x 1080 touchscreen | $1564 | 4G |
| Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Chromebook | i5-1245U vPro | 8 GB | 256GB SSD | 14″1920×1280 | 1019 USD | 4G |
| Samsung Galaxy Chromebook | Intel Core i5-10210U | 8 GB | 256GB SSD | 13.3″3840 x 2160 OLED touchscreen | 1000 dollars | N/A |
One of the Dragonfly Chromebook’s biggest claims to fame is the optional inclusion of Intel vPro. Among Chromebooks, only the ThinkPad C14 shares this option. vPro support helps IT sell machines by allowing them to be managed remotely.
HP is particularly interested in the stability the platform promises, a spokesperson told reviewers during the briefing. The vPro machines are expected to use the same silicon in all devices as long as the device is on sale. HP also highlighted the performance standards and security benefits of vPro, such as full vPro memory encryption.
The 2-in-1 device also supports 4G for mobile operation. 5G is expected to arrive this fall and help Dragonfly stand out.
Additional security requirements come from Google, which says its read-only OS, verified boot, and blocked executables reduce the need for antivirus protection. IT staff can also approve and block apps and extensions, remotely disable or wipe devices, and perform background updates.
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