Blog

Introducing the HP Dragonfly G4, the fourth generation iteration of this sleek and ultralight laptop. As the name suggests, it brings evolutionary improvements over its predecessor, the G3. Encased in a captivating slate blue magnesium alloy cover, weighing a mere 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram), the Dragonfly G4 is positioned as an HP business/SoHo (Small Office/Home Office) laptop. In this detailed exploration, we’ll delve into its features, performance, and display offerings, comparing it to rivals like the Dell XPS 13, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, and even the MacBook Air M2 Edition.

Design and Build

The HP Dragonfly G4 boasts a conventional design, distinguishing itself from convertibles with no stylus support. It’s available with or without a touchscreen option, catering to different user preferences. The slate blue magnesium alloy cover not only lends it a distinctive appearance but also contributes to its feathery weight and durability. Pricing, which was a point of contention in previous iterations, has become more attractive, starting at $1,274.

Display Dynamics

One of the standout features is the three-by-two aspect ratio display, reminiscent of Microsoft Surface products. This aspect ratio offers a unique visual experience, especially for those who appreciate the productivity-oriented square-like canvas. The base model comes with a 1920 by 1280 resolution display, offering 100% sRGB coverage and a brightness of 400 nits. For those craving more pixels, there’s an OLED display option with a resolution of 3000 by 2000 pixels, featuring full P3 gamut coverage. HP also provides a privacy guard display with a thousand nits brightness, emphasizing privacy features for sensitive use cases.

Performance and Processor

Under the hood, the Dragonfly G4 houses Intel’s 13th generation U-series processors, showcasing a 15-watt standard Ultrabook processor. This aligns with the laptop’s focus on portability and efficiency, catering to business users whose tasks don’t demand the raw power of high-wattage processors. The performance is adequate for everyday use and light creative work, offering a balance between power and battery life.

Battery Life and Efficiency

The laptop’s efficiency shines through Intel Evo platform integration and its 68-watt hour battery. The high-capacity battery contributes to the Dragonfly G4’s impressive battery life, a crucial aspect for on-the-go professionals. HP claims up to 20 hours of battery life, and real-world testing suggests around 14 hours with a mix of productivity applications and light use. This positions the Dragonfly G4 ahead of its Windows competitors and even edges out the M2 MacBook Air in battery endurance.

Keyboard and Aesthetics

The Dragonfly G4 features a crisp tactile keyboard, contributing to a comfortable typing experience. The aesthetic choices include the captivating slate blue cover, adding a touch of sophistication. HP offers users the choice between glossy and anti-glare displays, catering to different preferences.

Display Options and Configurations

While the base model provides a satisfactory display, users have the flexibility to choose from different configurations, including touchscreen or non-touchscreen options. The availability of an OLED display with vibrant visuals and a privacy guard display for enhanced security adds to the versatility of the Dragonfly G4.

A Business Companion with Distinctive Features

The HP Dragonfly G4 positions itself as a compelling business laptop, striking a balance between portability, performance, and distinctive features. Its three-by-two aspect ratio display sets it apart from competitors, offering a unique canvas for productivity. The evolutionary improvements, coupled with competitive pricing and an impressive battery life, make the Dragonfly G4 a worthy contender in the realm of business and SoHo laptops. Whether you prioritize a sleek design, efficient performance, or a visually striking display, the Dragonfly G4 delivers a harmonious blend of these elements, earning its place among top-tier business laptops.

The HP Dragonfly G4 emerges as a formidable business-oriented laptop, embedding cutting-edge features and enhancements tailored for the demands of the professional realm. Unveiling HP Wolf Security, the laptop reinforces its commitment to data protection with BIOS safeguards, healing mechanisms, and tamper detection. Notably, it comes equipped with a fingerprint scanner on the keyboard, fortifying its security arsenal. A rare five-megapixel webcam, reflective of HP’s focus on remote work trends, enhances video conferencing capabilities, providing a higher resolution for a more engaging virtual presence.

A distinctive feature of the Dragonfly G4 is its multi-cam support, allowing users to deploy multiple webcams concurrently. While this may seem sophisticated for everyday use, it caters to the evolving landscape of business teleconferencing, offering versatility for various scenarios. Keystone correction further accentuates its business-friendly attributes, rectifying skewed perspectives often encountered with wide-angle web cameras. This correction ensures that visuals remain square-looking and easily readable, particularly useful for presentations involving whiteboards or collaborative discussions.

The laptop doesn’t shy away from connectivity options, offering optional WAN or 4G/5G support. The inclusion of both 4G and 5G, facilitated by Intel modems, provides flexibility based on user preferences. The nano SIM card slot adds a practical touch, eliminating the need for external dongles. In a departure from dongle-centric trends, the Dragonfly G4 embraces a range of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a drop-jaw USB-A port, HDMI 2.1, and a headphone jack. Notably absent are SD card slots, emphasizing the laptop’s business-centric focus.

Wi-Fi connectivity is facilitated by the Intel AX211 Y56E, complemented by Bluetooth 5.3. For users requiring NFC functionality, it is available as an optional feature. HP’s commitment to environmental sustainability shines through, with components incorporating recycled materials, such as 30% recycled magnesium content for the casing, recycled ocean plastics, and even recycled DVDs used for keycaps. The bezel around the display incorporates soft recyclables like recycled cooking oil, adding an eco-friendly touch to the device.

Audio quality is delivered through two speakers, branded by Bang & Olufsen, forming a quad-stereo setup. The laptop features dual microphones, aligning with the heightened importance of remote collaboration and virtual meetings. The sound quality is impressive, especially considering the compact size of this Ultrabook.

Delving into the internals, the laptop showcases a business-friendly design that facilitates easy access for upgrades. The four Torx T5 screws, along with a suction cup or gentle prying, grant access to the internals. The M.2 SSD is user-upgradable, ranging from 256 gigabytes to two terabytes.

Notably, the RAM is soldered on board, offering options of 16 or 32 gigs of low-power DDR5 fast RAM in dual-channel configuration. The laptop integrates two down-firing woofers and up-firing tweeters, optimizing audio quality in the limited space typical of Ultrabooks. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card are soldered on, with an optional 5G card for enhanced connectivity.

In conclusion, the HP Dragonfly G4 emerges as a compelling choice in the competitive landscape of business laptops. Striking a balance between security, connectivity, environmental sustainability, and user-friendly design, it stands out with features like multi-cam support, Keystone correction, and a range of connectivity options.

The emphasis on environmental consciousness and user-friendly design, combined with competitive pricing, positions the Dragonfly G4 as a noteworthy contender for professionals seeking a reliable and feature-rich business laptop.

Pros:

1. Security Features: The HP Dragonfly G4 excels in security, featuring HP Wolf Security that includes BIOS protection, BIOS healing, and tamper detection. The fingerprint scanner on the keyboard adds an extra layer of biometric security.
2. Webcam and Multi-Cam Support: The laptop boasts a rare five-megapixel webcam, offering high-resolution video conferencing. The innovative multi-cam support allows users to deploy multiple webcams simultaneously, catering to diverse business teleconferencing needs.
3. Keystone Correction: A standout feature, keystone correction ensures visuals remain square-looking and easily readable, correcting skewed perspectives often encountered with wide-angle web cameras. This is particularly useful for presentations involving whiteboards or collaborative discussions.
4. Connectivity Options: The laptop provides optional WAN or 4G/5G support, facilitated by Intel modems. The inclusion of both 4G and 5G, along with a nano SIM card slot, offers flexibility for users who require constant connectivity.
5. Ports Selection: The HP Dragonfly G4 embraces a range of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a drop-jaw USB-A port, HDMI 2.1, and a headphone jack. This diverse selection caters to various connectivity needs without the reliance on external dongles.
6. Environmental Sustainability: Reflecting HP’s commitment to environmental consciousness, the laptop incorporates recycled materials, including 30% recycled magnesium content for the casing, recycled ocean plastics, recycled DVDs used for keycaps, and soft recyclables like recycled cooking oil in the bezel.
7. Audio Quality: With Bang & Olufsen-branded quad stereo speakers and dual microphones, the Dragonfly G4 delivers impressive audio quality, enhancing the overall multimedia experience.
8. User-Upgradeable Components: The laptop facilitates user upgrades, with easy access to internals through four Torx T5 screws. The M.2 SSD is user-upgradable, ranging from 256 gigabytes to two terabytes, ensuring flexibility for storage needs.
9. Business-Friendly Design: The laptop’s design caters to business users, emphasizing practicality with features like a higher resolution webcam, multi-cam support, keystone correction, and environmental sustainability.
10. Competitive Pricing: The Dragonfly G4 addresses concerns about high pricing, offering a competitive starting point at $1,274, and making it more accessible to a broader audience.

Cons:

1. Soldered RAM: The RAM is soldered on board, limiting user upgradability. Users need to decide on the desired RAM configuration at the time of purchase.
2. No SD Card Slot: The absence of an SD card slot might be a drawback for users who frequently use SD cards for additional storage or data transfer.
3. Limited GPU Performance: Given its business-oriented focus, the Dragonfly G4 may not cater to users requiring high-end GPU performance for graphics-intensive tasks or gaming.
4. Optional NFC at Extra Cost: While NFC functionality is available, it comes as an optional feature at an additional cost, potentially impacting users who consider this feature essential.
5. Reflective Display: The glossy display might be reflective in certain lighting conditions, potentially affecting visibility for users who prefer anti-glare options.
6. No Convertible Design: The Dragonfly G4 follows a conventional laptop design, lacking the convertible feature seen in some competing models. Users seeking 2-in-1 functionality may find this a drawback.
7. No 4G/5G Inclusion in Base Configuration: The base configuration may not include 4G or 5G connectivity, requiring an additional investment for users prioritizing constant internet connectivity on the go.
8. Limited Storage Options: While the M.2 SSD is user-upgradable, the laptop might not offer as extensive storage options compared to larger counterparts, limiting choices for users with significant storage requirements.