HP Dragonfly Folio G3 Evaluate: A 2-in-1 for discerning industry customers

Stamp When Reviewed

$2,474.20

Most attention-grabbing Prices At present: HP Dragonfly Folio G3

Within the sector of industry PCs, few wish to face out or manufacture waves. That’s why HP’s Dragonfly line has consistently impressed with its mix of innovative, excessive-quality machines that are extinct. The Dragonfly Folio 2-in-1 is now a tried and staunch notion, which acts fancy a long-established notebook computer many of the time till you pull the masks masks ahead, either to past the keyboard or your entire skill flat. No detaching items to crash or lose.

Doubtlessly the most novel in the Folio family is the HP Dragonfly Folio G3, in accordance to Intel chips and an improved make. This notebook computer makes a truly definite first influence, nonetheless is it an influence that may final?

Taking a survey more notebook computer choices? Try our roundup of the simplest laptops on hand at the brand new time.

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Specifications and contours

Our review unit features the following specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-1265U (10 cores, 12 threads: 2 performance, 8 effectivity) with vPro
• Reminiscence: 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM, soldered down (up to 32 GB configurable)
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Represent: 13.5-budge 3:2 WUXGA+ (1920×1280) IPS LCD touchscreen
• Storage: 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe stable enlighten power
• Webcam: 8MP
• Connectivity:  2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth TKTK, 5G WWAN (optionally available)
• Biometrics: Home windows Hi there facial recognition
• Battery skill: 68 Wh
• Dimensions: TKTK (W) x TKTK (D) x TKTK (H) inches
• Weight: 3.06 kilos, 3.86 kilos with AC adapter
• Stamp: $2,474.20

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Invent and have quality

The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 makes a immense first influence. From the moment you’re taking care of the faux leather-essentially based completely mostly-wrapped machine from its box, you can truly feel the solidity of its have. Its steel deck has nary a flex, and has relaxed smoothed edges that don’t dig into your fingers or wrists. Though you received’t salvage a whiff of new car scent from its plastic leatherette outer case, it helps yet manufacture this computer truly feel gentle and fascinating to make spend of.

Even the two-in-1 movement, which may truly feel floppy or fragile has a enjoyable truly feel to it. Actual magnets take care of the masks masks in put for long-established notebook computer spend, and a firm pull brings it ahead to one of two positions. All in all, there’s a dedication to make and class with the Dragonfly Folio G3 that I’m no longer definite I’ve seen in one other computer, great less a industry-focused model.

Alongside the perimeters are ports and vents so subtly carved in that I didn’t seek them before everything. This was once to the machine’s detriment the first few times, as I attempted to plod the USB-C charger into the groove correct subsequent to the port, as an different of the port itself. There’s a puny click-in tray for the SIM card ought to serene you salvage a model with 5G built-in, and the reverse aspect has a wi-fi charging pad and docking slot for the included pen (nonetheless more on that later). It’s minimalist nonetheless in a formula that is various from Apple’s MacBooks or Dell’s top price XPS devices. From its embossed HP logo to its darkish steel manufacture the entire affair is refined, neatly-liked, and reveals a sense of maturity.

If I’m able to leverage any criticism at the Folio G3 it’s that the entire contraption feels beefy in comparison to other laptops. Something regarding the steel construction plus the dense plastic leather-essentially based completely mostly makes it seem heavier and thicker than it truly is. It’s completely rather over 3 kilos, nonetheless one thing fancy the Surface Knowledgeable 9 is kind of a half of-pound lighter, whereas the industry-focused ThinkPad X13s Gen 1 is underneath 2.5 kilos. It’s definite that the further grams dawdle in direction of the Dragonfly Folio’s sturdy-feeling masks masks mechanism and top price steel aspects. 

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Connectivity

Provided that this machine was once designed for on-the-dawdle workers who wish to manufacture a immense influence in conferences (whether or no longer there’re on Teams or in the room), I didn’t quiz a ton of ports. As it stands, you salvage 2 Thunderbolt 4-pleasant USB-C ports on the lefthand aspect, with a 3.5mm headset jack nearby. Surprisingly, completely this kind of ports can settle for price, one thing I haven’t seen on many new laptops. This intended that steadily, I’d arrangement support to a computer that wasn’t completely charged. The accurate port is the one closest to you, and I’d also double take a look at that the pinhole charging light’s illuminated to be definite it’s taking on energy.

Through wi-fi choices, the HP Dragonfly Folio G3 comes identical outdated with Intel Wi-Fi 6E, the most novel via requirements. Additionally, my review sample got here with a 5G WWAN modem, also by Intel. Customers can accumulate to make spend of the internal eSIM to subscribe to a recordsdata arrangement, or insert a physical SIM into the puny slot on the machine. Whereas I was once unable to take a look at the 5G connectivity, the wi-fi was once as animated as I’d quiz from a notebook computer in 2022.

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Keyboard, pen, and trackpad

Though shallow, the keyboard on the Dragonfly Folio G3 is merely wonderful. It has an nearly mechanical preciseness to it, with each and each key giving a distinctive and straightforward-to-truly feel snap while you’ve hit it animated correct. If I enjoy to be away from my chonky desktop mechanical keyboard, this is the form of home-away-from-home I fancy typing on for hours on discontinue. The keyboard is backlit, even supposing it completely has a pair of levels of brightness. The total feature row has a ton of precious shortcut keys, including a still button, camera killswitch, airplane mode toggle, and even a person-programmable button marked with three diamonds.

Within the draw of issues, the touchpad here is kind of the equal of the keyboard. Its sizable glass surface lets your fingers cruise along, and palm detection was once arrangement-glorious. Gestures were precisely interpreted—all in all it’s animated the form of touchpad every notebook computer deserves. Whereas you received’t receive any excessive-tech haptic motors internal, the clicking of this trackpad affords you a definite response nonetheless it completely’s no longer too harsh. Goldilocks would admire it.

Within the occasion you fancy taking handwritten notes, the Dragonfly Folio involves a pen in the box. The pen magnetically docks and prices on the aspect of the Folio, and has a uncommon magnetic docking tab that keeps it from getting knocked off. Whereas it ought to arrangement free in a accumulate, I learned it stays build completely. Artists may no longer admire this pen due to some noticeable jitter when drawing straight traces, nonetheless for annotation, doodles, or long-established notetaking responsibilities, it works animated comely.

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Represent, audio system, and webcam

If there was once any aspect of the HP Dragonfly Folio G3 that gave me cease, it will the enlighten. The 3:2 aspect IPS masks masks is completely comely in spend, with animated colours and stable distinction. The resolution is completely chosen, at 1920×1280 there are no weird scaling points and textual suppose looks loads crisp. It’s animated that at this top price save, I’d quiz one thing further particular.

Apple’s 14- and 16-budge MacBook Knowledgeable devices enjoy subsequent-gen mini LED monitors with unheard of colours and HDR-grade highlights. Dell affords OLED panels on a bunch of its computers. Why does the plush Folio G3 salvage this kind of standard masks masks? (For what it’s value, HP says they provide an OLED on this Dragonfly model, nonetheless it completely’s particular define completely, and the immense majority of devices will arrangement with this ho-hum IPS LCD).

Luckily, the 8 megapixel webcam does a bigger job at making the Dragonfly truly feel tailor-made for work eventualities. Though it’s no longer the sharpest camera I’ve ever seen on a notebook computer, you are going to be effectively-exposed and seen whether or no longer you’re sitting to the aspect of the enlighten or head-on thanks to a large field of watch. There’s also an auto-zoom feature that may punch in in your face or head-and-shoulders to take care of you in the insist while you pass spherical. It’s definite that by cutting down an 8MP image, there’s very diminutive loss in general quality while you steered it so that you just’ll detect roughly as animated. Microphones may also take sound from a large chance of positions, even while you’re at some level of the room from the Dragonfly Folio.

An infrared sensor arrangement the camera that may repeat whether or no longer or no longer anyone is actively in entrance of the pc. I notion it was once rather aggressive regarding the time it dims the masks masks with its Scamper Away Lock environment, nonetheless while you happen to work in an open put of business, it is miles steadily a pleasant feature to enjoy.

Whereas HP will enjoy skimped on the audio system, the Dragonfly Folio G3 manages to save out some impressive sound. I was once especially impressed with the midrange and the skill that spoken-note suppose remained definite and with out distortion unless you push quantity past 80%. That with out a doubt emphasizes the make parameters of the microphones, webcam, and audio system here: somewhat wonderful for Teams or Zoom conferences.

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Tool

HP saved the added instrument to a minimal here, completely maintaining apps for features that in another case wouldn’t enjoy settings. There’s an “Easy Ravishing” app that disables the pc’s enter devices for 2 minutes, letting you sparkling the masks masks, keyboard, and mouse with out unintentional inputs. The myHP app has further settings that that you just may or may no longer receive precious, including auto masks masks dimming and a privateness alert that both spend the webcam. Inexplicably, the instrument that may take care of watch over the pc’s infrared presence detection, called HP Auto Lock & Wide awake, is completely accessible via the Settings app.

Perchance the most aggressive included app is HP’s Wolf Security suite, which is so critical it also will get a sticky label subsequent to Intel’s on the notebook computer’s palmrest. Here’s HP’s umbrella branding for its machine administration, antivirus, and tracking instruments. This may occasionally be a plus for organizations that are already in the HP fold nonetheless in case your firm makes spend of various instrument to take care of its laptops safe, it may well imply each and each machine desires to be reimaged. Contrasted with other antivirus suites, Wolf looks moderately sedate, rarely taking medications notifications and by no arrangement bullying the person into paying for a subscription.

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Performance

With its Intel Core i7-1265U the HP Dragonfly Folio G3 2-in-1 stays frigid and tranquil underneath most circumstances. Whereas it completely has two performance cores, what you’ll salvage is bigger than adequate for long-established responsibilities.

We spend the PCMark 10 benchmark to salvage a birds’ detect overview of a notebook computer’s day-to-day performance. The i7-1265U is like a flash for a low-energy chip nonetheless it completely’s positively no longer the most impressive processor on hand in a thin notebook computer. We are able to appear this in the PCMark test attempting at the distinction between the Dragonfly Folio G3 and the performance-focused industry machine from Dynabook, the Portege X40. The HP is animated ample for many normcore industry wants, even supposing, so don’t let the lackluster ranking manufacture you hang it’s sluggish by any stretch.

We spend Cinebench R15 to salvage a notion of how effectively all a notebook computer’s cores work collectively in an intensive 3D rendering test. The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 was once in the support of the competition by rather. We all know that the Dragonfly Folio G3 was once designed to take care of frigid and tranquil, and between that and its lower-energy U-series chip, we’re going to look the arrangement it scores loads lower than a machine fancy the Dynabook Portege X40, with its performance-focused, hot-running make.

Provided that this is a truly thin industry notebook computer, you shouldn’t quiz wonderful graphics performance from the HP Dragonfly Folio G3 2-in-1. It has the long-established Intel Xe Graphics you peek on machines that price rather more, and that price some distance less as effectively. All another time, the distinction we look here comes all of the arrangement down to HP’s tuning to level of curiosity on a groovy, tranquil computer in put of any indispensable variations in the processors.

Battery lifestyles wasn’t a brave swimsuit for the HP Dragonfly Folio G3, clocking 10 hours and 5 minutes in our looping video test. Within the occasion you price battery lifestyles in your industry machine, the ARM-geared up Surface Knowledgeable 9 ran rings at some level of the Dragonfly Folio G3, clocking in at nearly 16 hours underneath the the same test. A industry-oriented ARM ThinkPad logged an further 2.7 hours of runtime in comparison to the HP as effectively. It’s definite that if energy and instrument compatibility aren’t a finishing up in your group, that Home windows on ARM desires to be regarded as on this save fluctuate. 

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Conclusion

The HP Dragonfly Folio G3, taken by itself, is a compelling machine. It has a immense make and keyboard and touchpad. Plus, it involves a pen. About the undoubtedly station the save I’m able to ding this machine is that for the price, you doubtlessly deserve a a lot more top price enlighten. The IPS touchscreen primitive here is de facto comely, nonetheless some distance from wonderful.

It truly isn’t till we throw in some competing machines that it becomes somewhat less compelling. For its dimension, HP has caught to a more long-established, cooler U-class Intel chip that’s completely comely nonetheless doesn’t blow the doorways off. That’s the save it’s definite that this is a pocket e-book for normcore industry customers. There are a ton of different top price machines that may match it on battery lifestyles for higher energy, or beat it on runtime whereas tackling industry responsibilities (assuming you follow the Microsoft ecosystem) about as effectively.

Most attention-grabbing Prices At present: HP Dragonfly Folio G3

Author: Brendan Nystedt, Freelance contributor