HP Elite Dragonfly G3

Epic battery lite, but otherwise a bit borked

- JEREMY LAIRD

IT'S NOT OFTEN that a product from one of the biggest brands in computing genuinely disappoints. But without giving away too much too soon, there’s no getting around it—the HP Elite Dragonfly G3 is a bit borked. Part of the problem is its pricing. With a base price near 2,000, and our review unit coming in well over that figure, this 13.5-inch premium ultraportable should be just about perfect. That’s especially true when you consider that Dell’s gorgeous XPS 13 Plus starts at 1,299. But even for the same money, there would still be lots to lament about this laptop.

We wouldn't be complaining about the build quality. OK, the chassis design looks dated compared to that uber sleek Dell. But for an ultra-portable measuring just 16mm thick, the aluminum and magnesium frame feels sturdy. Likewise, the keyboard bed is nice and solid. Only Apple does that better in a thin and light laptop with its rock-solid M1 Air. With the new M2 Air losing some of that stiffness, the HP is at least on a par, looking and feeling like a proper premium laptop.