What Makes the HP Dragonfly Chromebook Stand Out?

It prices so much. Nevertheless, the Dragonfly Professional has grow to be the highest Chromebook to surpass.

Execs

• Massive, vivid, high-resolution display screen

• Snug keyboard with vibrant RGB lighting

• Wonderful haptic touchpad

Cons

• It’s costly in comparison with different Chromebooks

• It makes use of an older Intel processor

Most Chromebooks use plastic, are available in small sizes, and price much less. The HP Dragonfly Professional Chromebook breaks that mildew. 

This 14-inch gadget belongs to the premium Chromebook class, becoming a member of fashions just like the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 and Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2.

It mirrors final yr’s HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook however trades some enterprise options for a barely decreased value. 

Nevertheless, its $1,000 price ticket retains it out of attain for funds consumers searching for a low-cost different to Home windows laptops or MacBooks.

Freelancers and contractors who depend on a tool each day will discover it extra sensible.

HP equips the Dragonfly Professional Chromebook with the identical high-quality construct and haptic touchpad as its enterprise model.

It additionally features a extra distinguished 14-inch show with a sharper 2,560×1,600 decision and a brightness of as much as 1,200 nits. 

HP provides an 8-megapixel digicam, calling it a primary for Chromebooks. These options create among the finest Chromebooks out there and ship an impressive ChromeOS expertise.

The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook gained a CNET Innovation Award final yr, and the Dragonfly Professional Chromebook now earns the Editors’ Alternative Award.

Specs of Dragonfly Professional Chromebook

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 stays the best choice for many customers.

Nevertheless, the Dragonfly Professional Chromebook justifies its greater value for these in search of the very best Chromebook expertise and prepared to pay a premium.

A $1,000 Chromebook remains to be an inexpensive choice in comparison with high-end laptops.

HP provides a single mannequin of the Dragonfly Professional Chromebook. It prices $1,000 and consists of an Intel Core i5-1235U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.

The Core i5-1235U belongs to Intel’s older Twelfth-generation chips, that includes two efficiency and eight effectivity cores. 

The 15-watt U-series prioritizes effectivity over efficiency. Prospects select between black and white. The reviewer examined the black mannequin.

Retailers within the UK and Australia don’t supply this Chromebook. They solely promote Home windows-based Dragonfly laptops.

The Dragonfly Professional Chromebook excelled in ChromeOS benchmarks. It topped checks for premium Chromebooks with Core i3 or Core i5 chips and got here second solely to the Acer Chromebook 516 GE on the Google Octane 2 check.

In a battery drain check, it lasted over eight hours and half-hour, barely behind the Acer Chromebook 714’s spectacular runtime.

Throughout each day use, the gadget dealt with multitasking easily. Although a Thirteenth-generation Intel chip would have been higher, the Twelfth-generation Core i5 and 16GB of RAM present ample energy for ChromeOS and a number of Chrome browser tabs.

Premium Construct and Design

The Dragonfly Professional Chromebook has a high-end look, resembling the Home windows-based HP Dragonfly Professional.

It has a modern matte-black magnesium-and-aluminum physique, matching its minimalist design.

The construct feels sturdy, with a powerful and easy hinge. Few Chromebooks match its match and end.

Whereas trendy, its sturdy development provides weight. It weighs 3.4 kilos, greater than the 14-inch Acer Chromebook Spin 714 at 3 kilos.

The smaller 13.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is lighter, weighing underneath 3 kilos.

The Dragonfly Professional Chromebook has a modern design and a very good show. The display screen is sharp, vivid, and spacious.

It measures 14 inches with a 16:10 facet ratio, making it really feel bigger than typical 16:9 shows. The decision is 2,560×1,600 pixels, producing clear textual content, sharp photographs, and correct colours.

The brightness is exceptional. HP claims it reaches 1,200 nits, however my testing confirmed 950 nits. Even so, it stays impressively vivid and works effectively outside.

The shiny touchscreen displays little gentle, making certain usability in direct daylight. Though the contact show helps a pen, HP doesn’t embody one.

The keyboard provides a improbable expertise. The flat keys have agency suggestions and simply the correct amount of journey.

They’re quiet and steady, due to the inflexible body that resists flexing. RGB lighting provides a singular contact, permitting customers to match the lighting to the show wallpaper for a coordinated look.

The touchpad is top-tier. It makes use of haptic suggestions to ship a constant click on really feel throughout its floor. A standout function units a brand new customary for laptops and Chromebooks.

The 8-megapixel webcam delivers sharp and balanced video high quality. It’s ideally suited for distant work and ensures a transparent picture on video calls.

Whereas facial recognition isn’t out there, a fingerprint scanner close to the facility button permits fast and safe logins.

The quad audio system present wealthy, clear sound. They produce balanced audio with some detectable bass. It’s a uncommon Chromebook that delivers a satisfying music expertise.

The HP Dragonfly Professional Chromebook has restricted ports. It consists of 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, two on either side and none on the opposite.

You’ll need an HDMI, Ethernet, or older USB Kind-A units adapter. 

Charging occurs by means of one of many Thunderbolt 4 ports. The charger enhances the premium design, that includes a compact, sq. energy brick and a braided cable that avoids tangling.

It weighs solely 0.6 kilos, which offsets the gadget’s barely heavy really feel for a 14-inch laptop computer.

For a lot of, a $1,000 Chromebook goes in opposition to shopping for an reasonably priced laptop computer. Nevertheless, the HP Dragonfly Professional Chromebook is a lovely alternative for many who work primarily in Gmail, Google Drive, and the Chrome browser. 

It replaces flimsy, fundamental Chromebooks with a well-crafted system. You get a shocking show, a wonderful keyboard and touchpad, a top-tier webcam, and agency efficiency with lengthy battery life.

It’s costly, nevertheless it delivers distinctive worth.

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