HP TECH TAKES /...
Exploring today's technology for tomorrow's possibilities
Subscribe
Introducing HP Dragonfly: The Ultimate Lightweight Learning Laptop
Harry Stewart
|
February 6, 2024
Refined, portable, and packing a mighty punch, the HP Dragonfly is the best lightweight laptop from HP. While this premium, state-of-the-art product primarily appeals to on-the-go executives, its top-end specs and feather-light chassis make it a hit among students as well.
On the hunt for a new student laptop? The HP Dragonfly laptop series packs everything you need into one easy-to-carry package. Here’s why this premium ultraportable device is among the best laptops for the education sector in the UK.
Ultra-light laptop design
The HP Dragonfly puts portability at the forefront. This slender 13.5-inch device is among the lightest laptops from HP, starting at a meagre 0.99 kg. The sub-1 kg feat comes from premium aluminium-magnesium materials and impressive HP engineering wizardry. Cutting-edge USB-C charging also helps shave off precious extra grams.
The HP Dragonfly isn’t just light; it also comes in an ultra-compact case. At a razor-thin 1.64 cm, this slimline device slides into the tightest laptop bag. Micro-edge bezels help minimise the chassis size, while a premium backlit keyboard affords comfy typing despite the laptop’s tiny frame.
Long-lasting laptop battery
A teeny tiny stature and feather-light frame aren’t the only factors determining portability. For a laptop to be truly useful on the move, it needs to boast a long-lasting battery life. The HP Dragonfly does exactly that, thanks to its 6-cell, 68Wh Li-ion polymer battery and uber-efficient (15W) Intel® Core™ i7 processor.
These two factors combine to give you a near-eternal battery life. Expect around 14.5 hours with regular use and up to 20 hours of video playback. This next-level efficiency, combined with its lightweight chassis, has made the Dragonfly among the best ultraportable laptops on the market.
If you run out of juice, HP Fast Charge will bring your battery back up to 50% in 30 minutes.
Industry-leading performance
Despite its impressive portability, the HP Dragonfly doesn’t fall short on power. As a high-end ultraportable laptop, this slender little unit can handle virtually any student task. Specs vary between models, but here’s a sample of what to expect under the hood.
- Processor: Intel Core i7 (1355U or 1365U)
- RAM: 16GB to 32GB
- Storage: 512GB to 1TB SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris® Xe Graphics
That processing power lets you perform numerous high-intensity tasks, from software development to large-scale data analysis and encryption. Of course, you’ll also have plenty of power for your everyday apps, such as Microsoft Office, email, and web browsers with multiple open tabs. Expect silky-smooth performance across all these apps and processes, even when multitasking.
This next-level computing power does more than optimise productivity; it will also future-proof your investment. With such high-tech hardware tucked away inside the chassis, you can rest assured your HP Dragonfly won’t become obsolete any time soon. That guaranteed longevity makes the Dragonfly one of the best laptops for teachers as well.
Note that the HP Dragonfly doesn’t include a dedicated graphics card. If you’re studying in a GPU-dependent field such as game design, animation, or 3D modelling, we recommend investing in a heavier laptop with a dedicated card. A mobile workstation, such as the ZBook Series, will fit the bill.
Vibrant, high-definition display
HP has fitted the Dragonfly with a vivid, crystal-clear display to enhance the viewing experience. With only 13.5 inches to work with, a high-definition screen enhances comfort and immersion, especially when used for extended sessions.
Most models come with a touch screen WUXGA+ (1920 x 1280) display to create stacks of on-screen real estate. Students seeking even more clarity, such as those in visual design fields, may instead opt for a 3K2K OLED (3000 x 2000) display.
Whichever you get, a 3:2 ratio lets you see more information on the screen with less scrolling for optimal productivity. Meanwhile, chemically-strengthened Corning® Gorilla® Glass retains clarity while safeguarding the screen and minimising glare.
And thanks to its 100% sRGB colour accuracy, the HP Dragonfly is an intelligent choice for graphic designers and digital illustrators. All Dragonfly displays come with 400 nits of brightness, so you can easily read the screen in challenging light conditions.
Top-tier security
As the HP Dragonfly is primarily aimed at business users, enterprise-level security comes included in the deal. All models ship with HP Wolf Security for Business, an always-on, end-point solution offering layered resilience from your hardware to the cloud. This industry-leading suite provides a safe, affordable alternative to an IT-managed PC environment.
HP Sure Click keeps potentially malware-infected files safely isolated inside a secure virtual container. Meanwhile, HP Sure Sense draws on advanced deep learning models to detect and prevent malicious files, including threats like ransomware, zero-day, and malware attacks.
Hardware-based encryption is due to an embedded Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chip, which operates behind the scenes to protect your data and user credentials.
Certified sturdiness
The last thing you want is to smash your shiny new student laptop to bits while bouncing between classes and lectures. As the HP Dragonfly is designed for portability, it boasts a rigid aluminium-magnesium chassis that can withstand the rigours of the road.
But don’t take our word for it. The HP Dragonfly holds up to strenuous MIL-STD 810H testing, meaning you get a certified military-grade device. Plus, a spill-resistant keyboard protects against mishaps, while its tempered Gorilla Glass screen minimises cracks and scratches.
Seamless collaboration
While many team projects happen face-to-face on campus, others occur over Microsoft Teams. The HP Dragonfly makes online collaboration a breeze with its cutting-edge teleconferencing technology.
A 5MP, 88-degree field-of-view camera with HP Auto Frame keeps you in focus, even while moving around the room. Meanwhile, a dual top-edge microphone captures crisp, true-to-life audio and has AI noise reduction to suppress annoying background sounds. Plus, HP Dynamic Voice Leveling improves microphone gain to fine-tune voice clarity within three metres of your PC.
Four Bang & Olufsen speakers host discrete amplifiers to produce studio-quality sound. What’s more, various conference call enhancements are included in the HP Presence collaborative suite. All these advanced collaborative features make the Dragonfly among the best laptops for uni on the market.
Hassle-free connectivity
Despite its razor-thin frame, the HP Dragonfly has a galaxy of ports to plug in all your favourite peripherals. Expect to find the following tucked away on the side of the case:
- 2 Thunderbolt™ 4 with USB Type-C 40Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort™ 1.4)
- 1 USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate (USB Power Delivery)
- 1 HDMI 2.1
- 1 stereo headphone/microphone combo jack
- 1 nano SIM expansion slot
High-speed WiFi comes courtesy of a state-of-the-art Intel WiFi 6E AX211 card. As for your wireless peripherals? The HP Dragonfly sports a Bluetooth 5.3 wireless card.
Eco-Friendly Design
The HP Dragonfly is an enticing eco-friendly option for students seeking to lower their carbon footprint. The laptop enclosure is made from 90% recycled magnesium. In addition, the keycaps come in sustainable 50% PCR plastic, and the speaker box is produced from recycled ocean-bound plastics.
Like other HP laptops, all Dragonfly packaging is 100% sustainably sourced. An ENERGY STAR® certification helps minimise power consumption and enhance battery life for those lengthy off-grid study sessions. Other certifications include EPEAT® Gold in the US and TCO.
HP Dragonfly: The best laptops for uni students in the UK
Three HP Dragonfly laptops are currently available in the HP UK Store, each with unique features and specs.
Best premium laptop
Students with cash to splash on a top-tier machine should check out this version of the ultralight HP Dragonfly. A speedier CPU plus more storage and RAM make it a cut above the rest. For users seeking secure internet on the go, its 5G receiver means you’ll never have to worry about hot spotting or the perils of public WiFi.
- Processor: Intel Core i7 1365U (13th Generation)
- Memory: 32GB RAM
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 34.3 cm (13.5”), WUXGA+ (1920 x 1280), touch screen
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Best midrange laptop
Spend a few hundred pounds less, and you’ll get this mid-range HP Dragonfly model. The in-built hardware offers plenty of grunt for most users, and it comes with a sought-after 3K2K screen.
- Processor: Intel Core i7 1355U (13th Generation)
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- Display: 34.3 cm (13.5”), 3K2K (3000 x 2000), OLED
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Best budget laptop
Don’t need that much storage? Or perhaps you’re not fussed about the 3K2K display? This marginally more affordable HP Dragonfly has 512GB of storage and an extra-wide WUXGA+ display. Despite the lower price tag, this ultra-light device still packs all the power you need.
- Processor: Intel Core i7 1355U (13th Generation)
- Memory: 16GB RAM
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 34.3 cm (13.5”), WUXGA+ (1920 x 1280), touch screen
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Summary
With top-tier hardware crammed into a sleek, feather-light chassis, the Dragonfly is HP's most popular ultra-portable laptop. This next-level portability and processing power make it a hit among students, especially those seeking to future-proof the investment for their professional years.
Take another look at our three recommended models or see if any other Dragonfly laptops are available on the HP UK Store.
