HP’s Elite Dragonfly G3 gets bigger keys and a 3:2 display

Some of the changes that HP has made to its Elite Dragonfly may be controversial, but they will likely be welcomed in consumer and business circles. We got to try out a prototype of the new Elite Dragonfly G3 which gives us an idea of what it will look and feel like.

If you put this next to the various Elite Dragonfly models we have reviewed in the past, you won't have a hard time distinguishing the difference. The display is the main thing you will notice. The 3:2 aspect ratio is adopted by the Dragonfly line. It's taller than a panel of the same size, giving you more room to work with less scrolling, and also giving you more space for a bigger touchpad. The panel on this unit is only 1920 x 1280, but it delivers a crisp picture.

You won't see the other big change right away, but it's one I'm more excited about. The keys were larger on the previous Dragonfly. I already liked the G2's keyboard, so I didn't think this would be a big deal for me, but the new keyboard is amazing. I notice the difference. I'm hitting way faster typing speeds than I usually do, and I'm making almost no errors, which is quite unusual for me. I don't want to go back to my typical laptop keyboards. It is a god-send if HP did this.

The insides were also hit. The new G3 will come with 12th Gen processors, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 2 terabytes of storage. The new port on both sides makes charging a bit easier. The power button and fingerprints have been moved to the keyboard, making them easier to reach and less prone to being accidentally pressed.

I am not sold on some of the changes. The Dragonfly G3 is not a convertible, but it is a clamshell only. Many lines are going the way of the clamshell across manufacturers, so I assume I'm in the minority, but I do enjoy 2-in-1 laptops, and the utility of the touchscreen is less clear to me in a clamshell form factor.

The color options are limited. The model doesn't offer the options of Natural Silver and darker Slate Blue, which are what previous units have come in. The Natural Silver looks like a laptop cart. One of my favorite things about the Dragonfly is its unique color and finish. The silver unit looks more like a Elitebook than any other unit I have reviewed.

Slate Blue may be nice, but it isn't the most important thing for business customers. We will have more to say about this device when it hits shelves in the next few months.