HP announced a brand-new notebook during its CES 2020 showcase, dubbed the HP Elite Dragonfly G2. From the outside, this looks pretty similar to its predecessor – so you could be forgiven for thinking this new notebook is a non-event. But you’d be very wrong. The Elite Dragonfly G2 has some truly impressive tricks up its sleeve.
First up, HP has stripped-out the 8th-generation Intel chipset found in the previous iteration with the shiny new 10th-generation Intel Core vPro processors. While the HP Elite Dragonfly shipped with support for 4G mobile connectivity to keep you online – even when you’re away from Wi-Fi networks, the new laptop packs support for 5G mobile networks. That’s all thanks to the new Qualcomm X55 modem squeezed inside.
The HP Elite Dragonfly G2 is now the first business-focused notebook with 5G support, which should make it a must-have for workers who want fibre broadband speeds whether they’re in the office, the train, or working from a pub beer garden on a Friday afternoon. US carrier Sprint is the network launch partner announced at CES, but HP has committed to add support from more mobile networks in the coming months, so fingers crossed we will see a UK launch with EE, Three and Vodafone signed-up very soon.
As well as some nifty new technology, HP has also focused on sustainability with its new notebook. According to the company, more than 82 percent of all mechanical parts inside the laptop are made of recycled materials. HP claims that Elite Dragonfly is the world’s first laptop made of ocean-bound plastic.
The company is pitting its new Windows 10-powered machine directly against the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 and Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch. In fact, HP has gone so far as to hand-out a graphic with some statistics that show why it’s a better buy for most people. Amongst the stats touted by the company, it claims the HP Elite Dragonfly G2 has 24-hours of battery life, compared to 11.5 on the Surface Laptop 3 and 10 on the MacBook Pro. It also highlights its 5G support, which cannot be matched but its rivals.
Weighing less than 1kg, the HP Elite Dragonfly G2 is also a little lighter than the Surface Laptop 3 (1.27kg) and MacBook Pro (1.37kg). It also talks about the perks of its integrated Tile tracking, although that seems less of strong argument – since Apple offers its own Find My application that boasts the same functionality. It even enables users to find their MacBook Pro when it’s turned off – and remotely wipes its contents if it has been stolen, something you’re not able to do with Tile.
HP Elite Dragonfly with 5G and 10th Gen Intel Core vPro processor will be available later in the summer. The company has promised to reveal pricing closer to the launch date.