HP Dragonfly Folio G3 Review – A 2-in-1 for discerning business owners

Few people want to be noticed in the world of business PCs. That’s why HP’s Dragonfly line has constantly impressed with its blend of innovative, high-quality machines that are mature. The Dragonfly Folio 2-in-1 laptop is a tried-and-true concept. It acts as a normal laptop until you pull the screen forward. This will either push the keyboard past it or make the screen flat. No detaching pieces that can be broken or lost.

The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 is the latest Folio model. It features Intel chips and a new design. The laptop makes a great first impression. But can it last?

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HP Dragonfly Folio G3 Specifications and Features

The following specifications are included in our review unit:

• CPUvPro Intel Core i7-1265U (10 Cores, 12 Threads: 2 Performance, 8 Efficiency)
• Memory16 GB LPDDR5 RAM, soldered up (up to 32GB configurable).
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Display: 13.5-inch 3:2 WUXGA+ (1920×1280) IPS LCD touchscreen
• Storage: 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe solid state drive
• Webcam: 8MP
• Connectivity:  2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
• Networking: Bluetooth TKTK and Wi-Fi 6E (optional),
• Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition
• Battery capacity: 68 Wh
• Dimensions: TKTKK (W) + TKTKK (D) + TKTKK (H) inches
• Weight3.06 lb, 3.86 lb with AC adapter
• Price: $2,474.20

HP Dragonfly Folio G3 Design and Build Quality

The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 impresses immediately. The solidity of the machine’s build is evident from the moment it is opened from its box. Its metal deck has nary a flex, and has comfy smoothed edges that don’t dig into your fingers or wrists. Although you won’t get a whiff of new car smell from its plastic leatherette outer case, it helps yet make this computer feel soft and inviting to use.

Even the 2-in-1 action which can feel fragile or floppy, has a satisfying feel. For regular laptop use, strong magnets hold the screen in place. A firm pull will bring it forward to one or both positions. All in all, there’s a dedication to design and sophistication with the Dragonfly Folio G3 that I’m not sure I’ve seen in another computer, much less a business-targeted model.

Along the sides are ports and vents so subtly carved in that I didn’t notice them at first. This was to the machine’s detriment the first few times, as I tried to plug the USB-C charger into the groove right next to the port, instead of the port itself. There’s a small click-in tray for the SIM card should you get a version with 5G built-in, and the opposite side has a wireless charging pad and docking slot for the included pen (but more on that later). It’s minimalist but in a way that is different from Apple’s MacBooks or Dell’s premium XPS models. The entire affair, from the embossed HP logo to the dark metal finish, is subtle and fashionable. It also shows a sense maturity.

If I can leverage any criticism at the Folio G3 it’s that the whole contraption feels bulky compared to other laptops. The combination of the heavy metal construction and dense plastic leather makes the Folio G3 seem heavier than it is. It’s only a bit over 3 pounds, but something like the Surface Pro 9 is almost a half-pound lighter, while the business-focused ThinkPad X13s Gen 1 is under 2.5 pounds. It’s clear that the extra grams go towards the Dragonfly Folio’s robust-feeling screen mechanism and premium metal parts. 

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Connectivity

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Given that this machine was designed for on-the-go workers who need to make a great impression in meetings (whether there’re on Teams or in the room), I didn’t expect a ton of ports. The Thunderbolt 4-friendly USB-C ports are located on the lefthand side. There is also a 3.5mm headset port nearby. Strangely, only one of these ports can accept charge, something I haven’t seen on many recent laptops. This meant that occasionally, I’d come back to a computer that wasn’t fully charged. The correct port is the one closest to you, and I’d also double check that the pinhole charging light’s illuminated to be certain it’s taking on power.

The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 is equipped with Intel Wi-Fi 6E wireless options. A 5G WWAN modem was also included in my review sample, which is also made by Intel. You have the option to either use the internal eSIM or insert a physical SIM in the small slot. While I was unable to test the 5G connectivity, the wireless was as good as I’d expect from a laptop in 2022.

HP Dragonfly Folio G3 – Keyboard, pen and trackpad

The keyboard on the Dragonfly Folio G3 keyboard is small but it is absolutely amazing. It has an almost mechanical preciseness to it, with each key giving a distinctive and easy-to-feel snap when you’ve hit it just right. This keyboard is my home away from home, and I can type for hours on it. The keyboard is backlit but only has a few levels of brightness. The full function row includes a number of useful shortcut keys including a camera killswitch, mute button, airplane mode toggle, and even an user-programmable button with three diamonds.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

The touchpad is almost equal to the keyboard in terms of functionality. It’s large, smooth glass surface allows you to move your fingers and palm detection is excellent. Gestures were accurately interpreted—all in all it’s just the kind of touchpad every laptop deserves. While you won’t find any high-tech haptic motors inside, the click of this trackpad gives you a positive response but it’s not too harsh. It would be a great gift for Goldilocks.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

The Dragonfly Folio comes with a pen if you enjoy handwriting. The pen magnetically docks to the Folio and charges there. There is a unique magnetic docking tab to keep it from being lost. It can be shipped in a bag but it stays put well. It might not be a favorite of artists due to the noticeable jitter when drawing straight lines. However it works well for annotation, doodles or other notetaking tasks.

HP Dragonfly Folio G3 Display, Speakers, and Webcam

The display is the only thing that gives me pause about the HP Dragonfly Folio G3. The 3:2 aspect screen is perfectly fine for use with solid contrast and good colors. The resolution is perfectly chosen, at 1920×1280 there are no weird scaling issues and text looks plenty crisp. It’s just that at this premium price, I’d expect something extra special.

Apple’s 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models have next-gen mini LED screens with incredible colors and HDR-grade highlights. OLED panels are available for a number of Dell computers. Why is the Folio G3 so basic? (For what it’s worth, HP says they offer an OLED on this Dragonfly model, but it’s Only for special ordersThis LCD is standard on most models.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

The Dragonfly feels more tailored for work thanks to the 8 megapixel webcam. Although it’s not the sharpest camera I’ve ever seen on a laptop, you will be well-exposed and visible whether you’re sitting to the side of the display or head-on thanks to a wide field of view. There’s also an auto-zoom feature that will punch in on your face or head-and-shoulders to keep you in the picture if you move around. It’s clear that by cutting down an 8MP image, there’s very little loss in overall quality if you activate it so you’ll look more or less as good. Microphones can also capture sound from a wide array of positions, even if you’re across the room from the Dragonfly Folio.

An infrared sensor is placed near the camera to detect if someone is active in front of the computer. Although I found it a little too aggressive with the Walk Away Lock setting that dims the screen, it could be beneficial for open office workers.

The Dragonfly Folio G3 is a remarkable speaker. Although HP could have slashed the price, it still delivers a powerful sound. I was particularly impressed by the midrange and how clear spoken-word content remained, even when volume was increased to 80%. This highlights the design parameters for the microphones, webcam and speakers. It’s great for Zoom meetings or Teams.

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Software

HP kept the added software to a minimum here, only keeping apps for features that otherwise wouldn’t have settings. There’s an “Easy Clean” app that disables the computer’s input devices for 2 minutes, letting you clean the screen, keyboard, and mouse without accidental inputs. Additional settings in the myHP app include auto screen dimming, privacy alerts, and an alert that both uses the webcam. Inexplicably, the tool that can control the computer’s infrared presence detection, called HP Auto Lock & Awake, is only accessible via the Settings app.

Perhaps the most aggressive included app is HP’s Wolf Security suite, which is so important it also gets a sticker next to Intel’s on the laptop’s palmrest. This is HP’s umbrella branding for its system administration, antivirus, and tracking tools. This may be a benefit for existing HP customers, but if your company uses different software for protecting its laptops, it could mean that each system must be reimaged. Wolf is not as intrusive as other antivirus suites. It doesn’t pop up any notifications and does not try to force users into signing up for a subscription.

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Performance

The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 2-in-1’s Intel Core i7-1265U keeps it cool and quiet in all conditions. While it only has two performance cores, what you’ll get is more than adequate for normal tasks.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

We use the PCMark 10 benchmark to get a birds’ eye overview of a laptop’s day-to-day performance. The i7-1265U is fast for a low-power chip but it’s definitely not the most impressive processor available in a thin laptop. This is evident in the PCMark test, which compares the Dragonfly Folio G3 to the performance-focused Dynabook machine, the Portege X40. The HP is good enough for most normcore business needs, though, so don’t let the lackluster score make you think it’s slow by any stretch.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

We use Cinebench R15 to get an idea of how well all a laptop’s cores work together in an intensive 3D rendering test. The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 was slightly ahead of the competition. We know that the Dragonfly Folio G3 was made to keep cool and quiet. This, combined with the lower-power U series chip, makes it a lot less than a machine like Dynabook Portege X40 which is performance-focused and hot-running.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Given that this is a very thin business laptop, you shouldn’t expect amazing graphics performance from the HP Dragonfly Folio G3 2-in-1. It has the standard Intel Xe Graphics found on machines that cost a lot more. But it also has a lot less. Again, the difference we see here comes down to HP’s tuning to focus on a cool, quiet computer rather than any significant differences in the processors.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Battery life wasn’t a strong suit for the HP Dragonfly Folio G3, clocking 10 hours and 5 minutes in our looping video test. The Surface Pro 9 with ARM technology ran rings around the Dragonfly Folio G3, clocking almost 16 hours in the same test. The ARM ThinkPad, a business-oriented device, ran for 2.7 hours more than the HP. It’s clear that if power and software compatibility aren’t an issue in your organization, that Windows on ARM should be considered in this price range. 

HP Dragonfly Folio G3: Conclusion

The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 on its own is a powerful machine. It features a great design, keyboard and touchpad. It even comes with a pen. I find it difficult to fault this machine in the following areas: For the price, you probably should get a much better display. Although the IPS touchscreen is fine, it’s far from exceptional.

It really isn’t until we throw in some competing machines that it becomes a little less compelling. For its size, HP has stuck to a more normal, cooler U-class Intel chip that’s totally fine but doesn’t blow the doors off. That’s where it’s clear that this is a notebook for normcore business users. There are tons of premium machines that can match or beat it in battery life and runtime while handling business tasks (assuming you adhere to the Microsoft ecosystem).