What the Surface Laptop SHOULD’VE been - HP Elite Dragonfly G3
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Description
Grab your own iFixit FixMat at ifixit.com Alex needed a new laptop for CES, so HP sent over their new HP Elite Dragonfly G3 for him to
Promos
check out. With a lofty pricetag and middle-of-the-road specs, is this laptop Alex's new daily driver or will this just end up in the pile of laptops at his desk? Buy an HP Elite Dragonfly G3: lmg.gg Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Want us to unbox something? Make a suggestion at lmg.gg ► SUBSCRIBE ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► AFFILIATES, SPONSORS & REFERRALS: lmg.gg ► PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg ► SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Instagram: @shortcircuityt TikTok: @linustech Facebook: @ShortCircuitYT CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Alex needs a new laptop 0:57 Unboxing 1:40 Weight, IO, and design 4:00 Sponsor - iFixit 4:23 Keyboard/Trackpad impressions 6:46 Display impressions 8:30 Battery life 9:33 Specs 10:52 Webcam quality impressions 12:07 Speaker and display comparisons 14:32 Attempting to play Valheim 15:21 Teardown 17:14 Pricing and overall thoughts 18:06 Outro
The video opens with the host explaining the CES context and his search for a suitable laptop, immediately contrasting MacBooks and other options with the HP Elite Dragonfly G3. He highlights the decision to choose a business-class laptop over consumer laptops, noting the 3x2 aspect ratio and the overall premium positioning of the Dragonfly G3. The unboxing reveals a conservative silver box and a few included accessories, including a 65-watt charger, which the host praises for faster charging compared to many peers. Early emphasis is placed on build quality, a weight around 2.8 pounds, and a chassis that feels exceptionally stiff, which supports confident typing and a stable palm rest experience. He also introduces a customization detail with a scorpion-themed backplate from dBrand, which sets a distinctive aesthetic tone for the review. The host provides an initial comparison to other laptops like the XPS 15 and MacBook Pro, framing the Dragonfly G3 as a strong alternative in portability and keyboard feel, with the 3x2 display shaping the user experience from the outset.
Topics · technology · laptops · hardware_design · display_technology
Questions answered
- What is the HP Elite Dragonfly G3's display aspect ratio and resolution, and how does that affect multitasking?
- The Dragonfly G3 uses a 3x2 aspect ratio with a 1920x1280 resolution, which provides a taller workspace that is friendly for palm rest and a larger touchpad area, improving comfortable use of documents and tools without the hands sliding off the keyboard.
- Does the Dragonfly G3 offer a 4K OLED option, and what trade-offs does that imply?
- Yes, there is a 4K OLED option, but it comes at the cost of significantly reduced battery life, making the base 1080p panel a more practical choice for all-day use.
- What is the battery life like and how does Windows modern standby affect it?
- The laptop is capable of around 15 hours of real-world battery life with power-saving settings enabled, and Windows modern standby can extend runtime further, though it may slow performance when on battery power.