Productivity Takes Flight
A convertible laptop that keeps everything together
In 2018, HP came up with an innovative design to allow a laptop to be converted into a laptop without sacrificing the build quality. That product was the Spectre Folio, and 4 years and 2 generations later, HP released the Dragonfly Folio G3.
Typical convertible 2-in-1 laptops involve folding the keyboard to face outwards in tablet mode and get exposed to the elements. They are also rather uncomfortable to hold. The other convertible laptop design is to detach the keyboard but the display panel stores all the hardware and hence is heavier while the flimsy keyboard lacks the feel of a standard laptop keyboard.
The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 cleverly keeps both the keyboard and the 13-inch touchscreen display attached by allowing the display to pull forward and flat to cover the keyboard. The display panel is held securely by the soft leather-like cover for good flexibility and offers a more organic feel to the laptop, resembling a leather folio.
And we are just getting started. The hardware has been boosted with the latest 12th-Gen Intel i5 or i7 U-series processor, generous RAM of up to 32GB, and blazing storage of up to 2TB, depending on your preferred configuration. Our review unit also comes with a blinding 1000 nits brightness. and HP Sure View Reflect, which is a built-in privacy screen that limits the viewing angle. It does not remove completely but the screen appears dimmer when looking from the sides, and that should deter casual onlookers.
The integrated webcam offers a generous resolution of 8MP, one of the highest-spec on a Windows laptop. It also has Auto Frame capability which automatically zooms into your face and tracks you wherever your face is within the camera angle of view, a feature that is usually found on more expensive webcams. The same camera also detects the presence of another person and warns you on-screen, and it can also auto-dim the display when you are not looking at the screen. What I love the most is that it supports Windows Hello facial recognition and auto unlocks the screen when I return to the laptop. All these features can be configured from the preinstalled HP Smart Experiences app.
The stylus pen is included in the package and is secured on the right side of the keyboard by magnetically docking it into a slot which also charges it. It does not drop off through casual bumps, so you can safely slip the laptop into your bag. The quad-speaker audio system by Bang & Olufsen delivers premium sound that sounds full and spatial but is still constrained by physical limitations.
The battery drains rather fast due to the high-performing specs and bright screen, but charging it over the USB-C is just as speedy. With only two Thunderbolt USB-C connectors, an external hub would be essential if you want to connect more peripherals.
Rating: 4/5
We Say: The Dragonfly Folio G3 is not for the budget-conscious, but it is a star performer and stylish productivity tool for the executive.
From S$4,049
hp.com/sg
Technical Specifications
Operating System Windows 11 Pro
Processor 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1265U 1.8GHz processor, 32GB RAM, and Integrated Graphics
Display 13.5″ diagonal Anti-Glare WLED UWVA WUXGA+ (1920×1280) Low Blue Light Touchscreen, 400 nits
Internal Storage 1 TB PCIe-4×4 NVME SSD
Keyboard HP Premium backlit spill-resistant keyboard; Clickpad with multi-touch gesture support
Battery 4-cell, 53-WHr Long Life Fast-Charge Battery
Webcam 8MP camera with HP Auto Frame
Audio B&O, quad speakers with a discrete amplifier, dual microphones enhanced by AI noise reduction
External I/O Ports 2x Thunderbolt 4 with USB4 Type-C 40 Gbps signalling rate (USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4); 1x Stereo headphone/microphone combo jack
