The HP Dragonfly Elite Chromebook proved that Chrome OS hardware can be as robust, fast, and innovative as Windows and MacOS machines.
I get the appeal of Chromebooks — I really do. Sometimes less is more, and an operating system that is simpler can provide a less distracting experience for the right audience. But it’s never been a good fit for me.
I’m pretty bought into Microsoft’s Office suite, and I’m willing to pay a premium for top-notch hardware. I want my laptop to look and feel like a serious work tool without compromises — and that’s always made me think Chromebooks weren’t for me. Then I tried the HP Dragonfly Elite Chromebook.
The Dragonfly Elite Chromebook didn’t do anything to move the needle much in my overall impressions of ChromeOS in terms of software. But it did convince me that there’s nothing stopping manufacturers from making Chromebooks that match their Windows and macOS counterparts in terms of hardware.
To begin with, the Dragonfly Elite Chromebook was exquisitely built. That’s not all that uncommon, but I’ve certainly tested my fair share of flimsy Chromebooks. HP’s machine took things to a new level. Yes, the chassis is made of a magnesium-aluminum allow and isn’t as rigid as all-aluminum machines, but it’s also very lightweight at 2.8 pounds. The hinge was perfect in my testing, allowing the lid to be opened with one hand but holding the 2-in-1 in place in clamshell, tent, media, and tablet modes. And it’s thin at 0.65 inches. It was a delightful laptop to use and the equal of the best Windows machines I’ve reviewed.
