HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023)

HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023)

Manufacturer	HP
Release date	January 2023 (2023-01)
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 11 Home
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 7736U
Memory	16 GB LPDDR5-6400 (soldered)
Memory slots	None
Storage	512 GB PCIe4 x4 SSD
Storage slots	None
Removable storage	None
Display	Screen size: 14 inch Panel type: IPS Coating: Glossy Resolution: 1920 x 1200 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: 60 Hz Brightness: 376 to 431.5 Nits sRGB: 126.7 % DCI-P3: 89.8 % Delta-E: 0.2
Graphics	AMD Radeon 680M
Sound	Quad speakers (Bang & Olufsen)
Camera	5 MP webcam with 1440p30 capability
Touchpad	Haptic touchpad
Connectivity	Qualcomm WCN685x WiFi 6E 3 x USB 3.1 Gen2 (Type-C) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (Type-C) 2 x USB 4.0 (Type-C, Thunderbolt 3) 3 x DisplayPort
Dimensions	W: 12.39 inches (31.5 cm) D: 8.78 inches (22.3 cm) H: 0.72 inches (1.8 cm)
Mass	3.53 pounds (1.60 kg)
Power brick	96 W GaN AC adapter
Battery	65 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Keyboard	Backlit
Chassis	Color: Matte Materials: Machined aluminum chassis
Number pad	No
Fingerprint reader	Yes
Facial recognition	Yes (IR support for Windows Hello)
Special features	Dedicated hotkeys for quick access to settings and 24-hour support
Website	HP

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The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is a premium ultrabook designed for professionals and content creators. It features an AMD Ryzen 7 7736U processor and Radeon 680M graphics, offering a sleek design, excellent performance, and impressive battery life. The device is more luxurious than a Pavilion, thinner than an Envy, and more affordable than an EliteBook. However, it lacks certain ports and upgradeability options, which may deter some users. The Dragonfly Pro targets a similar audience as the recent MacBook Pro 14 but with a very different approach, focusing on a no-frills clamshell design.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U processor. This processor features 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock speed of 2.7 GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.75 GHz. It is designed for efficient performance in ultrabooks and competes closely with Intel's 13th gen Core U-series processors.

Reviewers have noted that the CPU performance is very fast for a U-series processor, with multi-thread performance 30% faster than last year's models. It achieves performance levels within 5 to 10 percent of more power-hungry H-series processors found in larger gaming laptops. Performance sustainability is decent, with a slight drop in performance over extended use.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R15 Multi Loop: Ø1819 (1770.22-2018.88)
• Cinebench R23 Multi Core: 12768 Points (11027.3min - 12768.1max)
• Cinebench R20 Multi Core: 4571 Points
• Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core: 9218 Points
• Blender v2.79 BMW27 CPU: 246 Seconds

Graphics

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) comes with integrated AMD Radeon 680M graphics. This GPU is part of the AMD Ryzen 7 7736U processor and is designed to provide decent performance for light gaming and multimedia tasks.

Reviewers have found the integrated graphics performance to be impressive, with 3DMark results that are 15 to 20 percent higher than the average laptop in the database with the same GPU. Users can expect decent year-over-year performance gains, providing PS4-level performance with most games averaging 30 FPS at 1080p Medium settings. The high-speed 6400 MHz LPDDR5 RAM contributes significantly to the graphics performance.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Fire Strike Score: 7549 Points
• 3DMark Time Spy Score: 2914 Points
• 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score: 35309 Points

Memory

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is equipped with 16 GB of LPDDR5-6400 RAM. This high-speed memory is soldered onto the motherboard and is not upgradeable.

The high-speed RAM contributes to overall system performance, particularly in graphics tasks and multitasking scenarios. Reviewers have noted that the 16GB of RAM in the Dragonfly Pro is sufficient for multitasking and handling everyday workloads, allowing for smooth operation even with multiple applications and browser tabs open simultaneously.

Benchmarks:

• AIDA64 Memory Copy: 72478 MB/s
• AIDA64 Memory Read: 73719 MB/s
• AIDA64 Memory Write: 65458 MB/s
• AIDA64 Memory Latency: 96.4 ns

Storage

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) comes with a 512 GB PCIe4 x4 SSD. This storage solution offers excellent performance with sequential read and write rates of up to 6800 MB/s and 3800 MB/s, respectively. The SSD is stable with no throttling during extended use, but it is not user-removable.

Reviewers have noted that the 512GB SSD storage provided ample space for files and applications, contributing to the overall snappy performance of the laptop. It allowed for quick boot times and fast access to data.

Benchmarks:

• CrystalDiskMark Sequential Read: 5103 MB/s
• CrystalDiskMark Sequential Write: 1812.12 MB/s
• AS SSD Score Total: 3095 Points

Co-processors

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) does not come with any dedicated co-processors.

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) features a backlit keyboard with a smooth textured surface. The keys and palm rests have the same paint finish covering the notebook’s chassis, providing a subtle texture that enhances the typing experience. The key travel and the level of resistance the keys produce when typing are well-regarded, making the keyboard one of the best aspects of the laptop.

However, some users may find the auxiliary keys intrusive, as the keyboard features a column of MyHP quick-launch keys that may take up valuable space from the Backspace and Enter keys.

Touchpad

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) comes with a haptic touchpad. The touchpad is responsive and never failed to register gestures or misread swipes. The haptic feedback works decently, but it’s a bit light compared to the MacBook Pro. Fortunately, users can adjust the feedback using HP's settings software.

Reviewers have noted that the clickpad is quiet and smooth, but lacks tactile feedback, which may take some getting used to.

Webcam

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is equipped with a 5 MP webcam with 1440p30 capability. The webcam provides a sharp picture with an electronic shutter for privacy. The webcam quality is among the best available on laptops, with IR support for Windows Hello.

Reviewers have found the webcam to be decent for video conferencing and taking photos. The image quality is acceptable for casual use, although it may show some grain in low-light conditions.

Microphone

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) comes with an integrated microphone. The microphone quality is decent for video calls and meetings, but specific benchmarks are not provided.

Output Devices

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Display

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) features a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 pixel IPS touchscreen display. The display offers full sRGB coverage and decent contrast, but has slow response times leading to noticeable ghosting. The display features a glossy finish and supports native pen input.

Reviewers have noted that the display is great for work and watching videos. The panel is bright and colorful, with a smooth 60Hz refresh rate. Based on testing, the display achieved an average of 376 nits of brightness and hit 389 nits around the center of the screen. The display might not blow you away, but it won’t disappoint either, providing a good balance of brightness and color accuracy.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum Brightness: 431.5 cd/m²
• Contrast Ratio: 1638:1
• Brightness Distribution: 87%
• sRGB: 126.7%
• DCI-P3: 89.8%
• Delta-E: 0.2

Audio

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) comes with quad speakers tuned by Bang & Olufsen. The speakers are positioned along the front corners and edges of the keyboard, providing a decent audio experience for media consumption.

Reviewers have noted that the sound quality from the Dragonfly Pro’s speakers is impressive for a laptop. Highs, mids, and lows are perfectly balanced, and the bass is also quite punchy. The audio quality is suitable for media consumption.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is equipped with a Qualcomm WCN685x WiFi 6E module. This module provides high and steady transfer rates on WiFi 6 and 6E, with no major issues reported during testing.

Bluetooth

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) comes with Bluetooth 5.2.

SD Card Reader

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) does not include an SD card reader.

USB

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is equipped with the following USB ports:

• 3 x USB 3.1 Gen2 (Type-C)
• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (Type-C)
• 2 x USB 4.0 (Type-C, Thunderbolt 3)

Reviewers have noted that the port selection is limited to USB-C ports, lacking USB-A and a headphone jack, which may require users to rely on adapters or docking stations.

Display Outputs

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) comes with 3 DisplayPort outputs.

Reviewers have noted that the display outputs are versatile, allowing for multiple external displays, but the lack of HDMI may be a limitation for some users.

Case

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The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) features a machined aluminum chassis with a matte finish. The design is substantial and rigid, with a focus on sustainability, using mostly recycled or reclaimed aluminum. The overall build quality is high, with rounded corners and a clean aesthetic.

Reviewers have noted that the Dragonfly Pro stands out among other laptops thanks to its sleek and elegant design. It’s one of the most fetching laptops reviewed. At 12.39 x 8.78 x 0.72 inches and weighing 3.53 pounds, the Dragonfly Pro is easy to slip into a backpack and carry around all day. However, the bezels are a bit thick, especially along the top of the screen.

Maintenance

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The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is not designed for easy maintenance. The bottom panel can be removed with a T5 Torx wrench, but the RAM, SSD, and WLAN modules are soldered, limiting upgradeability. Only the primary battery is easily replaceable.

Cooling System

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The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is equipped with twin fans and a large heat sink. The cooling system is designed to keep the laptop cool under load.

Heat

Reviewers have noted that the laptop remains cooler than many competitors under load, with maximum temperatures of 38.6 °C on the upper side and 42.8 °C on the bottom during stress tests.

Noise

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is quiet under low loads, but produces noticeable high-pitched noise under load, stabilizing at around 40 dB(A) during gaming.

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) comes with a 96 W GaN AC adapter. The laptop is very efficient, with low idle power draw of 3 W to 6 W. Maximum power draw recorded at 82 W during full utilization.

Reviewers have noted that there is an unusually high power drain when the laptop is asleep with the lid closed, with a battery drop of 6% after three hours. This issue may need to be addressed in future updates.

Battery Life

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is equipped with a 65 Wh Lithium-Polymer battery. The battery life is excellent, with nearly 13 hours of web browsing, making it suitable for all-day use.

Benchmarks:

• Idle (without WLAN, min brightness): 23h 13min
• WiFi Websurfing: 12h 57min
• Load (maximum brightness): 2h 38min

Biometrics

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The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) features a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button, providing quick and secure access. It also supports Windows Hello face recognition with its IR webcam.

Software

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The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) runs Windows 11 Home and comes with HP's myHP app for support and settings management. However, the app is noted to be slow and clunky, which detracts from the overall user experience.

Preinstalled Software

myHP

The myHP application acts as the primary control center in the Dragonfly Pro. It offers features like programmable keys, webcam adjustments, and audio control.

Other Preinstalled Software

The Dragonfly Pro also comes with other preinstalled software, including a 30-day McAfee security trial.

Linux Support

The device may have limited support for Linux distributions, as specific compatibility details are not provided.

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" (2023) is well-regarded for its sleek design, excellent performance, and impressive battery life. It is considered a premium ultrabook suitable for professionals and content creators. The laptop's high-speed RAM and SSD contribute to its overall snappy performance, and the integrated AMD Radeon 680M graphics provide decent performance for light gaming and multimedia tasks. The display is bright and colorful, making it great for work and watching videos. The keyboard and touchpad are also praised for their responsiveness and comfort.

However, the Dragonfly Pro has some drawbacks, including a limited port selection, lack of upgradeability, and the absence of an SD card reader. The myHP app is noted to be slow and clunky, which detracts from the overall user experience. Additionally, the laptop produces noticeable fan noise under load and has an unusually high power drain when asleep with the lid closed.

Problems Summary

• Limited port selection (only USB-C ports, no USB-A or headphone jack).
• Lack of upgradeability (soldered RAM, SSD, and WLAN modules).
• Absence of an SD card reader.
• Slow and clunky myHP app.
• Noticeable fan noise under load.
• Unusually high power drain when asleep with the lid closed.
• Thick bezels, especially along the top of the screen.

Links

• Tom's Guide Review
• NotebookCheck Review