Are you on the hunt for the perfect ultrabook? Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, gamer, or laptop buyer, finding the right device can be daunting. Today, we’re comparing two top contenders in the ultrabook arena—the HP Elite Dragonfly and the Dell XPS 13. By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, helping you make an informed decision.
Review Overview
Both the HP Elite Dragonfly and Dell XPS 13 have set high standards in the ultrabook category. Each one offers a unique blend of performance, design, and features. This review aims to break down these elements to give you a thorough comparison.
Key Differences
The HP Elite Dragonfly and Dell XPS 13, while both elite in their own rights, cater to slightly different audiences. The Dragonfly is renowned for its sleek design and business-centric features, while the XPS 13 is a powerhouse favored by tech enthusiasts and gamers alike.
Case
Design and Build Quality
The HP Elite Dragonfly boasts a lightweight magnesium chassis, making it incredibly easy to carry around. In contrast, the Dell XPS 13 features a premium aluminum and carbon fiber build, offering durability with a stylish edge.
Portability
Weighing just under 1 kg, the Dragonfly is a true featherweight, ideal for those always on the go. The XPS 13, while slightly heavier at around 1.2 kg, is still very portable and won’t weigh down your backpack.
Aesthetic Appeal
The Dragonfly’s iridescent Dragonfly Blue finish adds a touch of sophistication, making it stand out in a crowd. On the other hand, the XPS 13 offers a more classic look with its sleek, silver exterior and minimalist design.
Display
Screen Quality
The HP Elite Dragonfly comes with a 13.3-inch Full HD display, offering vibrant colors and sharp images. The Dell XPS 13 steps up the game with an optional 4K UHD display, providing stunning visuals that are hard to beat.
Touchscreen Capabilities
Both laptops offer touchscreen options, but the Dragonfly’s touch response feels slightly more intuitive, making tasks like note-taking and drawing smoother.
Brightness and Color Accuracy
The XPS 13’s display is known for its exceptional brightness and color accuracy, making it a favorite among photo and video editors. The Dragonfly, while not as bright, still offers excellent color reproduction suitable for most tasks.
Battery
Battery Life on Programming/Coding
For programmers, battery life is crucial. The HP Elite Dragonfly offers up to 24.5 hours of battery life, making it perfect for long coding sessions. The Dell XPS 13, with around 12 hours, still provides ample time but falls short in comparison.
Battery Life on Web Browsing
Web browsing often consumes less power. The Dragonfly excels here again, offering over 20 hours of browsing on a single charge. The XPS 13, while respectable, offers around 10 hours, which is still impressive but less competitive.
Battery Life on Full Brightness and CPU Intensive Tasks
When running at full brightness and handling CPU-intensive tasks, the Dragonfly’s battery life drops to about 8 hours, while the XPS 13 manages around 6 hours. Both laptops perform admirably under pressure, but the Dragonfly has a slight edge.
CPU
CPU Performance Comparisons
The HP Elite Dragonfly is powered by Intel’s 8th Gen Core i7 processor, providing robust performance for everyday tasks. The Dell XPS 13, featuring the latest 11th Gen Intel Core i7, offers superior speed and efficiency, making it a better choice for demanding applications.
Web Browsing Performance
Both laptops handle web browsing with ease, but the XPS 13’s newer processor offers quicker response times and smoother multitasking, making it the preferred option for heavy browser users.
Photo and Video Editing
For creative professionals, the XPS 13 shines with its powerful CPU and 4K display, providing a seamless editing experience. The Dragonfly, while capable, may struggle with more demanding editing tasks due to its older processor.
Exporting 4K/8K Videos
The Dell XPS 13 excels in exporting high-resolution videos, thanks to its advanced CPU and GPU capabilities. The Dragonfly, while competent, takes longer to render and export videos, making it less ideal for video professionals.
Benchmarks
3D Marks
In 3DMark benchmarks, the XPS 13 consistently scores higher than the Dragonfly, showcasing its superior graphics processing power.
Cinebench
Cinebench tests reveal the XPS 13’s dominance in CPU performance, with higher scores indicating better multitasking and processing capabilities compared to the Dragonfly.
Userbenchmark
Userbenchmark results further confirm the XPS 13’s edge in overall performance, particularly in tasks requiring significant computational power.
Graphics Card
The Dell XPS 13 features Intel Iris Xe graphics, which provide excellent performance for integrated graphics. The HP Elite Dragonfly, equipped with Intel UHD Graphics, performs well for everyday tasks but falls short in gaming and graphic-intensive applications.
RAM and Storage
Both laptops offer configurable RAM and storage options. The XPS 13 can be equipped with up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage, making it a powerhouse for multitasking and data-heavy applications. The Dragonfly offers up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, suitable for most business needs but less competitive for intensive tasks.
Sound
Audio Quality
The HP Elite Dragonfly features Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers, providing clear and rich audio quality. The Dell XPS 13, with its Waves MaxxAudio Pro, also delivers impressive sound, though it may lack the depth of the Dragonfly.
Speaker Placement
The Dragonfly’s speakers are located on the top, ensuring unobstructed sound. The XPS 13’s bottom-firing speakers can sometimes get muffled when placed on a soft surface, affecting audio clarity.
Volume Levels
Both laptops offer loud and clear audio, but the Dragonfly’s speakers tend to produce slightly higher volume levels, making it better suited for presentations and media consumption.
Connectivity
Ports and Slots
The HP Elite Dragonfly offers a variety of ports, including USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and a headphone jack. The Dell XPS 13, focusing on a slimmer profile, provides two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a microSD card reader, and a headphone jack, but lacks USB-A and HDMI ports.
Wireless Connectivity
Both laptops support the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections. The Dragonfly also includes optional 4G LTE, providing added flexibility for mobile professionals.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.0 is standard on both devices, ensuring quick and reliable connections to peripherals like mice, keyboards, and headphones.
Conclusion
In the battle of the ultrabooks, both the HP Elite Dragonfly and Dell XPS 13 offer compelling features that cater to different needs. The Dragonfly excels in portability, battery life, and audio quality, making it ideal for business professionals on the go. The XPS 13, with its superior display, processing power, and graphics capabilities, is perfect for tech enthusiasts, gamers, and creatives who demand high performance.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs and preferences. Whichever you choose, both laptops represent the pinnacle of modern ultrabook design and performance. For further assistance in making your decision, consider signing up for a free trial at Jasper, where you can explore more in-depth reviews and comparisons.
| Feature | HP Elite Dragonfly | Dell XPS 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-1135G7 / i7-1165G7 (11th Gen) | Intel Core i5-1340P / i7-1360P (13th Gen) |
| RAM | 8GB / 16GB LPDDR4X (Soldered) | 8GB / 16GB / 32GB LPDDR5 (Soldered) |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Graphics | Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Display | 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS, Optional 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) | 13.4-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) or UHD+ (3840 x 2400) IPS |
| Battery | Up to 16.5 hours | Up to 12 hours |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro / Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home / Pro |
| Weight | Approx. 0.99 kg (2.2 lbs) | Approx. 1.27 kg (2.8 lbs) |
| Ports | 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1 x USB-A 3.1, HDMI 1.4, 3.5mm audio jack | 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 3.5mm audio jack |
| Keyboard | Spill-resistant, Backlit Keyboard | Edge-to-edge Backlit Keyboard |
| Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Webcam | 720p HD Camera with Privacy Shutter | 720p HD IR Camera with Windows Hello |
| Audio | Bang & Olufsen Stereo Speakers | Stereo Speakers with Waves MaxxAudio Pro |
| Build Quality | Magnesium alloy chassis | CNC-machined aluminum chassis |
| Security Features | TPM 2.0, Fingerprint Reader, IR Camera with Windows Hello | TPM 2.0, Fingerprint Reader, IR Camera with Windows Hello |
| Price Range | Starts around $1,400 | Starts around $1,200 |
