HP updates Elite Dragonfly laptop with 10th-gen Intel processors, Tile integration

HP's Elite Dragonfly laptop may have only come out a month or two ago, but the company is already updating it. The newest member of the Elite family received mostly an internal update ahead of CES 2020, including 10th-gen Intel processors and a new Tile integration that should make it easier for users to find their misplaced laptops.

We reviewed the Elite Dragonfly last month and were impressed at how well it combined a thin-and-light design with solid performance and good battery life. We were disappointed that the laptop didn't launch with 10th-gen Intel processors, but the wait for that is now over. Any users buying an Elite Dragonfly in 2020 will have the option to get the newest processors, as well as HP's 4th-gen SureView privacy screen technology and newly added support for 5G. The latter expands upon the Elite Dragonfly's optional LTE support and, while nice to include in a spec sheet, it does more to future-proof the device than it does to add immediate value for users.

HP also partnered with Tile to bring device-tracking features to the Elite Dragonfly. Tile makes small Bluetooth trackers that you can attach to your keys, stick in your backpack, and place with other important possessions to monitor their location using the Tile mobile app. The new Elite Dragonfly laptops will have Tile technology embedded into the chassis, allowing users to find their laptop if they lose it.

Using the new Tile Windows app or any of Tile's other applications, users can look up the last known location of their laptop. If they are within Bluetooth range, they'll see exactly where the device is on a map. Otherwise, the Tile app will show the last place the laptop registered a location either via Bluetooth or by pinging Tile's local network, which uses other nearby Tiles and running Tile apps to estimate the location of the laptop.

Unlike Tile's regular square trackers, the technology embedded into the Elite Dragonfly will not require replacing a battery after a certain period of time—instead, the laptop reserves a small portion of its battery life to keep the Tile technology running, even when the Elite Dragonfly itself has been turned off or has run out of battery.

HP also updated its Spectre x360 15 laptop with a new screen and a new GPU. While the display is still 15.6-inches, it feels larger thanks to newly shrunken top and bottom bezels. In addition to the existing 4K OLED panel option that the Spectre x360 15 already had, HP added a new energy-efficient 4K panel that it claims uses less power than a traditional 4K panel. This should allow the laptop to get up to 17 hours of battery life when configured with this 4K panel, and we're eager to put that to the test.

You'll also now be able to get the latest Nvidia graphics in this device if you need that extra boost for gaming or creative work. In addition, HP reconfigured the thermal management system inside the device and was able to make a new laptop that's 13 percent smaller than the previous model. In the few minutes I spent playing around with it and photographing it, the new HP Spectre x360 15 looks and feels less bulky than it once did. With the refined bezels, it feels like a 15-inch device in a 14-inch chassis.

Finally, HP's updated 32-inch Envy all-in-one PC is worthy of note. It has been redesigned with new speakers from Bang and Olufsen that are four times louder, have extra bass support, and have an improved frequency range. Not only will they be great tools for those in creative fields who must edit video and audio content often, but they also act as Bluetooth speakers when the PC is turned off. That means you can connect your smartphone, tablet, or other device to the speakers and play music or other audio whenever you want.

HP also upgraded the display to a 4K HDR 600 panel—while not the same as the HDR 600 standard for TVs, this panel will have an improved color range and deeper blacks than the previous panel. As far as specs go, the 32-inch Envy all-in-one will have 9th-gen Intel processors, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of PCIe SSD.

All of HP's new devices will be available later this year. Pricing and availability hasn't been released yet.

Listing image by Valentina Palladino