HP Dragonfly G4 vs Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
The Verdict
Both laptops target premium ultraportable users, but serve different priorities. HP Dragonfly G4 excels with its stunning 3:2 OLED display delivering superior contrast and color accuracy versus Surface Laptop 5's sharper 2256x1504 IPS panel. Dragonfly weighs just 0.99 kg with magnesium chassis and offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports, making it more professional-focused. Surface Laptop 5 compensates with longer 18-hour battery life, lighter profile at 14.5 mm, and a classic aluminum design with Alcantara keyboard. Performance is comparable using 12th/13th gen Intel processors. At $1,799, Dragonfly justifies premium pricing through OLED technology and build quality. Surface Laptop 5 at $999 delivers excellent value for everyday users prioritizing battery longevity and design heritage. Choose Dragonfly for creative work requiring display excellence; select Surface Laptop 5 for balanced daily computing with budget consciousness.
Who Should Buy
Buy the HP Dragonfly G4 if…
- →Featherlight at just 0.99 kg — ideal for frequent travellers
- →Tall 3:2 OLED display boosts productivity in portrait orientation
- →HP Wolf Security for business-grade protection
Buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 if…
- →Excellent 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touchscreen for productivity
- →Alcantara keyboard deck is comfortable and distinctive
- →Lightweight at 1.27 kg for easy portability
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
HP Dragonfly G4
Pros
- Featherlight at just 0.99 kg — ideal for frequent travellers
- Tall 3:2 OLED display boosts productivity in portrait orientation
- HP Wolf Security for business-grade protection
- 5G optional for always-connected mobility
- Windows 11 Pro pre-installed
Cons
- Very expensive for a 13-inch ultrabook
- U-series CPU throttles quickly under sustained workloads
- Small 54 Wh battery limits unplugged endurance
- Limited port selection — no SD card reader
- OLED touch display attracts smudges
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
Pros
- Excellent 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touchscreen for productivity
- Alcantara keyboard deck is comfortable and distinctive
- Lightweight at 1.27 kg for easy portability
- Up to 18 hours claimed battery life
- Removable SSD for easier data recovery
Cons
- Only one USB-C port and one USB-A port — very limited
- 60Hz display lacks the smoothness of 120Hz competitors
- No Thunderbolt 4 — USB-C is USB 4.0 with limited bandwidth
- Surface Connect charger is proprietary
- 8 GB base RAM is restrictive for multitasking
Full Specifications
| Spec | HP Dragonfly G4 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 0.99 kg | 1.27 kg |
| Material | Magnesium alloy | Aluminum and Alcantara |
| Dimensions | 298.6 x 220.3 x 17.5 mm | 308 x 223 x 14.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | — |
| USB-A ports | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | — |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Surface Connect | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 13 hours mixed use | Up to 18 hours |
| Capacity | 54 Wh | 47.4 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.5 inches | 13.5 inches |
| Type | 3:2 OLED touch anti-reflection | PixelSense IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1280 | 2256 x 1504 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 400 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | 256 GB / 512 GB (removable SSD) |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 | 8 GB / 16 GB |
| Cores | 10-core (2P+8E) | 10-core (2P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Intel Core i7-1365U | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U / i7-1255U |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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