HP announced new devices and solutions for hybrid work environments at HP Amplify Executive Forum (AEF) last week. As businesses begin to settle into their most practical and efficient working methods, it becomes more apparent how to do hybrid work. While all answers aren’t apparent yet, we’re getting a little closer.
While orthodox working methods were straightforward in that everyone just went to the office, hybrid work has an individual focus with collective intentions. Companies set boundaries for employees to work, such as a three-day-in-the-office rule, and employees are given the freedom to work and collaborate however necessary. Within this hybrid work environment, equipping workers with the ability to create is important to cultivating a healthy hybrid workplace.
Hybrid work is not just geographically hybrid—the work office, the coffee shop, and the home office—but hybrid in that the same technology we use for work is also being used to create. I believe HP recognizes this dynamic of work and play, and it is following its Spring launch of Envy and Spectre devices with a new Dragonfly Folio G3, All-in-one (AIO), and peripheries.
HP Dragonfly Folio G3
The Dragonfly Folio is HP's premium business Windows tablet. HP has highlighted three key features with a hybrid work focus this year. Its multimodal design allows it to transition between a tablet and a laptop seamlessly. HP has designed it for users who have a more flexible workflow. My past experience with 2-in-1 devices is that they usually try to offer an equal experience that results in a mediocre experience for both. For devices to successfully pull off the 2-in-1 design, it is usually best to focus on one of the modes and build a great experience from there. The design of the HP Folio G3 is unique in that when it is in tablet mode; it is not trying to hide that it is also a laptop. The base of the tablet is the same as in laptop mode, and the tablet mode functions more like a canvas than a two-handed, carry-it-everywhere tablet. The Surface Laptop Studio has a similar design, and its "tablet" mode is hardly like a tablet. I believe this design plays to the device's strengths and if anything gives the pen a stable canvas rather than half a tablet.
HP has also improved the functionality of the HP Dragonfly Folio Pen. It has natural and intelligent inking features, and the pen magnetically attaches to the HP Dragonfly Folio G3. The HP Folio G3 has the optimal size and flexibility for pen support. With its leather look and feel, I believe it could be a comfortable companion on a productive flight.
The HP Dragonfly Folio G3 also has an 8MP camera with a wide 100-degree field of view. Camera quality has become an important feature in our day and age of video calls. The Folio G3's 8MP camera should create a great video experience alongside HP's Dynamic Voice Leveling and Auto Framing technology.
I will be publishing my first looks later this week on a device HP sent me.
HP 34-inch AIO
HP also announced a new 34-inch AIO Desktop PC with a moveable and detachable 16MP camera. The camera can move around the bezel of the display so that users can share work on the desk. Users can even use dual cameras to show work and themselves simultaneously. This is unique.
The display is 5K resolution with a 21:9 aspect ratio and blue light filters. This immersive display should make any work experience and video call experience immersive.
It also has a 12th Gen Intel vPro and NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics support. The HP 34-inch AIO should be a powerhouse for creators, and the high-resolution display should also enable users to create and work without compromise. I believe the AIO design works well in the office and in situations where a desk is shared between coworkers. HP has crafted a machine without compromise with enhanced video call support and enough power to accomplish strenuous tasks. I can’t wait to try it out.
USB-C display and 4K streaming webcam
It is also common for hybrid workers to attach and detach a laptop device to a desk setup rather than switch workflows between devices. I have fallen in love with USB-C displays due to their simplicity and cleanliness. The HP Z32k G3 4K USB-C Display addresses the need for high-quality displays in the office with a USB-C connection. These days, many ultra-portable laptops only have USB-C ports. The USB-C connectivity becomes convenient for users with devices like HP Dragonfly devices to simply plug into the USB-C display without needing a dongle. It also has single power on, a KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch for switching between multiple devices, and Thunderbolt 4 support.
HP also announced the HP 965 4K streaming webcam with support for HP Presence, AI face-framing, and autofocus. Video quality incredibly affects first impressions and lasting impressions in video meetings. Great camera quality is a must-have in our era of video communication, and although seeing a person is only one element of communicating, it has become critical to how teams and people communicate in the office and at home. Another great aspect of the HP 965 4K streaming webcam is that it is Zoom certified, meaning features of the HP 965 4K streaming webcam work without question on Zoom.
Wrapping up
Work environments are vastly different from what they were a couple of years ago and continue to change. As we continue to understand what it looks like for employees to WFH and companies to set expectations for hybrid work, flexible tools and devices like the HP Dragonfly Folio G3 are improving the way we work and create.
HP's 34-inch AIO 5K Desktop PC and Z32K G3 4K USB-C Display are flexible in the office and in WFH offices. While hybrid work is different for everyone and every company, the goal is still the same. Create work environments that enable people to be productive and creative. I believe HP is equipping workers with the right tools to do just that.
Note: Moor Insights & Strategy co-op Jacob Freyman contributed to this article.
