HP Pavilion 15 review

HP Pavilion 15

The HP HP Pavilion 15 ranks as the #546 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 70. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #133-ranked performance among 373 laptops. Consider the HP Victus 15 or HP EliteBook 840 G7, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.

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Key takeaways
The HP Pavilion 15 delivers surprisingly good performance despite its modest configuration, making it a reliable productivity machine.
The HP Pavilion 15 boasts decent build quality with sturdy chassis and smooth keyboard performance overall.
The HP Pavilion 15's display lacks color accuracy and vibrancy due to poor peak brightness.
The HP Pavilion 15 features an Intel i5 chip, 8GB RAM, and a 1080p display modestly.

Is it Worth it?

The HP Pavilion 15 is a decent productivity machine, but its worthiness depends on your specific needs. It boasts good performance with an i5 U-series chip, great trackpad and keyboard, and impressive thermals and fan noise. However, its subpar display with only 250 nits peak brightness and 45 NTSC color rating may not be ideal for creative users or those who need heavy graphic capabilities. With a starting price of $750, it's a fair value for business users, students, or those who don't require all-day battery life. If you can live with these limitations, the Pavilion 15 is a great option.

Build

The HP Pavilion 15 boasts decent build quality with a mix of premium and standard materials. The laptop's chassis is sturdy and well-constructed, giving it a solid feel. The keyboard and trackpad are also noteworthy, offering smooth and responsive performance. However, the lack of IO ports diversity may be a drawback for some users. Overall, the Pavilion 15's build quality is satisfactory, making it a good productivity machine, but it falls short in terms of display and battery life. HP 15 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded build.

Display

The display on the HP Pavilion 15 is an underwhelming experience. It boasts a modest resolution of 1920x1080p, but lacks in color accuracy with a mere 45 NTSC color rating. This results in dull and bland visuals, particularly when viewing content that relies heavily on rich colors such as photos or videos. The display also struggles in bright environments, succumbing to glare due to its peak brightness of only 250 nits. While it's acceptable under moderate indoor settings, the Pavilion 15's display is not ideal for users who require vibrant and accurate visuals. For an improved display, HP 15 is worth considering.

Performance

The HP Pavilion 15's performance is surprisingly good, considering its configuration. Day-to-day tasks like web browsing and watching videos are executed quickly and smoothly. Demanding tasks such as 4K video editing also work seamlessly, despite the laptop's 8GB of RAM. Older games like GTA 5 can run on upper-medium settings with DirectX 11 enabled, achieving a healthy 30+ frames per second consistently. The laptop handles thermals well, with an average surface temperature just above 43°C under peak loads and 36°C under sustained loads. This makes the HP Pavilion 15 a reliable productivity machine for everyday tasks and some light gaming. You might want to check out HP Victus 15, featuring an upgraded performance for a superior experience.

Battery and Charging

The HP Pavilion 15's battery life is decent, lasting just shy of 8 hours at 50% brightness with moderate usage. The charging speed is also satisfactory, taking around 2-3 hours to fully charge the laptop from empty. However, it would have been nice to see a more efficient power management system and perhaps an additional USB port or two to match its productivity-focused design. Overall, the battery life is adequate for daily use, but may not be sufficient for those with more demanding needs.

Connectivity

The HP Pavilion 15's connectivity options are somewhat limited. The laptop features two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. While this is sufficient for basic use, it may not be ideal for those who require multiple USB ports or a more extensive range of connectivity options. A more comprehensive selection of ports would have been beneficial to enhance the overall user experience. If you're after top-notch connectivity, consider HP ProBook 440 G8.

Features

The HP Pavilion 15 boasts decent build quality with premium materials, a great trackpad, and keyboard. It features an Intel i5 U-series chip, 8GB RAM, and a modest 1920x1080p display. Performance is surprisingly good for everyday tasks and light gaming. It’s worth checking out HP 15, delivering remarkable features.

Support and Maintenance

The HP Pavilion 15 offers decent build quality with a mix of premium and standard materials. The trackpad and keyboard are great assets. However, the subpar display limits its appeal. As a productivity machine for business users or students, it's sufficient, but lacks in graphics-based activities and battery life. Overall, a reliable but not exceptional laptop option.

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