The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) delivers high performance, with a more advanced chip and a higher quality display compared to the HP Pavilion 15, making it better suited for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and professional work. It also boasts a longer battery life, a more robust build quality, enhanced speakers, and a better webcam, which add to its value. On the other hand, the HP Pavilion 15 is a budget-friendly option that offers a larger storage capacity and multiple ports that can be useful for day-to-day general use. However, its screen and performance capabilities fall short of those of the MacBook Pro. The HP is more cost-effective and has a more familiar Windows 11 Home operating system for those accustomed to it. If budget constraints are less of an issue and you require superior performance, the MacBook Pro is the stronger choice. If affordability and basic functions are priorities, the Pavilion 15 will meet your needs at a lower cost. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the HP Pavilion 15
The HP Pavilion 15 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.5/10
7.0/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the HP Pavilion 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) provides a very good experience for general use because it combines a high-performance CPU with ample RAM, a high-quality Mini LED screen, excellent portability, and a robust battery life, thereby ensuring powerful computing in a mobile package.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.0/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
6.2/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) excels in engineering and design use thanks to its high-performance CPU, the Apple M2 Pro, alongside a powerful integrated GPU and a high-quality Mini LED display, which make it well-suited for intensive tasks and accurate color representation. In contrast, the HP Pavilion 15, with its lower-tier Intel i3 processor and basic Intel UHD Xe G4 graphics, paired with a lower-resolution TN screen, is adequate for simpler tasks but may struggle with the demanding workloads and fine detail required in engineering and design.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.1/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the HP Pavilion 15 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.4/10
6.6/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
5.3/10
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 likely boasts a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and a premium panel type, making it stellar for general use and engineering, where crisp text and color-accurate visuals are crucial. However, its standard refresh rate might be a hindrance for 3D applications where smoother motion is key. Conversely, the HP Pavilion 15 may have lower resolution, inferior panel quality, and less capable brightness, reducing its suitability across the board, especially in color-critical tasks for engineering and design, as well as in providing an immersive 3D experience.
Battery
13.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability, while the HP Pavilion 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the HP Pavilion 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$600
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,700 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $600.
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
"The HP Pavilion 15 carries a fair amount of power and a sharp display in its handsome slimline shell. It's not perfect, but it's a hard worker. This is wonderfully designed and totes a heck of a lot of desktop power, with the added benefit of a decent webcam and a full-sized keyboard. If you're getting down to business on a budget, it's a great fit."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the HP Pavilion 15
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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