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Updated January 12, 2024·
When considering the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) versus the HP Pavilion 15, be aware that the MacBook Pro generally offers higher performance levels and a more robust build quality, which can be particularly beneficial for demanding tasks like video editing or software development. It also tends to have a longer battery life and a better display, which is great for creative work. However, these premium features come at a higher price point. On the other hand, the HP Pavilion 15 is typically more affordable and offers decent performance for everyday computing tasks like web browsing and document editing. The Pavilion is also usually lighter and easier to carry around, making it a good fit if portability is a priority for you. If you're comfortable with the Mac operating system and need a machine for intensive tasks, the MacBook Pro might be worth the extra investment, but if you need something for lighter use and value savings, the HP Pavilion could be a practical choice. 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 16 (Late 2019)
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good 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 16 (Late 2019).
Key differences
General Use
7.8
7.0
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
477.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a powerful CPU, high RAM, a high-resolution IPS screen, and long battery life, which make it well-suited for various tasks, but its heavier weight affects portability; on the other hand, the HP Pavilion 15 also has ample RAM for general use, a larger storage capacity, and is lighter, making it more portable, yet it has a lower resolution TN screen and shorter battery life, which may impact user experience during prolonged use.
Engineering and Design
7.5
6.2
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with a more powerful CPU, professional-grade GPU, and a high-quality IPS display with excellent color coverage, outperforms the HP Pavilion 15's modest CPU, integrated graphics, and basic TN panel display. While both offer similar RAM capacity, the MacBook's superior screen and graphics capabilities, paired with its premium build, make it more suited for demanding engineering and design tasks, albeit at the expense of being less portable and having a louder operating noise compared to the more compact and quieter HP Pavilion.
Content Creation
8.0
7.1
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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
7.9
6.6
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is 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
7.8
5.3
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and color accuracy, making it ideal for viewing content and everyday tasks, while the HP Pavilion 15's lower resolution and brightness result in a less crisp and vibrant experience. In engineering and design, the MacBook Pro's wide color gamuts provide accurate color representation critical for professional work, whereas the Pavilion 15's narrower color range might not meet the precision required for such tasks. For 3D applications, the MacBook Pro's lower refresh rate may not be as smooth for fast-moving visuals as desired, whereas both laptops may not provide the optimal experience for gaming due to their limited refresh rates, although their resolutions and panel types are sufficient for moderate 3D work.
Battery
12.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 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.
Build Quality
10.0
6.2
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.0
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
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 16 (Late 2019) and HP Pavilion 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Pavilion 15 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$499
$500
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $499 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $500.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the HP Pavilion 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) | HP Pavilion 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$499 | $500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2019 | August 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.7'' x 0.64'' | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.3 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 14.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.68" | 9.53" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-9750H | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 100 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3072 x 1920 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 477 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720P | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 4 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
HP Pavilion 15
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Alex Cox | August 2022
"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 16 (Late 2019) 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.
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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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