The Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 is a high-performance laptop ideal for gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning thanks to its powerful hardware. However, its high price reflects this capability, and it may be less portable due to its size and weight. On the other hand, the HP Pavilion 15 offers a more budget-friendly option that's suitable for general use and basic engineering tasks. It trades off performance for better portability and longer battery life. If price is a concern and you need a laptop for everyday tasks, choose the HP Pavilion 15. But if you need top-tier performance for intensive tasks and are willing to invest more, the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 would be the better 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 ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the HP Pavilion 15
The HP Pavilion 15 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16.
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
627.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for general use, though the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
6.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 excels in gaming and 3D applications because it is equipped with a powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 240Hz, which is crucial for smooth visuals and responsiveness. In contrast, the HP Pavilion 15 has a less capable Intel UHD Xe G4 graphics and a lower refresh rate of 60Hz, making it only moderately suitable for such tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
6.2/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is equipped with a high-end CPU, a powerful Nvidia GPU, and a high-quality IPS screen making it excellent for demanding engineering design tasks, whereas the HP Pavilion 15 has a basic CPU, integrated graphics, and a lower quality TN screen, making it only fair for such tasks. Additionally, the Zephyrus M16 has a more vibrant display with a higher color gamut coverage that can be crucial for design precision, contrasting with the Pavilion 15's display which covers less of the color spectrum, potentially impacting color-sensitive work.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.1/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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
7.7/10
6.6/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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
9.0/10
5.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers a high-quality display with crisp resolution and bright images, making it well-suited for general use where clarity and visibility are key. For engineering and design, the M16's wider color gamut ensures accurate color representation, which is crucial for detail-oriented tasks. However, the M16's lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion and fast screen updates are essential for an immersive experience.
Battery
4.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.2/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good 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
$2,059
$600
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $2,059 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $600.
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
"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 ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 or the HP Pavilion 15
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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