The ASUS Zenbook 13 might be better if you're looking for high performance in a compact and lightweight form with good visuals, due to its OLED screen and powerful AMD processor. It's suitable for demanding applications but less ideal for those on a budget due to its higher price. Conversely, the HP Pavilion 15 offers a larger screen and is more budget-friendly, with more storage and additional RAM, which could be more suitable for everyday use and light multitasking. However, its performance might not be suitable for intensive tasks, and the screen quality is lower compared to the ASUS. If portability and high-quality display are less important, and cost savings are a priority, then the HP Pavilion 15 may be the right choice. Choosing between the two will depend on whether you prioritize price over performance and portability. 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 Zenbook 13
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Good battery life
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Pavilion 15
The HP Pavilion 15 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook 13.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
6.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 13 is good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its high-quality OLED screen and more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU with Vega graphics, is suitable for engineering and design due to better screen fidelity and stronger integrated graphics performance, making it good for visual tasks and lightweight design work. In comparison, the HP Pavilion 15 offers more RAM and a larger screen, which might benefit multitasking and larger workspace area, but its lower-resolution TN panel and less powerful Intel CPU with integrated UHD graphics may not be as effective for engineering software or color-sensitive design tasks.
Software Development
7.3/10
6.6/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 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
7.8/10
5.3/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 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 Zenbook 13 offers a high-resolution display with good brightness, making text and images sharp and easy to view for general tasks, while its color coverage suits professional design work, but it lacks a high refresh rate, diminishing its appeal for gaming and 3D applications. The HP Pavilion 15, on the other hand, may have a dimmer, lower resolution screen, affecting the clarity and vibrancy for all uses, which is particularly noticeable in day-to-day activities and detailed engineering projects. Both laptops are less suited for gaming and 3D work, but the Zenbook's superior resolution and panel type give it an edge over the Pavilion 15 in general use and engineering contexts despite neither being ideal for high refresh rate demands of modern games.
Battery
9.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 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
Excellent
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the HP Pavilion 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
6.2/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 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
$890
$600
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $600.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for general use.
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
6.2/10
6.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and HP Pavilion 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and the HP Pavilion 15 are both equipped with integrated graphics—Vega 8 and Intel UHD Xe G4, respectively—which provide adequate but not high-end gaming performance, and both have standard 60Hz refresh rates that are fair for gaming but may not be optimal for fast-paced games that benefit from quicker screen updates. While the Zenbook 13 offers better screen quality with its OLED display and higher pixel density for sharper images, the Pavilion 15 compensates with a larger screen and more RAM, which could be a boon for multitasking and slightly more demanding games or 3D tasks, albeit its lower resolution screen may result in less crisp visuals.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for content creation.
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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the HP Pavilion 15 compare to other laptops
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
"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 Zenbook 13 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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