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Updated January 16, 2024·
The Dell Alienware x14 R1, being more expensive, is designed for high-performance tasks such as gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering applications, due to its superior processor and dedicated graphics card. It also has a higher refresh rate screen, which is a clear advantage for gaming and fast-paced visual content. On the other hand, the HP Pavilion 15, being much less expensive, is more suited to general use like web browsing, office applications, and light multimedia consumption; however, it compromises on screen resolution and lacks a high-performance graphics card. The Dell offers limited portability due to its weight, whereas the HP is lighter and likely more convenient to carry around. Additionally, the HP Pavilion 15 may have a longer battery life compared to the high-powered components of the Dell that typically consume more energy. Consider your primary use case and whether you require the advanced capabilities of the Dell, keeping in mind that it comes at a higher cost and portability tradeoff compared to the more budget-friendly HP aimed at everyday use. 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 Dell Alienware x14 R1
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Pavilion 15
- The HP Pavilion 15 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware x14 R1.
Key differences
General Use
7.8
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
411.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for general use, though the Dell Alienware x14 R1 is somewhat better.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is equipped with a high-performing processor and a dedicated graphics card which makes it well-suited for demanding tasks and some gaming, alongside a high-quality screen and a relatively longer battery life, but it's heavier and less portable than some other options. Meanwhile, the HP Pavilion 15 offers a larger amount of storage and is lighter, enhancing its portability, but it has a less powerful processor and a lower-resolution screen which might not be as suitable for intensive applications, though it's a good fit for everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.6
6.0
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 excels in gaming and 3D applications due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and high screen refresh rate of 144Hz, providing smoother visuals and better performance. In comparison, the HP Pavilion 15 has a more basic Intel UHD Xe G4 GPU and a lower screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which makes it less suitable for intensive gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.2
6.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its powerful CPU (Intel i7), substantial GPU (Nvidia RTX 3060), ample RAM, and high-quality IPS screen, all factors conducive to intensive tasks and clear visual output.
Content Creation
7.9
7.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Alienware x14 R1 is somewhat better.
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
6.6
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 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
7.9
5.3
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Alienware x14 R1's superior resolution and brighter display enhance readability and content clarity, while the HP Pavilion 15's lesser brightness and lower resolution result in a less crisp and vibrant viewing experience. The color accuracy and wider color gamuts of the Alienware make it appropriate for engineering and design work where precise color representation is crucial; the HP Pavilion 15 falls short in this respect, making it less suitable for professional creative tasks. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the high refresh rate on the Alienware is crucial for smooth motion, but the quality is rated lower due to other affecting factors, while the HP Pavilion 15's lower refresh rate, alongside its basic resolution and panel quality, offers less immersive and responsive gameplay.
Battery
9.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 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.
Build Quality
8.5
6.2
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 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
$1,201
$500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a price of $1,201 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $500.
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Key similarities
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware x14 R1 to have very good portability, while the HP Pavilion 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the HP Pavilion 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware x14 R1 | HP Pavilion 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,201 | $500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | August 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 10.3'' x 0.57'' | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.06 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.66" | 14.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.34" | 9.53" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 80 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 411 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware x14 R1
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"The Alienware X14 series is thinner, but also slower than the competition. With the X series, you get plenty of modern technology: Intel Alder Lake CPUs, GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs, Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E, G-Sync, and Advanced Optimus. However, the slim design has some drawbacks, just like its larger siblings. The shifted hinge position results in a very deep device with a large footprint compared to the competition."
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 Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the HP Pavilion 15
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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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