The HP 14" Laptop has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
When considering the HP 14" for general use, its fair screen quality stems from an acceptable balance of resolution and brightness, although it lacks the more vibrant panel types. For engineering and design, the same laptop's display doesn't offer the wide color gamuts that professionals need for precise color work. In terms of 3D and gaming, the HP 14" falls short due to a lower refresh rate which hinders smooth motion, while the HP Pavilion 15's screen, although larger, also suffers in all aspects due to poorer resolution, brightness, and color gamut, making it less suitable across the board.
Battery
8.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The HP 14" Laptop has 8.5 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
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.2 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP 14" Laptop has very good portability, while the HP Pavilion 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$418
$600
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The HP 14" Laptop has a price of $418 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $600.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Pavilion 15 to be good for general use, while the HP 14" Laptop is only fair.
The HP 14" Laptop offers better portability with a smaller screen and lighter weight compared to the HP Pavilion 15, which may feel less convenient to carry frequently. However, the HP Pavilion 15 outshines it with more RAM and storage, a larger battery, and higher quality speakers, making it a better choice for more demanding general use despite its lower screen resolution and larger size.
Gaming and AI
5.8/10
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
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Pavilion 15 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP 14" Laptop is poor.
The HP 14" Laptop has a slightly better GPU with AMD Vega graphics, favorable for gaming and 3D applications, and a higher resolution screen which provides clearer visuals, but both laptops have a modest refresh rate which isn't ideal for high-end gaming that requires smoother motion. The HP Pavilion 15 offers an Intel UHD GPU which is adequate for less demanding games, but its screen quality is lower due to a less sharp resolution, though it may have no significant disadvantage at the same refresh rate for casual gaming.
Engineering and Design
6.0/10
6.2/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Pavilion 15 and HP 14" Laptop are both only fair for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.1/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The HP Pavilion 15 and HP 14" Laptop 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.
Software Development
6.8/10
6.6/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The HP 14" Laptop and HP Pavilion 15 are both only fair for software development.
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.
Build Quality
6.0/10
6.2/10
The HP Pavilion 15 and HP 14" Laptop both have 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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How the HP 14" Laptop and the HP Pavilion 15 compare to other laptops
"This feels like an ideal laptop for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on a laptop and isn’t too bothered by things like build quality or construction. It’s a laptop that will be used to pay bills, keep track of expenses, do some online shopping, and will be tucked away in a spare bedroom/home office. It’s an appliance designed to do a job without fuss. It’s not a premium experience—the materials do feel a little cheap, the display won’t exactly wow you, and the battery life is nothing to write home about, especially if you’ve used more expensive devices. But overall it’s not too shabby, especially for the price."
"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 HP 14" Laptop or the HP Pavilion 15
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
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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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.