When deciding between the HP 15" Laptop and the HP Pavilion 15, consider how much storage and memory you need, as the Pavilion generally offers more. If you prefer better screen quality and sharpness for tasks like photo editing or watching videos, the HP 15" may be preferable with its Full HD display. In contrast, the Pavilion might have a slight edge in battery life, making it more suitable if you need to work on the go without frequent charging. Choose the HP 15" for better display quality or the Pavilion if you need more storage, memory, and slightly better battery life, keeping in mind the Pavilion usually comes at a higher price. 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 HP 15" Laptop
Good battery life
Advantages of the HP Pavilion 15
Good for general use
Good for content creation
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.3/10
5.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The HP 15" Laptop has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 has a better screen for software development.
The HP 15" laptop's screen offers a balance of resolution and brightness that meets the basic requirements for everyday tasks, but it lacks the vivid colors and contrast needed for engineering and design where precise color representation is crucial. For gaming and 3D applications, a high refresh rate is essential for smooth visuals; the HP 15" falls short, making it less suited for these purposes. The HP Pavilion 15, with lower screen quality across the board, struggles with display clarity and brightness for general use, and the lack of advanced color coverage and lower refresh rates hinder performance in specialized tasks like engineering, design, and gaming.
Battery
6.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The HP 15" Laptop has 6 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.
Cost
$375
$570
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The HP 15" Laptop has a price of $375 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $570.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Pavilion 15 to be good for general use, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The HP 15" Laptop, with an IPS display known for better color and wider viewing angles, is rated as fair for general use whereas the HP Pavilion 15 has a TN panel, typically offering lower color accuracy and narrower viewing angles, thus considered good for general use. Despite the HP Pavilion's larger storage capacity, better heat management, and slightly longer battery life, the HP 15" Laptop offers a higher screen resolution and overall screen quality, which also contributes to its evaluation for general use.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
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 15" Laptop is poor.
The HP 15" Laptop and the HP Pavilion 15 are considered fair for gaming and 3D applications primarily because of their integrated graphics, which, while capable of handling some lighter gaming and 3D tasks, do not match the performance of dedicated gaming GPUs. The HP 15" Laptop has a slightly higher screen resolution which benefits image clarity, but both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, generally suited for basic or non-intensive gaming due to their limitations in smoothness and response during fast-paced games.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
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 HP Pavilion 15 and HP 15" Laptop are both only fair for engineering and design.
The HP 15" Laptop has moderate specifications for CPU, sufficient RAM, and integrated graphics, suitable for less demanding engineering and design work, plus it has a quality IPS display with decent resolution for clearer visuals. In contrast, the HP Pavilion 15, while offering more storage and double the RAM, which is better for multitasking, comes with a similar level CPU and integrated graphics but has a lower resolution TN panel, which may not provide as sharp or color-accurate visuals for design tasks.
Content Creation
6.9/10
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
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Pavilion 15 to be good for content creation, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
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
6.7/10
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
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The HP 15" 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP 15" Laptop and HP Pavilion 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
6.2/10
The HP Pavilion 15 and HP 15" Laptop both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP 15" Laptop and the HP Pavilion 15 compare to other laptops
"Chances are high that the HP 15 is one of the first laptops to pop up when you search for an inexpensive notebook. Indeed, its price tag is very tempting for many, and of course, this is the reason for its popularity. However, the HP 15" suffers from poor performance due to low power consumption. On the bright side, one of the good things about it is the port selection. On the inside, this includes two SODIMM slots for memory, an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for storage, and a SATA drive bay. However, the TN panel, and mediocre input devices are not ideal."
"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 15" 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
116,295
Recommendations made
25,198
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
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.