The HP Pavilion 15 offers better performance with a higher-end processor and increased storage capacity compared to the HP Stream 14, which is more affordable but uses a lower-tier processor and less storage. The Pavilion is more suited for more intensive tasks like engineering, while the Stream is tailored for general use with its compact size and portability. The Pavilion also has a larger screen, which might be preferable for multitasking and media consumption, but that comes with added weight, reducing its portability. Consider the HP Pavilion 15 if performance is crucial for your tasks and you don't mind the additional weight, otherwise, the HP Stream 14 is suitable for basic tasks and easier to carry around. 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 Pavilion 15
Good for general use
Good for content creation
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
Very good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
6.5/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The HP Pavilion 15 is good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
5.3/10
5.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The HP Pavilion 15 has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for content creation.
If a laptop like the HP Pavilion 15 or HP Stream 14" has a poor screen, it typically means the display may not be very sharp or vivid due to low resolution, which can make text less crisp and images less clear for general use. For engineering and design, these laptops may not accurately display colors as they lack wide color gamut coverage, crucial for precise color work. In the context of gaming and 3D, low refresh rates can lead to less fluid motion, and the importance of higher resolution and better panel technology is to ensure detailed and immersive visuals.
Battery
3.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 hours of battery life. The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 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
6.2/10
5.5/10
The HP Pavilion 15 has only fair build quality, while the HP Stream 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$600
$299
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The HP Pavilion 15 has a price of $600 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Pavilion 15 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Pavilion 15 has a better integrated GPU, which is crucial for gaming and 3D applications, compared to the HP Stream 14's weaker GPU that significantly reduces its ability to handle such tasks. Although both laptops have modest screen refresh rates and similar TN panels with standard resolution quality, the Pavilion 15's slightly superior GPU and processor make it more suitable for gaming and 3D work than the Stream 14.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
5.7/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Pavilion 15 to be only fair for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Pavilion 15 is better suited for engineering and design tasks with its superior processor, more capable GPU, and higher screen resolution, which ensure better performance and display quality necessary for such applications. On the other hand, the HP Stream 14" falls short with a weaker processor and GPU, low screen resolution, and less RAM, which makes it less capable of handling demanding engineering software and detailed design work.
Content Creation
7.1/10
6.7/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Pavilion 15 to be good for content creation, while the HP Stream 14" 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
6.6/10
6.5/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The HP Pavilion 15 and HP Stream 14" 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Stream 14" to have very good portability, while the HP Pavilion 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
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How the HP Pavilion 15 and the HP Stream 14" compare to other laptops
"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."
"With half of the main system memory and a fraction of the storage that we recommend in any budget Windows laptop, the HP Stream 14 does not impress. Perhaps it doesn't need to, depending on your reference point. For the price, you're getting a functional laptop with Windows 10, which already places the HP Stream 14 above most Chromebooks on that merit alone. Still, in this price range, you can't do much worse, but you can do better. In fact, for just $100 more, you can grab the much superior budget option, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14."
Get a great deal on the HP Pavilion 15 or the HP Stream 14"
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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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.
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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.