If you are prioritizing affordability and general use, the HP Pavilion 15 can be a cost-effective option. However, if you value a larger and potentially better quality display, as well as potentially better overall performance for tasks like video editing or gaming, the LG Ultra 16 may be worth the extra investment. Keep in mind that a larger screen size usually impacts portability, and higher performance can lead to shorter battery life. Consider how you plan to use the laptop—whether for everyday tasks, multimedia creation, or carry it around frequently—to determine which trade-offs are acceptable for your needs. 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
The HP Pavilion 15 has no clear advantages over the LG Ultra 16.
Advantages of the LG Ultra 16
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Excellent battery life
Good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
7.7/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
270.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The LG Ultra 16 and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for general use, though the LG Ultra 16 is somewhat better.
The HP Pavilion 15 is favored for general use because of its ample storage, sufficient RAM, and decent screen quality, at the cost of a less powerful CPU and average battery life. The LG Ultra 16, on the other hand, offers a better CPU, superior screen resolution, and longer battery life, alongside lightweight portability, making it a strong choice for users who prioritize performance and display quality in their everyday tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.0/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The LG Ultra 16 is good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The HP Pavilion 15, with an older Intel i3 processor, a basic screen, and lower-quality integrated graphics, can handle engineering tasks but may struggle with more complex designs; it’s also slightly thicker and heavier, affecting portability. In contrast, the LG Ultra 16 is newer with a superior AMD Ryzen 7 processor and better screen quality, offering noticeably improved performance and visual clarity for engineering and design tasks, while being slimmer and lighter for better portability.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.7/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The LG Ultra 16 and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for content creation, though the LG Ultra 16 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
6.6/10
7.5/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
The LG Ultra 16 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
5.3/10
6.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
270.0 nits
The LG Ultra 16 has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The HP Pavilion 15's screen lacks clarity and crispness due to its low resolution and dim brightness, making it less suitable for activities that require fine detail, like reading text or viewing images. For engineering and design work, color accuracy is crucial, and the HP Pavilion 15 falls short with its inadequate coverage of professional color gamuts. Whereas for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key, the HP Pavilion's low refresh rate does not provide the fluid visual experience preferred in fast-paced scenarios, while the LG Ultra 16 offers a slightly better display for general and professional tasks, but is still not ideal for gaming due to its lower refresh rate.
Battery
3.0 Hours
17.0 Hours
The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 hours of battery life. The LG Ultra 16 has 17 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
$600
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The HP Pavilion 15 has a price of $600 and the LG Ultra 16 costs $1,000.
The LG Ultra 16 and HP Pavilion 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The HP Pavilion 15 features an Intel UHD Xe G4 integrated GPU and a 60Hz TN panel, while the LG Ultra 16 houses a Vega 8 integrated GPU with a 60Hz IPS display; both configurations are fair for gaming and 3D due to modest integrated graphics performance and standard screen refresh rates, but the LG Ultra 16 offers a better screen quality.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The LG Ultra 16 and HP Pavilion 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
6.5/10
The LG Ultra 16 and HP Pavilion 15 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 Pavilion 15 and the LG Ultra 16 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."
"Unlike the gram, the Ultra PC isn't designed to be as lightweight as possible. The 16-inch laptop is a whole 400 g (0.88 lb) heavier than its 16-inch gram counterpart partly because its chassis is not made of magnesium. Other than that, the Ultra PC seems like a copy of the gram – but with longer battery life, lower noise levels, and a clean, delicate look."
Get a great deal on the HP Pavilion 15 or the LG Ultra 16
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.
About LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, and are often on sale.
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
100,395
Recommendations made
21,753
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.