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Updated January 12, 2024·
Between the HP Pavilion 15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, consider your primary needs. The HP Pavilion 15 generally costs less and offers a larger screen size, but has a lower resolution display, which may not be as sharp as the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which boasts a higher resolution screen, potentially providing a better visual experience. The Surface Laptop Go 2 is more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, benefiting users who travel frequently. However, the HP Pavilion 15 has a numeric keypad which is absent on the Surface Laptop Go 2, this can be an advantage if you often work with numbers. The HP Pavilion 15 comes with an Intel i3 processor, whereas the Surface Laptop Go 2 includes an Intel i5 processor, which typically offers better performance for more demanding tasks. Additionally, the Surface Laptop Go 2 comes in a more premium build quality and newer model release date, which might suggest a more up-to-date design and features compared to the HP Pavilion 15. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- Good for software development
- Good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
5.3
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
12.4in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The HP Pavilion 15's lesser screen resolution and dimmer display make it less suitable for any use where clarity and detail are important, such as general browsing or document editing; for engineering and design work, its limited color range cannot accurately reproduce the wide color palettes needed; for gaming and 3D applications, its slower refresh rate can lead to less fluid motion and a decrease in immersive experience. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a sharper and brighter display, enhancing everyday tasks and detail work, while its better color gamut supports more precise color work for design tasks; however, its limitations in refresh rate restrict the fluidity needed for competitive gaming and high-speed 3D rendering.
Battery
3.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 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
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
12.4in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the HP Pavilion 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 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
$456
$600
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The HP Pavilion 15 has a price of $456 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $600.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.0
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The HP Pavilion 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use.
The HP Pavilion 15 edges out the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use due to its higher RAM and larger storage capacity, enhancing multitasking and data handling capabilities, along with a slightly bigger screen. However, the Surface Laptop Go 2 boasts a superior screen quality with higher resolution and brightness, potentially providing a better experience for media consumption, and it's also lighter and more portable, with a higher portability score, but it offers less battery life and storage space, which might be limiting for some users.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Pavilion 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The HP Pavilion 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both equipped with integrated graphics, which are less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs, making them fair for gaming and 3D tasks. While both have a standard refresh rate suitable for casual gaming, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers better screen quality with higher resolution and pixel density, which could enhance the visual experience despite its smaller screen size compared to the Pavilion 15.
Engineering and Design
6.2
6.5
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and HP Pavilion 15 are both only fair for engineering and design.
For engineering and design, the HP Pavilion 15 offers a fair amount of RAM and a standard CPU that can handle moderate tasks, but its low-resolution TN screen may not provide the visual clarity needed for detailed work. In contrast, the Surface Laptop Go 2 has a high-resolution IPS touchscreen that offers better color and image quality which is beneficial for design, but with less RAM and less powerful CPU than the Pavilion, it may struggle with more resource-intensive engineering applications. The Surface Laptop Go 2, however, is significantly lighter and more portable.
Content Creation
7.1
7.1
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and HP Pavilion 15 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
6.6
7.0
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 to be 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Pavilion 15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Pavilion 15 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$456 | $600 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2020 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.75 lbs | 2.48 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.1" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.53" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1115G4 | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the HP Pavilion 15 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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