When choosing between the HP Pavilion 15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, consider your primary needs. The HP Pavilion 15 offers a more budget-friendly option with a larger screen and more ports, giving you flexibility for peripherals. Its performance is suitable for general use, but if you require more power for tasks such as engineering applications or content creation, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, with its improved processor and graphics, may be the better choice. The Surface also boasts a higher resolution and a better quality display, making it preferable for media consumption, and it is significantly lighter and more compact, enhancing portability. The tradeoff is a smaller screen size and potentially higher cost. Battery life is also a differentiating factor; if extensive unplugged use is crucial, check the specifics for each model, as the Pavilion might offer a longer battery life. Overall, the Surface is a compact and more powerful machine, suited for mobility and performance-intensive tasks, whereas the HP Pavilion 15 leans towards affordability and connectivity with a compromise on performance and portability. 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 3.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
Good for software development
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
6.8/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and HP Pavilion 15 are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is somewhat better.
The HP Pavilion 15 has a larger screen and more RAM, which aids in multitasking and running engineering software, but its lower-resolution TN screen and basic CPU and GPU limit detailed design work and advanced engineering simulations. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers a higher-resolution IPS touchscreen for better visual clarity and a more powerful CPU, but has less RAM and storage, which may slow down heavy workloads and limit data storage. Both laptops have limitations in key areas like CPU, RAM, and screen quality for engineering and design tasks, with trade-offs between display quality and system resources.
Software Development
6.6/10
7.1/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
12.4in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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 screen may not deliver the crispness and vividness required for a satisfying experience due to lower resolution and lackluster brightness, making it less than ideal for general use and detailed work required in engineering. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 boasts a higher resolution and brightness, providing sharper images and more accurate colors for general computing and professional design tasks, though it might not cover the wider color gamuts critical for high-end design accuracy. Both laptops, however, have screens with limited refresh rates, which is a disadvantage for gaming and 3D work where smoother motion and quicker screen updates are crucial for an immersive experience.
Battery
3.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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 3 has excellent portability, while the HP Pavilion 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
$600
$791
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The HP Pavilion 15 has a price of $600 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $791.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and HP Pavilion 15 are both good for general use.
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.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.1/10
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and HP Pavilion 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The HP Pavilion 15 offers limited gaming and 3D capabilities as it's equipped with an entry-level GPU, a screen refresh rate suitable for basic tasks, and a lower tier processor. Conversely, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, while also not designed for high-end gaming, offers a somewhat better GPU and CPU combo and a more vivid screen, but still maintains the same basic screen refresh rate, which doesn't prioritize gaming performance.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.3/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
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How the HP Pavilion 15 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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."
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
Get a great deal on the HP Pavilion 15 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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.
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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