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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The HP Pavilion 15 is a budget-friendly option that is significantly less expensive than the MSI Prestige 16. If you need a laptop for everyday tasks and you're looking to save money, the HP Pavilion 15 with its lower-resolution screen and basic performance could be sufficient. However, if you require a laptop for more demanding applications, like engineering software, video editing, or gaming, the MSI Prestige 16 offers higher performance, a better-quality display, and additional features at a higher cost. The Prestige also has a longer battery life, which is beneficial for portability and use on the go. On the other hand, the HP Pavilion is lighter and may be easier to carry around despite its shorter battery life. Choose the HP Pavilion 15 for basic tasks and value, or opt for the MSI Prestige 16 for advanced features and performance. 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 MSI Prestige 16.
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
8.4
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for general use, while the HP Pavilion 15 is good.
The HP Pavilion 15, with its basic processor and RAM, standard screen resolution, and larger physical build, offers a decent experience for everyday tasks, while also being lighter and having an excellent heat management. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 16 stands out with a much more powerful processor, double the RAM, higher-resolution and quality IPS display, and relatively better portability despite a little extra weight; it also has an extended battery life, which, along with premium keyboard and speaker quality, makes it better suited for demanding general use tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.7
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Prestige 16 and HP Pavilion 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Prestige 16 is somewhat better.
The HP Pavilion 15, with its lower-end graphics unit and a screen refresh rate of just 60 Hz, is less suitable for gaming and 3D applications compared to the MSI Prestige 16, which boasts a more powerful integrated graphics unit and a higher 165 Hz screen refresh rate. Additionally, the MSI's CPU is more potent, and it offers superior screen quality which further enriches gaming and 3D experiences.
Engineering and Design
6.2
8.2
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The HP Pavilion 15's lower-grade processor, Intel UHD graphics, and basic TN panel with lower resolution make it only fair for engineering and design use, while the MSI Prestige 16's more powerful i7 processor, higher RAM capacity, advanced Iris Xe graphics, and a higher-resolution IPS display greatly enhance its performance and screen quality, making it very good for these tasks. Additionally, the Prestige's superior build with a backlit keyboard and additional Thunderbolt ports might offer a more satisfying user experience for professionals, despite being slightly less portable and heavier than the Pavilion.
Content Creation
7.1
8.3
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for content creation, while the HP Pavilion 15 is good.
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
8.1
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very 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
8.3
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 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 likely suffers from a low-resolution display combined with dim brightness, causing its screen to look less vibrant and sharp for all uses, which negatively affects general usage, design details, and gaming experiences. The MSI Prestige 16 excels in screen quality with its higher resolution and brightness, alongside a wide color range that benefits engineering and design tasks requiring color accuracy, but its lower refresh rate can disappoint gamers who look for smooth motion in fast-paced games. Overall, while Prestige 16 offers a superior viewing experience for productivity and creative work, it may fall short for gaming, where the HP's limitations impact all user scenarios uniformly.
Battery
3.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 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
7.4
The MSI Prestige 16 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
$1,611
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Pavilion 15 has a price of $600 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The HP Pavilion 15 and MSI Prestige 16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the HP Pavilion 15 and the MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Pavilion 15 | MSI Prestige 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $1,611 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2020 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.75 lbs | 4.2 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.1" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.53" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1115G4 | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 82 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
HP Pavilion 15
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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."
MSI Prestige 16
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Make Use Of
Paul Antill | June 2023
"The MSI Prestige 16 Evo: 2023's best value 16” thin & light laptop with i7-13700H. One of the top choices for professionals and students seeking a high-performance, portable computing solution in 2023. While the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M may not boast the most striking design compared to some other 16" options, its relatively "safe" styling lends itself well to professional and educational environments. Significantly, it doesn't compromise on essential features like port selection or cooling performance, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient thermal management. The 16 Evo A13M offers an excellent combination of performance, portability, and functionality, making it a compelling choice for professionals and students alike."
Get a great deal on the HP Pavilion 15 or the MSI Prestige 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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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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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