HP’s Pavilion 16 is a solid entry in the value laptop market, offering more than expected for its price point.
It comes with a 16-inch Full HD touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 16GB of RAM, and Intel Arc graphics. The design features a sturdy, sandblasted metal lid with a plastic chassis that feels well-built. While marketed as a budget laptop, its overall performance and build quality make it competitive with pricier models.

The 16-inch matte display is a Full HD touchscreen, providing clear and crisp visuals, though colours are slightly muted. It’s not HDR compatible, so contrast and colour gradients suffer somewhat, but the screen handles reflections well unless used outdoors in bright sunlight. The 60Hz refresh rate and slower pixel response time aren't ideal for fast gaming. The Pavilion's touchscreen is responsive, but its limited hinge flexibility prevents it from functioning as a tablet.
The laptop also includes a Full HD webcam and twin speakers that deliver good audio, with decent bass and clear sound across the spectrum. The white-backlit keyboard is well-spaced, and the trackpad is smooth and accurate. Overall, the Pavilion 16 is easy to interact with for everyday tasks.
Powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, the Pavilion 16 delivers solid performance for its class. It scored 6,024 in the PCMark 10 benchmark, positioning it in the mid-range. The integrated Intel Arc graphics can handle casual gaming but struggles with more demanding titles. In gaming benchmarks, it posted low framerates, and games likeCall of Duty MWIII only reached playable levels at very (very) reduced settings.
For everyday computing tasks like web browsing, office work, and light multimedia editing, the Pavilion 16 performs well. However, for heavy workloads like 3D rendering or fast-paced gaming, it falls short.
Weighing 1.74kg, the Pavilion 16 is fairly portable for its size. The 59Wh battery impressively lasted nearly 20 hours in general use and about 13 hours in more demanding benchmarks. This makes it a reliable option for users on the go.
At $1,497, the Pavilion 16 offers excellent value. While not suited for power users or gamers, it’s perfect for casual users and workersseeking an affordable, well-rounded laptop with solid build quality and good battery life.



Nick Ross is a veteran technology journalist who has contributed to many of Australia's top technology titles and edited several of them. He was also the launch editor of the ABC's Technology section. He now spends his time being a journalist, editor, publisher, media commentator, digital marketer, producer, copywriter, corporate host and media consultant, to various degrees. He covers all things business and technology including IoT, cybersecurity, UC and the professional Audio/Visual space: from consumer to B2B and Enterprise.
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