HP Pavilion Plus 14 review: OLED on a budget

HP Pavilion Plus 14

MSRP $1,000.00

“HP Pavilion Plus 14 provides a 90Hz OLED display at an unbeatable value.”

Execs

• Spectacular 90Hz OLED show
• Class-leading construct high quality
• Glorious keyboard and touchpad
• Strong productiveness efficiency
• Sturdy worth at sale costs

Cons

• Review unit efficiency restricted by throttling
• Poor battery life

HP’s Pavilion line carries its funds to mid-range laptops, and it’s provided some strong choices through the years. For 2022, the corporate determined to upscale the road with the Pavilion Plus 14, a laptop that’s the thinnest Pavilion but and the primary with an OLED show. And it’s a 90Hz show, provided at an especially engaging value.

It’s a aggressive market, although, and HP has its job reduce out.

My review unit is presently on sale at HP.com for $850, down from $1,000. That’s a compelling value for a Twelfth-gen Intel Core i7-12700H CPU and a 14-inch 16:10 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED show working at 90Hz. In truth, it’s one of many least costly OLED laptops round, and it’s a step up from most, because of the show’s quicker refresh fee. There are different glorious offers out there, and if you will get the Pavilion Plus 14 at one among its sale costs, you’re getting an excellent laptop for a improbable value.

Design

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The Pavilion Plus 14 is constructed of all aluminum, and you’ll inform. The chassis and lid evoke confidence within the laptop’s sturdiness because of an absence of twisting, bending, or flexing. The Pavilion Plus 14 is as strong as some laptops I’ve reviewed recently that price considerably extra, such because the $1,500 MSI Status 14. Like that machine, the Pavilion Plus 14 isn’t fairly as strong because the Dell XPS 15 or the MacBook Professional, nevertheless it’s shut, and people two are way more costly.

Even the Pavilion Plus 14’s hinge is well-designed, permitting the lid to be opened with one hand whereas holding the show firmly in place. The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 and Asus Vivobook S 14X retail for across the identical value because the Pavilion Plus 14, and neither are as inflexible of their building.

The laptop’s design is easy and streamlined, with 5 out there colours — Pure Silver, Tranquil Pink, Mineral Silver (darkish grey), Heat Gold, and Area Blue. My review unit was the silver mannequin, sporting a minimalist however engaging aesthetic. That’s frequent amongst laptops in the present day, with few standing out, notably at funds and mid-range costs. For instance, the Asus Vivobook S 14X is one other equally priced and conservatively designed laptop.

The Pavilion Plus 14 has been slimmed down in comparison with different Pavilion laptops, coming in at 0.72 inches and three.09 kilos. The plastic show bezels are small for the category, with an 87% screen-to-body ratio that’s increased than most equally priced laptops. That’s partly because of the swap to a 16:10 show, which makes the laptop narrower than earlier Pavilion 14 fashions and barely deeper. The Vivobook S 14X is wider and deeper whereas marginally thinner at 0.70 inches and significantly heavier at 3.59 kilos. The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is wider and deeper, once more thinner at 0.65 inches and heavier at 3.23 kilos.

There are many ports, with two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2 USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a full-size HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Essentially the most important omission is Thunderbolt 4 help, which isn’t a shock at this value level however nonetheless a bit disappointing. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 present wi-fi connectivity.

Value and configurations

As of when this review is being written, most configurations of the Pavilion Plus 14 are closely discounted. The very best deal is the entry-level mannequin that’s $550 at Staples (on sale from $780) with a Twelfth-gen Intel Core i5-1240P CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a 14-inch 2.2K (2240 x 1400) IPS show. The Core i5-1240P is a 28-watt 12-core (4 Efficiency and eight Environment friendly) and 16-thread processor working at a max frequency of 4.4GHz.

My review unit retails for $1,000 however is on sale for $850, with a Core i7-12700H (see the efficiency part), 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a 14-inch 2.8K OLED show. Spend $1,130 (on sale from $1,310), and also you get an Intel Core i7-1255U CPU, 12GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 GPU, and the 14-inch OLED show. Oddly sufficient, the Core i7-1255U is a 15-watt 10-core (two Efficiency and eight Environment friendly), 12-thread CPU. You’ll be able to combine and match extra CPU and GPU choices utilizing the configure-to-order device at HP.com.

The Asus Vivobook S 14X is equally priced at retail, $1,100 for a Core i7-12700H, 12GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and a 14-inch 2.8K OLED show at 120Hz. For $900, you will get a Core i5-12500H, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and the OLED show. One other laptop that’s priced across the identical is the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, which is $1,050 for a Core i7-1255U, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 14-inch Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) show. Though the Pavilion Plus 14’s configuration choices are advanced and typically complicated, the laptop is a good worth at its numerous sale costs.

Efficiency

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My review unit was constructed across the Twelfth-gen Intel Core i7-12700H, a 45-watt CPU with 12 cores (4 Efficiency and eight Environment friendly) and 16 threads. It’s a processor that we don’t usually see in thin-and-light ultrabooks just like the Pavilion Plus 14, which usually equip 28-watt Intel P-Collection or 15-watt U-Collection CPUs. Additionally uncommon is that the Pavilion Plus 14 is proscribed to Intel’s built-in Iris Xe graphics. Often, the 45-watt CPUs are paired with discrete graphics.

We now have one comparability machine that additionally used a Core i7-12700H and Iris Xe graphics, the Asus Vivobook S 14X. Taking a look at our benchmarks, the Pavilion Plus 14 had an identical efficiency. In Geekbench 5, its single-core scores had been decrease however its multi-core scores had been increased. It was primarily tied in our Handbrake take a look at that encodes a 420MB video as H.265, and it was slower in Cinebench R23. Each laptops had been beneath different machines with the identical CPU, such because the Dell XPS 15, and relying on the benchmark, each had been nearer to laptops with the 28-watt Core i7-1260P. Sadly, the Pavilion Plus 14 wouldn’t full the PCMark 10 Functions take a look at, which is an efficient take a look at of basic productiveness efficiency.

One other similarity between the 2 laptops was that each demonstrated important throttling. I used every laptop’s thermal management utility to check in balanced and efficiency modes, and I famous that every hit 95 levels C or increased and throttled in our CPU-intensive benchmarks. That clearly restricted their efficiency. As I identified with the Asus, it’s not that the Pavilion Plus 14 is sluggish; it’s that it’s not benefiting from the extra highly effective CPU given its very skinny chassis.

The most important distinction is that the Pavilion Professional 14 could be configured with the 28-watt Core i5-1240P, which may present comparable efficiency if it throttles much less, and the 15-watt Core i7-1255U, which might presumably provide improved effectivity. And, the HP is considerably inexpensive than the Asus in most of its configurations.

Finally, my review unit carried out effectively for an $850 laptop and okay for a retail value of $1,000. It’s going to maintain up with demanding productiveness workflows, and it may well do some very light-weight inventive duties as effectively. As I simply talked about, although, the 45-watt CPU is wasted on the skinny chassis, and HP might need been higher off going with the Core i7-1260P.

The Pavilion Plus 14 could be configured with as much as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050, however my review unit used Intel Iris Xe graphics. It scored barely beneath common within the 3DMark Time Spy take a look at, however its Fortnite efficiency was round common at 15 frames per second (fps) at 1200p and epic graphics. It’s not a gaming laptop until you restrict your library to older titles and eSports video games.

Show and audio

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One of the vital current advances in show technology is the widespread adaptation of OLED panels. They supply brighter and extra correct colours and deeper blacks, making for glorious productiveness, creativity, and media consumption shows. If you will get an OLED show for lower than $1,000, that’s a terrific worth proposition, and when that show runs at 90Hz, it’s even higher. Larger refresh charges assist make Home windows 11 a smoother expertise, to not point out permitting video games to run tear-free at increased body charges (not that we’re fearful about that with built-in graphics).

My review unit was configured with the two.8K (2880 x 1800) 90Hz OLED show, and it was lovely out of the field. If I’d spent $850 on the laptop, I’d be tickled pink with the brilliant and correct colours, inky blacks, and easy Home windows 11 expertise.

In response to my colorimeter, HP didn’t reduce any corners with the show. Brightness was glorious at 398 nits, effectively above our threshold of 300 nits for working in all lighting situations besides direct daylight. Colours had been large at 100% of sRGB and 95% of AdobeRGB, they usually had been extraordinarily correct at a DeltaE of 0.78 (1.0 or much less is indistinguishable to the human eye). And, after all, the distinction was extraordinarily deep at 27,830:1, making for inky blacks.

This can be a spectacular show at any value; it’s a steal at $1,000 or much less. It’s a show that may please everybody, from productiveness staff to creators to hardcore media shoppers.

Two downward-firing audio system on the entrance backside of the chassis present the audio, placing out very low quantity sound. What they lacked in loudness, the audio system made up for in high quality, with clear mids and highs and a stunning quantity of bass. You’ll need some headphones for music and severe binging, however for watching a video every so often, the audio high quality is ok.

Keyboard, touchpad, and webcam

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The Pavilion Plus 14 enjoys a properly sized keyboard with massive keycaps, and its switches are mild with a exact bottoming motion. It’s virtually nearly as good because the keyboard on HP’s Spectre line and has the identical row of navigation keys on the right-hand facet. As I used to be scripting this review, I discovered the keyboard very comfy for longer typing periods.

The touchpad is massive and has a easy floor that makes for exact swiping with help for the complete complement of Home windows 11 multitouch gestures, because of Microsoft Precision drivers. The buttons are responsive and quiet. You received’t discover a higher touchpad on many laptops costing twice as a lot. The show isn’t touch-enabled, sadly.

Home windows 11 Whats up passwordless help is offered by a fingerprint reader on the palm relaxation, which isn’t as handy as these constructed into the ability button. Nonetheless, it was fast and dependable throughout my testing.

HP constructed a 5MP webcam into the Pavilion Plus 14 together with some technology to enhance picture high quality. The video was easy and detailed, significantly better than the typical, and ok to make for glorious videoconferencing.

Battery life

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The Pavilion Plus 14 has 51 watt-hours of battery capability, which is somewhat on the low facet for a 14-inch laptop, and my review unit outfitted a 45-watt CPU and a power-hungry high-res OLED show. I wasn’t anticipating miracles when it comes to battery life.

I didn’t get any. The Pavilion Plus 14 demonstrated below-average battery life in all our checks, beginning with our net searching take a look at that cycles by a handful of advanced web sites, the place it hit 4.5 hours. That’s round half of what we wish to see on this take a look at. In our video take a look at that loops an area Full HD Avengers trailer, the HP managed simply 7.5 hours, once more effectively underneath common. And within the PCMark 10 Functions take a look at that’s the perfect indication of productiveness battery life, it hit simply 4.75 hours, once more considerably lower than common.

General, the Pavilion Plus 14 is unlikely to get you thru a full day of productiveness duties. You may be fortunate to make it to lunch. The opposite configurations with lower-watt CPUs might do higher, however my review unit configuration will want its charger stored helpful.

Our take

The HP Pavilion Plus 14 isn’t the primary thin-and-light laptop I’ve reviewed with a 45-watt CPU and, apparently, thermally restricted efficiency. Nonetheless, it’s way more forgivable at an $850 sale value with a spectacular 90Hz OLED show. The battery life is disappointing, however the construct high quality is superb, as are the keyboard and touchpad. And as this review is being written, you should buy the Pavilion Plus 14 with a Core i5-1240P CPU and a 2.2K IPS show for as little as $550, which is an incredible worth.

The Pavilion Plus 14 is a beautiful mid-range laptop even at full retail costs. And I can’t stress sufficient how good it’s to get such an ideal OLED show at such a low value.

Are there any options?

There aren’t many laptops in the identical value vary providing Twelfth-gen Intel CPUs. I’ve reviewed a few them, and neither provides fairly the identical total worth because the Pavilion Plus 14.

Nonetheless, for those who can spend a bit extra, then Lenovo’s Yoga 9i Gen 7 is a strong choice. It has its personal unimaginable OLED show and a surprising new design, it performs equally, and it has higher battery life. As a convertible 2-in-1, it provides a extra versatile kind issue.

You may drop down in show measurement barely and think about the Apple MacBook Air M2. Though it’s $1,200 with much less RAM at 8GB and storage at 256GB, it will likely be considerably quicker and can provide significantly higher battery life. And its show needs to be greater than ok.

How lengthy will it final?

The Pavilion Plus 14 is exceptionally well-built for a funds to mid-range laptop, and it ought to final for years of productive service. Its elements are fashionable, though the shortage of Thunderbolt 4 does maintain it again. Its industry-standard one-year guarantee is okay at these costs.

Must you purchase it?

Sure, if you will get it at a sale value. Efficiency is nice if restricted by the skinny chassis, and the construct high quality, keyboard, and touchpad are all glorious. Battery life is a disappointment, although, with the review configuration. Different configurations with lower-watt CPUs may last more.

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