HP Pavilion 16 review: lightweight laptop is an affordable workhorse

For those wanting a light model to take with them on the move but who aren’t willing to skimp on quality and comfort, the HP Pavilion 16 strikes the perfect balance. Eye-catching graphics and well-thought-out design means you could while hours away on work or pleasure and not notice – especially with a strong battery life to see you through anything (as long as it isn't too graphically demanding). Is it good enough to make it onto our list of the best laptops for hybrid working, though? Let's find out.

HP Pavilion 16 review: Key specifications

Design, build and display

It’s rare to find a laptop that’s comfortable for use on the go but the HP Pavilion 16 nails it. The keyboard is wide enough for smooth typing but the slim case – being just 0.7 inches thick – means it’s lightweight enough to slip in a backpack and take out for the day.

The trackpad is also easy to reach and wide enough to allow for precise touches, ideal for working on the move. It’s under 2kg so it won’t weigh you down on busy days.

It’s not just roomy but also a pleasure to use, with a wide display big enough to run multiple windows at once without the need to squint. Having plenty of room on the keyboard also means there’s room to rest your hand on the rest of the case on either side of the trackpad, meaning sleek aesthetics are combined with comfort in a rarely seen winning combination.

The lightweight frame doesn’t come at the expense of quality, either. The delicate edge to the screen still feels sturdy to the touch and there’s little give or flex in the lid under everyday pressure.

Looking closer at the 16-inch screen, the 1920x1200p resolution offers impressive quality that, although it doesn’t stand out from the crowd at this price point, will do you just fine for watching movies, editing photos, spreadsheets, or whatever else you might need to do.

The model we tested had touchscreen functionality as well. Once again, the large display size works in favour of the responsive feature, with enough room to be able to swipe and tap with comfort. Some touchscreen laptops keep the keyboards too close to the screen to really make the most of it but the Pavilion allows you to seamlessly switch between the trackpad and the screen as you please.

Features

The audio quality is similar to the display: no noticeable drawbacks but similarly nothing that helps it stand back. Still, that’s probably all you’re looking for. The dual speakers are both on the underside of the laptop and offer DTS:X Ultra, plenty enough quality for streaming or even work with audio.

The size of the keyboard has already been touched on but the room has also allowed HP to include some surprisingly useful extras. Inexplicably, the power button is in the centre of the keyboard in a confusing design choice but you can also skip through videos and scroll through pages at the top of the button. If you’re someone who likes keyboard shortcuts, you’ve got a lot to mess with, with a full number pad on the right.

With AI sneaking its way into every new product, it’s perhaps no surprise that there’s a specific button to take you through to Microsoft Copilot+ as well, allowing easy to the in-built AI assistant.

While the lightness and comfort of the laptop mean you can easily take it out with you, it’s also ready to embed into a more permanent workstation, kitted out with two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, as well as an HDMI port and audio jack, meaning you can easily attach accessories and access SD cards – something that shouldn’t be a rarity in modern laptops but somehow is. The ports are a little close together for comfort but if that’s the price we pay for the slim frame, we’ll take it.

Benchmark scoring

Performance

A lot of lightweight or thin models struggle to compete with heavier models when it comes to performance and, with the Pavilion, it doesn’t blow you away. Day-to-day use didn’t reveal any issues but closer testing on the review model revealed some gaps. In fact, a couple of standard tests, such as Cinebench 2024, weren’t possible due to insufficient system requirements.

When testing the CPU with Geekbench 6, it scored 2,420 single-score and 8,628 multi-core, which is below average when compared to other devices of a similar price point.

Graphics-wise, it came in at a decent 12,450 but, once again, it’s nothing to write home about. However, if you don’t need to use plenty of programs all at once, it could still serve you well.

Price

Starting from £699.99, the quality and durability of the HP Pavilion 16 means you get a lot of bang for your back. The extra features, like the touchscreen, are impressive enough that paying more for those added specs isn’t just tempting but smart.

Comfort comes at a surprisingly affordable price, so you can overlook some of the performance drawbacks. Even with them, the Pavilion is more than capable of taking on everyday work and you’ll be enjoying every minute of doing it.

Should I buy the HP Pavilion 16?

There’s no need to break the bank to enjoy comfort, quality, and some fun features like AI functionality and touchscreen capabilities. The best products are the ones where you feel like you can really see where your money is going – and even better when you feel like you’re getting more than you pay for. For your next laptop upgrade for an all-round performer, look no further than the Pavilion 16.