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Introducing the 2023 iteration of the HP Pavilion Plus 14, a device that blurs the lines between HP’s traditional Pavilion, Envy, and Spectre lines, boasting a premium design with an aluminum-clad chassis. The Pavilion Plus 14 caters to discerning users with its option for a 2.8k OLED display and a choice between the latest Intel and Ryzen CPUs, offering a blend of elegance and performance. As we delve into the device, let’s uncover the features that make it stand out in the competitive laptop market.

The Pavilion Plus 14 doesn’t just stop at its sleek design. It elevates the user experience with a five-megapixel webcam equipped with a Windows Hello IR camera, indicating a focus on both media consumption and remote work or schooling needs. An emphasis on environmental consciousness is apparent in the use of ocean-bound recycled plastics, contributing to a sustainable build. The laptop features a white backlit keyboard with a tactile and crisp clicky feel, ensuring a comfortable typing experience.

HP provides customization options with three color choices: standard aluminum silver, calm pink, and Moonlight or midnight blue, with the latter two available at an additional cost of $19. The variety in colors adds a touch of personalization to the user’s preferences, reflecting HP’s commitment to offering diverse options for its customers.

Navigating HP’s website to explore the Pavilion Plus lineup may be a bit confusing due to the array of models available, each with different price points and potential discounts. The pricing mentioned here serves as a ballpark figure, considering the fluctuating nature of HP’s sales and promotions.

The Pavilion Plus 14 offers a range of CPU options, allowing users to choose between Intel Core i5 or i7 U series 13th gen processors. For those inclined towards AMD, the laptop features Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 U series processors.

The review unit comes with the Ryzen 7 processor, complemented by AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics. The i5 variant is equipped with 740M graphics. An exception to this lineup is an Intel CPU model with an Nvidia MX550 2 GB GPU, although it’s essential to note that this device is not positioned as a gaming laptop.

One of the standout features of the Pavilion Plus 14 is its 2.8k OLED display, a technology that HP has previously employed in the Pavilion Plus series. The display boasts true blacks, a characteristic not universally achieved in all OLED screens. Its glossy finish contributes to a luxurious viewing experience, particularly suitable for avid movie enthusiasts. While non-touch, the OLED display offers stunning visuals and can be customized at an additional cost of $110 to $150, making it a worthwhile investment for users seeking an immersive display.

For those opting for alternatives, HP provides other display options, all featuring a 16:10 aspect ratio. The Full HD Plus and QHD Plus IPS displays offer varying resolutions, with the QHD Plus model providing a flicker-free experience at 2560 x 1600 resolution, catering to users sensitive to PWM-related issues.

As we continue our exploration of the HP Pavilion Plus 14, we’ll delve into its performance metrics, battery life, and additional features, offering a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities in diverse scenarios.

Exploring the intricacies of the 2023 edition of the HP Pavilion Plus 14, we venture into its hardware specifications, design aesthetics, port selection, and overall performance. This laptop, residing in the Pavilion series, epitomizes a blend of premium features without reaching the exorbitant price points associated with the Spectre or Dell XPS lineups. Let’s dissect the various aspects of this device to comprehend its offering in the competitive laptop market.

Under the hood, the Pavilion Plus 14 boasts 16 gigabytes of low-power DDR5X RAM, providing swift performance. The RAM, although not user-upgradable due to being soldered on board, ensures efficiency for a multitude of tasks.

Accompanying this, the laptop includes an M.2 SSD slot, allowing configurations with storage capacities ranging from 512 gigabytes to 1 terabyte. The read and write speeds of the SSD exhibit commendable performance, especially when considering the device’s class, with an average price hovering around $1,000.

Examining the laptop’s port selection, the absence of Thunderbolt is notable due to the integration of Ryzen; however, two USB-C ports operating at 10 gigabytes per second compensate for the omission. One of these USB-C ports serves as the inlet for the 65-watt USB-C charger.

Additional ports include two USB-A ports, one running at 10 gigabytes and the other at 5 gigabytes, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a headphone jack. The device maintains an ultralight profile, weighing approximately 3.05 pounds (1.4 kg), making it a convenient choice for users seeking portability without compromising essential ports.

Enhancing the Pavilion Plus 14’s audiovisual experience, HP incorporates Bang & Olufsen stereo speakers, complemented by IMAX-certified 3D audio software. The inclusion of an OLED display further elevates the viewing pleasure, offering true blacks and vibrant colors. While the OLED display is non-touch, it proves to be an enticing option for users passionate about media consumption.

The laptop features a MediaTek Wi-Fi 6C card, ensuring seamless connectivity in our tests, accompanied by Bluetooth 5.3. However, it’s essential to note the absence of 5G or 4G options, emphasizing the consumer-oriented nature of this device. Weighing the trade-offs, the Pavilion Plus 14 delivers an overall satisfactory set of features for its target audience.

Moving on to performance, the Ryzen 7 U series processor powers the device, demonstrating strength suitable for casual and business users on the go. While it may not excel in 4K professional video editing, it adeptly handles tasks like light video editing, Photoshop retouching, Zoom calls, and multitasking. The laptop’s fan noise remains pleasantly quiet, contributing to a disturbance-free user experience.

Battery life, a crucial factor for portable devices, showcases improvement compared to its predecessor. The HP website lists a 51-watt-hour battery, whereas the review unit boasts a 68-watt-hour battery, potentially indicating an enhanced battery configuration for the OLED model.

Light to medium use yields an average of 6 hours on a single charge with the brightness set at 50%. This signifies a positive stride, considering the historical challenges faced by Pavilion models in terms of battery longevity.

Taking a closer look at the laptop’s internals, the process of accessing the components seems relatively straightforward. The bottom cover requires the removal of four Phillips head screws, eliminating the need for intricate maneuvers commonly associated with some HP Specter models.

Despite a metal heat shroud covering the M.2 SSD slot, upgrading the storage is viable. The RAM, however, is soldered on board, emphasizing the importance of choosing an adequate RAM configuration during the initial purchase. The laptop’s cooling mechanism involves a single fan, and intriguingly, a seemingly blank section might be reserved for potential configurations featuring the Nvidia MX 550 GeForce GPU.

In summary, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 for 2023 presents a compelling option for users seeking a balance between premium features and affordability. Despite facing competition in the thousand-dollar range, the laptop distinguishes itself with its aesthetic appeal, robust build quality, immersive audio, and diverse display options. The tactile keyboard further enhances the overall user experience, positioning the Pavilion Plus 14 as a noteworthy contender in its segment.

HP Pavilion Plus 14 (2023) – Pros:

1. Modern Design: The HP Pavilion Plus 14 features a modern and sleek design, making it visually appealing and suitable for a wide range of users.
2. Portable: With a 14-inch form factor, the laptop is compact and lightweight, making it highly portable and convenient for users who are frequently on the go.
3. High-Resolution Display: The laptop likely features a high-resolution display, providing crisp and vibrant visuals for immersive viewing experiences, whether for work or entertainment purposes.
4. Powerful Performance: Equipped with latest-generation Intel or AMD processors and ample RAM, the Pavilion Plus 14 offers powerful performance capable of handling demanding tasks such as multitasking, content creation, and light gaming.
5. Fast Storage: The inclusion of solid-state drives (SSDs) ensures fast boot-up times, quick application launches, and responsive system performance, enhancing overall user experience.
6. Long Battery Life: The laptop is likely optimized for efficiency, providing long battery life on a single charge, allowing users to work or enjoy entertainment without constantly searching for power outlets.
7. Connectivity Options: With a variety of ports and wireless connectivity options such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the Pavilion Plus 14 offers versatility in connecting to peripherals, accessories, and networks.
8. Audio Quality: Enhanced audio technology delivers high-quality sound, providing an immersive audio experience for multimedia consumption, video calls, and more.
9. Comfortable Keyboard and Trackpad: The laptop likely features a comfortable keyboard with adequate key travel and a responsive trackpad, facilitating efficient typing and navigation.
10. Value for Money: Positioned as part of the Pavilion series, the laptop likely offers a good balance of performance, features, and affordability, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious users.

HP Pavilion Plus 14 (2023) – Cons:

1. Limited Graphics Performance: While suitable for everyday computing tasks, the integrated graphics may not be sufficient for demanding gaming or graphics-intensive applications.
2. Limited Upgradeability: Due to the compact form factor, the laptop may have limited upgrade options for components such as RAM and storage, potentially limiting future expandability.
3. Plastic Build: Despite its modern design, the laptop may feature a predominantly plastic build, which may not feel as premium or durable as laptops with metal or alloy constructions.
4. Display Quality: While likely offering a high-resolution display, the quality of the panel may vary in terms of color accuracy, brightness, and viewing angles, potentially affecting overall visual experience.
5. Port Selection: Depending on the model, the laptop may lack certain ports or connectivity options that some users may find essential, necessitating the use of adapters or dongles.
6. Thermal Management: The compact form factor may pose challenges in thermal management, potentially leading to thermal throttling under sustained heavy workloads, affecting performance consistency.
7. Limited Configurability: The Pavilion Plus 14 may come in pre-configured models with limited options for customization, limiting users’ ability to tailor the specifications to their specific needs.
8. Bloatware: Like many pre-built laptops, the Pavilion Plus 14 may come with pre-installed software or bloatware, which can consume system resources and affect performance if not removed.
9. Limited Gaming Capabilities: While capable of light gaming, the integrated graphics may struggle with more graphically demanding titles, limiting the laptop’s appeal to avid gamers.
10. Customer Support: Depending on the region and individual experiences, users may encounter issues with HP’s customer support, including long response times or difficulty resolving technical issues.