Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into the HP Pavilion Plus 14, a laptop that's been buzzing in the tech world. We're going to dissect everything from its performance to its design, and ultimately, answer the big question: Is it worth your hard-earned cash? So, grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's get started!

Design and Build Quality

When it comes to design, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 strikes a really nice balance between sleek and practical. It's not trying to be overly flashy, but it definitely doesn't look cheap either. The aluminum chassis gives it a premium feel, and it's surprisingly lightweight, making it a great option if you're always on the move. The laptop is available in a few different colors, so you can pick one that matches your personal style. The hinge feels sturdy, and the laptop opens smoothly without any annoying creaking. HP has paid attention to the details here, and it shows.

One of the first things you'll notice is how compact the Pavilion Plus 14 is. HP has managed to cram a 14-inch display into a chassis that feels closer to a 13-inch laptop. This is thanks to the narrow bezels around the screen, which not only look great but also help to minimize the overall footprint. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, with decent key travel and a responsive feel. The touchpad is also a good size and tracks accurately. I appreciate that HP hasn't skimped on the essentials here. They've created a laptop that feels well-built and thoughtfully designed.

However, it's not all sunshine and roses. While the aluminum chassis looks and feels great, it is prone to fingerprints. So, if you're a bit of a clean freak, you might find yourself constantly wiping it down. Also, the port selection is a little bit limited. You get two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. That should be enough for most people, but some users might miss having an SD card reader or a dedicated Ethernet port. Overall, though, the design and build quality of the HP Pavilion Plus 14 are definitely strong points. It's a laptop that looks and feels like it's worth the price tag.

Display and Audio

The display on the HP Pavilion Plus 14 is a real standout feature. It's a 14-inch IPS panel with a 2.8K resolution (2880 x 1800 pixels). This means that images and text look incredibly sharp and detailed. Whether you're browsing the web, watching videos, or working on documents, the display is a pleasure to use. The colors are vibrant and accurate, and the viewing angles are excellent. You can comfortably view the screen from almost any angle without any noticeable distortion. The display also gets quite bright, so you shouldn't have any problems using it in well-lit environments.

One of the things I really appreciate about the display is its aspect ratio. It has a 16:10 aspect ratio, which means that it's slightly taller than a traditional 16:9 display. This extra vertical space is great for productivity, as it allows you to see more of a document or webpage at once. It might not seem like a big deal, but it can really make a difference in your workflow. The display also has a matte finish, which helps to reduce glare and reflections. This is especially useful if you're working outdoors or in a brightly lit office. Overall, the display on the Pavilion Plus 14 is one of the best you'll find in this price range.

As for the audio, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 features speakers tuned by Bang & Olufsen. The speakers are located above the keyboard, and they produce surprisingly good sound for a laptop. The audio is clear and balanced, with decent bass and good stereo separation. They're definitely loud enough for watching movies or listening to music in a small room. However, if you're a serious audiophile, you'll probably still want to use headphones or external speakers. The speakers on the Pavilion Plus 14 are good, but they're not going to blow you away. They're perfectly adequate for everyday use, though. For video calls and meetings, the laptop also has a built-in webcam and microphone array. The webcam produces a decent image quality, and the microphone does a good job of picking up your voice. You shouldn't have any problems using it for Zoom calls or online classes.

Performance and Battery Life

Now, let's talk about performance. The HP Pavilion Plus 14 is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor. This is a powerful processor that can handle most tasks with ease. Whether you're browsing the web, streaming videos, or working on demanding applications, the Pavilion Plus 14 should be able to keep up. The laptop also comes with Intel Iris Xe graphics, which are decent for light gaming and photo editing. However, if you're planning on doing any serious gaming or video editing, you'll probably want to look for a laptop with a dedicated graphics card. The Pavilion Plus 14 is primarily designed for productivity and everyday use, and it excels in those areas.

In terms of storage, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 comes with a fast NVMe SSD. This means that the laptop boots up quickly and applications load almost instantly. The amount of storage you get will depend on the configuration you choose, but I recommend getting at least 512GB if possible. This will give you plenty of space for your files and applications. The laptop also comes with plenty of RAM, which is important for multitasking. With enough RAM, you can have multiple applications open at the same time without experiencing any slowdown. Overall, the Pavilion Plus 14 offers excellent performance for its price range.

Battery life is another important factor to consider when buying a laptop. The HP Pavilion Plus 14 comes with a decent-sized battery that should last for several hours on a single charge. In my testing, I was able to get around 7-8 hours of battery life with moderate usage. This included browsing the web, writing documents, and streaming videos. Your battery life will vary depending on your usage, but you should be able to get through a full workday without needing to plug in. The laptop also supports fast charging, so you can quickly top up the battery when needed. Overall, the battery life on the Pavilion Plus 14 is good, but not exceptional. It's definitely good enough for most users, though.

Software and Features

The HP Pavilion Plus 14 comes with Windows 11 pre-installed. Windows 11 is the latest version of Microsoft's operating system, and it offers a number of improvements over previous versions. The interface is cleaner and more modern, and there are a number of new features that can help to improve your productivity. HP also includes some of its own software on the Pavilion Plus 14. Some of this software is useful, such as HP Support Assistant, which helps you to keep your laptop up to date. However, some of the other software is just bloatware that you'll probably want to uninstall.

One of the nice features of the HP Pavilion Plus 14 is its fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor is located on the power button, and it allows you to quickly and securely log in to your laptop. It's a convenient feature that can save you time and hassle. The laptop also has a backlit keyboard, which is useful for typing in low-light conditions. The backlight is adjustable, so you can customize it to your liking. Another nice feature is the laptop's webcam privacy shutter. This allows you to physically block the webcam when you're not using it, which can help to protect your privacy. Overall, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 offers a good selection of software and features.

Pros and Cons

To summarize, here's a quick rundown of the pros and cons of the HP Pavilion Plus 14:

Pros:

• Sleek and lightweight design
• Excellent display with narrow bezels
• Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
• Good performance for productivity tasks
• Decent battery life
• Fingerprint sensor and webcam privacy shutter

Cons:

• Aluminum chassis is prone to fingerprints
• Limited port selection
• Speakers are good, but not exceptional
• Some bloatware included

Alternatives to the HP Pavilion Plus 14

If you're not completely sold on the HP Pavilion Plus 14, there are a few other laptops that you might want to consider. One alternative is the Dell XPS 13. The XPS 13 is a premium laptop that offers excellent performance and a stunning display. It's more expensive than the Pavilion Plus 14, but it's worth considering if you're willing to spend more money. Another alternative is the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14. The Yoga 7i 14 is a 2-in-1 laptop that can be used as a laptop or a tablet. It offers good performance and a versatile design. It's a good option if you want a laptop that can do it all.

Conclusion: Is the HP Pavilion Plus 14 Worth It?

So, is the HP Pavilion Plus 14 worth it? In my opinion, the answer is a resounding yes! It's a well-rounded laptop that offers a great combination of design, performance, and features. It's perfect for students, professionals, and anyone who needs a reliable laptop for everyday use. While it's not perfect, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 is definitely one of the best laptops you can buy in this price range. If you're looking for a new laptop, I highly recommend giving it a look. You won't be disappointed!