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Student Laptop Comparison: HP Pavilion vs. HP ENVY
Harry Stewart
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January 26, 2024
Not every student looks for the same thing in a laptop. Some want a light, no-nonsense device with ample power for studying and streaming shows. Others crave better specs and a colour-accurate, high-definition display to showcase their digital creations.
In either case, HP has the perfect option. This post will provide a side-by-side laptop comparison of our two most popular series for students: the HP Pavilion vs ENVY. Once you’re up to speed on these two sought-after laptop products, we’ll review four recommended models on the HP UK Store.
What to look for in a student laptop
Before we delve into the differences (and similarities) between the HP ENVY and Pavilion, let’s take a quick look at what students look for in a laptop.
- Weight: Students regularly run between classes, lectures, and lunch breaks. A slim, feather-light device makes this near-constant movement a lot less hassle.
- Battery life: Most British classrooms and lecture halls don’t have a power socket at every desk. Therefore, a long-lasting battery is essential for everyday use.
- Respectable hardware: While students don’t necessarily need top-of-the-line technology, they still require a decent amount of processing power. Sluggish performance leads to a significant productivity slump, which could affect your grades.
- Affordability: As they’re yet to start their careers, students tend to have limited coin in their coffers. The best student laptops retail for a wallet-friendly price.
- Industry-specific hardware: Budding young video editors need a dedicated CPU, and future graphic designers want a big high-definition screen to showcase their work.
- Connectivity: Students need plentiful ports to plug in peripherals, from external monitors to thumb drives and mice. A high-speed WiFi adapter always comes in handy.
The HP ENVY vs Pavilion: A side-by-side comparison
What’s the difference between the HP Pavilion and ENVY? While both consumer-orientated lines appeal to students, they’re not exclusively used for studying. Each series is equally suitable for home or professional use.
The HP Pavilion is a more affordable product targeting a broader audience. The HP ENVY, on the other hand, is a premium alternative with better specs and a superior display, making it a popular choice among creatives.
These are just generalisations. A top-end Pavilion can easily outperform a budget ENVY and may even have a better screen.
The HP Pavilion laptop
A long-standing stalwart in the HP laptop family, the Pavilion is a popular product among a broad range of consumers. Students and home users like this device for its reliable performance, down-to-earth design, and affordable price.
Pavilions typically feature a 14 or 15-inch frame. Some models come in a 2-in-1 (or convertible) form factor.
Although suitable for everyday use, some Pavilions lack the processing power for resource-hungry tasks. And as there’s often no dedicated GPU, you won’t be rendering video or playing cutting-edge games.
HP Pavilions typically come with a Full High-Definition (FHD) display that lacks the colour accuracy of their ENVY counterparts. Nonetheless, for most students, the screen has sufficient clarity for day-to-day use, including after-class multimedia consumption (AKA Netflix binging).
Aside from price, the big advantage of the Pavilion is portability. Lighter materials mean this laptop tends to weigh less than a similarly-sized ENVY.
The HP ENVY laptop
While the HP Pavilion is a mainstream product with universal appeal, the HP ENVY is a bit more niche. This premium, high-performance laptop primarily appeals to creatives, from student designers to fully-fledged professionals.
Superior specs, such as the processor and RAM, provide better performance across the board. Many ENVYs also have a sizeable solid-state drive (SSD) to store creative works. Although uncommon, some models feature a dedicated graphics card for video editing and 3D animations.
The ENVY delivers a sleek, envy-inducing design for students who prioritise aesthetics. Premium materials such as a full-metal recycled aluminium chassis add a wee bit extra to the weight, making the ENVY slightly heavier than an equivalent Pavilion. However, the stylish exterior and extra durability ensure the tradeoff is worthwhile.
Most ENVYs come in a convertible form factor, handy for creatives showcasing their work. Many include a stylus pen for illustrators, 3D modellers, graphic designers, and everyday note-takers.
ENVYs generally have a better display than other laptops, including the Pavilion. As creatives need the best possible colour accuracy, clarity and resolution, a superior screen is a significant bonus.
Which students should choose the Pavilion?
Here are a few key factors that could indicate the Pavilion is the right choice for you:
- Budget-conscious: You’ve got limited funds to spend on a brand-new laptop for school.
- Modest requirements: You don’t need a top-of-the-line processor or excessive RAM.
- No need for a GPU: You don’t study video editing or animation, or play modern triple-A (AAA) games in your spare time.
- Unfussy about aesthetics: You like the plain, no-frills look of a standard laptop.
- Always on the go: Your busy study schedule means a lightweight laptop will make life much easier.
Which students should choose the ENVY?
And here are a handful of reasons why the ENVY could be a better bet.
- Generous budget: You don’t mind spending extra quid on a stylish and powerful device.
- Future-proofing: You’d rather pay a little more now to obtain a durable laptop that won’t become obsolete soon.
- Trendsetter: You want to show off a contemporary laptop with a head-turning design.
- High computational requirements: You need top-tier hardware to handle resource-demanding workflows.
- 3D renderer: You’re studying video editing, 3D modelling, or animation, and require a dedicated GPU.
HP ENVY The best student
Now you’re well versed on what sets these two student laptops apart, let’s check out a few of our favourites.
HP Pavilion Plus (14-ew0000na)
Brimming with high-end hardware, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 proves this popular laptop family can pack a punch.
Sporting a late-generation Intel® Core™ i7 and 16GB of RAM, this speedy machine is among the fastest in the Pavilion range. A 512GB SSD gives you plenty of space to store assignments and a sizeable multimedia collection.
The best bit? You’ll adore its vivid 2.8K OLED screen.
- Processor: Intel Core i7 1355U (13th Generation)
- RAM: 16GB RAM
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 35.6 cm (14”), 2.8K (2880 x 1800), OLED, 120 Hz
- Graphics: Intel Iris® Xe Graphics
- Weight: 1.51 kg
HP Pavilion x360 (14-ek1000na) Convertible Laptop
If a convertible is more up your alley, give the HP Pavilion x360 (14-ek1000na) a long, hard look. Thanks to its fully adjustable 360-degree screen, this versatile laptop serves as a homework and multimedia machine. The FHD touch screen is a pleasure to use in tablet and tent mode.
You won’t get quite as much "oomph" as the aforementioned option. But its Intel Core i5 1335U and 8GB of RAM provide sufficient power for most students’ needs.
- Processor: Intel Core i5 1335U (13th Generation)
- RAM: 8GB RAM
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 35.6 cm (14”), FHD (1920 x 1080), touchscreen
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Weight: 1.51 kg
HP ENVY (17-cw0008na) Laptop
Built from recycled aluminium, the HP ENVY (17-cw0008na) is a durable, long-lasting laptop with a stylish, contemporary design. Its 13th Generation Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and Iris Xe Graphics are potent combos for students pursuing creative fields.
Its enormous 17-inch display - the largest in the ENVY range - makes for an immersive experience when streaming and creating. Meanwhile, a 100% sRGB colour gamut ensures vivid, true-to-life images.
Like other ENVYs, this laptop excels at online collaboration. Its 5MP webcam uses auto-frame technology to keep you in the centre of a conference call. Multi-camera support lets you connect up to two lenses simultaneously while AI noise reduction blocks out distracting background sounds.
- Processor: Intel Core i7 13700H (13th Generation)
- RAM: 16GB RAM
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 43.9 cm (17.3”), FHD (1920 x 1080)
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Weight: 2.49 kg
HP ENVY x360 (15-fh0010na) Convertible Laptop
Need something a little smaller? Give the HP ENVY x360 (15-fh0010na) a look. This petite 15-incher weighs a much more manageable 1.8 kg, making it easy to whisk between lectures. You won’t have to compromise on power, however, because it’s got a zippy AMD Ryzen™ 7 and 16GB of RAM under the hood.
Classic ENVY features include a 5MP auto-frame webcam, facial recognition access, Bang & Olsen audio, and a stylus pen.
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7730U
- RAM: 16GB RAM
- Storage: 1 TB SSD
- Display: 39.6 cm (15.6”), FHD (1920 x 1080), touchscreen
- Graphics: AMD Radeon™ Graphics
- Weight: 1.79 kg
Summary
What’s the best student laptop, the HP ENVY or Pavilion? It boils down to your budget and needs.
Most students find a Pavilion has plenty of power and appreciate its lightweight, back-to-basics design. For creatives craving a premium alternative, the ENVY packs in a plethora of extras and a vibrant, high-colour-fidelity screen.
Revisit our top recommendations or see what other student laptops are available in the HP UK Store.
