HP Pavilion 15.6", Intel i5-1235U, 16GB, 512GB SSD + 160GB SSD, Silver

The HP Pavilion 15.6" is a solid budget laptop for everyday tasks with 16GB of RAM and 672GB of storage. Gaming is a hard pass at 13.3 out of 100. At CAD 849, it's a reasonable buy for students and office workers who don't need serious horsepower.

The i5-1235U handles everyday tasks fine. Web browsing, spreadsheets, video calls, all smooth. The 16GB of RAM helps with multitasking, though it ranks in the 37th percentile for laptops in our database, so it's not exactly generous. The Iris Xe graphics are integrated and land right at the 49th percentile, which means they're fine for streaming and light photo work but useless for modern games. The 512GB SSD is solid for the price, and the extra 160GB from the docking station is a nice bonus if you actually use it. The screen is a 1080p IPS panel with anti-glare coating, which is decent but sits at the 41st percentile, so don't expect vibrant colors or high refresh rates.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus, this HP looks like a toy. Those machines are in a completely different league for performance, display quality, and build. But they also cost several times more. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is a closer competitor for portability and screen quality, though it'll set you back significantly more cash. The Lenovo Legion 5i and MSI Raider are gaming-focused and will crush this Pavilion in graphics, but again, totally different price bracket. For the money, the HP holds its own against other budget laptops, but it's not competing with the heavy hitters.

At CAD 849, this is a reasonable deal for what you get. The 16GB of RAM and 672GB of storage are the standout specs at this price point. You're not going to find a MacBook or gaming laptop anywhere near this price, and for students or office workers who just need something that works, it's a solid buy. The weak CPU and mediocre screen hold it back from being a steal, but it's not overpriced either.

The HP Pavilion 15.6" is a budget-friendly workhorse aimed at students and office types who need a reliable daily driver without breaking the bank. You get a 10-core Intel i5-1235U, 16GB of RAM, and a weird but useful 672GB total storage split between a 512GB SSD and a 160GB docking station set. It's not flashy, but it covers the basics.

Our database puts this thing firmly in the middle of the pack for most metrics. Compactness, storage, and social proof land around average or slightly above. CPU, RAM, and screen sit a bit below the midpoint. Gaming is a disaster at 13.3 out of 100, so don't even think about it.

Gamers, video editors, and anyone who needs serious CPU or GPU power should look elsewhere. The 13.3 out of 100 gaming score is a dealbreaker, and the CPU's 36th percentile ranking means heavy workloads will crawl. If you need a machine for creative work or gaming, save up for something with a dedicated GPU.

This laptop is for students, office workers, and anyone who needs a dependable machine for everyday tasks. If you live in a browser, use Office apps, and stream video, it'll serve you well. The 16GB of RAM and extra storage are genuinely useful. Just don't expect it to handle video editing, gaming, or anything demanding.