The HP Pavilion 16 Laptop 2024 is a large-screen productivity notebook designed for users who want more workspace than a typical 14-inch laptop without stepping up to a heavier gaming machine or expensive premium workstation.

HP introduced the Pavilion 16-af0000 family in 2024, offering Intel Core Ultra 5 and Core Ultra 7 processors, up to 32GB of onboard LPDDR5 memory, PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, a 59Wh battery, dual USB-C connectivity, HDMI 2.1 and several 16-inch display options ranging from basic WUXGA IPS panels to an impressive 120Hz OLED.

For this review, we’re primarily focusing on the Intel Core Ultra version, particularly configurations built around the Core Ultra 7 155U with 16GB RAM and a 512GB or 1TB SSD. HP also produced Core Ultra 5 125U versions, and exact display, storage and graphics specifications vary by SKU.

The Pavilion 16’s strongest qualities are its spacious 16-inch 16:10 display, efficient Core Ultra processor, comfortable everyday performance, two USB-C ports, solid battery capacity and generally sensible configuration options.

Its weaknesses are equally important. Memory is soldered, the standard display has mediocre colour coverage, integrated graphics limit gaming, and by 2026 the Pavilion 16 is no longer HP’s newest mainstream 16-inch family. HP now positions the OmniBook 5 16 as the successor to the Pavilion line.

That means pricing matters significantly.

At a strong clearance or refurbished price, the Pavilion 16 remains an excellent everyday Windows machine.

IRONreviews Rating: 8.8/10

Best for: students, home users, office productivity, WordPress, programming, large spreadsheets, streaming and general multitasking.

Think twice if: you need upgradeable RAM, serious gaming graphics, workstation performance or you’re paying close to the price of a current OmniBook.

HP Pavilion 16 2024 Specifications

HP’s official family specifications confirm 8GB, 16GB and 32GB LPDDR5-4800 onboard memory, PCIe Gen 4 SSD options, two 10Gbps USB-C ports and an optional GeForce MX570 A discrete GPU.

Design: Clean and Practical

The Pavilion series traditionally sits between HP’s cheapest consumer notebooks and its premium Spectre/OmniBook Ultra-class machines.

The Pavilion 16 follows that philosophy.

It isn’t designed to make a dramatic visual statement. Instead, the chassis emphasizes a clean, understated appearance that works equally well at:

• home
• school
• university
• an office
• a coffee shop

The larger 16-inch footprint gives HP enough room for a comfortable keyboard and generous palm-rest area while still maintaining relatively narrow display bezels.

The benefit of buying a 16-inch laptop is obvious once you start doing real work on it.

There is simply more room.

Documents feel less cramped.

Spreadsheets are easier to navigate.

Split-screen multitasking becomes more realistic.

And video is more immersive than on a compact 13- or 14-inch machine.

Design Score: 8.8/10

16-Inch 16:10 Display

One of the Pavilion 16’s best characteristics is its 16:10 aspect ratio.

The common IPS configuration uses a 1920 × 1200 resolution, giving you 120 more vertical pixels than a conventional 1920 × 1080 Full HD laptop. HP’s base display is rated at around 300 nits and 62.5% sRGB, with touchscreen and non-touch variants available depending on configuration.

That extra vertical space is especially helpful for:

• WordPress
• Word
• Excel
• web browsing
• coding
• PDFs
• email

You can see more content before scrolling.

For productivity, we strongly prefer 16:10 over 16:9.

Standard WUXGA IPS Display

The most common Pavilion 16 configuration uses:

16-inch IPS

1920 × 1200

300 nits

60Hz-class productivity panel

approximately 62.5% sRGB

HP offers both touch and non-touch versions in the Pavilion 16-af0000 family.

For mainstream use, this screen is perfectly adequate.

Text is sharp enough.

The 16:10 ratio provides useful workspace.

And 300 nits is sufficient for normal indoor environments.

It works well for:

• school
• office applications
• YouTube
• Netflix
• web browsing
• WordPress

But it isn’t a premium display.

Colour Quality Is the Main Screen Weakness

The standard IPS panel’s roughly 62.5% sRGB coverage is limited compared with premium laptops offering 100% sRGB, DCI-P3 or OLED panels.

That means colours may look less saturated.

For normal Office work, it doesn’t matter much.

For professional:

• photography
• graphic design
• colour grading
• commercial video editing

it matters considerably more.

If you’re buying the Pavilion 16 specifically for creative work, look for the optional OLED version.

Standard Display Score: 8.0/10

OLED Version: The Display to Get

HP offered a substantially better display within the same Pavilion 16-af0000 family:

16-inch OLED

2048 × 1280

120Hz

1ms response time

400-nit SDR brightness

500-nit HDR brightness

100% DCI-P3

This completely changes the character of the laptop.

OLED provides:

• perfect-looking blacks
• dramatically higher contrast
• richer colour
• smoother scrolling
• better movie playback
• improved gaming responsiveness
• better creative-work potential

The 120Hz refresh rate is particularly valuable.

Scrolling through webpages feels smoother.

Windows animations look more fluid.

Cursor motion looks cleaner.

And light gaming benefits from the higher refresh ceiling.

OLED Display Score: 9.5/10

IPS vs OLED: Which Should You Buy?

Choose the WUXGA IPS version if:

• you want the lowest price
• battery life matters
• you mostly use Office
• you browse the web
• you manage websites
• you don’t need professional colour

Choose OLED if:

• display quality matters
• you edit photos
• you watch a lot of movies
• you want 120Hz
• you value better contrast
• you want richer colours

The OLED is clearly the superior screen.

But a heavily discounted IPS model can still offer excellent everyday value.

Intel Core Ultra 7 155U Performance

The popular Intel Core Ultra 7 155U has:

12 CPU cores

14 threads

2 Performance cores

8 Efficiency cores

2 Low-Power Efficiency cores

Up to 4.8GHz turbo

12MB Intel Smart Cache

Intel rates the processor at a 15W base power, with maximum turbo power up to 57W.

This is an efficiency-focused U-series processor rather than a high-performance H-series chip.

That’s an appropriate choice for the Pavilion.

The goal is good everyday speed without turning the laptop into a hot, loud workstation.

CPU Performance Score: 8.9/10

Everyday Performance

The Core Ultra 7 version is easily powerful enough for:

• Chrome with many tabs
• Microsoft Word
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Outlook
• Teams
• Zoom
• WordPress
• Spotify
• Photoshop
• programming
• light video editing

For mainstream productivity, the processor provides more performance than most users need.

The Core Ultra architecture also introduced Intel’s dedicated NPU hardware, though the 155U is an early-generation AI platform rather than a modern Copilot+ processor. Intel lists overall peak platform AI performance around 22 TOPS for the chip.

That means AI hardware exists—but it isn’t the main reason we’d buy this Pavilion in 2026.

Core Ultra 5 125U vs Core Ultra 7 155U

HP also offered the Core Ultra 5 125U.

It has the same basic 12-core/14-thread arrangement but reaches a lower maximum turbo frequency of 4.3GHz. Intel also rates it at 15W base power.

For:

• Word
• Excel
• browsing
• school
• WordPress

the Core Ultra 5 is already fast enough.

Choose Core Ultra 7 if:

• the price difference is small
• you do heavier multitasking
• you edit photos or video
• you intend to keep the laptop longer

Otherwise, Core Ultra 5 often represents better value.

Intel Integrated Graphics

Most Pavilion 16 configurations rely on Intel integrated graphics rather than a dedicated gaming GPU. HP also offered certain versions with NVIDIA’s GeForce MX570 A 4GB, but this was optional rather than standard.

The integrated GPU is suitable for:

• 4K video playback
• Windows
• external displays
• Canva
• Photoshop acceleration
• casual gaming

But it isn’t comparable with RTX gaming hardware.

Graphics Score: 7.9/10

Optional NVIDIA MX570 A

Some Pavilion 16 configurations were available with a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A with 4GB GDDR6 memory.

That can improve:

• light gaming
• GPU acceleration
• some creative applications

but it still isn’t a modern gaming GPU.

If gaming matters significantly, we’d rather move to an HP Victus or another RTX-equipped laptop.

The MX570 option primarily makes sense for someone who needs slightly better graphics acceleration without buying a heavy gaming machine.

Gaming Performance

The Pavilion 16 is primarily a productivity notebook.

With Intel integrated graphics, it is best suited to lighter games such as:

• Minecraft
• Roblox
• League of Legends
• older PC games
• indie games

You’ll often need to reduce settings in demanding titles.

The optional OLED’s 120Hz display looks excellent, but integrated graphics will not consistently produce 120 fps in modern AAA games.

For serious gaming, choose an RTX-equipped HP Victus or OMEN instead.

Gaming Score: 7.0/10

16GB RAM Is the Sweet Spot

HP offered the Pavilion 16 with:

• 8GB
• 16GB
• 32GB

of LPDDR5-4800 memory.

For most buyers, 16GB is the configuration to choose.

It gives Windows enough room for comfortable multitasking.

With 16GB you can combine:

• dozens of browser tabs
• Office
• email
• Spotify
• WordPress
• Photoshop
• video calls

without immediately running into memory pressure.

Avoid 8GB if Possible

8GB is still usable for:

• browsing
• Word
• streaming
• light schoolwork

but it is increasingly restrictive for a laptop expected to remain in use for several years.

Because of one important Pavilion design decision, buying enough memory initially matters more than usual.

RAM Is Soldered

The LPDDR5 memory is onboard rather than installed in replaceable SODIMM modules. HP lists 8GB, 16GB and 32GB factory memory configurations.

That means:

8GB stays 8GB.

16GB stays 16GB.

32GB stays 32GB.

You cannot simply add another RAM stick later.

For long-term ownership, we’d strongly recommend at least:

16GB

And for demanding professional users:

32GB

Memory Score: 8.0/10

Storage

HP offered PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD configurations including 512GB and 1TB, with larger storage options appearing across the family.

512GB is acceptable for mainstream users.

It provides enough room for:

• Windows
• Office
• applications
• documents
• photos
• moderate offline files

For users storing lots of:

• video
• RAW photos
• games
• creative projects

1TB is more comfortable.

Storage Score: 8.8/10

Our Storage Recommendation

For a laptop purchased in 2026:

512GB = acceptable

1TB = preferred

External USB-C SSD storage is also easy to use because the Pavilion provides two 10Gbps USB-C ports.

Two USB-C Ports

One of the Pavilion 16’s strongest connectivity features is its pair of USB-C connections.

HP specifies:

2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C

10Gbps

USB Power Delivery

DisplayPort 1.4

HP Sleep and Charge

That’s very good for a mainstream consumer notebook.

You can use USB-C for:

• charging
• external monitors
• docks
• SSDs
• adapters
• phone charging

Ports Score: 9.1/10

Two USB-A Ports

HP also includes conventional USB-A connections.

One runs at 10Gbps and another at 5Gbps according to HP’s family specifications.

This is useful because you don’t need adapters for common peripherals such as:

• mice
• keyboards
• flash drives
• printers
• older external drives

That gives the Pavilion a more practical port setup than many ultra-thin premium laptops.

HDMI 2.1

HP includes a full-size HDMI 2.1 port.

That makes connecting the laptop to:

• a monitor
• TV
• projector
• meeting-room display

simple.

No USB-C dongle is required.

For students and office users, that convenience is genuinely valuable.

No Thunderbolt

The Pavilion’s USB-C ports are 10Gbps USB rather than Thunderbolt 4.

For most consumers, this isn’t a serious problem.

But Thunderbolt provides higher 40Gbps bandwidth for:

• professional docks
• very fast external storage
• specialized peripherals

If that matters, a premium business or workstation laptop may be a better fit.

Battery: 59Wh

HP equips the Pavilion 16-af0000 platform with a 3-cell, 59Wh lithium-ion polymer battery.

That is a respectable capacity for a productivity-focused 16-inch laptop.

The U-series Core Ultra processors are designed around efficiency, so the overall hardware combination is better suited to unplugged productivity than an H-series gaming machine.

Actual endurance will depend heavily on:

• display choice
• brightness
• Wi-Fi use
• workload
• battery age

OLED versions can also consume more energy depending on the content being displayed.

Battery Score: 8.8/10

Charging

HP supports USB-C Power Delivery on both USB-C ports, making charging more flexible than on laptops tied exclusively to proprietary barrel connectors.

Higher-power models configured with dedicated graphics can use a 100W USB-C power adapter.

For travelers, USB-C charging is a major convenience.

A sufficiently capable charger can potentially power multiple devices instead of requiring several different adapters.

Wi-Fi 6E

The Pavilion 16 platform supports Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 on compatible configurations.

Wi-Fi 6E adds access to the 6GHz band when used with compatible networking equipment.

It isn’t Wi-Fi 7, but for the overwhelming majority of home and office connections, Wi-Fi 6E remains fast enough.

Connectivity Score: 8.9/10

Keyboard

The large 16-inch chassis gives HP plenty of room for a comfortable productivity keyboard.

This is especially useful for users who type for long periods.

The layout is well suited to:

• documents
• spreadsheets
• email
• programming
• website management

Backlighting depends on the particular Pavilion configuration, so check the exact listing if you regularly work in dark environments.

Keyboard Score: 8.7/10

Trackpad

A larger chassis also allows for a roomy touchpad.

For everyday Windows gestures such as:

• two-finger scrolling
• pinch-to-zoom
• app switching
• desktop gestures

the Pavilion’s larger footprint is an advantage over inexpensive compact notebooks.

It isn’t intended to compete with premium haptic trackpads, but it works well for the Pavilion’s mainstream target audience.

Keyboard & Trackpad Score: 8.6/10

HP Pavilion 16 for Students

The Pavilion 16 makes a lot of sense for students who value screen size.

The 16-inch panel is particularly useful for:

• research
• PDF textbooks
• split-screen studying
• writing essays
• online classes

A Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7 combined with 16GB memory offers significantly more performance than typical school applications require.

The downside is portability.

A 16-inch machine takes up more bag space than a 14-inch ultraportable.

Students carrying the computer around all day may prefer a smaller model.

HP Pavilion 16 for Office Work

This is one of its strongest roles.

The Pavilion easily handles:

• Word
• Excel
• Outlook
• PowerPoint
• Teams
• web applications
• CRM tools

The 16-inch 16:10 screen is particularly comfortable when working with multiple windows or large spreadsheets.

For ordinary office work, even the Core Ultra 5 version is more than enough.

HP Pavilion 16 for WordPress

The Pavilion 16 is also excellent for managing websites.

A 16GB Core Ultra configuration can comfortably handle:

• WordPress
• many browser tabs
• Canva
• Search Console
• Google Analytics
• SEO tools
• email
• spreadsheets
• light Photoshop

The large display helps when editing pages because more of the WordPress interface fits on screen simultaneously.

For this workload, dedicated graphics aren’t necessary.

HP Pavilion 16 for Programming

For mainstream software development, the Pavilion 16 works well.

It’s suitable for:

• HTML
• CSS
• JavaScript
• PHP
• Python
• Java
• Visual Studio Code
• WordPress development

The Core Ultra 7’s 12-core architecture provides plenty of processing capability for general programming workloads.

The main concern is memory.

Developers running large virtual machines or heavy container environments should strongly consider the 32GB configuration because RAM cannot be upgraded after purchase.

HP Pavilion 16 for Photo Editing

The CPU has enough performance for Photoshop and Lightroom.

The display determines whether we recommend it.

Standard IPS

Fine for:

• website graphics
• social-media images
• casual photography

Not ideal for serious colour-sensitive work because of its limited gamut.

OLED

Much better.

The optional OLED panel covers 100% DCI-P3 and provides substantially stronger contrast and colour reproduction.

For photography, choose OLED if possible.

HP Pavilion 16 for Video Editing

Basic and moderate editing is realistic.

A Core Ultra 7 configuration with 16GB or 32GB memory can handle:

• short 1080p projects
• social-media videos
• YouTube editing
• moderate lightweight 4K work

But integrated graphics are the limitation.

For frequent professional 4K editing, a laptop with GeForce RTX graphics or a MacBook Pro-class machine is more appropriate.

HP Pavilion 16 for Gaming

Gaming isn’t the Pavilion’s primary purpose.

With Intel integrated graphics:

casual games — yes

esports at reduced settings — generally reasonable

modern AAA gaming at high settings — no

The optional MX570 A improves performance somewhat, but it still doesn’t transform the Pavilion into a dedicated gaming laptop.

Buy an HP Victus instead if gaming is a major priority.

16GB vs 32GB

Choose 16GB if you use:

• Office
• web browsing
• WordPress
• school applications
• streaming
• normal programming
• casual photo editing

Choose 32GB if you use:

• virtual machines
• heavy programming tools
• large Photoshop projects
• extensive multitasking
• more demanding creative software

Since the RAM is onboard, this decision cannot easily be changed later.

For most buyers:

16GB is the sweet spot.

Pavilion 16 vs HP OmniBook 5 16

This comparison is particularly important in 2026.

HP now describes the OmniBook 5 16 as the upgrade from the Pavilion family, and current OmniBook models offer newer processors and display choices.

Choose Pavilion 16 if:

• it is heavily discounted
• Core Ultra Series 1 performance is enough
• you find an OLED configuration cheaply
• you don’t need the newest AI features

Choose OmniBook 5 if:

• prices are similar
• you want newer hardware
• you want longer platform relevance
• current-generation AI features matter

The Pavilion’s biggest advantage now is price.

Important 2026 Buying Context

The Pavilion 16 launched in 2024. HP has since shifted its mainstream consumer notebook branding toward OmniBook, with the company’s current store explicitly presenting OmniBook 5 as the Pavilion successor.

That does not make the Pavilion 16 obsolete.

Its Core Ultra 5 and Ultra 7 processors remain capable.

Wi-Fi 6E remains useful.

USB-C remains modern.

And 16GB of memory is still enough for mainstream Windows productivity.

But it should no longer be priced like a brand-new premium laptop.

Pros and Cons

What We Like

Large 16-inch 16:10 display

Excellent for productivity.

Core Ultra performance

The Core Ultra 7 155U provides 12 cores and 14 threads.

16GB and 32GB memory options

Enough RAM is available for demanding multitasking.

Optional 120Hz OLED

An excellent display upgrade with 100% DCI-P3.

Two USB-C ports

Both support 10Gbps data, Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4.

Two USB-A ports

Useful for traditional peripherals.

HDMI 2.1

No adapter required for external displays.

59Wh battery

Reasonable capacity for a mainstream productivity laptop.

Wi-Fi 6E

Good wireless connectivity.

USB-C charging

Convenient for travel and docking.

What We Don’t Like

Soldered memory

RAM cannot be upgraded after purchase.

Standard display has limited colour

The basic IPS screen covers only around 62.5% sRGB.

No Thunderbolt

USB-C is limited to 10Gbps rather than 40Gbps Thunderbolt speeds.

Integrated graphics

Not suitable for serious gaming.

Optional MX570 is also modest

The dedicated option is only a GeForce MX570 A with 4GB memory.

Core Ultra Series 1 is now older hardware

Current Intel Core Ultra generations are newer than the 155U platform.

HP has replaced Pavilion positioning with OmniBook

The laptop needs a good discount in 2026.

Best Configuration

For mainstream buyers, we recommend:

Intel Core Ultra 7 155U

16GB LPDDR5

1TB SSD

16-Inch WUXGA IPS

This provides a good balance of price, storage and performance.

For users prioritizing display quality:

Core Ultra 7

16GB or 32GB

1TB SSD

2K 120Hz OLED

is substantially more attractive. The OLED delivers 100% DCI-P3 colour and far better contrast than the standard panel.

Who Should Buy the HP Pavilion 16?

Students

Very good.

The large screen and strong productivity performance work well for school.

Office Users

Excellent.

One of the laptop’s strongest use cases.

Home Users

Excellent.

Great for browsing, streaming, shopping and documents.

WordPress Users

Excellent.

16GB RAM is more than enough for most website-management workloads.

Programmers

Very good.

Choose 32GB if heavy virtualization is expected.

Photographers

Good only with the OLED display.

The base screen is not colour-rich enough for professional work.

Video Editors

Good for lighter projects.

Gamers

Not the best choice.

Look for an RTX-equipped HP Victus.

Is the HP Pavilion 16 2024 Worth Buying in 2026?

Yes—if the price is right.

The Pavilion 16 still gets the fundamentals right.

You get:

• a large 16:10 display
• capable Core Ultra processors
• 16GB or 32GB RAM options
• fast NVMe storage
• dual USB-C
• HDMI 2.1
• Wi-Fi 6E
• 59Wh battery

Those specifications remain completely usable for modern productivity.

The problem isn’t performance.

The problem is competition from newer hardware.

HP has transitioned toward the OmniBook family, and today’s OmniBook 5 models occupy the mainstream position the Pavilion once held.

So we would not buy the Pavilion at near-new-generation pricing.

At a substantial discount, however, the story changes.

A Core Ultra 7 Pavilion 16 with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage can still be an excellent work, school and home laptop.

And if you find the 120Hz OLED configuration discounted, it can be an especially attractive value.

Final Verdict

The HP Pavilion 16 Laptop 2024 remains a capable large-screen productivity laptop that has aged better than its two-year-old branding might suggest.

The Core Ultra 7 155U provides a strong combination of performance and efficiency with 12 cores and 14 threads.

The 16-inch 16:10 screen provides significantly more workspace than a traditional compact laptop, making the Pavilion particularly comfortable for spreadsheets, website work, programming and school.

Connectivity is another strong point.

HP gives you two 10Gbps USB-C ports with charging and DisplayPort, two USB-A connections and HDMI 2.1.

The optional OLED display is even more impressive, combining 120Hz refresh, 100% DCI-P3 colour and dramatically better contrast.

The Pavilion’s biggest shortcomings are upgradeability and age.

Memory is soldered.

The standard IPS panel has limited colour reproduction.

Integrated graphics restrict gaming.

And HP has moved its mainstream consumer lineup toward the newer OmniBook family.

None of those issues make the Pavilion 16 a bad laptop.

They simply mean that you should buy it for value rather than novelty.

If a Core Ultra 7, 16GB, 512GB or 1TB Pavilion 16 is available at a substantial discount compared with a current OmniBook, it remains easy to recommend for everyday productivity.

IRONreviews Final Rating: 8.8/10

IRONreviews Verdict

Recommended when discounted — the HP Pavilion 16 combines a spacious 16-inch display, capable Core Ultra performance and excellent everyday connectivity. The optional 120Hz OLED is the standout configuration.