Most laptops work fine when used for regular college or office work, but not all of them are suitable for gaming. Most people only have two preferences when buying a laptop: either a sleek, professional, and subtle laptop that might struggle while supporting any game or a gaming laptop that lacks in appearance but has powerful functionality. But the HP Pavilion Plus 16 gives both options in a single gadget. It looks like a serious and professional laptop but has a powerful combination of CPU and GPU that can run some of the best games.
Updated October 2026. Specifications below are for the HP Pavilion Plus 16 (2023, model family 16-ab0) as reviewed by Notebookcheck; exact components vary by configuration and country, so check the specific model before you buy. This is an overview based on published information, not a hands-on test.
Design
The HP Pavilion Plus 16 is a fixed gadget that cannot bend or fold and has no touchscreen feature. Its design is simple, with the ability to tilt the display up to 120 degrees. The silver aluminium finish gives it a premium appearance, and the spacious structure allows for additional hardware. However, its large build leads to more weight, which might make it difficult to commute with both the laptop and the charger.
It has a USB type C port with a 40 Gbps signalling rate, a type C port with a 10 Gbps rate, a type A port with a 10 Gbps rate, and another type A port with a 5 Gbps rate with a headphone jack.
Display, speakers, and camera
The HP Pavilion Plus 16 has a 16-inch, 16:10 IPS display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, which keeps scrolling and gaming smooth. The 16:10 shape gives more vertical space than a traditional 16:9 screen, which helps when working with documents and spreadsheets.
The speakers are tuned with B&O, and the laptop has a 5 MP webcam.
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Performance
The configuration Notebookcheck reviewed pairs a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-13700H processor with 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a 1 TB PCIe SSD and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU with 6 GB of video memory (running at 60 W). That is enough for photo editing and moderate gaming at reduced settings, but Notebookcheck noted the laptop could have benefited from a more powerful RTX 4050 at its price.
Battery
The laptop has a 68 Wh battery. Battery life depends heavily on what you do: office work and video stretch it much further than gaming or other demanding tasks, which drain it quickly.
Verdict
If you want a well-built 16-inch laptop with a sharp, fast display that can also handle moderate gaming, the HP Pavilion Plus 16 is worth considering. For more demanding games, look at laptops with an RTX 4050 or faster GPU, and compare prices for the exact configuration you are offered.
