HP Pavilion Aero 13 : Review

This HP Pavilion Aero 13 is one of the best-balanced mid-range ultrabooks you can buy now. It does almost everything right. What you get is a 13-inch laptop that weighs less than 1 kilogram and is well-made. It has good inputs, an uncompromised IO, a lovely matte screen, and a good balance of hardware for daily use, light work, and gaming. On the other hand, this laptop still has some signs that it was made on a budget, but the short battery life is the only thing that could make me not want to buy it.

HP Pavilion Aero 13: Key Highlights

1. Ultralight and Durable: It weighs just 2.2 pounds (under 1 kg), making it exceptionally portable without compromising on build quality. The sleek aluminum design adds to its durability.
2. Solid Performance: Equipped with AMD Ryzen 7 5800U, 16GB RAM, and AMD Radeon Graphics, it offers a balanced performance for daily use, multitasking, and light gaming.
3. High-Quality Display: This device features a 13.3-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS matte display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 100% sRGB color coverage, and 450+ nits brightness, suitable for bright environments.
4. Decent IO and Inputs: It provides a range of ports, including USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.0, AC in, and a combo headphone jack. It also has a good keyboard layout and a glass touchpad with a fingerprint reader.
5. Battery Life: It offers a battery life of over 10 hours, which is good but not exceptional compared to some competitors, like the Asus Zenbook 13 OLED, which lasts up to 15 hours.

HP Pavilion Aero 13 Specifications

PROS

• Even though it’s small and weighs less than 1 kg, it’s built well.
• The screen is a balanced IPS 16:10 matte
• Good IO and inputs
• Easy to use and able to do more than one thing
• The fan is quiet with daily use and heavy loads, and the heat sinks are good.
• Prices are fair for what it is.

CONS

• There is no IR camera or touchscreen.
• It’s not the most powerful way to use Ryzen.
• The 43 Wh battery has little sound and a short runtime.

HP Pavilion Aero 13: Price and Availability

As of the beginning of September 2021, HP’s website is the only place to buy the new Pavilion Aero 13. Other stores like Amazon and Best Buy, which sell many HP PCs, will likely follow suit in the coming months. Starting at $750, HP sells the Pavilion Aero 13 for only $670. This version has a Ryzen 5 5600 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.

It is natural silver in color and has a WUXGA (1920×1200) display that is not touch-sensitive and doesn’t have backlit keys. At its most expensive, the Pavilion Aero 13 costs a very reasonable $1,040. It comes with a more powerful Ryzen 7 5800U processor, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, backlit keys, a higher resolution WQXGA (2560×1600), a non-touch display, and in warm gold, ceramic white, or pale rose gold colors. Our review unit costs $910 and has a Ryzen 7 5800U, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, a 1920×1200 display, and a natural silver color. The keyboard does not light up.

HP’s Pavilion Aero 13: Style

The HP Pavilion Aero 13 may look sleek and thin, but that doesn’t come close to how it feels. This lovely thing weighs a mere 2.2 pounds, which makes it feel like a piece of paper in my hands. It goes well with the simple aluminum hood with the shiny HP logo in the middle. When I opened it, I saw a neat, small keyboard deck with a glass touchpad and a fingerprint reader right next to it. At the same time, the thin curves of the screen’s bezels greeted me. With dimensions of 11.7 x 8.2 x 0.7 inches and a weight of 2.2 pounds, the HP Pavilion Aero 13 is much lighter than its competitors.

HP’s Pavilion Aero 13: Keyboard and Hardware

The light is bright enough and pretty even, and the only place where light peeks out is from under the top row of F-keys. HP Pavilion Aero 13 also made sure to add a physical Caps Lock indicator so that you can turn on the brightness by swiping your fingers over the touchpad, just like on high-end devices. I’m also happy with how it feels to type. This 13-inch laptop is small, but HP gave it a full-size keyboard with good spacing and feedback and an extra column of keys on the right side for Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down. It took me a while to get used to the half-size up and down arrows next to the full-size left and right arrows, but I can get used to them.

HP’s Pavilion Aero 13: Screen

Here, the HP Pavilion Aero 13 only has one screen option for the Pavilion Aero 13: a 13-inch 16:10 matte screen that doesn’t touch. This is a good-quality screen by today’s standards. We measured a maximum brightness of 450+ nits, which means you can use this computer in bright light if you want to. It also has excellent black and contrast for this class. Color coverage is about 100% sRGB, more than enough for everyday use.

Should You Buy the HP Pavilion Aero 13?

Yes, if your priorities include a lightweight, portable design, solid everyday performance, a comfortable keyboard, and a good-quality display. The HP Pavilion Aero 13 stands out with its balanced feature set at a reasonable price. It’s particularly suitable for users who need a reliable ultrabook for travel, daily work, and light entertainment without the heft. However, if battery life is crucial, you might explore alternatives like the Asus Zenbook 13 OLED, which offers more extended battery performance.

Verdict

The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is a well-rounded ultrabook that excels in portability, build quality and overall performance. While it does show some signs of cost-cutting, such as the lack of an IR camera and limited battery life compared to some competitors, it delivers excellent value for its price. It’s ideal for those who prioritize a lightweight, versatile laptop for everyday tasks and don’t require extensive battery life or top-tier graphics performance.

FAQs

What are the main advantages of the HP Pavilion Aero 13?

Its ultralight design, solid build quality, good performance for everyday tasks, high-quality display, and a reasonable price make it an attractive choice.

What are the limitations of the HP Pavilion Aero 13?

The main limitations are the lack of an IR camera or touchscreen and relatively short battery life compared to some competitors.

How long does the battery last on the HP Pavilion Aero 13?

The battery lasts over 10 hours on a single charge during web browsing at 150 nits, which is decent but not exceptional.

Can the HP Pavilion Aero 13 handle gaming?

It can handle light gaming due to its AMD Radeon Graphics but isn’t designed for intensive gaming experiences.

Is the HP Pavilion Aero 13 good for travel?

Yes, its lightweight and compact design makes it an excellent choice for travel.

Does the HP Pavilion Aero 13 have a backlit keyboard?

The reviewed unit does not have a backlit keyboard, but higher-end models do offer this feature.