The device is powered by AMD’s latest Ryzen 5000 Series CPUs, up to the Ryzen 7 5800U. However, it’s not clear which processor the entry-level models will use – we’ve reached out to HP for clarification. Nonetheless, combined with Radeon integrated, there should be enough power here for all but the most demanding tasks.
As the name suggests, the Pavilion Aero 13 has a 13.3in LCD display, complete with a 2.5k resolution. It’s also been certified by Eyesafe as a low blue light display, and has an impressive 90% screen-to-body ratio. There’s no touch support or OLED, but these are not dealbreakers in a sub £800/US$800 laptop.
The Pavilion line typically caters to everyday consumers, and that’s reflected in the available colour options. You can choose between pale rose gold, warm gold, ceramic white, and natural silver finishes, all of which use post-consumer recycled and ocean-bound plastics.
HP hasn’t mentioned it in its promotional materials, but it meets all the hardware requirements for Windows 11. The device will ship running Windows 11, but look out for an update in early 2022.
Then there’s the price. The Pavilion Aero 13 starts at a relatively affordable £849.99/US$749.99. It will go on sale in the US this month, before arriving in the UK and other territories in August. However, it’s not clear why there’s such a disparity between UK and US pricing – we’ve asked HP to clarify this.
Early signs suggest the Pavilion Aero 13 could be a hit with consumers. But will it be good enough for our ultra-competitive best laptop chart? Only time will tell.