HP Pavilion 17-ar050wm Review: Resourceful Laptop for Creators

In case you are sifting through a diverse range of utilitarian laptops that aren’t overburdening in terms of budget, the HP Pavilion ar050wm might just be the perfect laptop to consider investing in. As per the specifications, this HP Pavilion 17-inch notebook is more of a content-creation masterpiece, perfect for college students, mid-level professionals, and entrepreneurs.

However, before delving any deeper into the ar050wm review, we need to focus a bit on the HP Pavilion line-up and how effective it is, in terms of gaming, professional productivity, and high-end creative tasks.

One Line Review : Best characterized by an expansive screen real-estate and a resourceful AMD processor, the HP Pavilion 17-ar050wm is a competitive professional laptop but with underwhelming gaming performances!

HP Pavilion 17-AR050WM Review: Dissecting in Detail

HP Pavilion 17-AR050WM: Enlisting the Specs

Processor: 2.5 GHz AMD A10-9620P APU
RAM: 8GB SDRAM
Storage: 1TB HDD
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon R5 Graphics
Display: 17.3” Full HD (1920 x 1080)
Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Weight: 6.15lbs
Battery Life: Up to 7-Hours
Port Arrangement: 1 USB 3.1 Type-C, 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, 1 HDMI, 1 RJ-45
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2
Special Features: Life-Hinge Technology

In the subsequent sections, we enlist the section-wise review of the HP Pavilion 17-ar050wm, as ascertained by our experts after three weeks of extensive usage:

Performance

Let’s start the discussion by talking about the powerful AMD A10 APU or rather the Accelerated Processing Unit, capable of boost clocking at up to 3.4 GHz. While the excellent single-core performances make it a great ally for handling audio and basic video editing, you also get 2MB of cache memory for getting through some of the more demanding tasks with ease.

The quad-core chipset is perfectly complemented by the AMD Radeon R5 graphics, flaunting the Sun GPU or rather the GCN architecture. Despite being an integrated graphics card, the Radeon R5 allows you to play entry-level games, courtesy of the DirectX 12 support and significant levels of processing power.

Memory Allocation

Multitasking on the popular HP Pavilion 17 A10 variant feels like a charm, courtesy of the 8 GB DDR4 RAM. The existing chunk of system memory clocks at 2133MHz, which can be boosted up to 3200MHz, in case more intricate and faster processing help is desired. The single-channel DDR SDRAM slot is upgradeable up to 16GB.

When it comes to the storage, the 1 TB HDD might be a slightly impeding, courtesy of the slower ‘read and write’ speeds. However, the storage capacity is not one to falter and is considered as one of the better features associated with this laptop.

Display

This model comes with a pretty competent, 17.3” Full HD display and the sought-after anti-glare properties for longer hauls. Moreover, the IPS screen is best known for the exceptional viewing angles, which is more of a creative resource. For the media consumers, the WLED-backlit panel serves as a power-efficient ally, thereby helping you save some well-earned battery life.

User-Interface

The HP Pavilion 17-ar050wm leaves no stone unturned when offering the best user experience is concerned. The 64-bit Windows 10 Home edition OS is one of the better features on offer, clubbed with several nifty enhancements, including McAfee LiveSafe, HP CoolSense, 3D DriveGuard, Support Assistant, and every other feature that HP has a copyright on.

Design

Coming straight to the heft, the HP Pavilion 17-ar050wm weighs close to 6.15 pounds, owing to the 17” display. If you say yes to the heft and plan on proceeding with the same, the design-centric elements would certainly look more than adequate. Despite the large chassis, this is quite a sleek machine, with the slots, edges, and aluminum accents adding to the manufacturing brilliance. Gleaming with silvery undertones, the HP Pavilion 17-ar050wm is worth investing in courtesy of the innovatively placed TrueVision HD webcam for maximizing the viewing angles.

However, the best design-centric advertising option for this HP Pavilion 17” notebook is the ergonomic Lift-Hinge innovation. This feature comes with a dual set of benefits i.e. makes room for optimal typing experiences and even ensures better cooling courtesy of the elevated form factor.

Another design-centric attribute is the availability of an integrated DVD writer which certainly is one of the better specs available for a detailed review.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Although the keyboard misses out on the famed backlit support, it is still an efficient feature, courtesy of the full-size layout. Most importantly, the numeric keypad, key travel and the actuation feel are more than acceptable for a mid-range notebook. The responsive touchpad comes equipped with gesture support and ensures seamless and error-free navigations.

Audio

Apart from relentless work trends and professional commitments, this Pavilion branded laptop also offers ample options to unwind, courtesy of the brilliant acoustic setup. While the dual speakers with B&O Play support might not work as well as the Harman Kardon ones, they still exceed numerous expectations, associated with the acoustic output.

Ports and Connectivity

While we weren’t expecting a Thunderbolt 3 at this price, the Gen 1 Type-C port with data transfer speeds of up to 5gbps is a highly resourceful addition. In addition to that, you get support for pairing external displays via HDMI, two data-transferrable USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and a card reader.

You also get the RJ45 LAN connector, offering Ethernet support followed by Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity standards for hassle-free wireless tethering. When it comes to wireless connectivity, the HP Pavilion 17” model is one product to flaunt 802.11 b/g/n/ac, for faster connections and backward compatibility.

Battery

The HP Pavilion 17-ar050wm also comes equipped with a 41wh battery module, comprising 3 cells and supported by the 45W adapter. Despite the large and vibrant display, the battery is capable of churning out a 7-hour backup. The power-efficient WLED-backlit panel also plays its role in minimizing battery draining.

Customer Support

The customer support offered by the company, especially on the Pavilion ar050wm is definitely worth a mention. While you can always visit the official and servicing sites to report a grievance, a diverse set of free services are also rendered by the company, within the warranty period.

Price

In case you are interested in this laptop, it is the best laptop under 800 dollars. However, you can always get the price down by pairing select offers with the same. In case the offers do not work, you can always get a renewed model, often listed at some of the leading affiliate websites.

Pros

A competitive price tag for the existing features
Larger 17” display
Full HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels to rely on
1 TB hard disk drive
8 GB DDR4 RAM for better processing performances
Full-size numeric keypad
Anti-glare display
Quad-core a10 9620p APU with 3.4 ghz clock speed
Ergonomic design for better typing experience

Cons

Not many USB ports
Chunkier laptop than usual

Is the HP Pavilion Good?

If you are looking for a multi-purpose notebook that scales beyond the competitors, in terms of performance, aesthetics, and affordability, no line-up comes close to HP Pavilion. The Pavilion series houses laptops that flaunt top-of-the-line displays. This attribute ensures exceptional media consumption and related experiences.

Moreover, you also get to choose from a wide range of 15” and 17” notebooks as per professional and personal preferences.

Is the HP Pavilion 17 Good for Gaming?

Keeping the HP Pavilion 17-ar050wm aside, we would now be focusing on a majority of other HP Pavilion 17-inch devices and relevance to high-end or even mid-range gaming. Based on your budget and preferences, you opt for Pavilion notebooks that flaunt GTX 1660 Ti or GTX 1650 GPUs.

Is the HP Pavilion 15 Good?

The 17” devices from HP paint a pretty picture when gaming indulgences and academic spreadsheet deciphering is concerned. However, if portability is one of your preferences, HP Pavilion series notebooks with 15” displays are better choices.

How good is the HP Pavilion for Gaming?

The 17-ar050wm is a game-specific notebook but can still handle low-end games and even the latest Fifa 19 at low to medium settings. The entry-level AMD Radeon graphics card has a major role to play in this.

Can I get a smaller version for the same specifications?

While the specs might not be exactly similar, the Pavilion series flaunts 15.6” notebooks with comparable features to rely on.

How does the Pavilion 17-ar050wm come in handy for college students?

This laptop comes with a lot of display-centric meat which makes it easier for the students to work with spreadsheets and on presentations. The larger screen size is one of the main reasons why this device is exceedingly popular among the students. Moreover, this variant also features a sought-after optical drive and a keyboard, placed in an optimal typing and content-creating environment. Lastly, the 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM makes processing faster than expected.

What is the most innovative spec for content writers?

This device comes with the Lift-Hinge technology which readily elevates the keyboard and ensures an exceptional premise for the content writers. The above-mentioned keyboard focused analysis readily talks about this feature, in detail.

Verdict

The HP Pavilion 17-ar050wm is one of the more balanced laptops to use, in case you are a budget-centric student or a seasoned copywriter. Although you can see a lot of trendy attributes on offer, this is one of the more equipped gadgets that you would use to share data, email clients, and market your affiliate website with. Moreover, while every feature isn’t an epitome of technology and innovation, you can certainly consider this for personal and professional usage, provided you are willing to make peace with the slowness of the storage hard drive.