If you're focused on heavy tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, or machine learning, the ASUS ROG Flow X16 is well-suited with its higher performance capabilities, but it comes with a higher cost and is less portable. The HP Stream 14" offers affordability and greater portability, making it suitable for general use like web browsing, office applications, and media consumption, but it lacks the power for intensive tasks and may have shorter battery life. Choose the ASUS if performance is a priority and you're okay with the extra cost and weight; opt for the HP for everyday tasks, easier carrying, and budget-friendliness. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Flow X16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
Very good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
6.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
502.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is well-suited for general use due to its high-performance CPU and GPU, a large amount of fast storage, and a high-quality screen, but it is less portable and has shorter battery life compared to lighter alternatives. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" offers better battery life and is more portable due to its lighter weight, but it compromises on performance with a lower-end CPU, less impressive screen quality, and smaller storage capacity.
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
5.7/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is better for gaming and 3D because it has a powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a high 165 Hz screen refresh rate which are crucial for smooth and detailed visuals, whereas the HP Stream 14" has a much less capable Intel UHD Graphics 600 and a standard 60 Hz screen refresh rate, which are not suitable for intensive graphical tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
5.7/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 outshines the HP Stream 14" in engineering and design due to its more powerful CPU, the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS, superior GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3060, and higher-quality IPS screen with greater resolution, these factors are crucial for demanding software used in engineering. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" has a basic Intel Celeron processor and Intel UHD Graphics, which are less suited for intensive tasks, and its TN display offers lower resolution and color quality, limiting its effectiveness in design applications.
Content Creation
8.0/10
6.7/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for content creation, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.7/10
6.5/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for software development, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.5/10
5.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 boasts a high-resolution display and vibrant brightness, enhancing its suitability for general tasks and precision work in engineering and design due to its expansive color gamut that covers a wide spectrum. However, its relatively lower refresh rate can make fast-paced gaming and 3D applications less smooth than desired. On the other hand, the HP Stream 14" offers a more basic display with lower resolution and brightness, making it less ideal for both everyday use and specialized tasks, and lacks the color accuracy and quick refresh necessary for engineering, design, gaming, or 3D work.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
5.5/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has very good build quality, while the HP Stream 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,300
$299
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a price of $1,300 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
"Above all else, the Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing - versatile! It is a thin, mobile work device, it's a 2-in-1, tablet, a powerful workstation and even a gaming PC. But something even more surprising: It does all of these things really well without making any big blunders. It's anything but a lazy compromise. Because, despite its compact dimensions and 2-in-1 functionality, the hardware isn't throttled and boasts, at least in turbo mode, above-average performance."
"With half of the main system memory and a fraction of the storage that we recommend in any budget Windows laptop, the HP Stream 14 does not impress. Perhaps it doesn't need to, depending on your reference point. For the price, you're getting a functional laptop with Windows 10, which already places the HP Stream 14 above most Chromebooks on that merit alone. Still, in this price range, you can't do much worse, but you can do better. In fact, for just $100 more, you can grab the much superior budget option, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Flow X16 or the HP Stream 14"
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
102,195
Recommendations made
22,143
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.