The ASUS Zenbook 14X, while more expensive, offers a higher-quality build, better screen, and stronger performance suitable for demanding tasks like engineering, 3D, machine learning, and gaming. On the other hand, the HP Stream 14" is more budget-friendly and provides basic functionality appropriate for general use, with less power for intensive tasks and a lower-quality display. The ASUS is heavier, making it less portable compared to the lighter HP Stream. If cost is a concern and you mainly handle everyday tasks, the HP may suit you well. However, if you need a laptop for professional work, the ASUS could be a valuable investment despite its higher price and lower portability. 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 Zenbook 14X
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
6.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers a powerful Intel i7 processor, plentiful RAM, high-resolution OLED screen, and dedicated Nvidia graphics, making it well suited for a range of general use cases, although it has moderate battery life. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" has a modest Intel Celeron processor, basic screen quality with lower resolution, and integrated graphics, which may suffice for basic tasks, and it offers a slightly longer battery life along with somewhat better portability due to being lighter.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
5.7/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a dedicated Nvidia MX550 GPU, which is better suited for gaming and 3D applications compared to the HP Stream 14's integrated Intel UHD Graphics 600, leading to its fair versus poor performance in those areas. Additionally, the ASUS has a faster screen refresh rate that contributes to a smoother visual experience in gaming, whereas the HP Stream has a standard refresh rate which is less optimal for these tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
5.7/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.6/10
6.7/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is 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
7.4/10
6.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X 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
8.3/10
5.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X 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 Zenbook 14X boasts a high-resolution, bright display with a wide range of accurate colors, making it suitable for general use and design tasks where clarity and color precision are critical. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its screen falls short, possibly due to a lower refresh rate which can limit the smoothness of motion. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" has a lower quality display across the board, compromising resolution, brightness, and color gamut which makes it less ideal for any of the mentioned use cases, particularly for those where visual detail is key.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
5.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 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
$777
$299
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
"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 Zenbook 14X 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.
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