The Gateway 11.6" is more budget-friendly and is lighter and smaller, which makes it easier to carry around. However, the HP Stream 14" offers more storage and RAM, which means it will likely perform better and be able to handle more tasks at once. With the HP Stream 14", you also get a larger screen size, which can be better for viewing content, but this also means the laptop will be larger and heavier, possibly affecting its portability. The choice between them would depend on whether you prioritize cost and portability or performance and screen size. 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 Gateway 11.6"
Excellent portability
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
The HP Stream 14" has no clear advantages over the Gateway 11.6".
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
6.5/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
9.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The HP Stream 14" is only fair for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" has limitations such as lower RAM and storage, which hinder multitasking and data storage, while its smaller screen offers lower resolution and brightness, affecting screen quality; however, its lightweight design offers better portability. On the other hand, the HP Stream 14" provides more RAM, which is beneficial for smoother operation and better screen brightness, but at the cost of reduced portability due to a larger size and heavier weight, and it may have a shorter battery life.
Content Creation
5.7/10
6.7/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The HP Stream 14" is only fair for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7/10
6.5/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The HP Stream 14" is only fair for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7/10
5.2/10
11.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Gateway 11.6" has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
When considering screen quality, the Gateway 11.6" and HP Stream 14" may not provide the clarity and detail needed for general use due to their likely lower resolution and dimmer displays, which can lead to a less crisp and vibrant viewing experience. For engineering and design tasks, accurate color representation is crucial, but these laptops may not cover the necessary color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, resulting in less precise color work. Gamers and those involved in 3D work might find these laptops limiting because they probably lack higher refresh rates that ensure smoother motion, and the resolution and panel technology might not be up to par for detailed and engaging visuals.
Portability
Excellent
Very Good
11.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the HP Stream 14" has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$89
$299
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
The Gateway 11.6" has a price of $89 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
The HP Stream 14" and Gateway 11.6" are both poor for gaming and AI.
The Gateway 11.6" and the HP Stream 14" both have entry-level Intel Celeron processors and basic Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPUs, which are not suitable for demanding gaming and 3D tasks. Additionally, their screens have a standard refresh rate of 60Hz with low resolutions, which translates into less fluid visuals and lower image quality, further hampering gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
5.4/10
5.7/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Stream 14" and Gateway 11.6" are both poor for engineering and design.
Both the Gateway 11.6" and the HP Stream 14" have low-powered Celeron processors, minimal RAM, and basic integrated graphics, which limit their performance for demanding engineering and design tasks. Furthermore, these laptops have low-resolution screens not ideal for high-precision design work that benefits from superior screen quality.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Gateway 11.6" has 8 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
5.1/10
5.5/10
The HP Stream 14" and Gateway 11.6" both have poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gateway 11.6" and the HP Stream 14" compare to other laptops
"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 Gateway 11.6" or the HP Stream 14"
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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