The Gateway 11.6" is significantly less expensive, smaller, and lighter, making it very portable and ideal for general-use tasks; however, the MSI Modern 14 offers better performance for more intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering work, with more storage and RAM, a faster main processor, and a higher resolution, larger display which is better for multitasking and media consumption. The downside to the MSI is that it costs more and has slightly less battery life, rendering it less ideal for extended use away from a power source. 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 MSI Modern 14
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
7.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The MSI Modern 14 is good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" has a less powerful Intel Celeron processor, less RAM, and a lower resolution screen, which may lead to a sluggish experience for general use, compounded by its poorer keyboard quality; meanwhile, the MSI Modern 14 offers a stronger AMD Ryzen processor, more RAM, and a higher quality display, enhancing overall performance and usability for a range of tasks.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
6.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The MSI Modern 14 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" is not suited for gaming and 3D applications because it has a basic Intel Celeron processor and Intel UHD Graphics 600, which struggle with demanding tasks, whereas the MSI Modern 14 features a more capable AMD Ryzen processor with Vega 7 graphics, granting better performance for such activities.
Engineering and Design
5.4/10
6.6/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Modern 14 is only fair for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" has a weaker Intel Celeron processor, less RAM, and less powerful graphics which makes it unsuitable for demanding engineering and design tasks, whereas the MSI Modern 14 is equipped with a more capable AMD Ryzen processor, more RAM, and better integrated graphics, offering fair performance for such tasks. Both have good-quality IPS screens, but the MSI's higher resolution and color coverage result in a clearer and truer display, further supporting its adequacy for engineering work, while the Gateway's lower screen quality and hardware specs contribute to its unsuitability.
Content Creation
5.7/10
7.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Modern 14 is good 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
7.1/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Modern 14 is good 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
6.4/10
11.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The MSI Modern 14 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway 11.6" laptop's limited resolution and low brightness make it a less desirable option for general use, where clear visuals and comfortable viewing are crucial. For engineering and design, the MSI Modern 14 offers better screen quality due to fair coverage of color gamuts, essential for accurate color reproduction, but still falls short for high-end tasks. Despite the fair resolution and panel type of the MSI Modern 14, its lack of a high refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D work, where smooth motion and quick image rendering are key.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gateway 11.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 has 6 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
Excellent
Very Good
11.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the MSI Modern 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.0/10
The MSI Modern 14 has good build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$89
$748
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Gateway 11.6" has a price of $89 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $748.
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 11.6" or the MSI Modern 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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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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