When deciding between the Gateway 14.1" and the HP 15" Laptop, consider that the Gateway is often significantly less expensive, lighter, and has a smaller screen making it more portable. It is equipped with an Intel Celeron processor, which along with its limited storage and RAM, makes it suitable for basic tasks but potentially slow for more demanding applications. In contrast, the HP has a larger screen and better performance with an Intel i3 processor and more RAM and storage, which can handle more intensive tasks such as light engineering work and multitasking more effectively. However, the HP is typically heavier and more expensive, which might affect its portability and budget appeal. Neither are suitable for intensive gaming but both offer similar quality in terms of keyboard comfort and general use, although the HP may have a slightly better build and a backlit keyboard that can be helpful in low-light environments. 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 14.1"
Very good portability
Advantages of the HP 15" Laptop
The HP 15" Laptop has no clear advantages over the Gateway 14.1".
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
6.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The HP 15" Laptop is only fair for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
6.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP 15" Laptop is only fair for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
5.8/10
6.9/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP 15" Laptop is only fair for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
5.8/10
6.7/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The HP 15" Laptop is only fair for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
6.0/10
6.3/10
14.1in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The HP 15" Laptop has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Gateway 14.1" and HP 15" laptops offer adequate screen quality with sufficient resolution and brightness for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. However, for engineering and design where precise color representation is crucial, both fall short in delivering the wide color gamuts needed for professional-grade work. In the realm of gaming and 3D applications, the importance of a high refresh rate is paramount to reduce motion blur and provide smoother visuals, an area where both laptops do not meet the expectation, coupled with only moderate resolution and panel quality.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 hours of battery life. The HP 15" Laptop 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.
Build Quality
5.1/10
6.0/10
The HP 15" Laptop has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$99
$375
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the HP 15" Laptop costs $375.
The HP 15" Laptop and Gateway 14.1" are both poor for gaming and AI.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop is equipped with a lesser performing Celeron processor and a basic GPU, making it not well-suited for gaming or 3D tasks; its screen refresh rate is standard, which does not cater well to high-speed graphics needed in gaming.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.1in
SIZE
15.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 14.1" to have very good portability, while the HP 15" Laptop has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gateway 14.1" and the HP 15" Laptop compare to other laptops
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
"Chances are high that the HP 15 is one of the first laptops to pop up when you search for an inexpensive notebook. Indeed, its price tag is very tempting for many, and of course, this is the reason for its popularity. However, the HP 15" suffers from poor performance due to low power consumption. On the bright side, one of the good things about it is the port selection. On the inside, this includes two SODIMM slots for memory, an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for storage, and a SATA drive bay. However, the TN panel, and mediocre input devices are not ideal."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 14.1" or the HP 15" Laptop
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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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.
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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.
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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.