The Gateway 14.1" is much less expensive and more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, making it suitable for general use and easy to carry around. However, the MSI Bravo 15, despite being more expensive and less portable, offers significantly better performance for gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering work, thanks to its powerful AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX graphics. Additionally, the MSI has a higher refresh rate display which is better for fast motion and gaming, although both laptops feature similar screen sizes and resolutions. If budget is a concern and you need a laptop for everyday tasks, the Gateway would be a suitable option. If you require a machine for more intensive applications and are willing to invest more, the MSI would be the better choice. 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 MSI Bravo 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The MSI Bravo 15 is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" suffers in general use due to its limited storage and memory along with a weaker CPU, impacting performance and multitasking capabilities, and it lacks user evaluations for battery life and portability which are key factors for general use. On the other hand, the MSI Bravo 15, with its better processor, increased memory and storage, and dedicated graphics card offers fair performance for general use despite being heavier and potentially having a shorter battery life, while still maintaining decent portability and battery scores.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
7.2/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Bravo 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has an Intel UHD Graphics 600 with a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which aren't as suitable for demanding gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Bravo 15 is equipped with a capable Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a 144Hz screen refresh rate that better handle intensive graphics and provide a smoother visual experience.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
7.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI Bravo 15 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop is less suited for engineering and design due to its lower-end Intel Celeron processor, basic Intel UHD Graphics, and just 4GB of RAM, whereas the MSI Bravo 15 offers a more powerful AMD Ryzen 5 processor, advanced Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card, and double the RAM, making it better equipped for demanding tasks.
Content Creation
5.8/10
7.1/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Bravo 15 is good 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
6.8/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Bravo 15 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
6.9/10
14.1in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The MSI Bravo 15 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway 14.1" might have an adequate resolution and brightness for daily tasks, but the limited color gamut keeps it from excelling in engineering and design contexts. The MSI Bravo 15's better panel quality offers an edge for general use through its superior resolution and brightness, yet still falls short for professional design due to average color accuracy. Both laptops struggle with gaming and 3D applications as they lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 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
Very Good
Fair
14.1in
SIZE
15.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gateway 14.1" has very good portability, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
6.7/10
The MSI Bravo 15 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
$862
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
"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."
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 14.1" or the MSI Bravo 15
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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