If you prioritize performance for tasks like engineering or 3D work and are okay with a heftier price tag, the MSI Prestige 15 is a strong choice with better processing power, more memory, and a dedicated graphics card. However, if you're looking for a very budget-friendly option for general use and portability is key, then the Gateway 14.1" would suit your needs due to its lower weight and smaller size, despite its more modest specifications which include less storage and a basic processor. Consider the Gateway if your tasks are mostly web browsing, document editing, and media consumption, but opt for the MSI if you need to run demanding software or multitask efficiently. 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 Prestige 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Prestige 15 is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" falls short in general use due to its basic CPU, limited RAM, and lower screen quality paired with a poor keyboard, making tasks sluggish and less enjoyable; on the contrary, the MSI Prestige 15 excels with a more capable CPU, ample RAM, better screen quality, and superior keyboard, ensuring smooth and efficient operation, bolstered by its good battery life and heat management, despite being slightly less portable.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
6.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Prestige 15 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop falls short in gaming and 3D capabilities due to its Intel UHD Graphics 600, which is less powerful than the dedicated Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU found in the MSI Prestige 15. While both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, the better GPU in the MSI not only renders graphics faster but also delivers a more vibrant gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
7.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 15 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" falls short for engineering and design usage due to its weaker CPU (Intel Celeron N4020), limited RAM (4GB), and inferior integrated GPU (Intel UHD Graphics 600), which are less capable of handling demanding engineering applications and complex designs.
Content Creation
5.8/10
7.5/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 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
7.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 15 is good 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
6.8/10
14.1in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 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" laptop has an adequate display with a reasonable resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing but lacks the color accuracy needed for precise engineering and design work. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 15 offers a higher resolution and better color coverage, making it more suitable for detailed engineering and design tasks requiring more faithful color representation. However, both the Gateway and MSI Prestige fall short for 3D applications and gaming, as their displays don't offer the high refresh rates that are crucial for the smooth visuals needed in these areas.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 15 has good 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
$1,044
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the MSI Prestige 15 costs $1,044.
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 15 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.
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 MSI Prestige 15 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 MSI Prestige 15 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."
"The MSI Prestige 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 14.1" or the MSI Prestige 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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