The Gateway 14.1" is a budget-friendly laptop best for basic tasks like browsing and office applications with modest storage and performance. The MSI Prestige 16, while more expensive, offers significantly enhanced performance for engineering, 3D rendering, and machine learning, along with a better display and build quality. It's also more suitable for gaming, though neither are dedicated gaming machines. The MSI has a larger screen, more storage, and much more memory, but it's heavier which may impact portability. Choose the Gateway for general use if cost is a concern, or opt for the MSI for more intensive applications and improved overall quality. 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 16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has a less powerful Intel Celeron processor, less RAM, and lower screen quality compared to the MSI Prestige 16, which impacts its performance and user experience significantly, making it poor for general use. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 boasts a high-end Intel i7 processor, ample RAM, and superior screen quality, enhancing its efficiency and usability for varied tasks, which is why it's considered very good for general use.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
6.7/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" with its Intel Celeron processor and Intel UHD Graphics 600 is not designed for high-performance tasks like gaming and 3D applications due to its basic CPU and GPU and a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, making it unsuitable for fast-paced visuals. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 16, equipped with an Intel i7 processor and Iris Xe graphics, paired with a significantly higher screen refresh rate of 165Hz, handles gaming and 3D rendering more smoothly, delivering a better visual and performance experience.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
8.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" features basic specifications such as an Intel Celeron CPU, 4GB of RAM, and Intel UHD Graphics, which result in poor performance for engineering and design tasks that require more powerful processors, higher memory, and advanced graphics for rendering and simulations. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 is equipped with a high-performance Intel i7 CPU, substantial 32GB of RAM, and Iris Xe graphics, alongside a higher-resolution and brighter display, making it very suitable for demanding engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
5.8/10
8.3/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 16 is very 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
8.1/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very 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
8.3/10
14.1in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When evaluating laptops for general use, the Gateway's fair screen quality stems from its acceptable resolution and brightness, which provide sufficient clarity and visibility for everyday tasks; however, the MSI Prestige stands out with its very good screen due to higher resolution and better brightness, offering sharper images and more comfortable viewing. For engineering and design, the MSI Prestige's superior color gamut coverage ensures more accurate color reproduction, which is vital for precision work, while the Gateway's screen is somewhat limited in this aspect, making it less suitable for professional color work. Lastly, both the Gateway and MSI Prestige have screens that aren't optimized for 3D applications and gaming because of their lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and potential screen tearing during fast-paced scenes or detailed 3D rendering.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 16 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
$1,611
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 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
16.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 14.1" to have very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 16 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 16 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 16 Evo: 2023's best value 16” thin & light laptop with i7-13700H. One of the top choices for professionals and students seeking a high-performance, portable computing solution in 2023. While the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M may not boast the most striking design compared to some other 16" options, its relatively "safe" styling lends itself well to professional and educational environments. Significantly, it doesn't compromise on essential features like port selection or cooling performance, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient thermal management. The 16 Evo A13M offers an excellent combination of performance, portability, and functionality, making it a compelling choice for professionals and students alike."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 14.1" or the MSI Prestige 16
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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