If you're looking for cost savings and basic tasks like web browsing or word processing, the Gateway 14.1" is a practical choice due to its lower price. However, if your work involves 3D, machine learning, or gaming that demand high performance and you don't mind spending more, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio offers significantly more power and a larger screen. Keep in mind, the MSI will likely be heavier and have a shorter battery life, making the Gateway more portable for on-the-go use. 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 Stealth 18 AI Studio
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very 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
305.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has weaker CPU and less RAM, which can lead to slower performance and struggles with multitasking compared to the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, which boasts a more powerful CPU and greater RAM, enhancing its ability to handle demanding applications smoothly. Additionally, the MSI has superior screen quality and better battery life, making it ideal for extended use, although it is larger and not as easy to carry around as the more compact Gateway.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
8.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" lacks a powerful GPU and has a lower screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications where visual smoothness is key. Meanwhile, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is equipped with a high-end GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, ensuring crisp and fluid visuals necessary for immersive gaming and 3D experiences.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
9.1/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" may fall short in tasks like engineering and design due to its less powerful CPU, lower RAM, and basic GPU, which struggle with demanding software, whereas the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio excels because it has a high-end CPU, substantial RAM, and a robust GPU suited for intensive tasks, along with a superior screen quality. However, the Gateway 14.1" will be lighter and easier to carry, and potentially quieter, but the MSI's keyboard will likely offer a better typing experience which can be important during long working sessions.
Content Creation
5.8/10
8.5/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
8.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
8.4/10
14.1in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Gateway's screen provides adequate resolution and brightness, but it doesn't stand out, whereas the MSI provides sharp, bright images making it a better choice for viewing documents and media. In engineering and design, the MSI's superior color reproduction covers a wider range of colors, essential for precision work, surpassing the Gateway's more limited color range. For gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, which means they aren't ideal for fast-paced visuals, despite the MSI's higher resolution and better panel improving the overall experience compared to the Gateway.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
18.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gateway 14.1" has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has very 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
$2,900
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
"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."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 14.1" or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
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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