The Gateway 15.6" laptop will generally offer you a more budget-friendly option, which may suit general use and basic tasks well, but if you're looking for a machine that can handle more demanding tasks like 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, then the HP Envy 17 could be a better choice as it's likely to have more robust performance capabilities. The larger screen of the HP Envy 17 can also be beneficial for multimedia tasks and productivity. However, it might be less portable due to its size and potentially shorter battery life. If portability and battery life are more important for your daily needs, you may prefer the Gateway 15.6". Remember that the higher cost of the HP Envy 17 reflects its likely superior performance and build 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 15.6"
The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the HP Envy 17.
Advantages of the HP Envy 17
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good overall build quality
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the HP Envy 17 is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" is recognized for its general use due to its adequate CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, a decent-quality IPS screen, and light weight which enhances portability, though it has limitations in battery life and speaker quality. On the other hand, the HP Envy 17, while also having a good CPU and ample RAM, provides a larger, higher-quality screen and boasts more premium features like a backlit keyboard and better speakers, making it more suitable for multimedia use, but is less portable due to its larger size and weight.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.4/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Envy 17 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The HP Envy 17 is deemed better for engineering and design tasks than the Gateway 15.6" largely due to its more advanced processor, higher screen brightness, and greater color space accuracy, which are crucial for demanding software and detail-oriented work. While both laptops have similar storage and RAM, the Gateway has a less capable central processing unit and lower screen quality, thus positioning the HP Envy as the more suitable choice despite it being a bit heavier and potentially less portable.
Software Development
6.7/10
7.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 is good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
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
6.1/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The HP Envy 17 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop's screen may suffice for tasks like browsing the web or working with documents, as it likely offers adequate resolution and brightness, but it falls short for specialized tasks due to limited color accuracy and lower refresh rates. The HP Envy 17, with a better screen, provides clearer and more vibrant imagery for detailed engineering and design work, thanks to its wider color gamut, enhancing color fidelity and precision. However, for gaming or 3D applications, where a high refresh rate is crucial to render smooth motion, both laptops may disappoint, as their focus on other display qualities suggests a tradeoff that prioritizes resolution and color over speed.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.2/10
The HP Envy 17 has good build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$600
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $600 and the HP Envy 17 costs $1,000.
The HP Envy 17 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Gateway 15.6" and the HP Envy 17 are fair for gaming and 3D because they both have integrated GPUs which are less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs and standard screen refresh rates of 60Hz that are adequate but not ideal for fast-paced gaming. While the Gateway has a less potent CPU compared to the HP, both laptops offer decent screen quality with IPS panels, but professional gamers may seek higher refresh rates and more powerful GPUs for optimal performance.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Envy 17 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation.
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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The HP Envy 17 has 8 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
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 15.6" and HP Envy 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Gateway 15.6" and the HP Envy 17 compare to other laptops
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the HP Envy 17
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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