The Gateway 15.6" has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
If you prioritize a clearer, brighter display for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing, the Gateway's better resolution and brightness make it a better choice over the HP Stream. However, for engineering and design tasks that demand accurate color representation, neither the Gateway nor the HP Stream provide the color range professionals need. For gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is critical, the Gateway falls short with a standard refresh rate, and the HP Stream will also underperform, as both are not designed for the high refresh rates required by these applications.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the Gateway 15.6" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$380
$299
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 15.6" to be good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The Gateway 15.6" is considered good for general use because it has a higher-resolution IPS screen and a more powerful Intel i5 processor, making it suitable for a wider range of tasks with better screen quality, while still maintaining a decent build and fair battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
5.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 15.6" to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
5.7/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 15.6" to be only fair for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The Gateway 15.6" offers a more powerful CPU and graphics unit which are crucial for engineering and design tasks, while the HP Stream 14" is equipped with a lower-tier CPU and graphics, making it less suitable for demanding applications. Additionally, the Gateway has a higher resolution and better screen quality, further enhancing its capability for detailed work compared to the HP Stream's lower resolution display.
Content Creation
7.0/10
6.7/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 15.6" to be good for content creation, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
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
6.7/10
6.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Gateway 15.6" and HP Stream 14" are both only fair for software development.
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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The HP Stream 14" 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.
Build Quality
5.1/10
5.5/10
The HP Stream 14" and Gateway 15.6" both have poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gateway 15.6" and the HP Stream 14" 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."
"With half of the main system memory and a fraction of the storage that we recommend in any budget Windows laptop, the HP Stream 14 does not impress. Perhaps it doesn't need to, depending on your reference point. For the price, you're getting a functional laptop with Windows 10, which already places the HP Stream 14 above most Chromebooks on that merit alone. Still, in this price range, you can't do much worse, but you can do better. In fact, for just $100 more, you can grab the much superior budget option, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the HP Stream 14"
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.