When choosing between the Gateway 15.6" and the MSI Creator M14, consider that the Gateway may save you money and offer basic functionality for everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing. The MSI Creator M14, while more expensive, typically provides better performance for demanding applications such as 3D modeling, video editing, and gaming. It may also have a higher-quality build and possibly better display. If you need your laptop to be more portable with longer battery life, the MSI might be a superior choice. However, if affordability and basic functions are your primary concerns, the Gateway could serve you well. 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"
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 15.6" is good.
The Gateway 15.6" offers a balance suitable for everyday tasks with its decent processor and memory, yet it might lag in screen quality and battery duration when compared to the MSI Creator M14, which excels in these very important areas along with greater portability, making it an excellent choice for both work and media consumption. Additionally, the MSI has superior storage, keyboard, and speaker quality, which, though not as crucial, significantly enhance the overall user experience.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Gateway 15.6" might offer a decent experience for casual gaming and 3D work thanks to its satisfactory GPU, but the MSI Creator M14's superior GPU delivers smoother graphics and higher screen refresh rates, making it more suited for more demanding gaming and 3D tasks. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the MSI's emphasis on visual performance and faster refresh rates give it an edge for those very important factors in your gaming and 3D experiences.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
8.4/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop might fall short in handling more demanding engineering software due to less powerful CPU, RAM, and GPU compared to the MSI Creator M14 which has superior specs, particularly beneficial for tasks like 3D modeling and simulation. Moreover, the MSI offers a higher screen quality which is essential for detailed design work, though the Gateway is lighter, making it more portable, but possibly at the cost of reduced performance suitable for high-end engineering tasks.
Content Creation
7.0/10
8.0/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 15.6" is good.
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
7.8/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 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
7.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, a laptop screen's clarity, detail, and readability are crucial, hence the MSI Creator M14's superior resolution and brightness provide a more pleasant and vibrant display compared to the Gateway 15.6". When it comes to engineering and design, accurate color reproduction is key; the MSI Creator M14 offers better coverage of professional color gamuts, ensuring that designers and engineers see more precise and consistent colors. However, for gaming and 3D applications, a high refresh rate is essential for smooth motion, and since both the Gateway and MSI have lower refresh rates, they aren't ideal for such tasks, though the MSI's slightly better resolution and panel type offer a marginally improved experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 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
$380
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
"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."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the MSI Creator M14
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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