The Gateway 15.6" is more affordable but less powerful, suitable for general use and basic tasks, and lacks a touchscreen. In contrast, the MSI Summit E16 Flip has superior performance appropriate for more demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering projects, alongside a high-resolution touchscreen and is better for gaming, albeit at a higher price. The MSI also offers more storage and a premium build but is less portable due to its weight. If cost is a primary concern and your tasks aren't intensive, consider the Gateway; otherwise, the MSI might be a better fit for its advanced capabilities and features. 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 MSI Summit E16 Flip.
Advantages of the MSI Summit E16 Flip
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the MSI Summit E16 Flip is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" balances a solid CPU and RAM for smooth daily tasks, plus a respectable battery life, though it has a lower screen resolution and less effective heat management compared to the MSI Summit E16 Flip, which boasts a higher resolution screen and better performance capabilities thanks to a more advanced CPU and dedicated graphics, lending itself to a wider range of uses beyond general tasks. However, the MSI Summit has more weight to carry around, therefore those emphasizing portability might find the Gateway 15.6" easier to handle during travel or commutes.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Summit E16 Flip is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" has an integrated GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, making it fair for gaming and 3D tasks, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip boasts a dedicated Nvidia graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing its performance for such applications, and is thus considered good for gaming and 3D. Additionally, the MSI has a superior CPU and better screen quality, which contribute to its overall better suitability for intensive gaming and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.7/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Summit E16 Flip is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip outperforms the Gateway 15.6" for engineering and design due to its more powerful Core i7 processor, better GPU with Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti, and higher resolution, touchscreen display, which are very important for these tasks; it also offers a thinner and lighter build, enhancing portability. In contrast, the Gateway 15.6", with its Core i5 processor and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, is less suited for intensive tasks, though it still has a high-quality IPS screen and a decent build for general use, trading off some performance for a potentially lower price.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.9/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation, though the MSI Summit E16 Flip is somewhat better.
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
7.6/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
8.0/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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, with its standard resolution and brightness, offers adequate display clarity and visibility for browsing, video playback, and document editing which are common in general usage. For engineering and design, where precise color representation matters, it falls short due to limited coverage of professional color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB. Gamers and professionals working with 3D graphics will find the Gateway's low refresh rate to be a significant drawback, as it reduces the smoothness and responsiveness of fast-paced visuals crucial in these fields.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.4/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
$1,413
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip costs $1,413.
"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."
"The MSI Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop with pen, 16:10 display, and RTX 3050 Ti. The Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop from the business segment that primarily targets creative users. MSI combines a 16-inch touchscreen in the 16:10 format with a powerful midrange GPU. While the 2-in-1 laptop from MSI isn't meant for everybody, it should definitely attract some followers. The touchscreen display (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) covers the DCI-P3 color space. This is accompanied by stable viewing angles, a good color reproduction, short response times, and a good contrast level."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the MSI Summit E16 Flip
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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