If you prioritize performance for 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Cyborg 15 with its higher-end CPU and dedicated graphics is ideal, but it's heavier and has a bulkier power brick than the HP 15" Laptop, affecting portability. Conversely, the HP offers sufficient capability for general use, lighter weight for easier carrying, and comes at a lower price, but wouldn't handle intensive tasks as well as the MSI. Both have similar screen sizes and quality, but the MSI has a higher refresh rate beneficial for gaming and a longer battery life, enhancing productivity on the go. 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 HP 15" Laptop
The HP 15" Laptop has no clear advantages over the MSI Cyborg 15.
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.7/10
7.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for general use, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The MSI Cyborg 15 outpaces the HP 15" Laptop in general use with a higher-end CPU and a dedicated GPU, enhancing performance in more demanding tasks, while also offering a larger storage capacity. However, it trades off a bit of portability and has slightly lower battery life, factors that are compensated by its overall good build quality, keyboard, and more versatile connectivity options, like Ethernet and USB-C charging, which the HP lacks.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
7.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP 15" Laptop is poor.
The MSI Cyborg 15 offers better gaming and 3D performance mainly due to its superior Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card and higher screen refresh rate at 144Hz, compared to the HP 15" Laptop's integrated Intel UHD Graphics and a 60Hz screen. While both have similar screen quality, the MSI's more powerful GPU and faster refresh rate significantly enhance gameplay and rendering capabilities.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for engineering and design, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The MSI Cyborg 15 is better suited for engineering and design use because it has a more powerful CPU and GPU, essential for demanding tasks, whereas the HP 15" Laptop, with a less powerful CPU and integrated graphics, is fair for lighter tasks and offers lower performance in these areas. Additionally, the MSI has a higher screen refresh rate and better portability score despite being slightly heavier, which could be beneficial for design work and user comfort during mobile use.
Content Creation
6.9/10
7.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for content creation, while the HP 15" Laptop 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
7.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for software development, while the HP 15" Laptop 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
6.3/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The MSI Cyborg 15 has a better screen than the HP 15" Laptop for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The screens on both the HP and MSI laptops offer moderate resolution and brightness levels that suffice for general use tasks like web browsing and document editing but may lack the crispness preferred for more detail-oriented work. Engineers and designers will find the color reproduction on these laptops to be less than ideal since they don't cover the wider color gamuts essential for color-critical work. Gamers involved in 3D gaming will find the refresh rates on these machines underwhelming, leading to less fluid visuals, although they can still handle games that are less dependent on high frame rates.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP 15" Laptop has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP 15" Laptop and MSI Cyborg 15 both have good portability, though the HP 15" Laptop has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
6.7/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 and HP 15" Laptop both have only fair build quality, though the MSI Cyborg 15 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$378
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The HP 15" Laptop has a price of $378 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
"Chances are high that the HP 15 is one of the first laptops to pop up when you search for an inexpensive notebook. Indeed, its price tag is very tempting for many, and of course, this is the reason for its popularity. However, the HP 15" suffers from poor performance due to low power consumption. On the bright side, one of the good things about it is the port selection. On the inside, this includes two SODIMM slots for memory, an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for storage, and a SATA drive bay. However, the TN panel, and mediocre input devices are not ideal."
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the HP 15" Laptop or the MSI Cyborg 15
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.
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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