Based on your needs, the decision between the HP 15" Laptop and the MSI Prestige 15 should be straightforward. If you prioritize affordability and primarily require a laptop for basic tasks, like web browsing and document editing, the HP may suffice. However, if you need a more powerful machine for activities like video editing, graphic design, and light gaming, and can invest more, the MSI Prestige 15, with its better graphics and higher capacity for storage and memory, will be more suitable despite being less budget-friendly. Both offer similar portability, but the MSI has a longer battery life, potentially offering greater convenience away from power outlets. 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 Prestige 15.
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.7/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Prestige 15 is good for general use, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The MSI Prestige 15 surpasses the HP 15" Laptop in CPU and RAM, which are very important for general use, providing better performance with a more advanced Intel i5 processor and double the memory, ensuring smoother multitasking. Additionally, the MSI Prestige 15 offers superior screen quality with higher brightness and color space coverage, along with a significantly better battery life, enhancing the viewing experience and usability on the go, whereas the HP 15" Laptop, although lighter, compromises on these aspects for cost efficiency.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 15 is good for engineering and design, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
6.9/10
7.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 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
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 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
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 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 HP 15" Laptop offers a modest display that's sufficient for tasks like web browsing and document editing, but it doesn't provide the wide color gamut or high resolution that engineering and design professionals need for precise color work and detailed graphics. The MSI Prestige 15, with its superior color accuracy and higher resolution, makes it suited for creative tasks where these details are paramount. However, both laptops lack the high refresh rates crucial for smooth rendering in gaming and 3D applications, which can dampen the experience for users focused on those activities.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP 15" Laptop has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 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.
Build Quality
6.0/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 15 has good build quality, while the HP 15" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$378
$1,044
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The HP 15" Laptop has a price of $378 and the MSI Prestige 15 costs $1,044.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 15 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP 15" Laptop is poor.
The HP 15" Laptop, equipped with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics, offers basic gaming and 3D capabilities suitable for less demanding tasks, while the MSI Prestige 15 comes with a dedicated Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU, providing enhanced performance but at a higher cost. Both have the same screen refresh rate which is adequate for casual gaming; however, the dedicated GPU of the MSI Prestige 15 gives it an edge for gaming and 3D applications when compared to the HP's integrated graphics.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP 15" Laptop and MSI Prestige 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP 15" Laptop and the MSI Prestige 15 compare to other laptops
"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 MSI Prestige 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the HP 15" Laptop or the MSI Prestige 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
99,795
Recommendations made
21,623
Consumer hours saved
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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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.