Given your price sensitivity and the fact that the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is much more expensive, the HP Stream 14" could be a more economical choice if your computing needs are basic, like web browsing, word processing, or light media consumption. However, the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" offers a significant boost in performance suitable for intensive tasks, such as those you might encounter in engineering, 3D modeling, or machine learning thanks to a more potent processor and better graphics. Additionally, the Dragonfly Pro has a superior display and is likely to have a longer battery life, enhancing the experience for longer work sessions and media viewing. It is also generally more portable due to its lighter weight. If these attributes align with your needs and you are comfortable with the investment, the Dragonfly Pro may better suit your requirements. 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 Dragonfly Pro 14"
Very good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
The HP Stream 14" has no clear advantages over the HP Dragonfly Pro 14".
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
405.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is very good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" offers a stronger CPU, better GPU, a higher quality IPS screen with better brightness and color coverage, and a longer battery life, all factors that contribute to its higher suitability for general use compared to the HP Stream 14", which has lower screen quality (TN panel and lower resolution), a weaker CPU and GPU, and less impressive battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
5.7/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Dragonfly Pro typically comes with a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it more suitable for gaming and 3D tasks than the HP Stream, which has modest hardware and a basic screen, limiting performance and visual fluidity in demanding applications.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
5.7/10
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
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
7.9/10
6.7/10
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is 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
7.8/10
6.5/10
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is good for software development, while the HP Stream 14" 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
7.1/10
5.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
405.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The HP Dragonfly Pro's screen stands out for general use and engineering with its superior resolution and brightness, offering clear visuals and vibrant colors, alongside wide color gamuts crucial for precision work in design. However, its modest refresh rate limits its appeal for gaming and 3D applications, where fluid motion is key. In contrast, the HP Stream's screen falls short across all these areas due to lower resolution and brightness, lacking the necessary color accuracy for engineering and design, and the refresh rate needed for smooth 3D rendering.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has 10 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
8.5/10
5.5/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has very good build quality, while the HP Stream 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$299
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has a price of $1,400 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
"I’d say that the HP Dragonfly Pro checks off most of the boxes for this freelancer. It feels nice to use, is zippy and responsive, has great speakers, and even has a relatively sane price. Although it’s an unorthodox choice to pick AMD for this kind of machine, it’s clear that when Ryzen is given a chance to shine, it can kick a lot of butt."
"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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14" or the HP Stream 14"
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
100,095
Recommendations made
21,688
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.