If you're looking for value and portability, the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" may suit you well for everyday tasks and light work, offering ease of transport and a friendlier price tag. On the other hand, if your work involves 3D design, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, despite being heavier and more expensive, will deliver much stronger performance for those intensive tasks, along with a larger screen that can be a big plus for detail-oriented work. Choose based on your primary use; general computing and travel lean towards HP, while specialized, performance-heavy tasks favor MSI. 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 portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
8.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is only fair.
The HP Dragonfly Pro, while a versatile laptop, has a lesser GPU and a standard refresh rate screen which doesn't match up to the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio's superior GPU and high refresh rate display, essential for smooth and immersive gaming experiences; besides, the MSI also boasts a more powerful CPU and enhanced screen quality which are beneficial for demanding 3D tasks and games.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
9.1/10
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is good.
The HP Dragonfly Pro, with less processing power and RAM compared to the MSI Stealth, may struggle with highly demanding engineering software, whereas the MSI's superior CPU, RAM, and GPU make it exceptionally well-suited for intensive tasks and deliver high screen quality ideal for design work. However, the Dragonfly Pro offers greater portability and a quieter operating noise, which might be better for on-the-go use and environments where noise is a concern, despite having a less responsive keyboard and inferior speakers compared to the Stealth.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.5/10
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for content creation, while the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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.
Screen Quality
7.1/10
8.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
405.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" offers a balance between resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work where color accuracy and image sharpness matter. However, its refresh rate might not be high enough for gaming or 3D applications which require smoother motion. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, on the other hand, provides both high resolution and rich color representation for precision tasks in engineering and design but, like the HP, falls short for gaming due to a lower refresh rate.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has 6 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
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,400
$2,900
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has a price of $1,400 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and HP Dragonfly Pro 14" are both very good for general use.
The HP Dragonfly Pro boasts a balance of a capable CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality screen in a light and compact design with strong battery life, making it ideal for users who prioritize portability and seamless day-to-day operation. Meanwhile, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio offers a more powerful CPU and additional RAM, geared toward demanding tasks and larger projects, but it is heavier and may have shorter battery life, fitting for users who need more robust performance and can compromise on portability.
Software Development
7.8/10
8.2/10
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to be very good for software development, while the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is good.
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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.0/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
"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."
Get a great deal on the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
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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