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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a larger screen and higher performance for tasks like engineering and graphics work, the HP Envy 17 would suit you better. Meanwhile, if you're looking for something more affordable, lighter, and more portable with sufficient capabilities for general use and some light creative work, the MSI Modern 14 makes for a good choice. The Envy 17 will offer a better battery life but is heavier, making the Modern 14 easier to carry around. Neither laptop is ideal for intensive gaming, but both will handle general computing tasks well. 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 Envy 17
- Good for engineering and design
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- Very good portability
- Good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.4
6.6
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Envy 17 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 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.
Screen Quality
6.8
6.4
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The HP Envy 17 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The HP Envy 17 offers a quality screen with high resolution and brightness, making it suitable for general use and detailed engineering work, but its standard refresh rate limits gaming performance where fast screen updates are crucial. The MSI Modern 14's screen, while adequate in resolution and brightness for general tasks and engineering, may not have the wide color gamut needed for the most accurate color work. For gaming and 3D tasks, both laptops' screens fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can't deliver the smooth visual experience preferred for dynamic content.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The HP Envy 17 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 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
Good
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
5.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the HP Envy 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,000
$748
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The HP Envy 17 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $748.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The HP Envy 17 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The HP Envy 17, with its larger screen and more powerful Intel CPU, offers a comfortable viewing experience and reliable performance for multitasking, suitable for a variety of general-use scenarios; however, these features impact its portability, making it heavier than the MSI Modern 14. The MSI Modern 14, while also equipped with substantial RAM and a solid AMD CPU, focuses on lightweight design and aforementioned portability, which, along with its quality IPS screen, makes it an attractive option for users who prioritize mobility and battery efficiency over larger screen size.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.0
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The HP Envy 17 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The HP Envy 17 and MSI Modern 14 are both fair for gaming and 3D tasks primarily due to their integrated graphics solutions, the Intel Iris Xe and AMD Vega 7, which provide decent but not top-tier performance for such activities. Additionally, both laptops have standard screen refresh rates of 60Hz, which is adequate for casual gaming but might not deliver the smoothest experience for fast-paced games or intensive 3D applications where higher refresh rates are beneficial.
Content Creation
7.5
7.2
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Envy 17 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for content creation.
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
7.5
7.1
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development.
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
7.2
7.0
The HP Envy 17 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the HP Envy 17 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Envy 17 | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $748 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.2'' x 0.77'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.49 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.68" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 55 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 329 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
HP Envy 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | April 2023
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
MSI Modern 14
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Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the HP Envy 17 or the MSI Modern 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.
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.
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