If budget is your main concern, the HP Omen 16, being less expensive, might be the way to go. However, keep in mind the MSI GP66 Leopard has a more powerful graphics card, which could be beneficial for demanding tasks such as gaming or 3D rendering. The HP has an advantage in battery size, which can translate to longer use between charges, potentially making it better for on-the-go needs. On the other hand, the MSI, despite the higher cost, offers top-tier performance for resource-intensive engineering and machine learning tasks. 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 Omen 16
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GP66 Leopard
Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.6/10
7.5/10
16.1in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
338.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The HP Omen 16 has a better screen than the MSI GP66 Leopard for gaming and AI, software development, and content creation.
When considering the HP Omen 16 and the MSI GP66 Leopard for general use, the quality of the display is sufficient due to their respectable resolution and brightness, which ensures a clear, vivid image for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. For engineering and design, both laptops may have good color accuracy and a range of colors that come close to professional standards, which is important for tasks that require precise color representation, such as photo editing or graphic design. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on these laptops could hinder the smoothness and responsiveness of the on-screen action, which is less than ideal for fast-paced games or real-time 3D modeling where higher refresh rates are crucial.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.0/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard has very good build quality, while the HP Omen 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,100
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Omen 16 has a price of $1,100 and the MSI GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
The HP Omen 16 and MSI GP66 Leopard are both good for general use.
The HP Omen 16 is good for general use because of its powerful Intel i7 processor, ample RAM for multitasking, high-quality IPS display, and balanced portability with moderate battery life. On the other hand, the MSI GP66 Leopard also excels in general use with a capable CPU, comparable memory, a similar screen quality, and a slightly higher portability due to its lower weight, despite having a shorter battery life, making it a good option for those prioritizing a blend of performance and mobility.
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
7.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen 16 to be very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GP66 Leopard is good.
The HP Omen 16 stands out for gaming and 3D with its higher-refresh screen, beneficial for smoother gameplay, and its graphic card that's well-suited for the demands of 3D applications and modern games. Meanwhile, the MSI GP66 Leopard, while still adept for gaming with a solid graphic card, offers a slightly lower screen refresh rate which might not be as optimal for fast-paced games or high-frame-rate enthusiasts.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
7.9/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen 16 to be very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GP66 Leopard is good.
The HP Omen 16 is favored for engineering and design due to its newer and more capable CPU, the Intel i7-13700HX, and a strong GPU, the Nvidia RTX 4060, which collectively offer better performance for intensive tasks, complemented by a higher refresh rate screen that is good for visual work.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.4/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Omen 16 and MSI GP66 Leopard 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
7.6/10
7.2/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Omen 16 and MSI GP66 Leopard 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.
Battery
6.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The HP Omen 16 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI GP66 Leopard has 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
Fair
Fair
16.1in
SIZE
15.6in
5.4 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI GP66 Leopard and HP Omen 16 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Omen 16 and the MSI GP66 Leopard compare to other laptops
"The Omen 16 has proven to be a fairly good mid-range gaming laptop with all-around improvements compared to the Omen 15. The high overall performance level across all use cases, the long battery life, and the good FHD display constitute the main advantages of this HP laptop. The main drawbacks are the faulty touchpad (one-off?) and the high latencies that can be observed even after just opening the browser. Furthermore, the useless, preinstalled 30-day trial versions of various software also fall under the category "unnecessary"."
"The MSI GP66 Leopard is a good budget high-performance gamer. The MSI also does a lot right outside of the pure performance despite it's low price. For example, the adaptive cooling system really surprised us positively, even in Extreme Performance Mode. And the display is not a budget panel either, but at least outshines the competition in terms of brightness. Of course, you also have to accept a few compromises in this price category. These include the Leopard's poor battery runtimes and the less than optimal build quality, which is also noticeable in the more complicated maintenance."
Get a great deal on the HP Omen 16 or the MSI GP66 Leopard
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
110,895
Recommendations made
24,028
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.