The HP Omen 16 is likely more suitable if you need higher performance for tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, or machine learning because it has a more powerful graphics card and processor. However, the MSI Modern 14, while less powerful, is significantly lighter and thinner, making it better for portability and general use. The HP also has a larger screen and longer battery life, but costs more, whereas the MSI is more budget-friendly and may suffice for everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and light photo editing. Consider your primary activities and whether they justify the HP's higher cost or if the MSI's advantages in price and portability are more important for your needs. 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 overall display quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Very good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
6.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The HP Omen 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The HP Omen 16 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 4060, which is a high-end graphics card; combined with a screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, it offers a smoother and more immersive gaming and 3D experience. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14's integrated AMD Ryzen 5 7530U Vega 7 graphics and a refresh rate of 60 Hz provide a less potent gaming performance that may not be as fluid or vivid in fast-paced games or complex 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
6.6/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Omen 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The HP Omen 16 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, superior Nvidia RTX GPU, and higher screen refresh rate, leading to better performance and visuals crucial for demanding engineering tasks.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.2/10
9.6/10
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 Omen 16 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for content creation, though the HP Omen 16 is somewhat better.
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
7.1/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen 16 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development, though the HP Omen 16 is somewhat better.
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
7.6/10
6.4/10
16.1in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
338.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The HP Omen 16 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The HP Omen 16, suitable for general use and engineering tasks, offers a screen with vibrant colors and sharp resolution, enhancing visibility and precision necessary for design work, but its lower refresh rate impairs gaming and 3D rendering where smooth motion is crucial. The MSI Modern 14 provides a reasonable balance for daily tasks and engineering with acceptable clarity and color reproduction, yet it doesn't cater to the high frame rates and fast action expected in gaming and 3D applications. Both laptops are less optimal for gaming and 3D work due to screen limitations, but they are capable choices for productivity and creative endeavors where color accuracy and resolution are top priorities.
Portability
Fair
Very Good
16.1in
SIZE
14.0in
5.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the HP Omen 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$499
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The HP Omen 16 has a price of $1,100 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $499.
The HP Omen 16 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The HP Omen 16 has 6 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.0/10
The HP Omen 16 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Omen 16 and the MSI Modern 14 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"."
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 Omen 16 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.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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