If you're looking for a laptop with higher performance for tasks like engineering, 3D modeling, or intensive multitasking, the HP Spectre x360 14, despite its higher cost, offers better processing power and versatility with its convertible design. On the other hand, if portability and budget are your key concerns, and your tasks are more basic like web browsing and document editing, the HP Stream 14 is more affordable and lighter but comes with lower performance capabilities and less storage. Overall, your choice should align with the demanding nature of your tasks and how much you're willing to invest. 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 Spectre x360 14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
The HP Stream 14" has no clear advantages over the HP Spectre x360 14.
Key differences
General Use
8.7/10
6.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
384.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen, making it excellent for a range of tasks while also being portable with long battery life — features well-suited for general use. The HP Stream 14", on the other hand, is positioned as a more budget-friendly option, with modest performance due to its less powerful CPU and lower RAM, and a screen that's less vibrant, but it still maintains portability and reasonable battery life, making it a fair choice for more basic tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
5.7/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Spectre x360 14, while not primarily a gaming device, has a better GPU compared to the HP Stream 14", allowing for moderate gaming and 3D applications, but it may not handle high refresh rates well. The HP Stream 14", with more modest hardware, will struggle with graphics-intensive tasks and has a basic screen which may not provide the quality or refresh rate required for a good gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
5.7/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Spectre x360 14 provides superior performance for engineering and design due to its higher-quality CPU, RAM, GPU, and screen quality, which are crucial for such tasks. While the HP Stream 14" offers greater portability due to its lighter design, its lower-end components make it less suitable for demanding engineering software and multitasking.
Content Creation
8.7/10
6.7/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very 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
8.4/10
6.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very 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
8.6/10
5.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 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 Spectre x360 14's superior resolution and high brightness lead to crisp and vivid visuals for general use, while its wider color gamuts ensure accuracy for engineering and design tasks; however, its standard refresh rate isn't ideal for the smooth visuals required in 3D and gaming. The HP Stream 14", with its lower resolution and brightness, offers less clarity and vibrancy for any use, making it less suitable for detailed work or entertainment. Its also lacks the color range for precise design work and the refresh rate for gaming and 3D applications, making its screen less versatile for demanding tasks.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 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 Spectre x360 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
$1,630
$299
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a price of $1,630 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
"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 Spectre x360 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.
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