If you prioritize a premium, sleek design with a versatile 2-in-1 form factor for casual use, presentations, or light work, the HP Spectre x360 14 could justify its higher price with its better portability and touchscreen. However, if you're looking for a laptop that can handle more rigorous tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or heavy multitasking, the MSI Cyborg 15 offers stronger performance that could outweigh its bulkier size and typically shorter battery life. Choose the Spectre for its portability and everyday functionality, or the Cyborg for more power-intensive activities. 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
Very good portability
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.7/10
7.3/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
384.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14, with its superior CPU and RAM, offers smooth performance for everyday tasks alongside a high-quality screen, making it excellent for general use; its portability and long battery life add to its practicality for users on the go. The MSI Cyborg 15 also delivers good performance for general use, but its lesser screen quality, shorter battery life, and greater weight make it less ideal for mobile use, although it still handles standard tasks adequately.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
7.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a combination of a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality GPU, essential for heavy engineering tasks and design works, along with a high-resolution screen that provides sharp and clear visuals needed for detailed work. While the MSI Cyborg 15 also includes a robust CPU and sufficient RAM for engineering software, along with decent GPU capabilities, it generally falls a bit short in screen quality compared to the Spectre, but its higher portability, comfortable keyboard, good speakers, and quieter operation make it a versatile choice for users who value mobility and user experience alongside performance.
Content Creation
8.7/10
7.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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.
Software Development
8.4/10
7.2/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for software development, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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.
Screen Quality
8.6/10
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a high resolution and bright display, which along with its panel type makes it great for general use and detailed engineering work as these features provide sharp and vibrant visuals; additionally, its color accuracy covers a wide spectrum, crucial for precise design tasks. However, it falls short for gaming and 3D work due to a lower refresh rate, which can't deliver the smooth motion as desired in fast-paced scenarios. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15's fair screen quality with average resolution and brightness is adequate but doesn't stand out in any particular use case, and with a lack of high refresh rate, it also isn't ideal for 3D applications where fluid motion is key.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.7/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,630
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a price of $1,630 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Cyborg 15 to be good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 14 is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a lower-end GPU and standard screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for high-performance gaming and 3D applications compared to the MSI Cyborg 15, which boasts a superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate, delivering smoother visuals and better gaming experiences. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the Cyborg's hardware strengths are key for demanding graphics tasks.
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How the HP Spectre x360 14 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the HP Spectre x360 14 or the MSI Cyborg 15
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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