When considering the HP Spectre x360 14 and the MSI Modern 14, think about your priorities. The HP Spectre offers a versatile 2-in-1 design with a touchscreen that is useful for creative tasks or presentations, generally has a more premium build quality and may deliver better performance for demanding applications. The MSI Modern 14, on the other hand, usually costs less and offers decent performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption, making it a solid choice for general use. If high-end features and versatility outweigh cost considerations, the HP Spectre x360 could be the better option. However, if you're looking for value and primarily use your laptop for common tasks, the MSI Modern 14 provides good functionality at a more affordable price. 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 MSI Modern 14
The MSI Modern 14 has no clear advantages over the HP Spectre x360 14.
Key differences
General Use
8.7/10
7.2/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
384.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the MSI Modern 14 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a more powerful CPU and higher RAM, leading to faster and more efficient performance, paired with superior screen quality for vivid visuals, all in a highly portable design with long battery life, making it very good for general use. The MSI Modern 14, while offering good general use, compromises slightly on performance and screen quality but maintains a light build and respectable battery, with decent storage, a comfortable keyboard, and effective heat management, though the speakers and operating noise aren't standout features.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.0/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the HP Spectre x360 14 is somewhat better.
The HP Spectre x360 14 and MSI Modern 14 have integrated graphics, not dedicated GPUs, which limits their ability to handle high-end gaming and demanding 3D tasks effectively; they both offer standard screen refresh rates, which are less suitable for fast-paced games that benefit from smoother visuals. While both laptops have capable CPUs and good screen quality, those aspects can't fully compensate for the graphics and refresh rate limitations for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
6.6/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 14 typically offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, high-quality GPU, and a vibrant screen, making it ideal for resource-intensive engineering tasks. Meanwhile, the MSI Modern 14, while also competent for engineering due to its decent processing power and display, may not match the Spectre in terms of performance, but gains an edge in portability and potentially quieter operation, making it a solid choice for those who prioritize a balance between power and ease of transport.
Content Creation
8.7/10
7.2/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Modern 14 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
7.1/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 Modern 14 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
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 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 Spectre x360 14 likely offers a higher resolution and brighter display, making it suitable for general use and detailed work in engineering and design, where color accuracy is crucial. Its screen may cover a wide range of colors, essential for professionals in engineering and design who require precision in color representation. However, its lower refresh rate may not be ideal for gaming and 3D applications, where smoother motion and quick screen updates are key for an optimal experience.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 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
8.5/10
7.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good build quality, while the MSI Modern 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,630
$525
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a price of $1,630 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
"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."
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 Spectre x360 14 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
100,395
Recommendations made
21,753
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.