The HP Stream 14" is a budget-friendly choice, well-suited for general use such as web browsing, word processing, and video streaming, with a focus on cost savings. However, it has modest performance capabilities due to its Intel Celeron processor and basic integrated graphics, and it features a lower resolution screen. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i costs more but offers significant enhancements, including a powerful Intel i7 processor, advanced Nvidia graphics for high-end gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning tasks, a higher-resolution display, and a build quality that supports more intensive applications. If portability is important, the HP is lighter and simpler to carry around, whereas the Lenovo, while heavier, provides a more robust, performant device that can handle demanding tasks at the expense of battery life and ease of transport. Choose the HP Stream 14" for cost-effective basic tasks or the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i for intensive tasks, better display, and overall performance. 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 Stream 14"
Very good portability
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
7.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
343.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Stream 14" has a basic CPU and screen quality which are sufficient for simple tasks but may struggle with multitasking or clear visuals, leading to it being fair for general use; it's more portable with a longer battery life, favoring on-the-go usage. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i, on the other hand, provides a more powerful CPU and superior screen quality that can handle demanding applications with better color representation, making it good for general use; however, it's less portable and has shorter battery life, which might not be ideal for extended mobile use.
Gaming and AI
5.7/10
8.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is very good for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" provides poor gaming and 3D performance due to its basic Intel UHD Graphics 600, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i excels with its powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and higher screen refresh rate. Additionally, the HP's lower-quality TN screen and substantial lower resolution struggle to match the Lenovo's high-quality IPS display, contributing to a less immersive gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
5.7/10
8.4/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" falls short for engineering and design due to its basic Intel Celeron processor, limited Intel UHD Graphics, and a low-resolution TN screen, which collectively lack the performance and visual clarity needed for demanding tasks.
Content Creation
6.7/10
8.0/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i 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
6.5/10
7.8/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is 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
5.2/10
8.0/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
343.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The HP Stream's screen may appear dull or less sharp due to its lower resolution and brightness, which makes it less suitable for tasks that benefit from clear and vibrant displays, such as browsing and video streaming. For engineering and design, color accuracy is crucial, and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i's screen, with its wider color gamuts, enables more precise color representation vital for professional graphic work. However, the Legion may not satisfy gamers or those engaged in 3D applications because its refresh rate isn't high enough to support the smooth visuals these activities typically require, even though its resolution and panel quality are adequate.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5/10
7.4/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has 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
$299
$1,055
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i costs $1,055.
"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."
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the HP Stream 14" or the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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