When choosing between the HP Stream and the MSI Creator M14, consider what you'll use the laptop for: if general browsing and light tasks are your focus, the HP Stream's lower price point makes it an appealing option, albeit with modest performance and lesser build quality. However, for power-intensive activities like video editing, 3D modeling, or demanding software applications, the MSI Creator is better equipped with higher performance capabilities, albeit at a higher cost and potentially less impressive battery life compared to more casual-use laptops. Portability is generally good for both, but the MSI may be heavier due to more robust hardware. 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
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
8.0/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Stream 14" offers modest performance with its basic CPU and RAM, making it suitable for light tasks, but its lesser screen quality and constrained battery life may limit its appeal for heavy users. In contrast, the MSI Creator M14, with a more powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a superior screen, stands out for creative tasks and multitasking, while also offering better portability and longer battery life, although it typically costs more and storage upgrades might be necessary for large projects.
Gaming and AI
5.7/10
7.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has modest graphics capabilities and a standard screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Creator M14 boasts a more powerful GPU and a higher refresh rate screen, providing a smoother and more immersive experience for those activities. The MSI also has a superior CPU and screen quality, further enhancing performance and visual clarity, which is particularly beneficial for gaming and 3D rendering.
Engineering and Design
5.7/10
8.4/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has modest hardware like its CPU and when it comes to engineering tasks which are generally resource-intensive, it falls short in both speed and multitasking capabilities, while the MSI Creator M14 offers a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a dedicated GPU that greatly enhances performance for demanding software and provides a high-quality screen for detailed work. Despite the MSI being less portable due to its weight, the tradeoff comes with significantly better performance and a more pleasant visual experience for engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
6.7/10
8.0/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 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
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 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
7.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 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 14" has a lower resolution and dimmer display which may not satisfy users looking for clarity and brightness in everyday tasks, while the MSI Creator M14's higher resolution and brighter screen enhances general use. For engineering and design, the MSI Creator M14's wider color gamut offers richer and more accurate colors necessary for detailed work, a feature the HP Stream 14" lacks. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the MSI Creator M14 falls short with a lower refresh rate which can affect the smoothness of motion, a crucial aspect for these activities.
Battery
7.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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
5.5/10
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 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
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Stream 14" to have very good portability, while the MSI Creator M14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Stream 14" and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
"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 Stream 14" or the MSI Creator M14
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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