The HP Stream 14 is a budget-friendly, lightweight option with modest performance suitable for basic tasks like browsing and word processing; however, it has lower graphics capabilities and a less impressive display. In contrast, the MSI Creator Z16P is significantly pricier but offers high performance with a powerful processor and advanced graphics, making it ideal for intensive tasks such as 3D design, machine learning, and gaming, though it is heavier and may have shorter battery life due to its 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 Z16P
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
7.8/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The MSI Creator Z16P is good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Stream 14" offers modest performance suitable for basic tasks given its lower-end CPU and integrated graphics, combined with a TN panel of lower resolution and screen quality, contributing to its better battery life and portability compared to the MSI Creator Z16P.
Gaming and AI
5.7/10
7.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator Z16P is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has an Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a screen that refreshes 60 times per second, both of which are inadequate for complex gaming and 3D tasks. In contrast, the MSI Creator Z16P includes a powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a high refresh rate screen at 165Hz, making it well-suited for demanding graphics applications.
Engineering and Design
5.7/10
8.3/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Creator Z16P is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
6.7/10
7.9/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator Z16P is 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
7.6/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P 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
8.3/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, the HP Stream 14" may disappoint due to its lower resolution and dull brightness, while the MSI Creator Z16P offers a high-resolution, bright display for clear and vibrant visuals. For engineering and design, the MSI Creator Z16P stands out with its wider color gamuts, providing more accurate color reproduction essential for detailed work, whereas the HP Stream 14" likely falls short in this aspect. However, for 3D gaming where a high refresh rate is crucial, the MSI Creator Z16P does not excel, potentially giving less smooth motion compared to laptops designed specifically for gaming.
Battery
7.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator Z16P has 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
16.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the MSI Creator Z16P has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5/10
8.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P 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
$299
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
"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."
"There's almost nothing left to be desired with the MSI Z16P. The creator laptop offers enormous performance resources for image editing, video editing, rendering, and more. All this is presented on a precalibrated, adequately sized, and high-resolution display. Its color space, refresh rate, and panel technology are also perfectly suited for a device that specializes in video reproduction and editing."
Get a great deal on the HP Stream 14" or the MSI Creator Z16P
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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