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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
When selecting between the HP Stream 14" and the MSI GF63 Thin, consider your primary activities. The HP Stream 14" is much more wallet-friendly and offers decent performance for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. However, its lower resolution screen and modest hardware may not be suited for demanding applications or multitasking. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin, although pricier, features a more powerful processor, superior graphics capability, and a higher-resolution screen, making it better suited for gaming, graphic design, and more intensive engineering tasks. It's also important to note that the MSI has a slightly larger screen size, which could be a factor if you prefer a bigger display for work or entertainment. Keep in mind, though, that the MSI will be heavier, affecting portability, and may have shorter battery life due to its higher performance components. 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 GF63 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5
6.0
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The HP Stream 14" and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for general use, though the HP Stream 14" is somewhat better.
The HP Stream 14" is suitable for general use due to its ample RAM and very good portability, but is limited by its basic CPU, lower screen resolution, and lack of solid heat management. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin offers a better CPU and screen quality for general tasks, but falls short in battery life and portability as compared to the HP Stream 14".
Content Creation
6.7
6.0
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Stream 14" and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for content creation, though the HP Stream 14" is somewhat better.
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
6.0
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Stream 14" and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for software development, though the HP Stream 14" is somewhat better.
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
6.1
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The HP Stream 14" has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF63 Thin has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The HP Stream 14" has a lower resolution and lacks the brightness and panel quality that makes for a clear and vibrant display, which is why it falls short for general use, and these limitations also affect its effectiveness in displaying the detailed graphics needed for engineering and design, as well as the immersive experience desired in gaming and 3D applications. The MSI GF63 Thin offers better resolution and brighter display, which meets the basic requirements for general use and engineering designs to some extent but lacks the high refresh rates and advanced color gamut coverage necessary for optimal gaming and 3D rendering. Users requiring a machine for everyday tasks or less-intensive design work may find the MSI satisfactory, while those focused on gaming or high-end graphic work should consider options with higher refresh rates and superior color accuracy.
Battery
7.5 Hours
4.2 Hours
The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the MSI GF63 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5
6.5
The MSI GF63 Thin has only fair 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
$599
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
5.7
6.0
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" is equipped with a basic Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a lower-resolution screen, which are not suitable for demanding gaming and 3D applications; whereas the MSI GF63 Thin includes a more capable Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU and a higher-resolution screen, offering a better experience for such tasks despite having the same screen refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
5.7
6.0
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to be only fair for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has a lower-end Intel Celeron processor and integrated graphics which are less powerful for engineering software compared to the MSI GF63 Thin's Intel i5 chip and dedicated Nvidia GPU, and the MSI also offers better screen quality with an IPS panel and full HD resolution.
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How the HP Stream 14" and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Stream 14" | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2022 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.8'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.76" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.86" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4120 | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 320 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HP Stream 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"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."
MSI GF63 Thin
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2020
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
Get a great deal on the HP Stream 14" or the MSI GF63 Thin
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.
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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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