The choice between the HP Stream 14" and the MSI Modern 14 should be made based on how you plan to use the laptop and your budget preference. If cost is your primary concern and your usage is limited to basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, or video streaming, the HP Stream may suit you well; though it may be less powerful, it offers a lower price point. However, if your work requires more intensive tasks, such as photo editing, running multiple applications at once, or light gaming, then investing a bit more in the MSI Modern 14 might be worthwhile as it typically provides better performance and build quality. Additionally, if portability is important, check the weight and battery life – MSI Modern 14 tends to be slim and may offer longer battery lifespan, making it more suited for those on the move. 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"
The HP Stream 14" has no clear advantages over the MSI Modern 14.
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
7.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The MSI Modern 14 is good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Stream 14's lower-resolution TN panel and less capable Intel Celeron processor make it less suited for demanding tasks and fine-detail work compared to the MSI Modern 14, which offers a higher-resolution IPS display and a more powerful AMD Ryzen processor. While both laptops are similar in portability and RAM, the MSI Modern 14 benefits from superior screen quality and overall performance, which are very important factors for general use, but has a slightly lower battery life than the HP Stream 14.
Engineering and Design
5.7/10
6.6/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Modern 14 is only fair for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has a less powerful Intel Celeron processor and lower-quality screen, making it unsuitable for the demands of engineering and design software, while the MSI Modern 14's better AMD Ryzen CPU and higher-resolution IPS display renders it more capable of handling such tasks, along with being excellent for portability and having a good keyboard.
Content Creation
6.7/10
7.2/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Modern 14 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
7.1/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Modern 14 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
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The MSI Modern 14 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, making it less suitable for tasks that demand clearer and more vibrant visuals, such as reading text or editing images. The MSI Modern 14 offers a fair screen that moderately satisfies the need for clarity and accuracy in colors, thus being better for general use and some engineering tasks, although it may not cover the full range of color gamuts professionals require. Meanwhile, neither is ideal for gaming or 3D applications due to their screens' refresh rates and resolution, which don't deliver the fluid motion and sharp detail sought after in these areas.
Battery
7.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 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
5.5/10
7.0/10
The MSI Modern 14 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
$525
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Modern 14 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 and HP Stream 14" both have very 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 Modern 14 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."
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 Stream 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.
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