The HP Stream 14" is a budget-friendly option, ideal if you're looking for basic computing needs like web browsing, document editing, and streaming video. Its lower price comes with modest performance due to its Intel Celeron processor and basic Intel UHD Graphics. Conversely, the more expensive MSI Stealth 14 Studio packs much more power with an Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX graphics, making it suitable for intense tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming. While the HP Stream offers more affordability and sufficient capabilities for everyday use, the MSI Stealth brings high performance and is better suited for professionals and gamers who need a robust machine, though at a higher cost and with likely shorter battery life due to its powerful 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 Stealth 14 Studio
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
7.8/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Stream 14" has a lower-end CPU and graphics, poorer screen resolution and color coverage, giving it just a fair rating for general use, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio's higher-end CPU, superior graphics, and better screen quality make it suitable for more demanding tasks and thus receives a good rating.
Gaming and AI
5.7/10
7.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" uses an Intel Celeron processor paired with Intel UHD Graphics and has a lower screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio comes with a more powerful Intel i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, which along with its high refresh rate screen, provides much better performance for these tasks. Additionally, the screen quality of the MSI model is superior, with a higher resolution and better color coverage, enhancing the visual experience for gaming and creative work.
Engineering and Design
5.7/10
8.5/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
9.0/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
7.4/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
7.6/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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" likely has a lower resolution and dimmer display, making it less ideal for any tasks requiring visual clarity, which is essential for general use. It probably lacks the wide color gamuts necessary for precision in engineering and design work, where color accuracy is crucial. Although the MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers a sharper and brighter display for general tasks and sufficient color representation for engineering and design, its refresh rate isn't high enough to provide the smooth visuals demanded by high-end gaming and immersive 3D applications.
Battery
7.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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.
Build Quality
5.5/10
7.6/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
$1,432
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Stream 14" to have very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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 Stealth 14 Studio 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."
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the HP Stream 14" or the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
100,695
Recommendations made
21,818
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.