If you prioritize saving money and mainly need a laptop for basic tasks like web browsing, the HP Stream may suffice. However, the MSI Stealth is a better fit for demanding activities such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, as it offers significantly higher performance. It also usually has a longer battery life but is less portable due to its size and weight. Consider how essential mobility is to you and whether the increased cost is justified for your specific needs. 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
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very 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
8.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Stream 14" offers basic CPU performance and RAM suitable for everyday tasks, with decent portability and battery life, but falls short on screen quality for a premium viewing experience. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, while less portable due to its size and potentially shorter battery life, boasts a high-quality screen, superior CPU, and ample RAM, optimizing it for more demanding tasks and ensuring smoother multitasking and content creation.
Gaming and AI
5.7/10
8.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has more modest specifications with a less capable GPU and lower screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for demanding games and 3D applications. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio comes equipped with a high-end GPU and a faster screen refresh rate, providing a smoother and more immersive experience for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
5.7/10
9.1/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has more modest specifications with an average processor, RAM, and GPU, and while it can manage basic engineering tasks, its screen quality and computing power aren't designed for intense design work. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, on the other hand, boasts high-end components and a superior screen, making it well-suited for demanding engineering and design applications, although it is less portable and might be louder under load given its powerful internals.
Content Creation
6.7/10
8.5/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
8.2/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very 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
8.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI 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's screen likely suffers from low resolution and dim brightness, which makes text, images, and videos less crisp and vibrant, diminishing the visual experience in all use scenarios. The MSI Stealth's screen likely offers high resolution and brightness, providing sharp, clear visuals, and wide color gamuts that ensure accurate color rendition for tasks such as photo editing or CAD work, which is essential for engineering and design. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast-paced motion is common, the MSI's lower refresh rate can lead to less smooth movement and reduced responsiveness, which might detract from the gaming experience.
Battery
7.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
$2,900
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
"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 Stealth 18 AI 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.
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