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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If you're looking for an affordable option that's easy to carry around for basic tasks like browsing the web or office work, the HP Stream could be a good fit. However, if your work involves complex tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Titan offers significantly higher performance at a higher price point and with a tradeoff in portability due to its larger size and weight. The HP Stream offers longer battery life for day-to-day tasks, while the MSI Titan is better suited for demanding applications but will require more frequent charging. 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 Titan 18 HX
- Very good for general use
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Excellent for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5
8.8
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Stream 14" offers adequate performance for basic tasks with modest CPU and RAM, and is highly portable, but it has limited screen quality and a shorter battery life which might not suit long hours of use or more demanding applications. Meanwhile, the MSI Titan 18 HX delivers exceptional performance with a more powerful CPU and higher RAM, providing superior screen quality for vivid visuals, although it's less portable and may have a shorter battery life due to its high-power components.
Gaming and AI
5.7
9.4
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has modest graphics capabilities and a standard screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for demanding gaming and 3D tasks. In contrast, the MSI Titan 18 HX offers a high-end GPU and a faster refresh rate, providing a smoother and more immersive experience for these intensive applications.
Engineering and Design
5.7
9.9
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has modest CPU, RAM, and GPU capabilities, which may hinder demanding engineering tasks, and the screen quality is adequate but not exceptional, affecting detailed design work. Conversely, the MSI Titan 18 HX offers high-end CPU, ample RAM, and a powerful GPU, providing smooth performance for complex engineering applications, along with superior screen quality for precise visuals; however, it is less portable and may have a louder operating noise due to its advanced components.
Content Creation
6.7
9.0
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent 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
8.9
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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
9.2
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the HP Stream's screen may not be sharp, bright, or vibrant due to its lower quality panel and resolution, resulting in a less satisfying viewing experience, whereas the MSI Titan's superior panel quality and resolution deliver a more vivid and detailed display that enhances everyday tasks. In engineering and design, the MSI Titan's ability to display a wider range of colors through better color gamut coverage would provide professionals with higher color accuracy, which is crucial for precision work; the HP Stream's narrower color gamut limits its effectiveness in these fields. For gaming and 3D rendering, although the MSI Titan has an excellent display in terms of color and resolution, its lower refresh rate means it is not the best option for smooth motion and might not keep up with the fast-paced visuals that these applications demand.
Battery
7.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Poor
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5
8.5
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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
$4,949
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,949.
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How the HP Stream 14" and the MSI Titan 18 HX compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Stream 14" | MSI Titan 18 HX |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $4,949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2022 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.8'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | 15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 7.93 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.76" | 15.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.86" | 12.08" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4120 | Intel i9-14900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 128 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 320 GB | 4096 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.2/10 | 5.1/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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 Titan 18 HX
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | January 2024
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the HP Stream 14" or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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