The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is more portable and comes with an OLED screen, which typically offers better color and contrast than the MSI Creator Z16P's IPS display. The Zenbook is also somewhat less expensive and has a reputation for long battery life, making it a smart choice for those who prioritize mobility and screen quality over raw performance. On the other hand, the MSI Creator Z16P is equipped with a more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card, making it better suited for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming. However, it's heavier and generally more expensive, which might not suit users who value convenience and affordability. 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 ASUS Zenbook S 13
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Best in class portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Key differences
General Use
8.6/10
7.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for general use, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13's combination of a competent CPU, ample RAM, high-quality OLED screen, and lightweight design contributes to a very good experience for general use, with the added benefit of better portability and longer battery life compared to the MSI Creator Z16P. Although the MSI Creator Z16P features a more powerful CPU and dedicated graphics suited for creative tasks or gaming, it is heavier and does not offer the same battery longevity, making it less ideal for on-the-go users who prioritize general use over high-performance activities.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator Z16P is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13's GPU is less powerful than the MSI Creator Z16P's, which lowers its gaming and 3D capabilities; the Zenbook also has a lower screen refresh rate, which is less optimized for fast-paced gaming visuals compared to MSI Creator Z16P's high refresh rate. The Zenbook's CPU and screen quality are of high caliber, but the Creator Z16P's more advanced CPU and GPU, alongside its higher screen refresh rate, make it a better choice for gaming and 3D applications.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
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
8.3/10
7.6/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for software development, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
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
8.1/10
8.3/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the MSI Creator Z16P for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the Asus Zenbook S 13 and MSI Creator Z16P offer crisp visuals and bright displays, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. Both laptops are excellent for engineering and design due to their wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color representation for professionals who need precision. However, their screens may not be optimal for gaming and 3D applications due to lower refresh rates, which can make fast-paced action less smooth compared to screens designed specifically for gaming.
Battery
11.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator Z16P 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.
Portability
Best in Class
Good
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the MSI Creator Z16P has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
The MSI Creator Z16P and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its strong CPU and high-quality screen, which are crucial for running complex applications and ensuring precise visual detail. The MSI Creator Z16P, with its powerful GPU and ample RAM, excels at handling demanding 3D tasks and multitasking, making it ideal for intensive design work, while also offering a responsive keyboard and quieter operation for an improved user experience.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator Z16P to have very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$1,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
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How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
"There's almost nothing left to be desired with the MSI Z16P. The creator laptop offers enormous performance resources for image editing, video editing, rendering, and more. All this is presented on a precalibrated, adequately sized, and high-resolution display. Its color space, refresh rate, and panel technology are also perfectly suited for a device that specializes in video reproduction and editing."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the MSI Creator Z16P
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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