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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 generally costs more and offers better performance for intensive engineering tasks and gaming due to its higher-tier GPU and processor. However, it's heavier and less portable compared to the MSI Creator Z16P, which is lighter but has a less powerful GPU and processor. The MSI is better for general use and still capable for creative work with a high-quality display that includes touchscreen capability. Both laptops have similar battery life, but portability and usability differences make the MSI more suited for on-the-go professionals while the ASUS excels in high-demand gaming and engineering scenarios. 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 ROG Strix G18
- Very good for general use
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
- Very good overall build quality
- Good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.7
7.6
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18, with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 240, offers superior gaming and 3D capabilities compared to the MSI Creator Z16P, which has an Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a refresh rate of 165. Although both have high-quality IPS screens, the ASUS provides a smoother visual experience for fast-paced games, making it more suitable for hardcore gamers, while the MSI is still very capable for general gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.9
8.3
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Creator Z16P are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is equipped with an advanced CPU and a more powerful GPU, making it highly suitable for demanding engineering applications and graphics-intensive tasks, though it's less portable due to its larger size and weight. On the other hand, the MSI Creator Z16P, while still capable for engineering and design due to its high-quality CPU and GPU, offers a touch-enabled screen and enhanced portability because of its smaller form factor and lighter weight.
Content Creation
8.6
7.9
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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.
Screen Quality
8.7
8.3
18.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the MSI Creator Z16P for general use, gaming and AI, software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Creator Z16P impress with their high-resolution displays that offer clear images and good brightness levels, providing comfortable viewing for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. Designers and engineers would appreciate their wide color coverage, ensuring accurate color representation for tasks that require precision, such as photo editing and CAD work. However, gamers might be disappointed with the lower refresh rates on these models, as they don't deliver the smooth motion needed for fast-paced games where quick refresh is crucial for competitive performance.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 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
Poor
Good
18.0in
SIZE
16.0in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Creator Z16P has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,299
$1,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $2,299 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.3
7.8
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix G18 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 excels for general use because it has a high-performance CPU, abundant RAM, and superb screen quality, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life compared to more versatile laptops. On the other hand, the MSI Creator Z16P, while still good for general use, offers slightly older CPU technology and a less advanced screen but gains points for being more portable and likely to have a longer battery life, balancing the trade-off between performance and convenience.
Software Development
8.1
7.6
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix G18 to be 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.
Build Quality
7.8
8.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator Z16P to have very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G18 and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Strix G18 | MSI Creator Z16P |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,299 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.6'' x 1.06'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.61 lbs | 5.27 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.71" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.57" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | Intel i9-12900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 18" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 422 nits | 394 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Strix G18
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | March 2023
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
MSI Creator Z16P
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mario Petzold | June 2022
"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 ROG Strix G18 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.
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