The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is generally more expensive and offers a higher refresh rate suitable for intense gaming, but has a lower resolution and no touchscreen. The MSI Creator Z16P is somewhat less expensive, has a higher resolution touchscreen, which is ideal for creative tasks, and a taller screen aspect ratio for productivity, but may not be as optimal for fast-paced games as the ASUS. 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 Scar 15
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.3/10
7.6/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for gaming and 3D due to its high screen refresh rate, enhancing smoothness in fast-paced games, while the MSI Creator Z16P, though also good for these tasks, has a lower refresh rate which might not be as fluid during gaming but compensates with a higher resolution screen, suggesting better overall screen quality for detailed 3D work. Both laptops have powerful GPUs which are crucial for gaming and 3D rendering, and their CPUs are similarly capable, ensuring responsiveness in demanding applications.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
8.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
283.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a better screen than the MSI Creator Z16P for gaming and AI, and content creation, while the MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
If you prioritize a clear, sharp display for everyday tasks, the MSI Creator Z16P stands out due to its high resolution and brightness, ensuring vibrant and easy-to-read visuals. For engineers and designers, its wider color coverage guarantees accuracy in color-sensitive projects. However, for gaming and 3D, despite their high-quality panels and resolutions, both the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and MSI Creator Z16P fall short due to lower refresh rates, which affects the fluidity and responsiveness of fast-paced visuals.
Cost
$2,000
$1,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a price of $2,000 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and MSI Creator Z16P are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15, outfitted with a robust CPU and substantial RAM, delivers strong performance for general use, complemented by its quality screen, but its heaviness and moderate battery life limit its portability. The MSI Creator Z16P mirrors these CPU and RAM capabilities, adding a higher-resolution touchscreen and better speaker quality, tailored for creative professionals, but also shares a similar portability challenge with its slightly heavier build and comparable battery duration.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
8.3/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and MSI Creator Z16P are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and MSI Creator Z16P both excel in engineering and design due to their high-performance CPUs and GPUs, ample RAM, and high-quality IPS displays that offer great color accuracy and resolution. While the ASUS emphasizes a higher refresh rate which benefits fluid visual tasks and gaming, the MSI stands out with a higher resolution touchscreen which may be more beneficial for precise design work; however, the MSI trades off slightly in portability and has less ideal operating noise compared to the ASUS.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 to be 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
7.4/10
7.6/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 are both good for software development.
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.
Battery
5.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 5.5 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
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator Z16P to have good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator Z16P to have very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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 Scar 15 and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
"Asus continues to refine the ROG Strix Scar lineup with new upgrades. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 offers almost everything you would expect from a gaming laptop at this price. The build quality is great, connectivity options are decent, and there is enough scope for internal upgrades as well. Asus reverts to membrane switches for the keyboard — though not as "clickety" as the opto-mechanical ones we saw with last year's model, they still make for a decent typing and gaming experience. The lack of biometrics in any form is a downer."
"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 Scar 15 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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