A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 offers a larger screen and a high refresh rate, making it ideal for gaming and general use, but it's heavier and less portable. The MSI Creator Z16P features a smaller, higher-resolution touchscreen suited for creative tasks with better color coverage, and it's lighter for easier mobility. Both have powerful processors and graphics cards, ample storage, and similar battery life. The ASUS leans toward gaming needs, while the MSI favors content creation with better screen color accuracy and a professional aesthetic. Choose based on whether gaming performance or creative work and portability are your priorities. 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 TUF Gaming A17
- Very good for general use
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Good portability
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.1
7.6
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 boasts a high refresh rate display and a dedicated GPU, making it ideal for seamless gaming and smooth 3D rendering, while the MSI Creator Z16P also includes a quality GPU and screen but emphasizes a balance between performance and display quality for both gaming and content creation. With their respective hardware, the ASUS leans slightly towards prioritizing fluid motion graphics, and the MSI aims at delivering detailed visuals and reliable processing power, striking a middle ground for both creators and gamers.
Screen Quality
6.8
8.3
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
253.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has a better screen than the MSI Creator Z16P for content creation, while the MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has a display that provides adequate sharpness and brightness for everyday tasks and sufficient color accuracy for engineering work, but its lower refresh rate hampers the fluidity needed for high-end gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Creator Z16P, with its higher resolution and brightness, offers a vivid and detailed visual experience for both general use and professional design, benefiting from wider color gamuts that ensure precise color rendition crucial for engineering and creative work. However, despite its superior color and clarity, the MSI Creator Z16P also lacks a high refresh rate, limiting its ability to deliver the smooth visual performance desired in gaming and fast-paced 3D scenarios.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has 10 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
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Creator Z16P has good portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
8.0
The MSI Creator Z16P has very good build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,550
$1,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has a price of $1,550 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
253.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Gaming A17 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 features a high-quality AMD CPU and an RTX 4070 which provide excellent performance for general tasks, with a large 17.3-inch screen that offers decent screen quality but with lower portability due to its size and weight; it offers good battery life, adding to its suitability for general use. The MSI Creator Z16P, while also having a potent Intel i9 CPU and an RTX 3070 Ti, boasts a higher-resolution 16-inch touchscreen with better color accuracy, making it great for creative tasks, but it has a shorter battery life which could limit its use on the go.
Engineering and Design
8.3
8.3
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Creator Z16P and ASUS TUF Gaming A17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17, with its high-performance AMD CPU and RTX GPU, is well-equipped for demanding engineering tasks and has a large 17.3-inch screen, although it's heavier and has a lower-resolution display compared to the MSI Creator Z16P, which boasts a superior Intel CPU, RTX GPU, a higher-resolution touchscreen, and better color accuracy for design work, making it a strong contender for engineering and design professionals who prioritize screen quality and portability over a larger screen size.
Content Creation
8.1
7.9
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 TUF Gaming A17 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
7.7
7.6
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 and MSI Creator Z16P 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.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS TUF Gaming A17 | MSI Creator Z16P |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,550 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 10.4'' x 0.9'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 5.27 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.55" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.39" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | 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 | 10 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 253 nits | 394 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.5/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 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 | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS TUF Gaming A17
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | April 2022
"There is one big question that needs an answer. Is the TUF Gaming A17 FA707 a better purchase than the ROG Strix G17 G713R (2022)? Well, it depends. Undoubtedly, the Strix is the more premium product. Arguably the biggest advantage it has over its TUF fellow is in regards to the display. ASUS TUF Gaming A17 A707’s IPS panel has a Full HD resolution, comfortable viewing angles, and a very good contrast ratio."
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 TUF Gaming A17 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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