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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Gigabyte A5 offers a lower midrange price point and better longevity for typical use compared to the MSI Creator Z16P. If your budget is tight and you value longer battery life for general activities, go for the A5. However, if you need higher performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering software, and don't mind spending more, the Creator Z16P is superior due to its more powerful processor and graphics, along with a higher resolution touchscreen display. Keep in mind, the Z16P is slightly heavier, which may affect portability if you travel often. 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 Gigabyte A5
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and Gigabyte A5 are both good for general use, though the MSI Creator Z16P is somewhat better.
The Gigabyte A5 offers solid performance for general use with a good CPU and ample RAM, but its lower storage capacity and screen quality compared to the MSI Creator Z16P might make it less appealing to those who prioritize higher resolution and touch capability for creative tasks. Conversely, the MSI Creator Z16P provides exceptional screen quality and greater storage, alongside a top-tier CPU, but it comes with less portability due to its larger size and shorter battery life, making it less suitable for users who need to work on the go.
Engineering and Design
7.3
8.3
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Creator Z16P is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Gigabyte A5 offers a solid foundation for engineering and design with an AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, and a 1080p display, making it a good choice for performance needs. However, the MSI Creator Z16P takes it further with a higher-end Intel i9 CPU, a more powerful RTX 3070 Ti GPU, and a superior 2560 x 1600 touchscreen display, enhancing both the quality and fluidity of design work, which is why it's considered very good for engineering and design use.
Content Creation
7.3
7.9
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator Z16P and Gigabyte A5 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Creator Z16P is somewhat better.
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
7.0
7.6
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and Gigabyte A5 are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator Z16P is somewhat better.
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
7.2
8.3
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gigabyte A5 offers a balance suitable for general use and engineering tasks, providing adequate resolution and brightness for daily activities and acceptable color accuracy for most design work. The MSI Creator Z16P, with its higher resolution and brightness, coupled with extensive color gamut coverage, excels in delivering vivid and precise visuals necessary for professional engineering and design. However, for gaming and 3D applications where high refresh rates are crucial, both laptops fall short, lacking the smoothness provided by displays with faster refresh capabilities, which could detract from the immersive experience in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 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.
Build Quality
7.2
8.0
The MSI Creator Z16P has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$830
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gigabyte A5 has a price of $830 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.1
7.6
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and Gigabyte A5 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte A5 is suitable for gaming and 3D tasks due to its Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 144Hz, which supports smooth visuals, while the MSI Creator Z16P stands out with its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and an even higher refresh rate of 165Hz, enhancing fluidity in rapidly moving scenes. Though both have quality IPS screens, the Z16P’s screen has a higher resolution and quality, and its higher-tier Intel i9 CPU offers better performance for demanding tasks compared to the A5’s AMD Ryzen 5 CPU.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Creator Z16P and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Gigabyte A5 and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gigabyte A5 | MSI Creator Z16P |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$830 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2022 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.2'' x 1'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.68 lbs | 5.27 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.21" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.15" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | Intel i9-12900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 49 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 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 | 281 nits | 394 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 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 | 6.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 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 | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Gigabyte A5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
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 Gigabyte A5 or the MSI Creator Z16P
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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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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About the laptop team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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