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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you need a laptop that offers high performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering tasks, and don't mind a heavier and bulkier machine, the MSI Creator Z16P, with its powerful graphics card and processor, would suit you. However, it has a shorter battery life compared to the HP Dragonfly Pro. The HP Dragonfly Pro, on the other hand, is lighter, more portable, and offers longer battery life, though it has lower performance for intensive tasks. It's also likely to be less expensive than the MSI, offering a balance of decent performance for general use and professional tasks. Both laptops have similar RAM and high-quality screens suitable for tasks requiring accuracy in colors. Choose the HP for better portability and battery life or the MSI for better performance in resource-heavy tasks. 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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
- Very good for general use
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.6
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1200
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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.6
8.3
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3.9/10
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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is good.
The MSI Creator Z16P offers a higher-end CPU and GPU, which are crucial for demanding engineering and design tasks, as well as more storage and a higher resolution screen for detailed work, compared to the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" that has mid-range CPU and GPU and less storage, but is lighter and may be easier to carry around. While both laptops have high-quality screens and keyboards, the MSI's larger screen and superior specs make it the better choice for intensive tasks; however, it is heavier and might be less convenient for frequent travel.
Screen Quality
7.1
8.3
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
405.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen than the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The HP Dragonfly Pro offers a balance of resolution, brightness, and panel quality that satisfies general tasks and design work, while its color accuracy supports engineering demands, though the modest refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications. The MSI Creator Z16P steps up with even higher resolution and brightness, plus enhanced color gamuts, making it a superior choice for detailed engineering and design work where color fidelity is critical. However, like the Dragonfly, the Creator's refresh rate isn't optimized for 3D work, so it may not be the best choice for gaming or real-time rendering where smooth motion is key.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has very good portability, while the MSI Creator Z16P has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
7.8
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
405.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Dragonfly Pro 14" to be very good for general use, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is esteemed for general use due to its longer battery life and higher portability compared to the MSI Creator Z16P, which though is well-suited for general use, its heavier weight and shorter battery life make it less ideal for on-the-go users.
Content Creation
7.9
7.9
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator Z16P and HP Dragonfly Pro 14" are both good for content creation.
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
7.8
7.6
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and MSI Creator Z16P both have very 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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has a price of $1,400 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
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How the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Dragonfly Pro 14" | MSI Creator Z16P |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2023 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 8.8'' x 0.72'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.42 lbs | 5.27 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.39" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.78" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7736U | Intel i9-12900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 64.6 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 405 nits | 394 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | 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 | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 4 | |
Shopping
HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Brendan Nystedt | March 2023
"I’d say that the HP Dragonfly Pro checks off most of the boxes for this freelancer. It feels nice to use, is zippy and responsive, has great speakers, and even has a relatively sane price. Although it’s an unorthodox choice to pick AMD for this kind of machine, it’s clear that when Ryzen is given a chance to shine, it can kick a lot of butt."
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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14" or the MSI Creator Z16P
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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