The HP Spectre x360 14 is more budget-friendly and offers versatility and good battery life, making it suitable for everyday tasks and moderate work; its convertible design is great for portability and flexibility in use. On the other hand, the MSI Creator Z16P is built for power users, particularly in creative fields like 3D design and video editing, thanks to its stronger performance, although it's less portable and typically has a shorter battery life due to its more demanding hardware. Choose the Spectre for general use and mobility or the MSI if performance in demanding applications is your priority. 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 Spectre x360 14
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good portability
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.7/10
7.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
384.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a balance of a high-quality CPU, screen, and battery life in a portable design convenient for general use, while the MSI Creator Z16P, with its robust CPU and RAM, excels in tasks demanding more power, like engineering and creative work, though it is less portable and has a shorter battery life. With both laptops, you get ample storage and fine keyboard and speaker quality, with the HP Spectre being quieter and cooler under load compared to the more powerful but potentially noisier and warmer MSI Creator Z16P.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
7.6/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator Z16P is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 14 is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 14, while versatile for general use, has limitations in gaming and 3D tasks due to its less powerful GPU and standard screen refresh rate, which can't deliver the smoother visuals and faster response needed for high-end gaming. In contrast, the MSI Creator Z16P, with a superior GPU and higher refresh rate, offers better performance and fluidity for gaming and 3D applications, albeit with a potentially higher price and reduced portability.
Content Creation
8.7/10
7.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Spectre x360 14 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.
Software Development
8.4/10
7.6/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is 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.
Screen Quality
8.6/10
8.3/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the MSI Creator Z16P for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the HP Spectre x360 14 and MSI Creator Z16P both offer displays with high resolution and brightness, ensuring sharp, clear, and vivid visuals which are appreciated during daily tasks. Engineering and design professionals will find the wide color gamuts of these laptops beneficial as they provide more precise color reproduction, essential for detailed and color-critical work. However, gamers and 3D designers might find the lower refresh rates on both models less suitable, as higher refresh rates offer smoother motion rendering and a more immersive experience in fast-paced gaming and 3D modeling.
Battery
9.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 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
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Creator Z16P has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,630
$1,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a price of $1,630 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
The HP Spectre x360 14 and MSI Creator Z16P are both very good for engineering and design.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a balanced mix of a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality screen that makes it ideal for engineering and design tasks that require precision and multitasking, while its convertible design and top-notch keyboard provide additional flexibility for creative work. Meanwhile, the MSI Creator Z16P is equipped with an even more robust CPU and GPU combination, which excels in demanding engineering applications and graphics-intensive tasks, although it is heavier and less portable, with a larger screen that benefits detailed designs but trades off ease of transport.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Spectre x360 14 and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
"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 Spectre x360 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.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
100,395
Recommendations made
21,753
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.