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Updated January 12, 2024·
Deciding between the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 and the MSI Creator Z16P depends on your needs and budget. The IdeaPad 3 is significantly more affordable and still offers good features for everyday use like web browsing, office work, and streaming. It has a lower resolution screen and less powerful Intel i3 processor, so it's not ideal for intensive tasks. Conversely, the Creator Z16P is much pricier but comes with high-end specifications such as a powerful Intel i9 processor and Nvidia RTX graphics, making it suitable for demanding applications like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming. It also boasts a higher resolution, color-accurate screen which benefits those in creative fields. The Z16P is heavier which makes it less portable compared to the lightweight IdeaPad 3. The IdeaPad 3 might have a longer battery life due to its less power-intensive components. Consider the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 for affordability and general use, or the MSI Creator Z16P for performance-heavy and professional tasks even if it comes at a higher cost and reduced portability. 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has no clear advantages over the MSI Creator Z16P.
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.2
7.8
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The MSI Creator Z16P is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is adequate for general use with its basic CPU, average screen quality, and sufficient portability for everyday tasks, but its fair battery life and smaller storage may limit extended use and data capacity. The MSI Creator Z16P, on the other hand, offers a more powerful CPU, higher RAM, superior screen quality, and ample storage, making it better for more demanding general use, though its larger size and weight reduce portability, and its high performance components may lead to poorer heat management.
Gaming and AI
5.8
7.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has a much less powerful integrated GPU and a lower screen refresh rate which limits its ability to handle gaming and 3D rendering effectively compared to the MSI Creator Z16P, which is equipped with a high-end dedicated GPU and a higher refresh rate display, providing a smoother and more detailed visual experience suitable for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
5.8
8.3
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Creator Z16P is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has a weaker CPU, less RAM, and a basic integrated GPU, with a lower resolution screen, making it less suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks, whereas the MSI Creator Z16P boasts a high-end CPU, more RAM, a powerful discrete GPU, and a high-resolution display, all of which contribute to its excellence in running intensive engineering and design software. Despite the MSI's heavier weight and potentially louder operating noise, its superior performance and screen quality outweigh these concerns for engineering applications, while the Lenovo may benefit from slightly better portability and quieter operation.
Content Creation
6.3
7.9
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator Z16P is good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
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
6.3
7.6
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P is good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
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
5.2
8.3
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MSI Creator Z16P's higher resolution, brighter display, and superior panel type offer clearer and more vibrant visuals, making it excellent for general use and precise engineering tasks that benefit from accurate color representation. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3's lower resolution and dimmer display result in a less crisp and less vivid experience, which detracts from all usage scenarios. Although the MSI performs well for engineering and design due to its wide color gamuts, its lower refresh rate limits its appeal for gaming and 3D work, where a high refresh rate is crucial for smooth visuals.
Build Quality
6.5
8.0
The MSI Creator Z16P has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$360
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has a price of $360 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
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Key similarities
Battery
5.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has 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
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" and MSI Creator Z16P both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" | MSI Creator Z16P |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$360 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.75 lbs | 5.27 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.26" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.98" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1115G4 | Intel i9-12900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 35 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 394 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 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 | 9.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
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NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | February 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an enduring office notebook with a powerful Ryzen APU. Lenovo's office all-rounder easily handles office and internet applications as well as modest games - the Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM make this possible. The CPU and GPU can work at consistently high clock rates. The emission values are okay, but the noise emissions should be lower under medium to full load. The relatively light notebook (approx. 1.6 kg) achieves practical battery runtimes of about 10 to 11 hours."
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" or the MSI Creator Z16P
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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