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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Legion 9i is priced higher and offers superior performance for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering, with a more powerful main processor and graphics unit. It also has a larger battery and more RAM, enhancing multitasking and longevity. However, it is heavier and has a lower portability score, making it less ideal for frequent travel. The MSI Creator Z16P is less expensive and more portable but provides less power for demanding applications. It includes a touchscreen, a feature the Lenovo lacks, and has longer battery life, but it compromises on graphics performance, which is essential for gaming or heavy graphic work. 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 Legion 9i
- Very good for general use
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Best in class overall display quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.8
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
682.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for general use, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i boasts a superior CPU and double the RAM of the MSI Creator Z16P, leading to better multitasking and processing capabilities for general use; moreover, its Mini LED screen with higher brightness makes for a superior viewing experience compared to MSI's IPS display. However, the MSI Creator Z16P is lighter and thinner, enhancing portability, and offers marginally better battery life and a touchscreen which may be preferred for certain general use cases.
Gaming and AI
9.2
7.6
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out for gaming and 3D with a superior GPU, the Nvidia RTX 4080, which handles demanding graphics more effectively than the MSI Creator Z16P's Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, although both have equal screen refresh rates that are essential for smooth gameplay. Additionally, the Lenovo's Mini LED screen will likely offer better screen quality compared to the MSI's IPS display, enhancing the visual experience during gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
9.6
8.3
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the MSI Creator Z16P is very good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out for engineering and design use due to its superior main processor and graphics card, which are essential for demanding tasks, plus it offers more RAM for multitasking and complex software operations. On the other hand, the MSI Creator Z16P, while also powerful, features a slightly less capable processor and graphics card, fewer RAM which may impact performance with intensive applications, but has the advantage of being more portable and offering a higher quality keyboard and speakers, making it a good fit for creators who value mobility and multimedia performance.
Content Creation
8.7
7.9
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 9i 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
8.3
7.6
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i 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
9.7
8.3
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
682.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the MSI Creator Z16P for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When focusing on general use, the Lenovo Legion 9i excels due to its high-resolution screen and exceptional brightness, making it easy on the eyes for a variety of tasks, while the MSI Creator Z16P also offers a sharp, bright display, just slightly behind in overall quality. For engineering and design, both laptops deliver rich, accurate colors covering a broad spectrum, with the Legion 9i having a slight edge in reproducing precise hues crucial for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast-paced visuals are key, both laptops fall short because they have lower refresh rates that can't match the smoother imagery preferred in high-speed gaming scenarios.
Battery
3.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 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
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Creator Z16P has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 9i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$3,420
$1,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a price of $3,420 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Lenovo Legion 9i 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo Legion 9i and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion 9i | MSI Creator Z16P |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,420 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.64 lbs | 5.27 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.93" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | Intel i9-12900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 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 | 3 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 682 nits | 394 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 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 | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | 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 | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Legion 9i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | December 2023
"The Lenovo Legion 9i is meant as a top-end flagship showcase for enthusiasts, and on that, it delivers. You'll find flashier designs in this price tier—Razer’s all-metal build in a similarly sized laptop like the Blade 16, or monstrous 18-inch machines—but this is a well-thought-out laptop. The chassis is trim for a 16-inch powerhouse, the lid is unique, and bespoke liquid cooling takes performance to the next level."
MSI Creator Z16P
See more
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 Legion 9i 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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