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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
If you prioritize robust performance for tasks like 3D modeling, video editing, or other engineering software, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 would be a solid choice as it's typically built for demanding workloads; however, it may be heavier and less portable. On the other hand, if you are looking for a more compact and lightweight laptop that's still capable for creative tasks like graphic design and photo editing, the MSI Creator M14 may suit you better, but its performance might not match that of the P16 in more intensive applications, and it may have a shorter battery life. Choose based on what's more important to you: peak performance or portability and convenience. 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 ThinkPad P16
- Very good for software development
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Excellent speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good portability
Key differences
Software Development
8.4
7.8
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good for software development, while the MSI Creator M14 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
8.2
7.5
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
569.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a better screen than the MSI Creator M14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16's high resolution and brightness, along with a panel type that offers clear and crisp images, make it very suitable for general tasks and engineering design by providing sharp details and vibrant colors, which are essential for these activities. Its wide color gamut coverage ensures precise color representation for professional design work, but its lower refresh rate isn't ideal for the fast-paced visuals required in gaming and 3D applications. Conversely, the MSI Creator M14 offers similar benefits for general use and designing due to its decent resolution and color accuracy, but like the P16, it falls short for gaming and 3D work which demands higher refresh rates it doesn't provide.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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
Poor
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
6.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 has good portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.8
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has very good build quality, while the MSI Creator M14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
8.0
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
569.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
5.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16, with its robust CPU and ample RAM, is built for performance-heavy tasks and offers a high-quality screen ideal for both work and entertainment, though its bulk and shorter battery life may limit portability and unplugged use. In contrast, the MSI Creator M14 is also well-suited for general tasks, with a balance of good CPU performance and RAM, enhanced by greater portability due to its lighter design and longer-lasting battery, although it trades off some screen size and potentially some raw power compared to the ThinkPad.
Gaming and AI
6.9
7.3
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is only fair.
The MSI Creator M14 has a more powerful GPU that delivers smoother and faster graphics for gaming and 3D applications, along with a higher refresh rate screen that makes gameplay more fluid compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad P16. While both laptops have quality screens and capable CPUs, the superior graphics handling of the MSI provides a noticeable advantage for graphically intensive tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.3
8.4
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and the MSI Creator M14 are tailored for engineering and design tasks, with the latter generally providing superior CPU, RAM, GPU, and screen quality, which are crucial for such demanding applications. While the ThinkPad P16 offers a balance between performance and other factors like keyboard quality and lower operating noise, the Creator M14 focuses more on high-end specs, which may lead to compromises in portability and speaker quality.
Content Creation
8.2
8.0
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and MSI Creator M14 are both very 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.
Cost
$1,449
$1,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a price of $1,449 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad P16 | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,449 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2023 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10.5'' x 1.2'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.5 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.5" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12800HX | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 4 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 94 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 569 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.1/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Lenovo ThinkPad P16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Eric Grevstad | February 2023
"It's only a few months since we gave the MSI CreatorPro X17 one of our rare 4.5-star ratings and our top mobile workstation honor, but the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 matches that achievement in a more premium overall build. Ultimately, its build quality, screen, and keyboard give our latest Editors' Choice nod to the Lenovo—it's enough of a monster on almost all fronts that it simply cannot be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 or the MSI Creator M14
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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