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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is a robust choice with a high-resolution screen, a powerful dedicated graphics card, and a substantial battery capacity that makes it well-suited for engineering tasks, but its heavier weight affects portability. In contrast, the MSI Creator Z16P also has a high-resolution touchscreen, a more powerful graphics card, which is better for 3D and machine learning applications, and it's lighter, enhancing portability. However, the ThinkPad P16 has a better range of ports including more USB-C and Thunderbolt options, which could be more convenient for connectivity. If battery life is a critical concern, the ThinkPad P16 excels over the Creator Z16P, especially for longer working sessions without access to power. Both laptops come at a similar price point, so the decision should rest on whether you prioritize screen quality, power, and connectivity (ThinkPad P16) or a lighter build and higher graphics performance for creative tasks (Creator Z16P). 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 general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good battery life
- Excellent speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.9
7.6
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
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 Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU and has a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz, while the MSI Creator Z16P includes a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and offers a higher screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, which generally results in smoother visuals and better gaming performance. Both laptops have high-quality screens with good color coverage, but the MSI's superior GPU performance and higher refresh rate give it an edge in gaming and 3D applications, even though the Lenovo is equipped with a high-end CPU and also has a quality display.
Software Development
8.4
7.6
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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
8.2
8.3
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
569.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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, both the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and the MSI Creator Z16P offer displays with sharp resolution and high brightness, enhancing visibility and clarity, which makes them great for everyday tasks and viewing content. In engineering and design, the color accuracy and range provided by extensive color gamuts are crucial; both laptops excel here, ensuring that professionals can see true-to-life colors and subtle shades in their work. However, for gaming and 3D, the importance of a high refresh rate is unmatched for smooth visuals, and since both models have lower refresh rates, they fall short for this particular need, despite offering decent resolution and panel type.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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
Poor
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
6.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Creator Z16P has good portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,449
$1,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a price of $1,449 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
7.8
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
569.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
5.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad P16 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Creator Z16P is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
8.3
8.3
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Creator Z16P and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is equipped with a high-resolution screen and a graphics card geared towards professional applications, making it a good choice for engineering-related tasks, along with premium business features including higher durability and security options.
Content Creation
8.2
7.9
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad P16 to be 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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 ThinkPad P16 and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad P16 | MSI Creator Z16P |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,449 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2023 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10.5'' x 1.2'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.5 lbs | 5.27 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.5" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12800HX | Intel i9-12900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 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 | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 94 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 569 nits | 394 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
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 | 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 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."
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 ThinkPad P16 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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