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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is less expensive and offers solid performance for general use and engineering, with ample battery life, good build quality, and a high-quality keyboard, making it suitable for business and professional tasks. However, its gaming capabilities are limited compared to the MSI Raider GE78, which, while more expensive, offers top-of-the-line performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming supported by hardware ray tracing and DLSS. The Raider also has superior heat management and a more vibrant and color-accurate display, but has a shorter battery life and is less portable due to its larger screen and added weight. If cost and portability are key concerns, the ThinkPad P16 is a strong choice, but for the best performance in high-end gaming and intensive computational tasks, the Raider GE78 stands out. 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 battery life
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE78
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Best in class for gaming and AI
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0
8.7
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
569.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
5.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for general use, though the MSI Raider GE78 is somewhat better.
The MSI Raider GE78 excels in general use mainly due to its superior CPU and double the amount of RAM compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad P16, which greatly enhances multitasking and performance-heavy tasks. While both have high-quality screens, the ThinkPad P16 is a bit more portable and offers a longer battery life, but the Raider GE78 provides an edge with a stronger graphics unit and more responsive screen for vibrant visuals and rapid actions.
Gaming and AI
6.9
9.5
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is best in class for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE78 leads in gaming and 3D performance due to its superior Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 240 Hz, compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad P16's Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU and a 60 Hz refresh rate. Although the ThinkPad P16 performs well, the Raider GE78's GPU provides more power for gaming and 3D tasks, and its screen can display more frames per second for smoother visuals.
Engineering and Design
8.3
9.4
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE78 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good.
The MSI Raider GE78 stands out for engineering and design due to its superior main processor and double the RAM of the Lenovo ThinkPad P16, alongside a more powerful GPU, which translates to better performance for computational tasks and rendering. While both have high-quality IPS displays, the ThinkPad's superior screen resolution and color accuracy are excellent for detailed work, though the Raider's emphasis on performance over portability and keyboard quality—housing a more advanced CPU and GPU—makes it preferable for the most demanding engineering tasks.
Content Creation
8.2
8.8
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE78 and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for content creation, though the MSI Raider GE78 is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
8.2
8.6
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
569.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a better screen than the MSI Raider GE78 for engineering and design, while the MSI Raider GE78 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
For general use, both Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and MSI Raider GE78 offer high-resolution displays with excellent brightness and panel quality, ensuring crisp, clear visuals and good color accuracy for everyday tasks such as browsing or watching videos. Engineers and designers will appreciate the wide color gamuts on these laptops, offering a broader spectrum of colors, which is essential for tasks that demand color precision like photo editing or CAD work. However, despite their high-quality displays for other tasks, both models fall short for gaming and 3D work, as their lower refresh rates do not provide the fluid, responsive visuals that these applications typically require.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE78 has 6 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.
Cost
$1,449
$4,386
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a price of $1,449 and the MSI Raider GE78 costs $4,386.
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Key similarities
Software Development
8.4
8.5
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for software development.
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.
Portability
Poor
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
6.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.8 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and MSI Raider GE78 both have poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and MSI Raider GE78 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 Raider GE78 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad P16 | MSI Raider GE78 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,449 | $4,386 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10.5'' x 1.2'' | 15'' x 11.7'' x 1.13'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.5 lbs | 6.83 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 14.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.5" | 11.73" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12800HX | Intel i9-13980HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 4 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 2048 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 94 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 569 nits | 384 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.8/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
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 Raider GE78
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2023
"Performance-wise, the GE78 offers a significant boost over the GE77 for just slightly higher power consumption. You'll have to get the RTX 4080 or 4090 configurations to see the performance advantages, however, as the RTX 4070 is closer in performance to the older RTX 3080 Ti. In terms of design, some users might prefer the 16:9 minimalistic look of the older GE77 over the 16:10 retro-inspired GE78 and vice versa. We wouldn't call one better than the other in terms of aesthetics, but we'll give the edge to the GE78 for its stronger hinges and larger keys and clickpad."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 or the MSI Raider GE78
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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