The ThinkPad P16 from Lenovo costs slightly more and is aimed at professionals seeking high performance for engineering tasks, with a powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX GPU designed for professional applications. It has a high-resolution display, but this results in a heavier device with shorter battery life, making it less portable. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers better balance and portability with a lighter build and longer battery life, featuring a solid gaming-capable Nvidia RTX GPU. It is less expensive and comes with a lower resolution, which should suffice for general use and gaming but may not be ideal for precision engineering work. Choose the ThinkPad if performance in demanding applications is critical and portability is a secondary concern, or opt for the MSI if you prefer a more balanced laptop that's easier to carry around and still offers good performance for most applications. 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 overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
Good for gaming and AI
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.9/10
7.8/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Software Development
8.4/10
7.4/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good for software development, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
8.2/10
7.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
569.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 likely offers a higher resolution and brighter display that enhances text clarity and image detail, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio provides a decent display but with less emphasis on these attributes. In the area of engineering and design, the ThinkPad P16 probably covers a wider range of color gamuts, offering more accurate color reproduction necessary for professional photo editing and graphic design. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they don't prioritize high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals in these scenarios.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
14.0in
6.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has very good build quality, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad P16 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
8.3/10
8.5/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its powerful CPU and GPU, specifically the Intel i7-12800HX and the Nvidia RTX A1000, which are tailored for such tasks, along with high screen resolution and color accuracy, substantial battery capacity, and a build that emphasizes durability and a business-oriented design.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.9/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
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 Stealth 14 Studio 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.
Cost
$1,449
$1,520
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a price of $1,449 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,520.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
"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."
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 or the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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