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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
Choosing between the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio depends on your needs. The ThinkPad P16 offers a balance of cost and performance, suitable for day-to-day tasks and some demanding applications, with good durability and reliability. The MSI Stealth, however, targets users needing high performance for activities like gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, boasting stronger graphics and processing power at the expense of price and potentially battery life. Consider the MSI if your work requires top-end specs, otherwise, the Lenovo may serve you well and save you money. Portability also favors the lighter ThinkPad versus the bulkier MSI. 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
- Excellent speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.9
8.9
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
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
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16, while having a capable GPU, is outmatched by the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, which boasts a more powerful GPU, essential for high-end gaming and 3D performance; additionally, the MSI offers a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing smooth visuals. Furthermore, despite the ThinkPad's robust CPU and screen quality, these factors are overshadowed by the MSI's superior graphics-related hardware, prioritizing the needs of users with graphics-intensive workloads.
Engineering and Design
8.3
9.1
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16, with a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, offers reliable performance for engineering tasks; however, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with its superior screen quality and more powerful graphics processing, excels in more demanding design work. While the ThinkPad is more portable and has a better keyboard, the Stealth provides an edge in overall performance and multimedia experience, despite being less travel-friendly due to size and weight.
Screen Quality
8.2
8.4
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
569.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio likely have high-resolution displays with excellent brightness and panel technology that provide sharp, vivid images for general use and detailed visuals crucial for engineering and design work. Their color gamut coverage probably encompasses a wide range of the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB spectrums, ensuring accurate color reproduction that professionals in design fields require. However, these laptops might have lower refresh rates, generally more relevant for gaming and 3D applications, which can mean less fluid motion and response times in those fast-paced environments.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
$2,900
$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 Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
8.4
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
569.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
5.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16, with its high-quality CPU and ample RAM, ensures smooth multitasking and efficient performance for everyday tasks, while its sturdy build and quality keyboard make it a reliable choice for long-term use. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with its superior screen quality and powerful components, provides an exceptional visual experience and handles demanding applications easily, though it is less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the ThinkPad.
Content Creation
8.2
8.5
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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.
Software Development
8.4
8.2
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
6.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to have only fair portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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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How the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad P16 | MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,449 | $2,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2023 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10.5'' x 1.2'' | 15.8'' x 11.4'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.5 lbs | 6.15 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 15.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.5" | 11.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12800HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | |
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 | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 94 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 18" | |
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 | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.8/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.1/10 | 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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 or the MSI Stealth 18 AI 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.
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