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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a premium build and detailed OLED screen with touch capabilities for professional work, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 might suit you better, despite being a bit less portable and having slightly lower performance in 3D rendering and intensive gaming. On the other hand, if gaming performance, higher refresh rates, and better thermal management are more important to you, the MSI Raider GE66 could be the better option, even though it has half the storage capacity and a lower battery life compared to the Lenovo. Keep in mind, the MSI's build is aimed more towards gamers, which might not be as sleek for office environments. 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 Z16
- Good portability
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE66
- Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
8.5
4.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Raider GE66 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE66 outshines the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 in gaming and 3D performance primarily due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 240 Hz compared to the ThinkPad's AMD RX 6500M GPU and 60 Hz screen refresh rate. While both laptops have robust CPUs and good screen quality, the MSI's specification contributes to smoother visuals and better handling of graphics-intensive tasks, making it very good for such applications.
Screen Quality
8.5
8.4
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
393.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the MSI Raider GE66 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the MSI Raider GE66 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's high resolution and brightness, coupled with an IPS-type panel, provide clear and vibrant visuals, making it a solid choice. The MSI Raider GE66 offers similar benefits, but may have an edge in engineering and design tasks with its wider color gamuts, rendering more precise and accurate colors. However, when it comes to gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which could lead to less fluid motion and slower response times during fast-paced activities.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability, while the MSI Raider GE66 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,120
$2,499
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a price of $1,120 and the MSI Raider GE66 costs $2,499.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.6
8.3
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
393.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and MSI Raider GE66 are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 offers a stunning OLED screen with higher resolution, touch capability, and excellent color coverage, combined with a strong CPU and abundant RAM for multitasking, making it ideal for general use where screen quality and performance are prioritized. Meanwhile, the MSI Raider GE66, with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high refresh rate display optimized for gaming, ensures smooth and vivid general computing experiences, but with a bulkier design and slightly shorter battery life compared to the Z16.
Engineering and Design
8.4
8.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE66 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, with its AMD Ryzen processor and AMD GPU, suits engineering and design due to its balance of high CPU and GPU performance and quality screen, while its build caters to professional environments. The MSI Raider GE66, on the other hand, with its Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GPU, is not only tuned for demanding engineering software but also ensures vivid visuals for design tasks, albeit trading off some portability for its gaming-oriented chassis and cooling.
Content Creation
8.5
8.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and MSI Raider GE66 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
8.2
8.0
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and MSI Raider GE66 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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE66 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.
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
The MSI Raider GE66 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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 Z16 and the MSI Raider GE66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 | MSI Raider GE66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,120 | $2,499 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.4'' x 0.62'' | 14.1'' x 10.5'' x 0.92'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.27 lbs | 5.25 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.95" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 10.51" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6850H | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 2048 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 72 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 393 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 6.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.6/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | September 2022
"Lenovo’s ThinkPad Z16 tries has some success in its effort to tweak the ThinkPad formula. The laptop is attractive, yet still tame, and material quality is on par with the best Windows competition. I also like the smooth, responsive haptic touchpad and the wide range of modern connectivity. Yet the Z16 doesn’t fix ThinkPad’s typical weakness: value. Starting around $1,550, and more typically near $1,700, the Z16 finds itself facing alternatives that have better performance or an improved display for the same price, or less."
MSI Raider GE66
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Patrick Schüdzig | June 2022
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 or the MSI Raider GE66
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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