The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 offers a premium OLED display with higher resolution, touchscreen capability, and impressive color coverage, making it suitable for tasks requiring color accuracy, such as graphic design or photo editing. It also has more RAM for multitasking and a larger storage capacity but has a more moderate GPU, which may not be optimal for the most intensive 3D applications or high-end gaming. Conversely, the MSI Raider GE77Hx is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia GPU, is better suited for gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning, but it compromises on screen quality and resolution. The ThinkPad is thinner and lighter, enhancing portability, while the Raider has a larger screen and higher refresh rate that gamers would appreciate, though it's heavier and has a shorter battery life. Consider the ThinkPad if you prioritize screen quality and portability for business or creative work or the Raider for heavier computing tasks and gaming. 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
Very good for software development
Good portability
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE77Hx
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.6/10
8.0/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
393.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and MSI Raider GE77Hx are both very good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 excels in general use with exceptional screen quality from its OLED display, ample RAM for multitasking, and a solid blend of battery life and portability, making it suitable for a variety of tasks without too much compromise. The MSI Raider GE77Hx, while less portable and with shorter battery life, offers very good CPU and GPU performance for demanding applications and a high-quality IPS screen, which is beneficial for general use that may include gaming or intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
8.7/10
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
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, with its decent graphics card and standard screen refresh rate, is suitable for gaming and 3D applications, but the MSI Raider GE77Hx, with a much more powerful graphics card and a significantly higher screen refresh rate, outperforms it in these particular areas, which is key for smooth and visually demanding gaming and 3D content creation.
Screen Quality
8.5/10
8.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
393.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the MSI Raider GE77Hx for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 provides a bright, high-resolution display with a panel type that delivers sharp images and accurate colors, making it suitable for a variety of everyday tasks. In engineering and design, this laptop's excellent color gamut coverage ensures that designers see accurate colors, which is critical for their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Z16 falls short due to its lower refresh rate, which means less smooth visuals in fast-paced scenes, whereas the MSI Raider GE77Hx, though matching in general use and engineering quality, doesn't offer a high enough refresh rate for optimal gaming and 3D experiences.
Battery
7.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE77Hx has 5.5 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
Good
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,120
$1,999
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a price of $1,120 and the MSI Raider GE77Hx costs $1,999.
The MSI Raider GE77Hx and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, with its OLED screen and AMD RX 6500M GPU, is tailored for engineering and design professionals who prioritize premium screen quality and reliable GPU performance in a business setting. Conversely, the MSI Raider GE77Hx boasts a powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU, making it ideal for engineering and design tasks that demand high computing power, but it is heavier and less portable.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and MSI Raider GE77Hx 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
8.2/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 to be very good for software development, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx 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.
Build Quality
8.0/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx 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 GE77Hx compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI Raider GE77 offers a lot of power for a lot of money. The main components consist of a Core i9-12900HX CPU, a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU (175 watts TGP, 16 GB VRAM), and 64 GB of RAM, which makes for a high overall performance level. The GeForce GPU in particular scores some of the highest scores we have seen from this chip. Both the CPU and the GPU are able to run at continuously high clock speeds. The relatively high heat and noise emissions match our expectations for this device class. With approximately 5.5 to 6.5 hours, the battery life is good for a powerful 4K laptop."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 or the MSI Raider GE77Hx
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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