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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If budget is a key concern and general use is your priority, then the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 might be the right choice, as it typically offers a balance between performance and cost. However, if you need a laptop for more demanding tasks like 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, and are willing to invest more, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is usually better equipped for those areas, with higher performance hardware but at the expense of being less portable and having shorter battery life. Select based on what your most critical needs are. 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
- 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
6.7
8.9
4.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate compared to the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, making it less optimal for demanding gaming and 3D applications. While the ThinkPad's CPU and screen quality are competent, the MSI's superior GPU and higher refresh rate give it a significant edge in delivering smoother and more visually impressive gaming and 3D experiences.
Engineering and Design
8.4
9.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 offers robust CPU and RAM for engineering tasks and its GPU handles design work adeptly, while its screen is clear and sharp; yet it's easier to carry around than the MSI. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, on the other hand, has a more powerful CPU, larger RAM, and a superior GPU for demanding engineering software and 3D tasks, alongside a high-quality display, but it is less portable and might have a louder operating noise.
Screen Quality
8.5
8.4
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
393.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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.
For general use, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's screen quality is commendable due to its high resolution, brightness, and IPS panel type that delivers clear and vibrant visuals. In engineering and design, its excellent screen quality stems from a wide color gamut coverage, ensuring accurate color reproduction that is critical for precise work. However, for gaming and 3D, the ThinkPad Z16 falls short as the screen's lower refresh rate hampers the smoothness required for fast-paced visuals, despite good resolution and panel type, which are less prioritized in this context compared to refresh rate.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,120
$2,900
$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 Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.6
8.4
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
393.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 offers a balance of performance and battery life, suitable for everyday tasks with a quality keyboard and screen, making it ideal for general use, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio provides higher CPU and RAM specifications that enhance multitasking and demanding applications but comes with reduced portability due to its size and potential compromise on battery life. Both have good storage capacity, speaker and keyboard quality, but the Lenovo prioritizes portability and battery longevity, and the MSI emphasizes performance, which might lead to more heat and operating noise.
Content Creation
8.5
8.5
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
8.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has 7 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.
Build Quality
8.0
8.0
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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 Z16 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 | MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,120 | $2,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.4'' x 0.62'' | 15.8'' x 11.4'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.27 lbs | 6.15 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.95" | 15.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 11.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6850H | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | |
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" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 393 nits | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 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 | 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."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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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