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Updated March 21, 2024·
When choosing between the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and the MSI Titan 18 HX, consider how you'll use the laptop. The ThinkPad is typically more affordable and offers good performance for general use and business applications, with the added benefit of being lighter and having longer battery life, which is great for portability. On the other hand, the MSI Titan is a high-performance machine favored by gamers and professionals in 3D modeling, machine learning, and engineering because of its superior graphics and processing power, but it's more expensive, heavier, and has a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for frequent travel. 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
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Excellent for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
9.4
4.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 typically has a less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate compared to the MSI Titan 18 HX, making it less ideal for high-end gaming and 3D tasks. Meanwhile, the Titan usually boasts a top-tier GPU and high refresh rate display, coupled with a strong CPU and superior screen quality, offering a premium experience for demanding graphical applications.
Engineering and Design
8.4
9.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good.
The MSI Titan 18 HX, with its high-end CPU, abundant RAM, and powerful GPU, excels for demanding engineering and design tasks, offering superior performance and screen quality but is less portable due to its size. While the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 also provides strong CPU and GPU capabilities with good screen quality, it balances portability better and has a well-regarded keyboard, making it suitable for engineering work without compromising too much on mobility.
Content Creation
8.5
9.0
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
32.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very 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.
Software Development
8.2
8.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 are both very good for software development, though the MSI Titan 18 HX is somewhat better.
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
8.5
9.2
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
393.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize crisp visuals and vibrant colors for everyday tasks, the MSI Titan's superior panel type, resolution, and brightness ensure outstanding display quality for general use. For precision in engineering and design, both laptops offer excellent displays with wide color gamuts, but MSI Titan's screen manages to edge out with richer color reproduction. However, for gaming and 3D work, both laptops fall short due to poorer refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
18.0in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,120
$4,949
$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 Titan 18 HX costs $4,949.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.6
8.8
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
393.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 offers a solid balance of performance with its CPU and RAM, making it suitable for everyday tasks, coupled with a high-quality screen and long battery life for on-the-go usability. The MSI Titan 18 HX, while also delivering on CPU and RAM for demanding applications, prioritizes screen size and advanced graphics at the expense of portability and battery life, making it ideal for power users who need desktop-level performance in a mobile workstation.
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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 Titan 18 HX compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 | MSI Titan 18 HX |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,120 | $4,949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.4'' x 0.62'' | 15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.27 lbs | 7.93 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.95" | 15.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 12.08" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6850H | Intel i9-14900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 128 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 2048 GB | 4096 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 72 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 393 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.6/10 | 9.1/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
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."
MSI Titan 18 HX
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | January 2024
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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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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