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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and the MSI Creator Z16P involves considering your needs for performance, portability, and specific use cases. For demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or intensive gaming, the MSI Creator Z16P, with its more powerful processor and graphics card, excels but comes with a higher price. However, the Surface Laptop Studio is less expensive and slightly lighter, making it more portable, and it's quite capable for general use and still performs well for engineering applications. Battery life is longer on the MSI, which is critical for extended work sessions without access to power, but this also contributes to its heavier weight. Screen-wise, both offer high-quality displays with touch capability; the MSI has a slightly larger one, potentially offering a more immersive experience for creative work. Consider the Surface Laptop Studio if you prefer a balance of portability and adequate performance at a lower cost, but if peak performance for creative and engineering tasks is a priority and budget is less of a constraint, the MSI Creator Z16P would be the better choice. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6
7.6
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator Z16P is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is only fair.
The MSI Creator Z16P is better for gaming and 3D tasks because it has a more powerful GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, and a higher screen refresh rate of 165, which can provide smoother visuals compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio's Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti and 120 refresh rate. While both laptops have capable CPUs and high-quality screens, the MSI's superior GPU and refresh rate make it a stronger choice for these specific demands.
Engineering and Design
7.3
8.3
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Creator Z16P is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with a high-quality touch screen and flexible hinge, is geared towards engineering and design tasks, but it has a less powerful CPU and GPU compared to the MSI Creator Z16P, which offers a more robust CPU and higher-performing GPU, making it very suitable for demanding engineering applications and content creation.
Screen Quality
8.0
8.3
14.4in
SIZE
16.0in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and the MSI Creator Z16P offer high-resolution displays with bright, vibrant panels, making them ideal for browsing, office work, and media consumption. In engineering and design tasks, these laptops excel with their wide color gamut support, ensuring accurate color representation for professional photo and video editing. However, both fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to their screens' lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and a less responsive feel during fast-paced activities that benefit from higher rates.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator Z16P has 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
Good
14.4in
SIZE
16.0in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI Creator Z16P both have good portability, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,700
$1,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a price of $1,700 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.8
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio offers portability and flexibility with a balanced performance for general use, highlighted by its ability to function as a laptop and a drawing tablet due to its flexible hinge design, making it versatile for various tasks.
Content Creation
7.4
7.9
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator Z16P and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both 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
7.3
7.6
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI Creator Z16P 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio | MSI Creator Z16P |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,700 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4 lbs | 5.27 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.72" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.98" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11370H | Intel i9-12900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.4" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 491 nits | 394 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | October 2021
"There’s no doubt that the Surface Laptop Studio is groundbreaking. We’ve come to expect such things from the Surface lineup, so it’s always nice to see a product that exceeds our expectations. The pull-forward laptop-screen concept has been tried before, but never in a device that’s so stylish and packed with innovative features like a haptic touchpad and robust digital stylus support."
MSI Creator Z16P
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mario Petzold | June 2022
"There's almost nothing left to be desired with the MSI Z16P. The creator laptop offers enormous performance resources for image editing, video editing, rendering, and more. All this is presented on a precalibrated, adequately sized, and high-resolution display. Its color space, refresh rate, and panel technology are also perfectly suited for a device that specializes in video reproduction and editing."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio or the MSI Creator Z16P
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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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