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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The MSI Creator Z16P offers a larger, higher resolution touchscreen display suited for creative work with better color coverage ideal for tasks requiring color accuracy, and it has a higher capacity battery, which may translate to longer usage between charges. Conversely, the MSI Pulse GL66 is slightly lighter and may, therefore, be more portable and has a more traditional gaming laptop appearance, which could be more appealing if style is a factor. Neither is a budget option, but if you require more storage or plan to do intensive engineering or 3D tasks, the Creator Z16P is equipped with a stronger processor and graphics card that cater to high-performance demands. Nonetheless, for general use and gaming, both are capable machines with good build quality, but the Pulse may have less ideal color accuracy for design work. 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 MSI Creator Z16P
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- The MSI Pulse GL66 has no clear advantages over the MSI Creator Z16P.
Key differences
General Use
7.8
7.3
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
394.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use, though the MSI Creator Z16P is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
8.3
7.5
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Creator Z16P is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The MSI Creator Z16P is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i9 processor, higher RAM capacity, and superior screen quality with a higher resolution and color accuracy, essential for detailed design work. In contrast, the MSI Pulse GL66, while still capable with an Intel i7 processor and adequate screen quality, may not match the Z16P's performance and visual fidelity, though it offers better portability and has a quieter operating noise, making it more suitable for on-the-go use and environments where noise levels are a concern.
Content Creation
7.9
7.2
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator Z16P and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Creator Z16P is somewhat better.
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
7.6
7.0
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator Z16P 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
8.3
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
394.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MSI Creator Z16P delivers sharp images and vibrant colors due to its high resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks and professional design work, where color accuracy is crucial. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66, while offering a decent display for everyday use and design-related tasks, may lack the higher resolution and color precision of the Z16P. For gaming and 3D rendering, neither model excels, as they both lack high refresh rates, which are essential for smooth motion and responsiveness during fast-paced activities.
Build Quality
8.0
7.4
The MSI Creator Z16P has very good build quality, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.6
7.2
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Battery
5.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The MSI Creator Z16P has 5 hours of battery life. The MSI Pulse GL66 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
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Creator Z16P and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,300
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Creator Z16P has a price of $1,300 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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How the MSI Creator Z16P and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Creator Z16P | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.75'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.27 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.18" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900H | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 394 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
MSI Creator Z16P
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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."
MSI Pulse GL66
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | April 2022
"The MSI Pulse GL66 has a lot of potential for improvement. Although the RTX 3060 is only able to use 105 watts, we still liked the gaming performance, particularly since this also makes the Pulse comfortably efficient but not slow by any means. Neither the dark display with its lame response times, nor USB 2.0 or the lack of Thunderbolt will please real gamers. The use of a sticker factory seal, which is at least questionable, also won't inspire any enthusiasm. It is obvious that the laptop is really designed for price-conscious gamers."
Get a great deal on the MSI Creator Z16P or the MSI Pulse GL66
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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