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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The MSI Creator Z16P, at a midrange price, is typically more expensive and offers superior performance with a higher-powered processor and dedicated graphics suitable for intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, and machine learning. It also features a larger and higher-resolution touchscreen, more robust color coverage, and a substantial battery capacity, but these benefits come with added weight and size, reducing portability. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 is budget-friendly and much lighter, making it highly portable. It has sufficient performance for general use and casual creative work, but its integrated graphics and smaller battery may not suffice for demanding applications. It lacks a touchscreen and has less color accuracy, which might be less ideal for color-critical work. Choose the Creator Z16P for demanding performance needs or the Modern 14 for everyday tasks and better portability. 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
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.8
7.2
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
394.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use, though the MSI Creator Z16P is somewhat better.
The MSI Creator Z16P, with its powerful Intel processor and superior Nvidia graphics, ample RAM and storage, and a high-quality, large screen, is perfect for demanding tasks but is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 is lightweight, offers improved portability and longer battery life with a competent AMD processor, adequate RAM and storage, and a good screen, suitable for everyday tasks and on-the-go use.
Gaming and AI
7.6
6.0
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The MSI Creator Z16P is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
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.
Engineering and Design
8.3
6.6
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Creator Z16P is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The MSI Creator Z16P outshines the MSI Modern 14 in engineering and design use due to its more powerful Intel i9 processor, superior NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti GPU, and higher resolution and brighter IPS screen, which are essential for demanding software and detailed visual work. While the Modern 14 is more portable and quieter, it compromises on screen quality and computational power with a less robust AMD processor and integrated graphics, making it less suited for intensive engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
7.9
7.2
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator Z16P and MSI Modern 14 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
7.1
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and MSI Modern 14 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
6.4
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
394.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MSI Creator Z16P's screen boasts high resolution and brightness, with superior color accuracy, making it excellent for general use and professional engineering or design work where vivid and precise color representation is crucial. However, its lower refresh rate could detract from the smooth visuals critical for gaming and rendering 3D content. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 provides adequate resolution and brightness for typical tasks and non-specialized design use, but its color range and refresh rate aren't ideal for high-end design applications or the fast-paced demands of gaming and 3D environments.
Portability
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Creator Z16P has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.0
7.0
The MSI Creator Z16P has very good build quality, while the MSI Modern 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,300
$525
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The MSI Creator Z16P has a price of $1,300 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
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Key similarities
Battery
5.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The MSI Creator Z16P has 5 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI Creator Z16P and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Creator Z16P | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $525 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.75'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.27 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.18" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900H | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 394 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
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 Modern 14
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Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the MSI Creator Z16P or the MSI Modern 14
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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