Is MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen price affordable? It has an Nvidia 3060 CPU and an Intel Core i9-11900H processor from the 11th generation. The display’s 100% DCI-P3 color coverage and touch screen are ideal for professional video and photo editors, while anyone wishing to play contemporary AAA games on the side will value the 120Hz refresh rate supported by an Intel Core i9-11900H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU. MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen review has more.
MSI Creator Z16 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Display ratio of 16:10
- solid construction
- excellent touchpad and keyboard
- large, vibrant, and colorful screen
- Quick performance
Cons
- Mediocre gaming results
- Average battery life
- No DisplayPort or HDMI
MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen Specs
- Processor: Intel Core i9-11900H
- GPU: 6GB VRAM Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060
- RAM: 32GB
- 2TB SSD for storage
- 16-inch, 16:10, QHD 2560 by 1600 display
- Windows 10 Professional
- A 720p 30fps camera
- 14.13 x 10.08 x 0.64 in.
- Weight: 4.9 lbs.
- Ports include a combi audio jack, two USB-A 3.2 ports, two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, and a microSD card reader.
- Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E
- A 720p 30fps camera
- Weight: 2.2KG/4.9 lbs.
- Size: 359 x 256 x 15.9 mm / 14.13 x 10.08 x 0.64 inches
MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen price
There are four pricey variations of the MSI Creator Z16. A Core i7-12700H, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and an Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti are included in the $2,899 entry-level model. My review device, which costs $4,299 and has a Core i9-12900H, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, a 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and an RTX 3080 Ti, is at the top of the range.
Compare MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen
| MSI Creator Z16 Professional Laptop: 16″ QHD+ 16:10 120Hz Touch Display, Intel Core i9-11900H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | MSI Creator 15 Professional Laptop: 15.6″ UHD OLED 4K DCI-P3 100% Display, Intel Core i7-11800H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,299.00 | $1,799.00 |
| Computer Memory Size | 32 GB | 16 GB |
| Connectivity Technology | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB | HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB |
| CPU Model | Core i9 | Core i7 Family |
| CPU Model Manufacturer | Intel | Intel |
| CPU Speed | 2.5 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Display Resolution Maximum | 2560 x 1600 pixels | 3840 x 2160 pixels |
| Screen Size | 16 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 |
| Graphics Description | Dedicated | RTX 3080 |
| Hard Disk Description | SSD | SSD |
| Hard Disk Size | 2 TB | 1 TB |
| Hardware Platform | PC, PC, PC | PC, PC, PC |
| Human Interface Input | Touchscreen, Touchscreen, Touchscreen, Touchscreen | Microphone |
| Item Dimensions | 0.64 x 14.13 x 10.08 inches | 0.78 x 14.11 x 11.54 inches |
| Item Weight | 5.07 lbs | 5.39 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro | Microsoft Windows 10 Professional (64-Bit) |
| Processor Count | 8 | 8 |
| RAM Type | DDR4 SDRAM | DDR4 SDRAM |
| Wireless Communication Standard | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Wireless Communication Technology | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen review
Build
Aluminum that has been CNC-machined makes up the sturdy construction of the MSI Creator Z16 laptop. The lid, keyboard deck, or chassis don’t flex, bend, or twist at all. The MSI emblem on the lid serves as a decorative flourish. Open the lid, though, and the SteelSeries keyboard’s per-key RGB lights will be visible.
Design
The width and depth of the MSI Creator Z16 are exactly the same. The thickness of the laptop ranges from 16.3mm to slightly over 17mm at its thickest point. This contrasts with the 20.5mm thickness of the Alienware M15, 19.9mm of the Razer Blade 17, and 15.5mm of the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Ports
With two USB-C ports (one of which supports Thunderbolt 4), a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, a 3.5mm audio input, and a full-size SD card reader, the connectivity of a huge laptop like the MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen is somewhat constrained. A 240-watt power source and a proprietary connector supply the necessary power. There isn’t an HDMI port, which is often present on bigger PCs.
Processor
The Core i9-12900H is installed in the MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen. That is a CPU with a maximum clock speed of 5.0GHz, 14 cores (six performance and eight efficient), and 20 threads. That was paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, using Studio drivers developed by Nvidia to deliver the best performance and dependability in a variety of artistic, technical, and scientific applications.
Display
Its 16-inch screen resembles the MacBook Pro in that it has thin bezels. The touch-enabled display offers another another practical method for managing the operating system. The display’s 100% DCI-P3 color coverage makes it ideal for video and photo editors.
Brightness & color
The resolution is a little underwhelming at 2560 x 1600, as opposed to the 3072 x 1920 or even full 4K panels found in many modern creative workstations. The 100% sRGB, 91% AdobeRGB, and 93% P3 coverage provided by the MSI Creator Z16 results in amazing color richness and depth.
Memory & storage
Our review unit’s 32GB of RAM and 2TB SSD storage is adequate for playing games and storing large files, and it’s perfect for doing real creative work. You can run Photoshop and over 25 or so Chrome Tabs simultaneously without the laptop exhibiting any signs of lag, which is to be expected from a machine with such powerful hardware.
Graphics
It feels a little disheartening that the MSI Creator Z16’s only GPU option is an RTX 3060; it would have really benefited from an additional option for an RTX 3070/3080 for those who need a little more power. If you frequently use additional screens, Thunderbolt is still a hassle for you, and the A11UET-043 is incompatible with tools like graphics drawing tablets because MSI chose not to include an HDMI port.
Gaming
Modern games run smoothly on the MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen, even on high settings. For instance, it averages 44 frames per second in Cyberpunk 2077 at maximum settings with DLSS turned on, fully justifying its designation as a decent “part-time” gaming laptop. Less demanding games like Valorant, which will benefit from the 120Hz display, can run smoothly on it.
It only managed 55 (fps) at 1080p with ultra-high graphics in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which is less than the MSI Creator Z17 with an RTX 3070 Ti. Its performance in this benchmark was again quite erratic, averaging barely 33 frames per second at 1440p with high graphics and 43 frames per second at super high. The Creator Z16P only achieved 30 fps at 1080p with extreme graphics in Cyberpunk 2077. The laptop struggled once more, achieving the same 30 frames per second at medium graphics but only managing 41 at 1440p and ultra graphics.
Keyboard & touchpad
The keycap spacing and size are great, and the switches are light and precise with a crisp bottoming action. It deserves great accolades for being on par with laptop keyboards like the Dell XPS 17. Volume controls, toggles for the trackpad, microphone, camera, and keyboard illumination, a key to change performance modes, brightness adjustments, a print screen key, and — perhaps most unexpectedly — a key to rotate the display image 180 degrees are all included in the keyboard’s function keys.
The touchpad is a good size and a lot bigger than its predecessor. It has a smooth surface that supports the full range of Windows 11 multitouch gestures and Microsoft Precision touchpad drivers.
Audio
If necessary, you can enjoy playing video games or viewing movies on the MSI Creator Z16’s built-in speakers, which are loud and have enough bass and depth. Although the Dell XPS 15 has noticeably more bass, they are still quite enjoyable to listen to even though they aren’t the greatest we’ve ever heard.
Battery life
The battery capacity of the MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen is 90 watt-hours. 6 hours 13 minutes are available. In contrast, the Asus ROG Zephyrus can run continuously for more than 8 hours. Other extremely well-liked gaming laptops, like the Alienware m15 R7, have top-notch hardware.
MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen performance reviews
The contrast was poor at 990:1, just below our desired 1,000:1 level, and brightness was strong at 461 nits, much above our 300-nit norm. With an accuracy of DeltaE 0.89, colors were wider than usual at 100% of sRGB and 89% of AdobeRGB (less than 1.0 is considered excellent).
MSI Creator Z16 12th Gen alternative
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
With a weight of just 3.79 pounds and a thickness of 0.77 inches, this is an excellent gaming device for trips and commutes. It has a wonderful screen, touchpad, keyboard, and port selection. It generated reliable frame rates during our tests, and there wasn’t much of a performance difference between the 6700S and 6800S models. We also received a day’s worth of battery life, which is uncommon in modern gaming laptops. Oh, and there is a webcam as well.
The G14 is essentially a condensed version of the G15 if you’re searching for something that is lighter and thinner than the G15. You need make sure to get the $1,649.99 SKU with the 6700S GPU out of the available combinations. We believe that this particular model is the top 14-inch gaming laptop available today.
You can even pay more for a computer that features Asus’s AniMe Matrix if you want an animated grid of colored lights on it. Although we don’t believe these models are particularly good value for the money, they do have some cute features, such the ability to be customized to show text or images of your choosing and the presence of a playable virtual pet. Regardless, if you’re looking for a 14-inch laptop that can also serve as a daily driver and has strong gaming capabilities, this one should be at the top of your list.
FAQs
Apple sells the MacBook Pro (with Apple M1 Max Chip), which has a 32-core GPU, a 10-core CPU, and a higher-resolution 16-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio display. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 (Intel Core i9-12900H, RTX 3070 Ti) is another excellent alternative that costs approximately $1,000 less if you don’t mind some RGBs on the chassis. However, you give up the touch screen with both options.
The MSI Creator Z16 is an Nvidia Studio laptop that was created for content producers or amateurs who dabble in creative apps, but it also has a respectable gaming configuration and features that should appeal to those seeking for an all-in-one option.
You get a built-in 720p webcam on the display, which is somewhat subpar but typical of laptop webcams. Having one at all on a gadget like this is a blessing. You can log into the laptop with your face using Windows Hello, which MSI also adds an IR camera for.
By incorporating secure sign-in through a fingerprint scanner on the palm rest, directly below the keyboard, MSI ensured the Creator Z16 was safe. Additionally, you may log in using Windows Hello facial recognition, which integrates with the IR webcam(opens in new tab). Additionally, you may safely turn off the camera by using the F6 key to keep prying eyes out.
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