

The model that we reviewed showed a green tint both when selecting a completely white color setting and a yellow color setting. This is perfectly acceptable for a laptop, especially since the counterpressure is very pleasant. However, the limited feedback caused by the short travel could become a bit bothersome in the long run. The keyboard itself has the usual standard size, so it's also suitable for users who are typing in a hurry. Only the link to certain sensor values or the CPU load, for example, didn't work for us. In addition to the preset effects, you can also select your own assignments, even separately for each individual key. It's also worth taking a look at the Alienware x17 R2, which has similar components, but has been designed with a considerably greater focus on continuous load.Īs soon as you start using the MSI Creator Z16P, the colorful keyboard illumination stands out. The Gigabyte Aero 16 YE5 is also a direct competitor. The Apple MacBook M1 Max immediately presents itself as a logical comparison device. An intermediate solution is to save on the graphics card by choosing the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080. The MSI Creator Z16P with the i7-12700H and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is available for 1,000 Euros (~$1,053) less, depending on the rest of the configuration, but it still offers an identical display. There are also two less powerful versions. While we reviewed the MSI Creator Z16 predecessor with a smaller graphics chip and "only" an i7, we now have the maxed-out version that requires twice as much power at its peak. It remains to be seen how well the fans can cope with the overwhelming energy consumption of an almost unrestrained Intel Alder Lake processor in such a small space. On the other hand, 4K or OLED have been left out, but this shouldn't result in any restrictions for creative work. This is, of course, matched by the display, which is precalibrated to almost completely cover the DCI-P3 color space and is ideally suited for video editing.

This doesn't look like a gaming machine, but rather like a work device. The slim and elegant case can still be stored reasonably well in a bag or backpack in this format.

The difference, however, becomes clear even before you turn it on. With the Intel i9-12900H and the Nvidia GeForce 3080 Ti, the 16-incher even competes with powerful gaming laptops. As such, the list of components reads like a collection of the best hardware currently available for laptops. Expectations should be set correspondingly high for a device that costs just under 4,500 Euros (~$4,737).
