MSI Creator 16 AI Studio vs Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 Comparison

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MSI Creator 16 AI Studio

16 inches | January 2024

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Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5

16 inches | January 2024

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MSI Creator 16 AI Studio vs Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Creator 16 AI Studio and ThinkBook 16p Gen 5, two laptops from MSI and Lenovo. MSI Creator 16 AI Studio was introduced to market in January 2024 and Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 was launched in January 2024. Both Creator 16 AI Studio and ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 were launched within the same month so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and available technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of MSI Creator 16 AI Studio and Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MSI Creator 16 AI Studio Key Specs

Launched in January 2024
16.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
GPU: GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop 12GB
32GB Ram
355.8 x 259.7 x 19.95-21.55 mm (14.01 x 10.22 x 0.79-0.85 inches)
Weight: 1.99 kg (4.39 lbs)

Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 Key Specs

Launched in January 2024
16.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 14500HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
354.6 x 258.2 x 19.9 mm (13.96 x 10.17 x 0.78 inches)
Weight: 2.19 kg (4.83 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Creator 16 AI Studio and ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose MSI Creator 16 AI Studio over Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5

Weight	1.99 kg vs 2.19 kg	0.2 kg lighter
Refresh Rate	165 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
CPU Fabrication Process	7 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU FLOPS	26.9 TFLOPS vs 8.3 TFLOPS	Flexible cable positions
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Left	Higher RAM potential
Max Total RAM	96 GB vs 32 GB	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.3	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 over MSI Creator 16 AI Studio

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~81.1% vs ~80.3%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5 mm vs 5.6 mm	0.6 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	189 ppi vs 142 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1200 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 5 nm	Newer Generation GPU
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 1x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time

Common Strengths of Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 and MSI Creator 16 AI Studio

Launch Dates	January 2024 vs January 2024	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs Yes	Easy Login with Fingerprint Sensor
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Numeric Pad	Yes vs Yes	Fast way to input numbers
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 and MSI Creator 16 AI Studio

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

MSI Creator 16 AI Studio vs Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the MSI Creator 16 AI Studio and the Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.99 kg (4.39 lbs)	2.19 kg (4.83 lbs)
Surface Area	924 cm2 (143.2 inches2)	916 cm2 (142 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~80.3%	~81.1%
Side Bezel Thickness	~5.6 mm	~5 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.12 kg/inch	0.14 kg/inch
	0.264 lbs/inch	0.308 lbs/inch
Colors	Gray	Gray
Cover Opening Angle	180Â°	180Â°

Comparison of the MSI Creator 16 AI Studio and the Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 External Dimensions

Weight

Creator 16 AI Studio weighs 1.99 kg (4.39 lbs), whereas the ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 weighs 2.19 kg (4.83 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. The weight difference between the two laptops is not significant.

Weight Comparison

Displays size 16.0-16.9 inches

MSI Creator 16 AI Studio 1.99 kg

Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 2.19 kg

Min 1.17 kg

Average 2.07 kg

Max 3.00 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 16.0-16.9 inches

MSI Creator 16 AI Studio 21.55 mm

Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 19.90 mm

Min 12.30 mm

Average 20.35 mm

Max 30.80 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the MSI Creator 16 AI Studio is 0.12 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 is 0.14 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

MSI Creator 16 AI Studio vs Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core Ultra 9 185H	Intel Core i5 14500HX Intel Core i7 14650HX Intel Core i9 14900HX
Base Frequency	2.3 GHz	2.6 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.1 GHz	4.9 GHz
Number of Cores	Arc Graphics (8-	14 (6P + 8E)
Number of Threads	22	20
L3 Cache	24 MB	24 MB
Integrated GPU	Arc Graphics (8-Cores)	Intel UHD Graphics (32 EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	7 nm	10 nm
Cinebench 23 (Single)	2055	1865
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	18640	18565

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the MSI Creator 16 AI Studio and Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 14500HX

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop 16GB	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	105 W	50 W
Nvidia Optimus	Yes, Advanced Optimus	Yes, Advanced Optimus
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	26.9 TFLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS
Memory Size	12 GB	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	192 bit	96 bit
Memory Speed	~16 Gbps	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	7424	2560
TMUs	232	80
ROPs	80	48

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. MSI Creator 16 AI Studio has a FLOPS value of 26.9 TFLOPS whereas the Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 ' has a FLOPS value of 8.3 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	32GB 64GB 96GB	16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	2x16 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	5600 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	96 GB	32 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 32 GB, the Creator 16 AI Studio offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the ThinkBook 16p Gen 5's RAM capacity of 16 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	MSI Creator 16 AI Studio	Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Good performance.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	⚠ Can run using CPU + RAM fallback. Expect slower performance.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	99.9 Wh	80 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left, Right	Left
Charge Power	240 W	230 / 300 W

Moreover, the Creator 16 AI Studio boasts a larger battery capacity of 100 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the ThinkBook 16p Gen 5's80 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 16.0-16.9 inches

MSI Creator 16 AI Studio 100 Wh

Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 80 Wh

Min 38.00 Wh

Average 74.15 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 4 TB, the Creator 16 AI Studio provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the ThinkBook 16p Gen 5's max. storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

MSI Creator 16 AI Studio vs Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the MSI Creator 16 AI Studio and Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Both Creator 16 AI Studio and ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 screens have the same size of 16.0".The total usable screen area of the Creator 16 AI Studio is 742cm² / 115inch² whereas the ThinkBook 16p Gen 5's total usable screen area is 742cm² / 115inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 features a higher pixel density with 189 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 16.0-16.9 inches

MSI Creator 16 AI Studio 142 ppi

Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 189 ppi

Min 137 PPI

Average 169 PPI

Max 283.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Creator 16 AI Studio offers a higher refresh rate of 165 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

MSI Creator 16 AI Studio vs Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Creator 16 AI Studio features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 (v6E).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Creator 16 AI Studio and ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 have USB-A ports. Creator 16 AI Studio has 1x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Creator 16 AI Studio and ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 feature 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Creator 16 AI Studio and ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both Creator 16 AI Studio and ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both Creator 16 AI Studio and ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Creator 16 AI Studio and ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v7	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.4	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	1x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	No
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes