First look: MSI Creator Z16

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This article has been produced in partnership with MSI.

Windows-based laptops have come a long way and MacBook Pros are no longer the default for photographers and creatives alike. MSI’s latest offering, the Creator Z16, sets to challenge the status quo with specs and hardware designed to satisfy even the most power-hungry creative professional. 

As a travel and landscape photographer, being able to work remotely whilst on the road is essential. Traditionally I use a 13-inch laptop and whilst it gets the job done, the small screen has always been a bugbear, particularly when editing detail-rich, high megapixel images. 

Boasting a QHD+ 16” Touch Screen panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio display, the Creator Z16 makes editing from any location possible.
Boasting a QHD+ 16” Touch Screen panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio display, the Creator Z16 makes editing from any location possible.

The golden ratio

Enter the Creator Z16, which aims to address this issue by including a QHD+ 16” Touch Screen panel with a 16:10 aspect ratio display. Taking upon the principle of the Golden Ratio, the 16:10 aspect ratio enables the screen to be 11% larger than a traditional 16:9 screen. This gives increased screen real estate for things such as video editor timelines and photo editing film strips.

Colour accuracy and fidelity is everything in photo and video editing. The Creator Z16’s screen is equipped with True Pixel technology. This enables highly accurate colours and is hardware calibrated in the factory to give 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut.

Using the included software True Color, you can easily switch between colour spaces, fine-tune your settings and calibrate the screen using supported devices.

The touch screen panel also works seamlessly with Adobe Lightroom and enables you to scroll and flag images in a very natural way. Another unique feature of the Z16 is the Flip-n-Share function which is made possible thanks to the 180° lay-flat hinge design. I found having the laptop open like a book with the screen flush to a surface offered better ergonomics when using the touch screen.

Power where you need it

Unlike desktop computers, laptops traditionally struggle and show their weaknesses when it comes to handling resource-intensive tasks. The laptop I’ve been using is equipped with the latest Intel® 11th gen core™ i9 processor and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060 Laptop 6GB GPU.

Using uncompressed, 61MP RAW files from the Sony a7rIV which average 120MB per image, I put the Z16 through its paces in both Lightroom and Photoshop, and the high-end specs make it a photo editing powerhouse.

MSI’s thoughtful inclusion of both USB type
A and type C ports means I never have to worry about getting caught out without the right type of dongle.
MSI’s thoughtful inclusion of both USB type A and type C ports means I never have to worry about getting caught out without the right type of dongle.

1:1 previews are rendered quickly and adjustments are applied effortlessly. Even after stacking multiple images in Photoshop, with adjustments applied, the Creator Z16 did not skip a beat. This is made possible thanks to MSI’s Cooler Boost Trinity+ Technology keeping things cool to minimise CPU and GPU thermal throttling.

Functionality for creatives

Within the Creator Z16 ultra-slim 15.9mm metal chassis, MSI has included 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports supporting up to 40Gbps bandwidth, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, Mic-in/Headphone-out Combo, and a UHS-III high speed Micro SD card reader for off-loading your drone footage.

And, throwing back to their gaming roots, MSI has included a customisable RGB keyboard. Whilst this isn’t going to be a feature for everyone, it allows for an additional level of customisation.

Equipped with the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology, the laptop can achieve fast, and stable connections with lower latency. To top it all off, the Z16 is powered by a massive 90Whr battery with fast-charge technology.

Final thoughts

Few things are as disruptive to the creative process as having a computer that can’t keep up with you. The MSI Creator Z16 gives you the performance of a desktop computer wrapped in a slim, portable package.

With its high-end specs and creator-focused design and features, the aptly named Creator Z16 is the perfect companion for creative professionals. ❂

Find out more: au.msi.com/Content-Creation/Creator-Z16-A11UX/buynow

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