The Acer Predator Helios 16 has come to remind us that pleasant neighbourhood laptop computer maker Acer can pack a little bit of venom when required. As befits the Predator branding, the gaming laptop computer I used to be despatched for evaluation lately has treasured little of Acer’s often tame air about it, sporting a latest-gen Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card and as much as 32GB of RAM to again up the fierce-looking Predator emblem on the entrance.
However would this beast compete for the title of finest gaming laptop computer and even the very best laptop computer for video modifying or graphic design? After a couple of weeks with it, I feel it has an honest declare to all these lists…
Acer Predator Helios 16 evaluation: Key specs
| CPU: | Intel Core i7-13700-HX or i9-13900HX |
| RAM: | 16-32GB |
| GPU: | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 4070 or 4080 |
| Storage: | 1-2TB SSD |
| Display screen: | 16in WQXGA, 250Hz, 2560×1600 |
| Connectivity: | 1x HDMI, 3x USB-A 3.2, 2x USB-C, MicroSD reader, Audio jack, Ethernet port |
| Battery: | 90 Wh |
| Dimensions: | 2.69 x 35.78 x 27.87cm |
| Weight: | 2.6-2.9kg |
Acer Predator Helios 16 evaluation: Design and show
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is not like different Acers. Most Acers you see within the wild are tame little pets, with a display screen that does nearly sufficient to get you thru work, nearly sufficient energy to do what you want, and an look that is both as nondescript as a nine-year-old Toyota or, within the case of the environmentally pleasant Vero laptops, fascinating in that pleasant manner that begins conversations about recycled supplies in tech.
The Predator, nonetheless, is having none of that. Swapping out the pleasant, rounded Acer emblem for a spiky, aggressive insignia on the lid and beneath the display screen, the design aesthetics of the insurance-company-office-ready daytime Acers are likewise deserted, for a thicker, bigger, extra sharply rounded casing.
And it is heavy. Oh boy is it heavy. One of many heaviest laptops I’ve ever used, it weighs in at a mahoosive 2.9 kilograms (greater than even a number of the bulkiest Alienware large rigs round), and with that mixture of weight and sturdiness, you have bought your self a blunt self-defence weapon included too…
The display screen is a 16-inch, 2560×1600 providing, with a refresh price of as much as 250Hz, prepared for even probably the most severe avid gamers in each decision and response. The chassis extrudes barely out again from the display screen, as is the behavior lately with many gaming laptops, to accommodate further fan and {hardware} house.
The WQXGA display screen is brilliant too, and provides nice color protection for each high-contrast and vibrant gaming in addition to artistic endeavours, because it sports activities a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. I additionally very a lot loved watching movies and TV exhibits on the laptop computer, with true blacks making the often-frustratingly darkish scenes in fashionable filmmaking extra simply seen.
Oh, and it is available in a staggering vary of two wildly totally different colors: Black or Abyss Black.
Acer Predator Helios 16 evaluation: Options
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is totally packed on the within, with an possibility of both an Intel Core i7-13700HX or i9-13900HX processor, 16 or 32GB of RAM, both 1 or 2TB of SSD house and a alternative of three graphics playing cards, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 4070 or 4080. The mannequin I bought in for testing was the 4060-kitted mannequin, which comes with the i7-13700HX processor and 32GB of RAM. Briefly, what this implies in English is ‘you will not want an improve for fairly a couple of years’.
It is comparatively effectively outfitted with ports too, with an HDMI port, three USB 3.2 ports (one Gen 1 and two Gen 2) and two USB-C 3.2 ports too, one Thunderbolt 4 and one 10 Gbps Gen 2). It is sufficient to plug your gaming peripherals instantly into the laptop computer with out the necessity for exterior docks, and there is a MicroSD card reader on there too.
The RGB-backlit keyboard impressed me too, as Acer has someway squeezed a numpad on there with out both that or the primary keyboard feeling too squished for my clumsy fingers. The touchpad has Corning Gorilla Glass and gesture response is nice, though it does not break my roughly 100-strong streak of preferring an exterior mouse to a laptop computer’s native touchpad.
The keyboard has a Mode hotkey proper subsequent to the display screen, which switches between Eco, Balanced, Efficiency and Turbo modes for a fast change from daytime working to after-hours gaming, and there is a Predatorsense utility app hotkey, which you need to use to summon the onboard Predatorsense software program for fast customisation and personalisation, together with
The cooling gear is marketed fairly closely on Acer’s web site, and the Fifth-gen Aeroblade fan with rapid-cooling liquid metallic thermal grease does maintain issues impressively cool, however in Turbo mode it will get fairly astonishingly loud.
On the within is a small suite of bespoke software program too, together with the aforementioned Predatorsense, which you need to use to regulate efficiency modes, fan settings and even the lighting.
The webcam is a reasonably competent 1080p proposition, with a bodily privateness shutter change for peace of thoughts. The mic performs effectively sufficient too, however this a part of the laptop computer will not be a video-conferencing celebrity.
Acer Predator Helios 16 evaluation: Efficiency
| Geekbench 6: | CPU Multi-core: 13,113 | CPU Single-core: 2,374 |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 | GPU Vulkan: 85,656 | Row 1 – Cell 2 |
| Cinebench 2024: | CPU Multi-core: 1,075 | CPU Single-core: 113 |
| Row 3 – Cell 0 | GPU: 10,194 | Row 3 – Cell 2 |
| PCMark 10: | Residence check: 7,304 | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
| 3DMark: | Time Spy: 10,570 @ 67.6fps | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
| Handbrake: | 4m11s @73.6fps | Row 6 – Cell 2 |
As you’d count on from these specs (and that price ticket), the Acer Predator Helios 16 performs just like the monster it guarantees to be. It chewed up and tore by way of any recreation I threw at it, and even with a number of artistic apps open without delay I hardly observed a lot slowdown in any respect.
This sensation was backed up by most benchmark checks, with significantly spectacular outcomes on testing any graphic prowess. The laptop computer produced one of many quickest rendering jobs of our normal animated clip in our Handbrake testing I’ve seen up to now, with it crunching by way of an 11-minute video in 4 minutes and 11 seconds at a mean of 73.6 frames per second, and the Time Spy check on 3D Mark gave me a mean rating of 10,570 factors at a mean of 67.6 frames per second. These are extraordinarily spectacular figures, and Geekbench, Cinebench and PC Mark 10 checks backed that up.
As I mentioned earlier than, one upshot of utilising the laptop computer’s Turbo mode is that the followers get outrageously loud, a lot louder than in Efficiency mode. If you do not have headphones, this might be distracting for any avid gamers or creatives.
The audio system are respectable for a laptop computer, though they’re lacking a little bit of depth, as is the customized with laptop computer audio system. Exterior audio system or high quality headphones are but once more beneficial.
All connectivity, wired or wi-fi, went swimmingly, and I’ve no complaints about pace compromises even after filling up a big portion of the 1TB SSD storage with video games, information and software program.
As is customary with gaming laptops, as a result of highly effective and resource-hungry internals, battery life is sacrificed on the altar of outright efficiency. I bought about 4 hours of battery life on the balanced mode, and it will not run in Efficiency or Turbo modes with out being plugged in, so understanding the situation of the closest energy outlet is essential.
Acer Predator Helios 16 evaluation: Value
The Acer Predator Helios 16 retails for between $1,649 and $2,799 (or £1,999 and £3,099 within the UK), relying on the spec mixture. Whereas the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 card within the top-spec mannequin is tempting, I discovered the near-base mannequin I had for testing to be greater than sufficient for even probably the most resource-intensive video games and inventive software program, so in case you are prevaricating between fashions, I’ve no qualms about recommending the sub-$/£2,000 choices, with the GeForce RTX 4060 card I had able to some significantly heavy lifting.
Ought to I purchase the Acer Predator Helios 16?
In order for you a succesful gaming laptop computer that can even make gentle work of any artistic duties, and in case you do not undergo from any severe again issues, it’s best to positively take into account the Acer Predator Helios 16. It is extraordinarily highly effective, good to make use of for probably the most half, has good connectivity choices for creatives and avid gamers alike, and appears fairly cool too(in case you like sharp angles, the color black, and oodles of RGB lighting). It’s actually heavy, although, so in case you’re on the go quite a bit, it should put a particular pressure in your shoulders, and like most gaming laptops, battery life is way from wonderful.
After our testing, we’re completely happy to advocate the lower-specced variations, together with those with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card and i7 processor. That mannequin greater than dealt with something we threw at it, so saving a couple of hundred kilos will not compromise your expertise to any noticeable extent, until you are an absolute top-end energy consumer or want it to carry out studio-level work.
