In concept, Acer’s Predator Helios Neo 16, a mid-range gaming pc, is a slimmed-down model of the Predator Helios 16 (Non-Neo). A number of the vintage Helio type’s options had been saved, that means it will possibly set itself with the exception of Acer’s entry-level Nitro collection.
Even so, a couple of of its facets will also be classed as entry-level options, corresponding to its put in RTX 4050 — at a value of US$1,069, it is a little questionable. On the other hand, the pc’s Intel Core i5-13500HX is a formidable desktop-class CPU which consumes 55 watts. This and a couple of of its different options would not typically be present in true price range laptops. Moreover, there are variants with an RTX 4060 or an RTX 4070.
All through the process this evaluate, we will be able to analyze whether or not that is all sufficient to make the pc price the fee. Its major pageant comes within the form of Lenovo’s Legion Professional 5, however additional competition come with the HP Victus 16, XMG Apex 15 and the Dell G15.
The Predator Helios Neo’s case steadiness is superb, which units it with the exception of numerous price range avid gamers. The almuninum lid and plastic base unit are a deep black (Obsidian Black) with a refined darkish blue shimmer.
There are a couple of engraved components at the lid which, in conjunction with the blue fan grills at the again, give the software an enchanting look, but additionally a decrease “stealth impact”. One transparent downside is how a lot its surfaces draw in fingerprints.
The lid will also be opened with one hand and as much as a most of ~150° — on the similar time, the hinges are fairly stiff, which means that it hardly ever wobbles while you place it. Sadly, it may be twisted fairly simply (although this does not result in any symbol mistakes) however in flip, the bottom unit could be very solid. All-in-all, the Helios Neo 16 left fairly a excellent to excellent affect on us, the similar because the non-Neo variant did. The one distinction is this type does not characteristic an illuminated again or a swappable cooling grill.
With a weight of 2.6 kg and a thickness of 28.25 mm, the Helios Neo is bang on moderate for a 16-inch gaming pc. In our comparability box, handiest the HP Victus 16 has decrease values, weighing 2.3 kg with a thickness of 22.9 mm. The 15.6-inch XMG Apex 15 could also be a little bit lighter.
Acer’s gaming pc options 1x USB-A three.1 (5 GBit/s), 2x USB-A three.2 (10 GBit/s), in addition to 2x Thunderbolt 4 incl. DisplayPort 1.4 and Energy Supply (65 watts) at the again. Including to the again is a Gigabit-RJ45, microSD card reader, 3.5-mm audio jack, Kensington lock, energy connection in addition to an HDMI 2.1 port that is attached at once to the dGPU and that helps 4K at 120 Hz with simultaneous G-Sync.
On the finish of the day, the Predator Helios Neo is at no downside in comparison to its costlier sibling, except for its decrease PD functionality.
The microSD card reader’s switch charges are moderate when used with our AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60 reference card. The Legion Narrow 5, Acer Nitro 16, XMG Center of attention 15 and Gigabyte G5 all learn and duplicate knowledge with an identical switch charges. On the other hand, XMG’s Apex 15 is greater than two times as sluggish, whilst Alienware’s m16 R1 is two times as rapid.
The pc’s put in Intel Killer AX1650i WLAN module corresponds to the older WiFi 6 same old and, with switch charges of ~900 MBit/s, is on a in a similar way sluggish point because the Realtek chip inside the Lenovo LOQ 16.
The Helios 16, however, achieves as much as 1.6 GBit/s the use of the Intel Killer AX1675i (WiFi 6E), whilst the Legion Professional 5 16 narrowly got here out on height of our comparability box. Intel’s Killer E2600 Gigabit controller looks after stressed connections, whilst Bluetooth 5.2 could also be on board.
Against this to the Predator Helios 16, Acer has handiest put in a 720p webcam into the Neo, which we discover a genuine disgrace taking into account its worth. Accordingly, the picture high quality leaves so much to be desired even beneath optimum prerequisites. Home windows Hi could also be no longer incorporated. On the other hand, the dual-array microphones ship first rate sound high quality.
Except for the software itself, the pc’s scope of supply handiest features a 230-watt energy provide. On the whole, we might have appreciated to look extra environmentally pleasant packaging used with none plastic — even though, the fabrics used are a minimum of recycled.
After casting off 11 Phillips screws, you’ll simply get right of entry to the interior of the case. There are two reminiscence banks and two M.2-2280 slots, which additionally strengthen SSDs fitted on either side. The WiFi chip and BIOS battery may also be changed. The battery is held in position via the case screws and the ground shell, in order that it to start with appears to be like as whether it is mendacity unfastened within the case.
Acer offers the pc a one-year restricted guaranty, with prolonged provider plans to be had by means of Acer Care Plus.
Acer has put in a 6-row chiclet keyboard with sufficiently massive keys and spacing into this software. This has nearly not anything in not unusual with the keyboard of the Helios 16, but it surely is identical in mechanics and look to the keyboards of many reasonably priced gaming laptops, such because the XMG Apex 15, Gigabyte G5 or Captiva Complex gaming laptops. It’s the very same as at the Acer Nitro 16.
Its beneficiant key carry of one.5 mm is accompanied via a obviously noticeable drive level. On the other hand, the keys’ resistance will have been a little bit clearer. The keyboard warps ever so rather when typing (which, via the way in which, could be very quiet), however this isn’t an issue in day after day use. The format is in reality lovely great, however the proper shift secret is a little bit too small because of the arrow keys being regular-sized, whilst the left shift secret is even smaller.
Acer has given this keyboard a four-zone RGB illumination with 4 depth ranges, whilst the non-Neo model has a in particular even micro-LED illumination. Whilst the brand button at the numeric keypad launches the Predator Sense app, the completely lit button on the height left is used to change between the functionality modes.
The 12.6 x 8.3 mm touchpad works very exactly and is good and clean, even though it’s comprised of plastic and no longer glass just like the Helios 16‘s is. It’s simple to scroll and carry out multi-touch gestures. The built-in click on buttons have a brief carry and a pleasing click on.
Our take a look at software is fitted with a matte WUXGA IPS show (FHD+) with a side ratio of 16:10, whilst different variants be offering a QHD possibility. Each panels have a refresh fee of 165 Hz.
Against this to the Predator Helios 16, the QHD possibility does no longer duvet the DCI-P3 colour area however is as an alternative restricted to 100% sRGB just like the FHD+ variant we examined. 373 cd/m² is satisfactorily shiny — in our comparability box, handiest the Legion Professional 5 shines brighter at 516 cd/m², plus, it additionally provides a better solution at a an identical worth (as do the LOQ 16 and the XMG Apex 15).
It completed moderate distinction ranges of one,025:1, whilst its illumination of 86% is not extraordinarily even and we famous some obviously visual halos. PWM, which will doubtlessly result in eye discomfort or complications, is a minimum of no longer used in this software.
The display’s reaction instances of 8 ms (gray-to-gray) and eight ms (black-to-white) are brief — handiest the Dell G15 5530 stands proud with reaction instances of handiest 3.4 ms (gray-to-gray). Nvidia G-Sync could also be supported. General, the show appears to be like great and colourful, which is most likely because of its DCI-P3 colour area protection of a minimum of 80%.
For the reason that sRGB colour area is totally lined, skilled symbol and video modifying which depends on correct colours is unquestionably conceivable — supplied its quite low FHD+ solution does no longer intervene with those makes use of.
Inside of our comparability box, the Helios Neo 16 is the one pc beside the Dell G15 5530 to exceed the essential DeltaE 3 restrict (as much as which the human eye can understand colour deviations) with a price of four.67 instantly out of the field.
Thankfully, its DeltaE price was once decreased to just 2.44 after our calibration, even though blue tones nonetheless deviate considerably with a price of seven. The cyan tint may additionally do with being corrected. Our calibrated colour profile will also be downloaded right here.
Due to the software’s matte show floor and its brightness of 373 cd/m², the display stays legible out of doors — so long as you do not take a seat in direct daylight.
As is conventional for IPS displays, it stays legible even from excessive viewing angles.
We’re checking out the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 with an Intel Core i5-13500HX (6 P cores + 8 E cores), 16 GB DDR5-4800 RAM, a 512-GB SSD and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 with a 130-watt TGP. Additional variants will also be discovered, that have as much as a Core i9-13900HX (8 P cores + 16 E cores) and as much as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070.
The objective marketplace of the model we examined contains avid gamers who need to play new video games in local FHD+ solution, however who may also be proud of double-digit FPS charges. Different graphics duties also are conceivable with this entry-level type of the Helios Neo 16, even though 8 as an alternative of 6 GB VRAM can be perfect for 4K video modifying specifically.
4 functionality modes are to be had inside the Acer keep watch over middle device “Predator Sense”, which will however be switched between by means of the button at the left above the keyboard. We carried out our performance-related benchmarks in “functionality” mode, whilst the device routinely switched to “balanced” mode in battery mode. The Predator Helios Neo 16 should actually have a price point of a minimum of 40% to ensure that the functionality modes to be managed.
The next desk displays that little or no GPU functionality is misplaced in balanced mode, whilst the enthusiasts stay nearly pleasantly quiet. Turbo mode, however, is unbearably loud and is due to this fact handiest helpful for lengthy video rendering classes or an identical.
The pc’s put in Intel Core i5-13500HX is a desktop-class processor with 14 cores, 20 threads (6 P cores + 8 E cores) and a TDP of 55 watts. The P cores to start with clock at round 4.2 GHz and, in consequence, simply pass over their most conceivable Turbo of four.5 GHz. After round 30 seconds, the clock charges drop rather to three.8 GHz (Turbo mode) or 3.4 GHz (functionality mode).
In the case of multi-core functionality, the Helios Neo got here in 10 % in the back of the Dell G15 5530 with a Core i7-13650HX and 15 % in the back of the Helios 16 with a Core i7-13700HX. The Core i7-12700H inside its direct predecessor, the Predator Helios 300, was once outperformed via 12 % and the eight-core AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS inside the Schenker XMG Apex 15 was once outperformed via a complete 20 %.
From the 5th Cinebench R15 run onwards, its functionality was once throttled via about 17 %, however this may nearly be averted via activating the loud Turbo mode. The optionally to be had Core i9-13900HX has a complete 24 cores and works 60 % quicker in multi-core duties inside the Helios 18. In battery mode, its TDP is proscribed to a disappointing 27 watts, which ends up in a drop in functionality of virtually 60 %.
Acer’s gaming pc could be very responsive all the way through day after day duties. Browsing the internet whilst the 4K YouTube performs appears like a vacation for the Intel HX device. All through the PCMark 10 benchmark, the Predator Helios Neo lagged in the back of the AMD methods Lenovo Legion Professional 5 and Schenker XMG Apex 15 via round 30 %, particularly when it got here to content material introduction. On the other hand, the Neo near to reached the highest place all the way through the Crossmark take a look at.
Its internet surfing functionality, as an example the use of Mozilla Kraken 1.1 and WebXPRT, is excellent due to the pc’s robust single-core functionality — however no longer fairly as excellent because the Legion Professional 5.
The Acer software’s very prime DPC latencies of 8,021 µs (examined a number of instances) save you the usage of real-time multimedia device. The primary explanation why for that is the Nvidia graphics driving force. Driving force and BIOS updates can fortify or irritate the outcome.
The put in PCIe 4.0 SSD from SK Hynix has a capability of 512 GB. Its switch charges of as much as 5,330 MB/s (sequential reads) are prime, as are its write charges and 4K values. This places the Helios Neo 16 in first position a number of the comparability gadgets in our functionality score.
On the other hand, a thermally brought on, cyclical throttling happens after a while, as will also be noticed within the “DiskSpd Learn Loop” graph underneath. As much as two inner M.2 SSDs (additionally double-sided) are supported.
Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4050 is an entry-level GPU with 6 GB of VRAM, which pulls a most of 130 watts (115 watts + 15 watts Dynamic Spice up) inside the Helios Neo 16. On the other hand, its most clock fee of two,570 MHz is already reached at 85 watts to 90 watts. Most effective the FurMark pressure take a look at could make use of the entire 130 watts, whilst the pc GPU by no means wishes greater than ~88 watts when working video games.
This places the software’s functionality on par with different gaming laptops with the similar GPU, such because the Legion Professional 5 16, Schenker XMG Apex 15 and HP Victus 16. Within the artificial benchmarks, an RTX 4060 additionally completed an identical effects (10 % lead), corresponding to within the Lenovo LOQ 16 and the Helios 16 (non-Neo). Its artificial benchmark effects have been part as excellent in battery mode.
In our functionality rating, the Legion Professional 5 16 got here in round 7 % upper than the Helios Neo 16, whilst the Dell G15 5530 and the Lenovo LOQ 16 every delivered round 15 % higher functionality with an RTX 4060. Relying at the sport, the space to the RTX 4060 higher – to 30 % for God of Warfare and 20 % for Hogwarts Legacy.
We suggest the use of balanced mode, as handiest 2-3 % of 3-d functionality is misplaced with considerably quieter fan noise. In battery mode, its functionality was once just a 3rd as excellent.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 stays most commonly quiet in each and every functionality mode — no longer handiest in idle mode, but additionally when browsing the internet and acting easy place of work duties, even though the fan at all times emits a quiet whirring.
Below natural CPU load, the noise ranges upward thrust to 37.7 dB(A), which continues to be no longer overly disturbing. Balanced mode is really useful for gaming — when the use of this mode, the pc’s noise emissions are nearly delightful. The Legion Professional 5 16, however, handiest reaches 43.8 dB(A) ex works when gaming. The Dell G15 5530 could also be fairly quiet, particularly beneath medium load. Lets no longer locate any digital noise in our type.
General, Acer’s gaming pc stays slightly cool, with its surfaces most commonly handiest attaining 25 to 35 °C beneath complete load. On the other hand, we famous some hotspots with temperatures as much as 56 °C: at the left above the keyboard and at the again on the middle height. The latter may get uncomfortable when gaming with the pc located in your lap, as an example.
All through our blended pressure take a look at (FurMark + Prime95), the P cores’ clock fee dropped from 4 GHz to simply 2 GHz after one minute and began to range round 2.25 GHz from minute 5, which is above the bottom clock of one.8 GHz.
The CPU reached as much as 92 °C however fluctuated such a lot that even after an hour it nonetheless on occasion fell underneath the 80 °C mark. Its moderate energy intake is 58 watts, whilst the Helios 16 (non-Neo) with an i7-13700HX attracts 100 watts in spite of having (nearly) the similar cooling device. The GPU’s clock fee briefly went from 2,560 MHz (most clock) to round 2,350 MHz and reached temperatures of as much as 87 °C.
The software’s downward-facing 2-watt stereo audio system produce balanced mids and highs, however the bass is sort of utterly absent. Their most quantity of 78.5 dB(A) could also be moderate. The gaming laptops in our comparability box do not ship higher sound, both.
A headset or sound device hooked up by means of the audio jack or Bluetooth is due to this fact really useful for an immersive sound revel in.
The gaming pc’s idle energy intake of 15.5 watts isn’t a surprise given its put in desktop-class CPU. Different HX methods (55-watt TDP), whether or not Intel or AMD, ceaselessly draw up to 20 watts. AMD HS methods (35-watt TDP) such because the XMG Apex 15 (which handiest attracts 10 watts in idle mode) ceaselessly have a corresponding merit.
A intake of 145 watts whilst gaming is somewhat low, however no longer while you believe that the RTX 4050 already reaches its most clock at ~87 watts. Most effective within the non-everyday pressure take a look at did it succeed in a top of as much as 239 watts, which the 230-watt energy provide can nonetheless arrange.
With runtimes of four hours and 16 mins, the Helios Neo 16 does not have all an excessive amount of staying power, even within the context of gaming gadgets. Its refresh fee is routinely set variably between 83 Hz and 120 Hz.
The HP Victus 16 (9 hours) and the AMD XMG Apex 15 device (7 hours) ship considerably longer battery runtimes in spite of the latter having a smaller 63-Wh battery.
A complete hour is had to price the battery to 50 % and a complete price takes two hours. Charging by means of USB-C takes even longer.
Acer’s Predator Helios Neo 16 is a chimera consisting of a cast mid-range gaming pc and fairly a couple of entry-level options. Particularly, the latter contains the RTX 4050 put in into our take a look at software — however its Complete HD panel, which might ship first rate values, is lovely same old. The similar will also be stated for its keyboard, which may also be discovered in lots of different price range gaming laptops.
Acer has paired all of this with a formidable desktop-class Intel Core i5-13500HX processor together with a liquid steel cooling answer, a graceful and strong, well-built case, in addition to a number of connectivity choices, which come with true HDMI 2.1 connecting to the dGPU and two Thunderbolt 4 ports. Finishing the setup are Complex Optimus and G-Sync.
Sadly, we are not fully positive whether or not this mixture (in reference to its MRSP of US$1,069) can in finding its audience. It could quite require an RTX 4060 or an RTX 4070 to make it price it, which will ceaselessly handiest be discovered inside the Neo 16 for a surcharge. Additionally against this to the steady Helios 16, this type does not have the ability to move for an i9-13900HX, a QHD panel with 100 % sRGB protection, or a Mini LED possibility. Its 720p webcam is moreover a large distinction and, in view of the pc’s worth, is an actual explanation why for critique. Its brief runtimes of four 1/2 hours additionally are not the most efficient.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is a slimmed-down model of the cast Helios 16. In principle, it is a excellent concept, however it could handiest paintings if the fee distinction between the 2 wasn’t as small.
Its tough cooling device has been followed nearly 1:1 from the Helios 16, which ends up in low inner temperatures and occasional noise emissions (at the newest when the use of balanced mode) — and no longer at the price of any functionality. At the turn aspect, its massive GPU and CPU energy restrictions in battery mode are a little bit over-the-top.
We discover it utterly abnormal that you’ll get the steady Helios 16 with the similar configuration however with extra options for a similar worth. However, it may well be price having a look on the Legion Professional 5 16 (Intel), which prices a little bit extra however advantages from a 240 Hz QHD panel, a extra tough RTX 4060, a comfy keyboard, in addition to quieter cooling when taking part in video games. Alternatively, if you’re on the lookout for a real price range gamer you then may well be having a look on the Lenovo LOQ 16, which includes a frugal AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS, a QHD panel and an RTX 4050 (US$1,200) or an RTX 4060 (US$1,400).
The model of the Acer Predator Helios 16 we examined, with an Intel Core i5-13500HX, RTX 4050 and a FHD+ show, will also be discovered on Amazon for US$1,069.
Allow 48h for review and removal.