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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Aspire 3 14 offers a budget-friendly option with adequate performance for general use and decent battery life, but its capabilities for intensive tasks like 3D rendering or engineering work are limited. In contrast, the Predator Helios 16 is pricier but excels in performance for gaming, engineering, and creative applications, although with increased weight and reduced battery life. For portability and cost efficiency, choose the Aspire 3 14, while for high performance at the expense of portability and higher cost, the Predator Helios 16 is the better choice. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Aspire 3 14
- Very good portability
Advantages of the Acer Predator Helios 16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
498.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.3/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
5.9
8.5
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is equipped with a less powerful AMD Radeon 610M GPU and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, making it fair for gaming and 3D applications, whereas the Acer Predator Helios 16 features a high-end Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a much higher 240Hz refresh rate, delivering very good performance in these areas. Additionally, the Helios has superior screen quality and a more advanced CPU, which further contribute to its enhanced gaming and 3D capabilities compared to the Aspire 3 14.
Engineering and Design
6.1
8.7
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is considered fair for engineering and design use mainly because it has a moderate processor, basic graphics capabilities, and comes with half the storage and RAM compared to the Acer Predator Helios 16, which has a high-powered CPU and a powerful GPU, making it very good for demanding tasks in engineering and design. The Aspire 3 is lighter and has a fanless, silent operation which contributes to its portability, while the Predator Helios, though heavier and likely noisier, offers a larger and higher-quality display, enhancing screen clarity for detail-oriented work.
Content Creation
7.2
8.2
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.1
7.9
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for software development, though the Acer Predator Helios 16 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
6.1
8.8
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
498.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 offers enough resolution and brightness for typical tasks like browsing and office work, making it suitable for general use, but lacks the extended color gamuts that are vital for precision in engineering and design, and its slower refresh rate hampers performance in fast-paced gaming and 3D applications. The Acer Predator Helios 16, with a superior display, delivers rich colors and sharp details that benefit engineers and designers who rely on color fidelity and visual accuracy, but despite its very good quality, falls short for gaming and 3D work where a high refresh rate is crucial for fluid motion. Both laptops serve their respective niches but aren't optimal for 3D or gaming enthusiasts who should seek screens with higher refresh rates to match their need for smooth visuals.
Battery
9.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has very good portability, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
7.4
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$434
$1,526
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a price of $434 and the Acer Predator Helios 16 costs $1,526.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 14 and the Acer Predator Helios 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 14 | Acer Predator Helios 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$434 | $1,526 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.74'' | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.9" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.5" | 10.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | Intel i7-13700HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 498 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Predator Helios 16
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Dig into reviews and images
IGN
Samuel Horti | June 2023
"The Predator Helios 16 stacks up well against its closest competition in benchmark comparisons. The Acer Predator Helios 16 isn't perfect. It's bulky, its lid feels flimsy and some of its keys are just too damned small – but none of its problems are fatal, and it shines where it counts. The powerful graphics and processor combo are spot on for this price point, the fans stop it getting hot under pressure, and the display is as good as you’ll find under $2,500. It's simply one of the best laptops to play demanding games on."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 14 or the Acer Predator Helios 16
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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