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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value a more powerful CPU for demanding tasks like video editing or 3D work and slightly better battery life, the Acer Predator Helios 16 is the superior choice. However, the Acer Nitro 5 17, while less powerful, comes with a more budget-friendly price and also features a capable GPU that is suitable for gaming and other graphics-intensive work. The Helios 16's display has a higher resolution and better color space coverage, benefiting professional photo and video editing, but if the lower cost is a priority and your tasks are less focused on color accuracy, the Nitro 5 17's display is adequate for general use and gaming. Both laptops are of similar weight, with the Nitro 5 being slightly heavier, making them reasonably portable but not ultralight. 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 Nitro 5 17
- The Acer Nitro 5 17 has no clear advantages over the Acer Predator Helios 16.
Advantages of the Acer Predator Helios 16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7
8.5
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 is good.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 offers a higher screen refresh rate, which is advantageous for gaming and 3D applications, but the Acer Predator Helios 16 features a more recent GPU which generally provides better performance and is paired with a higher resolution and quality display, albeit with a lower refresh rate than the Nitro 5 17.
Engineering and Design
8.0
8.7
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Nitro 5 17 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Acer Predator Helios 16 is somewhat better.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and the Acer Predator Helios 16 are both very good for engineering and design use because they are equipped with robust CPUs and GPUs that handle demanding tasks efficiently, have ample RAM for multitasking, and feature high-quality screens with accurate color representation and resolution suitable for detailed work. While the Nitro 5 offers a larger screen and powerful graphics, the Predator Helios boasts a higher resolution and color accuracy, which is beneficial for precision in design; however, both are less ideal for frequent travel due to their size and weight.
Software Development
7.4
7.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Nitro 5 17 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
8.2
8.8
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
498.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the Acer Nitro 5 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Acer Nitro 5 17 and Acer Predator Helios 16 likely offer sharp displays with ample brightness and clarity, due to their respective high resolutions and panel types that excel at delivering crisp images for daily tasks like web browsing and video streaming. In engineering and design, where accurate color representation is crucial, both laptops seem to have displays that cover wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals can trust the colors they see for their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both machines may fall short due to lower refresh rates, which limits how fluidly they can render fast-moving visuals, an important factor for a smooth gaming experience.
Cost
$830
$1,599
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a price of $830 and the Acer Predator Helios 16 costs $1,599.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
498.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 16 to be very good for general use, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 is good.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and Acer Predator Helios 16 are both equipped with 16GB of RAM and offer screen resolutions that cater to clear visuals, with the Helios 16 providing a higher quality display due to its higher resolution and color accuracy, both important for general use. While the Nitro 5 is slightly less portable due to its larger size and heavier weight, its robust CPU and RAM make it suitable for various tasks, whereas the Predator Helios 16 offers better heat management, which is crucial for extended sessions, and portability due to its smaller size and lighter weight, but at the expense of some screen size.
Content Creation
7.8
8.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 16 to be very good for content creation, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 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.
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has 6 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
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Nitro 5 17 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
7.4
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Nitro 5 17 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Nitro 5 17 and the Acer Predator Helios 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Nitro 5 17 | Acer Predator Helios 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$830 | $1,599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.9'' x 11'' x 0.98'' | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.95 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.89" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.02" | 10.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Intel i7-13700HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 57.5 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 360Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 307 nits | 498 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Nitro 5 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | August 2021
"The Acer Nitro 5 17 is a solid mid-range gamer. The Nitro 5 does not belong to the top group of RTX 3070 notebooks: Compared with the RTX 3070 notebooks tested so far, the computer delivers below-average frame rates - this is due to the 100-watt TGP. The GPU performance can be increased a bit with a firmware update. The device scores with a high level of CPU performance. Throttling is not a concern. CPU and GPU can produce their performance constantly. The laptop heats up moderately under load. The noise development is on the usual class level."
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 Nitro 5 17 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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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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