The Acer Predator Helios 16 is likely a better choice for those needing higher performance and a larger display; its more powerful processor and graphics card, along with a bigger and higher-resolution screen, make it well-suited for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks. However, it is generally more expensive and has a slightly larger and heavier build compared to the Acer Predator Helios 300, which is priced lower, making it more budget-friendly. The Helios 300's smaller screen and lower price point may appeal to those who prioritize portability and cost over cutting-edge performance. 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 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 battery life
Advantages of the Acer Predator Helios 300
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has no clear advantages over the Acer Predator Helios 16.
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 stands out for general use due to its powerful CPU and higher RAM capacity, which provide smooth performance, along with a higher resolution screen that offers clearer visuals and more workspace, but its larger screen and battery size make it less portable and offer moderate battery life. Conversely, the Acer Predator Helios 300, while lighter and slightly more portable, sacrifices some screen quality and battery capacity, yet it still delivers competent performance for everyday tasks due to a capable CPU and sufficient RAM. Both laptops feature quality keyboards and speakers, and they manage heat and operating noise effectively but expect the Helios 16 to have an edge in screen quality, which could be preferable for tasks requiring finer details.
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
7.2/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is superior for gaming and 3D applications primarily due to its more powerful GPU, the Nvidia RTX 4070, and a higher screen refresh rate of 240Hz, enhancing both visual quality and smoothness in fast-paced scenes. Meanwhile, the Acer Predator Helios 300 features a less powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a lower screen refresh rate of 144Hz, which still delivers a solid gaming experience but with less graphical detail and lower potential frame rates.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
7.6/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 excels in engineering and design due to its higher-end CPU and GPU, offering greater performance for computation and graphics-intensive tasks, and has a screen with higher resolution and color accuracy which is vital for precise design work. The Acer Predator Helios 300, while still apt for engineering tasks, has a slightly less powerful CPU and GPU and a screen with lower resolution and color range, but it is lighter and thus more portable, and also typically less expensive.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.3/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for content creation, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 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
7.9/10
7.1/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Predator Helios 300 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
8.8/10
7.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios 300 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Predator Helios 16 stands out with a vibrant display offering high resolution and brightness, making it pleasant for everyday tasks like web browsing and video streaming. In the realm of engineering and design, the same laptop provides wide color coverage, essential for accuracy in visual projects. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key, the lower refresh rate of the Helios 16's screen may lead to less fluid visuals compared to screens optimized for these purposes.
Battery
6.5 Hours
3.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 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
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and Acer Predator Helios 16 both have only fair portability, though the Acer Predator Helios 300 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,236
$1,099
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,236 and the Acer Predator Helios 300 costs $1,099.
"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."
"The Acer Predator Helios 300 review is an overclocked gaming laptop with a good display. The Predator is large, heavy, and loud, but also offers plenty of performance according to gamers. An overclocked gaming laptop - or its user - also has to struggle with the usual disadvantages we mentioned above. On the other hand, overclocking is optional, and those who like it quieter and can live with a few less frames per second can also switch to the significantly more moderate Standard mode. Then the Helios 300 won't be any louder than the competitors."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the Acer Predator Helios 300
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.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
126,495
Recommendations made
27,408
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.