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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming or intensive engineering tasks, the Acer Predator Helios 16 with its advanced graphics card and higher refresh rate display delivers robust performance but is heavier and has shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Acer Swift 14 is noticeably lighter, offers a longer battery life, and its touchscreen feature could be more convenient for general use, but its integrated graphics limit its capacity for demanding graphics tasks. 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 engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
- Good speakers
Advantages of the Acer Swift 14
- Very good for software development
- Excellent portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5
6.7
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift 14 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.9
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift 14 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is preferred for engineering and design due to its more robust CPU, superior GPU, and higher screen refresh rate, boosting performance for intensive tasks like 3D modeling—a tradeoff for its heavier build and shorter battery life. In contrast, the Acer Swift 14 offers good performance for engineering with a sufficient CPU and integrated GPU, enhanced portability with its lighter weight and longer battery life, but at the expense of the advanced graphics capabilities found in the Helios 16.
Screen Quality
8.8
7.6
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
458.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the Acer Swift 14 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Acer Swift 14 has a better screen for content creation.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and ample brightness, making it a great choice for general tasks and visually intensive work like engineering and design due to its wide color gamut coverage. However, its lower refresh rate may not deliver the smooth visuals gamers seek for fast-paced action. Conversely, the Acer Swift 14, while providing similar benefits for general use and professional design with good color accuracy, may not suit gaming or 3D applications as well due to its refresh rate limitations.
Battery
6.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Acer Swift 14 has 9 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
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Acer Swift 14 has excellent portability, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,236
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,236 and the Acer Swift 14 costs $1,400.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
8.2
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
458.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Acer Swift 14 and Acer Predator Helios 16 are both very good for general use.
The Acer Swift 14 provides better portability and longer battery life, making it very good for general use, especially when mobility and away-from-power usage are priorities. Although the Acer Predator Helios 16 offers a high-performance CPU and advanced graphics, which are ideal for intensive tasks, its bulkier build and shorter battery life make it merely good for general use where these attributes may not be as critical.
Content Creation
8.2
8.2
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Swift 14 are both very good for content creation.
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
8.2
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift 14 to be very good for software development, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 is good.
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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.4
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Swift 14 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 Predator Helios 16 and the Acer Swift 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | Acer Swift 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,236 | $1,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 12.2'' x 8.4'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 2.65 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 12.22" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 8.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 56 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 498 nits | 458 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1440p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Predator Helios 16
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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."
Acer Swift 14
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Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, John Peroramas | April 2023
"The Acer Swift 14 is good for school use. Its compact design makes it easy to carry around, and its battery lasts easily through a typical school day. You can configure the laptop with an FHD+ or QHD+ display; both look sharp and get bright enough to combat glare. The keyboard feels tactile but can be a little tiring to type on over an extended period, and while the touchpad is small, it's responsive to all movements and gestures. Its Intel 13th Gen. CPU can handle nearly every type of workload; however, its integrated graphics perform poorly, so it isn't ideal for students in technical fields like 3D graphics."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the Acer Swift 14
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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