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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is designed for high-performance tasks such as gaming or engineering software; it has a powerful main processor, high-end graphics, and high refresh rate display but is heavier, has shorter battery life, and is more expensive. On the other hand, the Acer Swift 3 is more affordable, has a longer battery life, and is lighter, making it highly portable and suitable for general use and productivity tasks, although it may not perform as well with intensive 3D, machine learning, or gaming applications due to its less powerful processor and integrated graphics. 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 speakers
Advantages of the Acer Swift 3
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5
6.3
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 3 is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is better suited for gaming and 3D tasks because it's equipped with a high-performance Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card and a high screen refresh rate of 240Hz, which are very important for smooth, detailed visuals and fast-paced action. In contrast, the Acer Swift 3 relies on the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and has a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz, making it less capable for demanding graphics tasks, although it is lighter and offers a longer battery life for everyday use.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.1
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Swift 3 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16, with a high-end CPU and GPU, larger screen, and superior screen quality, excels in engineering and design work that demands top-tier performance and visualization capabilities, albeit at the expense of portability due to its bulkier size and shorter battery life.
Content Creation
8.2
7.6
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
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 Swift 3 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.
Screen Quality
8.8
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
309.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the Acer Swift 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers excellent visibility and clarity due to its high-resolution and bright display, which makes it suitable for everyday tasks and professional engineering or design work that requires precise color representation. However, despite its vibrant colors, the lower refresh rate hampers its gaming performance where smooth motion is key. On the other hand, the Acer Swift 3, while also providing clear and colorful images for routine and specialized tasks, lacks the superior refresh rate and wide color gamuts necessary for the best experience in gaming and design applications, respectively.
Battery
6.5 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Acer Swift 3 has 12 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
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Acer Swift 3 has very good portability, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,236
$500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,236 and the Acer Swift 3 costs $500.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
7.7
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
309.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 16 to be very good for general use, while the Acer Swift 3 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers powerful performance with its higher-tier CPU and dedicated GPU, making it suitable for demanding applications, and its high-quality screen enhances visual experience; however, it is less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the Acer Swift 3, which has a more energy-efficient processor and a lighter build for better portability and extended battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go use, although it may not handle intense tasks as well. Both laptops provide ample RAM for general use, and while the Helios has a larger screen and storage, the Swift 3 offers a more travel-friendly design.
Software Development
7.9
7.6
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Swift 3 are both good for software development.
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 3 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 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | Acer Swift 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,236 | $500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 12.6'' x 8.3'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 2.76 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 12.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 8.3" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | Intel i5-1240P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 12 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 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 498 nits | 309 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
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 | 1080p | |
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 3
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NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | February 2022
"With the Swift 3, Acer delivers a 14-inch laptop with a sleek, slim metal chassis. The latter is of high quality and sturdy enough for everyday use, which is a real plus point among the 700-Euro (~$798) models. A new feature is Thunderbolt 4 in the Type-C format for peripherals or even displays (DisplayPort via Type-C). Unfortunately, a card reader is still missing, and the RAM is completely onboard, so there are no upgrade options here. Acer's 14-incher is affordable, yet it does everything most would want from a truly mobile laptop: Long battery life, a great display, quality, sufficient ports, light weight, and low noise and heat emissions."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the Acer Swift 3
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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