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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is significantly more expensive than the Acer Swift Edge 16 but offers superior performance for intensive tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering applications, thanks to its more powerful processor and graphics card. The Helios 16 also has a higher refresh rate display which is beneficial for gaming. However, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to the Swift Edge. In contrast, the Swift Edge is more affordable, lighter, and has a longer battery life, making it highly portable. Its OLED display with higher resolution provides better color accuracy and contrast, which is ideal for general use and watching content. If you prioritize performance for gaming and demanding tasks, and don't mind the extra weight and cost, the Helios 16 is suitable. If portability, battery life, and display quality for general use are more important and you're looking to save money, then the Swift Edge would be a 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 Predator Helios 16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Acer Swift Edge 16
- Very good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5
6.7
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 provides a superior gaming and 3D experience primarily due to its higher-powered Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and faster screen refresh rate, leading to smoother visuals and better handling of graphically intense tasks. The Acer Swift Edge 16, while also good for gaming and 3D applications, has a lower-tier AMD Radeon 780M GPU and a slower refresh rate, but offers a higher screen resolution and vivid OLED screen quality which can enhance overall visual fidelity.
Engineering and Design
8.7
8.1
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Swift Edge 16 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Acer Predator Helios 16 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
8.8
8.8
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
383.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the Acer Swift Edge 16 for gaming and AI, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Acer Swift Edge 16 offers a superior experience with its high-resolution display and exceptional brightness, making images and text crisp and easy to read, while the Predator Helios 16 provides good screen quality but may not be as bright or sharp. In engineering and design tasks, the Swift Edge 16's display covers a wider range of colors within the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB spectrums, ensuring more accurate color representation, which is vital for precise work, whereas the Predator is sufficient but less exceptional in color accuracy. However, for Gaming and 3D applications, the Predator's screen is less favorable due to a lower refresh rate, causing motion to appear less smooth compared to what gamers usually prefer; the Swift Edge suffers similarly, despite its superior resolution and quality for static images.
Portability
Fair
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Acer Swift Edge 16 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
$820
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,236 and the Acer Swift Edge 16 costs $820.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
383.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 16 to be very good for general use, while the Acer Swift Edge 16 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.
Content Creation
8.2
8.1
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Swift Edge 16 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
7.9
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Swift Edge 16 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.
Battery
6.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Acer Swift Edge 16 has 7 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.2
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Swift Edge 16 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 Edge 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | Acer Swift Edge 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,236 | $820 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 14.1'' x 9.7'' x 0.51'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 2.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 14.08" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 9.68" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | |
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 | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 54 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 3200 x 2000 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 498 nits | 383 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | N/A | |
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."
Acer Swift Edge 16
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PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | October 2023
"The Acer Swift Edge 16 is a solid super thin-and-light that pairs a large, gorgeous 16-inch display with portable design that rivals the weight of LG’s superlight Gram 16. Remarkably, Acer achieves this at a lower price point without sacrificing performance. Boring design and disappointing battery life hold the laptop back from stardom, but its rivals frequently suffer in these areas, too. That makes the Swift Edge 16 an alluring value pick."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the Acer Swift Edge 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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