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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers better performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, gaming, and other engineering tasks due to its more powerful processor and graphics card, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life which makes it less portable. On the other hand, the Acer Swift X 16, while still capable for general use and lighter engineering tasks, offers longer battery life and is much lighter, enhancing its portability. It may not be as suitable for intensive gaming or heavy 3D work. If you favor performance over portability and can manage a shorter battery life, the Helios might be for you; if you need a balance between decent performance and the ability to easily carry your laptop around for longer, consider the Swift X. 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 gaming and AI
Advantages of the Acer Swift X 16
- Very good for software development
- Good portability
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5
7.0
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Unknown
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 X 16 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and 3D because it has a more powerful graphics card, the Nvidia RTX 4070, and a higher screen refresh rate which is suitable for fast-paced gaming; contrastingly, the Acer Swift X 16, while also good, equips a less powerful Nvidia RTX 3050 and a lower refresh rate, making it less optimized for demanding gaming scenarios.
Engineering and Design
8.7
8.2
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Acer Predator Helios 16 is somewhat better.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is suitable for engineering and design due to its powerful Intel i7 processor, high-end Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, and ample RAM, which handle complex tasks and graphics-intensive software with a high-quality screen. The Acer Swift X 16, while slightly less powerful with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, offers greater portability and also has sufficient RAM and screen quality for engineering and design tasks.
Screen Quality
8.8
8.2
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
402.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the Acer Swift X 16 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen for content creation.
Considering general use, both Acer Predator Helios 16 and Swift X 16 offer sharp and vivid displays with high resolution and brightness, making text, images, and video content look clear and engaging. For engineering and design, these laptops boast screens with wide color gamuts, allowing for more precise color representation which is crucial for detailed design work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates can result in less fluid movement and slower response times, which might be a drawback for fast-paced visual experiences.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 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
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift X 16 has good portability, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,599
$1,250
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,599 and the Acer Swift X 16 costs $1,250.
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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
402.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Acer Swift X 16 and Acer Predator Helios 16 are both very good for general use.
The Acer Swift X 16 is more suitable for general use largely because of its higher portability score and longer battery life, making it a more convenient option for everyday tasks and mobility. In contrast, the Acer Predator Helios 16, while still good for general use, is less portable and has a shorter battery life, but offers better screen quality and is more suited for performance-intensive tasks like gaming due to its more powerful CPU and GPU.
Content Creation
8.2
8.3
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X 16 and Acer Predator Helios 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
8.0
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X 16 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
7.6
The Acer Swift X 16 and Acer Predator Helios 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 X 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | Acer Swift X 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,599 | $1,250 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 4.19 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 9.81" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | |
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 | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 76 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 498 nits | 402 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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 X 16
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PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | September 2023
"Acer’s Swift X 16 is an excellent choice for shoppers who want a 16-inch laptop and care more for performance than attractive design or long battery life. The Swift X 16’s gorgeous OLED display, spacious keyboard, and big touchpad make it pleasant to use in basic day-to-day tasks. It also has an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, which combine to deliver good performance in a wide variety of productivity applications and games. A few minor mistakes, like poorly-placed USB-C ports that lack DisplayPort, will turn off some shoppers, but those who can accept its shortcomings will find the Swift X 16 a versatile daily driver."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the Acer Swift X 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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