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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 16 excels in 3D rendering, machine learning, and other engineering applications, due to its powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX graphics. It also offers a higher refresh rate display suitable for intensive gaming. However, it is heavier, which makes it less portable, and has shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) with its M2 chip provides outstanding speaker and build quality and is significantly lighter and more portable, which is enhanced by its longer battery life. It is better suited for general use and may appeal to those integrated within the Apple ecosystem, though its performance in intensive 3D tasks and engineering is lower compared to the Helios 16. Furthermore, the MacBook Pro's fanless design ensures it operates quietly. Consider the type of applications you’ll be running and your need for portability when making your decision. 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
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5
6.5
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
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
10.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 excels in gaming and 3D due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics and a high screen refresh rate of 240Hz, which are crucial for smooth and detailed visuals in fast-paced games. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a capable but less powerful integrated GPU and a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz; additionally, many popular games are not compatible with its operating system.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.5
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 features a powerful CPU, ample RAM, high-end GPU, and superior screen quality, making it exceptionally suitable for demanding engineering and heavy graphical tasks. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 13, while delivering good performance through its efficient CPU, sufficient RAM, and high-resolution screen, falls behind in GPU power but offers greater portability and a well-regarded ecosystem for software compatibility in design work.
Screen Quality
8.8
7.6
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, both the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 offer high resolution and brightness, making images and text clear and easy to read. Their engineering and design suitability is enhanced by wide color gamuts, ensuring that colors are represented accurately and vividly, which is crucial for precision tasks. However, for gaming and 3D, the lower refresh rates on these screens lead to less fluid motion, making them less ideal for fast-paced visuals despite their satisfactory resolution and panel quality.
Battery
6.5 Hours
20.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 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
13.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has very good portability, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,526
$1,219
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,526 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) costs $1,219.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
7.7
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
20.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
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 Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers a robust Intel i7 CPU and ample 16GB of RAM, paired with a high-refresh-rate screen, making it a powerful choice for general use but slightly less portable due to its size and weight. Conversely, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) emphasizes portability, with a lightweight design and long battery life, featuring an efficient Apple M2 CPU and a high-quality screen, though its RAM is half that of the Acer, which could limit multitasking performance.
Content Creation
8.2
7.9
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 16 to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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
7.8
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,526 | $1,219 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 12'' x 8.4'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 11.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 8.36" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | Apple M2 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 20 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 58.2 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.3" | |
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 | 497 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 10/10 | |
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 | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 3 | |
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."
Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2022
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
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.
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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