When considering the Acer Predator Helios and the ASUS ROG Strix, keep in mind that the ASUS generally offers powerful performance suited for demanding tasks like gaming, 3D work, and machine learning, which justifies its higher price. However, it is less portable due to its size and possibly shorter battery life. The Acer, being less expensive, is a more budget-friendly option with decent performance for general use and lighter engineering tasks, and it might be easier to carry around. If affordability and portability are your priorities, the Acer is a smart choice; if you need top-tier performance and are willing to invest more, the ASUS is preferable. 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
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024).
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024)
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
8.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.6/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and Acer Predator Helios 16 are both very good for general use, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is somewhat better.
The Acer Predator Helios 16, with ample CPU power and RAM, delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks, but its heavier build and shorter battery life may limit its portability for on-the-go use. The ASUS ROG Strix G18, on the other hand, offers a superior screen, longer battery longevity, and a balance of high-end CPU and RAM, making it a better fit for those prioritizing performance and display quality over weight and size for general use.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.8/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and Acer Predator Helios 16 are both very good for content creation, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is somewhat better.
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
7.9/10
8.5/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is 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.
Screen Quality
8.8/10
8.7/10
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios 16 for content creation, and software development.
When considering general use, both the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 offer high-resolution displays with bright screens and panel types that provide crisp, clear images, making them excellent for everyday tasks. For engineering and design purposes, these laptops excel as well due to their wide color gamut coverage, which ensures accurate color reproduction for professional editing and design work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates may not provide as smooth an experience as models specifically designed with higher refresh rates for those needs.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has only fair portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and Acer Predator Helios 16 are both very good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is equipped with powerful graphics and a high-refresh-rate screen, making it adept at handling gaming and 3D applications with smooth visual performance. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers an even more robust graphics performance and a top-tier screen refresh rate, ensuring exceptional gameplay and 3D experiences, but generally at a higher cost.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
9.2/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) to be excellent for engineering and design, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16, with a robust CPU, ample RAM, high-quality GPU, and a clear screen, meets the demands of engineering and design tasks but falls behind the ASUS ROG Strix G18, which excels with even better processing capabilities and screen display, enhancing the speed and visual fidelity required for complex projects. While the Helios 16 offers a better balance of power and portability, the ASUS Strix G18 prioritizes top-tier performance at the expense of being heavier and less travel-friendly, with both models providing decent keyboard and speaker quality but varying in operational noise due to their different cooling solutions.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.8/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) 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.
Cost
$2,300
$2,216
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $2,300 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) costs $2,216.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) compare to other laptops
"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."
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024)
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 ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
116,295
Recommendations made
25,198
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.