A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 16, while more expensive, offers better performance with a more powerful processor and graphics card which makes it well-suited for intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, and gaming. It also has a higher resolution and refresh rate display, which will be beneficial for both gaming and productivity; plus, it has more storage and RAM, which could lead to smoother multitasking. On the other hand, the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is less costly and still delivers respectable performance for general and gaming use but with lower display quality and less power for demanding applications. Both have similar weights but the ASUS has a larger screen at 17.3 inches versus the Acer's 16 inches, potentially making the ASUS less portable. The Acer also has a better battery capacity, which should translate to longer use on a single charge compared to the ASUS. 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
- Good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good battery life
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Gaming F17
- The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has no clear advantages over the Acer Predator Helios 16.
Key differences
General Use
8.0
7.1
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
264.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.4/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for general use, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is better for general use because it features a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a higher quality screen, ensuring smoother multitasking and better visuals. While both have similar portability and weight, the Acer Predator also offers a larger battery capacity which translates to longer battery life, making it more suitable for extended use without needing to stay plugged in.
Gaming and AI
8.5
6.6
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers superior performance in gaming and 3D tasks due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card and higher screen refresh rate of 240, compared to the ASUS TUF Gaming F17's Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti and 144 refresh rate. While both have capable processors and IPS screens for good image quality, the Helios 16's GPU and refresh rate advantages provide smoother visuals and better handle graphically intensive applications.
Engineering and Design
8.7
6.9
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 stands out for engineering and design with a higher-end CPU, more RAM, and a superior GPU, alongside a high-quality screen with greater resolution, brightness, and color coverage, factors crucial for design work. In comparison, the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a more modest CPU and GPU, less RAM, and a lower-resolution screen, which may still handle engineering tasks but with less prowess and fidelity; however, both laptops share similar weights, making them equally portable.
Content Creation
8.2
7.1
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 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
6.7
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
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
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
264.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers a balance of high resolution and brightness, making it excellent for daily tasks and detail-oriented work like engineering, but its lower refresh rate is less ideal for fast-paced gaming where smooth motion is key. Meanwhile, the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday activities and can handle some design tasks, but its limited color range can hinder precision in professional design settings, and like the Helios, the lower refresh rate may disappoint avid gamers. Both laptops, however, might not provide the most immersive gaming and 3D experience due to their poor performance in areas that enhance motion fluidity and visual fidelity in rapid-action scenarios.
Battery
6.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has 4.5 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.
Cost
$1,599
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,599 and the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and Acer Predator Helios 16 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.2
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 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 ASUS TUF Gaming F17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | ASUS TUF Gaming F17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,599 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 15.7'' x 10.6'' x 0.91'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 15.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 10.59" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | Intel i5-11400H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 48 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 498 nits | 264 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
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."
ASUS TUF Gaming F17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | April 2022
"One of the Asus TUF Gaming F17’s highlights is without a doubt its excellent gaming performance. The fact that Asus configured the RTX 3060 GPU for its specified maximum of 140 W is became immediately noticeable in our benchmarks. For a 17-inch notebook the F17 also offers a very long battery life, which makes it somewhat portable. On the flip side is the display. It may be saved by its good overall contrast ratio, but its overall brightness is simply too low, and its response times are too slow for a gaming device. The F17’s successor needs to improve upon this."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the ASUS TUF Gaming F17
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.
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