A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Company ProductName Specs
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is a gaming-focused laptop with a powerful GPU and high refresh rate display. It is better suited for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering tasks but is heavier and has shorter battery life. On the other hand, the HP Dragonfly Pro 14 is a premium business laptop that's more portable and has longer battery life, alongside a touchscreen. It's less powerful for high-demand tasks but great for general use and still capable for light engineering or creative work. Consider what you'll be using the laptop for and whether portability or power is more important to you. 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 engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5
6.5
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 240Hz, making it very good for gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" uses a less powerful AMD Radeon 680M GPU and has a lower screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which makes it only fair for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.6
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is equipped with a powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX GPU, enhancing performance for engineering software and design tasks, alongside a high-resolution, quality display, but it is heavier and bulkier, reducing portability.
Screen Quality
8.8
7.1
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
405.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Predator Helios 16 provides an exceptional visual experience thanks to its sharp resolution and strong brightness, making text and images clear and vibrant, whereas the HP Dragonfly Pro's slightly lower brightness offers a still pleasing daily viewing but without the same level of vibrancy. In tasks such as engineering and design, the Acer's panel covers a wider range of colors, representing a broad spectrum that professionals need for precision work, while the HP, though competent, may not render colors with the same accuracy. Lastly, for gaming and 3D, the Acer falls short as its refresh rate isn't high enough to deliver the smooth motion that these applications demand, whereas the HP, although not designed for these tasks either, shares a similar limitation in refresh rate affecting fast-paced visual performance.
Battery
6.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has 10 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
14.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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
8.5
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has very good 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
$1,236
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,236 and the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" costs $1,400.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
8.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
405.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and HP Dragonfly Pro 14" are both very good for general use.
The Acer Predator Helios 16, with its high-performance CPU and generous RAM, excels in tasks requiring significant processing power but offers moderate battery life and portability, which is typical for gaming-focused laptops. The HP Dragonfly Pro, while it also has ample RAM and a capable CPU, truly shines with its superior battery life and lighter form factor, making it very good for general use and better suited for users prioritizing mobility and all-day use.
Content Creation
8.2
7.9
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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
7.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | HP Dragonfly Pro 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,236 | $1,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | July 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 12.4'' x 8.8'' x 0.72'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 3.42 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 8.78" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | AMD Ryzen 7 7736U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 64.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 498 nits | 405 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 8.3/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1440p | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
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."
HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
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PCWorld
Brendan Nystedt | March 2023
"I’d say that the HP Dragonfly Pro checks off most of the boxes for this freelancer. It feels nice to use, is zippy and responsive, has great speakers, and even has a relatively sane price. Although it’s an unorthodox choice to pick AMD for this kind of machine, it’s clear that when Ryzen is given a chance to shine, it can kick a lot of butt."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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