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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 16 costs more but offers superior performance for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, thanks to its advanced GPU, and is well-suited for engineering work with higher screen color accuracy, contrast, and refresh rate. However, it's heavier, which may affect portability. Conversely, the HP Envy 17 is less expensive, offers better battery life, and is slightly lighter, making it more portable. While suitable for general use and with a touchscreen, the Envy's lower performance GPU makes it less ideal for gaming or intensive engineering tasks. 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
- Good speakers
Advantages of the HP Envy 17
- Good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5
6.4
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the HP Envy 17 is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications because it is equipped with a high-performance Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card and has a screen with a high refresh rate of 240Hz, which provides smoother gameplay and more detailed graphics.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.4
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Envy 17 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 stands out for engineering and design with a high-performance CPU and GPU, more memory storage, and superior screen quality, delivering more power for computation and better visual detail; however, it is heavier and slightly less portable than the HP Envy 17, which offers good performance with a capable processor and GPU, but a lower screen resolution, making it more suitable for less demanding engineering tasks and easier to carry around.
Content Creation
8.2
7.5
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for content creation, while the HP Envy 17 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.
Screen Quality
8.8
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the HP Envy 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Predator Helios 16 offers a vibrant and sharp display with ample brightness, which makes text clear and colors pop, ideal for browsing and media consumption, while the HP Envy 17 provides a similarly pleasant viewing experience but with slightly less vibrancy. When it comes to engineering and design, the Helios 16 shines with its wider color gamut coverage, ensuring more accurate color representation necessary for professional creative work, in contrast, the Envy 17 also supports a good range of colors but falls short of the Helios 16. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Predator Helios 16 falls behind due to its lower refresh rate which can make fast-moving images less smooth, whereas the importance of higher refresh rates becomes less of a concern with the lower-performing HP Envy 17 since it's not primarily designed for those high-intensity visual tasks.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP Envy 17 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
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Envy 17 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
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,599 and the HP Envy 17 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.0
7.5
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 16 to be very good for general use, while the HP Envy 17 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers strong performance with a higher-end CPU and GPU, making it suitable for more intensive applications, but it has less battery life compared to the HP Envy 17, which has a larger screen and touch capability that are beneficial for general use activities. While the Helios 16 boasts superior screen quality, the Envy 17 offers a better balance of portability and battery longevity.
Software Development
7.9
7.5
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and HP Envy 17 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.2
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and HP Envy 17 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 HP Envy 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | HP Envy 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,599 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 15.7'' x 10.2'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 5.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 15.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 55 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 | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 498 nits | 329 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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."
HP Envy 17
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NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | April 2023
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the HP Envy 17
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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