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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 16 will offer superior performance, especially for gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning tasks due to higher-end hardware; however, it will be heavier and possibly less portable than the HP Pavilion 15. The Pavilion, being less expensive, is more suited for general use and is more portable, making it ideal for everyday tasks and travel. You'll have to consider whether the cost difference is justified by your need for advanced performance in the Acer Predator Helios 16, or if the HP Pavilion 15's affordability and portability meet your needs. 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 overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Pavilion 15
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.0
7.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for general use, while the HP Pavilion 15 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is suitable for general use with a high-performance CPU, plenty of RAM, and a high-quality display but is less portable and has shorter battery life. The HP Pavilion 15 also meets general use requirements with adequate RAM and CPU, lower screen quality, but boasts better portability and quieter operation.
Gaming and AI
8.5
6.0
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 stands out for gaming and 3D tasks thanks to its high-end Nvidia RTX GPU and a screen with a very high refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals during fast-paced scenes. On the contrary, the HP Pavilion 15 falls short in these areas because it uses a basic integrated Intel GPU and a screen with a standard refresh rate, which means less fluid motion and lower visual fidelity.
Engineering and Design
8.7
6.2
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers a high-performance CPU and GPU, plenty of RAM, and a superior screen with high resolution and color accuracy, all features crucial for engineering and design work, but it's heavier and less portable. The HP Pavilion 15, while lighter and more portable, falls short with a lesser CPU and GPU, lower screen quality, and inferior color accuracy, making it less suitable for demanding engineering tasks.
Content Creation
8.2
7.1
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for content creation, while the HP Pavilion 15 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
6.6
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is good for software development, while the HP Pavilion 15 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
5.3
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer Predator Helios 16's high resolution and brightness make it visually appealing, offering clear and vibrant displays, while the HP Pavilion 15's inferior resolution and brightness lead to a less satisfying visual experience. In engineering and design, the Acer's wide color gamuts ensure accurate color representation which is critical for precise work, but the HP's restricted color range can result in less accurate color on screen, potentially impacting design quality. When it comes to 3D and gaming, the Acer's lower refresh rate might handicap motion clarity and gaming performance despite its otherwise superior display, as opposed to a display with a higher refresh rate which would provide smoother motion critical for fast-paced visuals.
Battery
6.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 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
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Pavilion 15 has 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
6.2
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has good build quality, while the HP Pavilion 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,236
$500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,236 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $500.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the HP Pavilion 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | HP Pavilion 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,236 | $500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | August 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 14.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 9.53" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 498 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
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 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
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."
HP Pavilion 15
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Alex Cox | August 2022
"The HP Pavilion 15 carries a fair amount of power and a sharp display in its handsome slimline shell. It's not perfect, but it's a hard worker. This is wonderfully designed and totes a heck of a lot of desktop power, with the added benefit of a decent webcam and a full-sized keyboard. If you're getting down to business on a budget, it's a great fit."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the HP Pavilion 15
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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