If portability and battery life are high priorities, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" offers a lighter build and longer typical usage time on a single charge, making it convenient for on-the-go use and general tasks. However, for better performance in 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, the Acer Predator Helios 16 is the superior choice, with a more powerful CPU, GPU, and double the RAM, which is significant for intensive engineering workloads. The Acer also has a larger and faster refresh display, which is beneficial for fast-paced gaming or detail-oriented work. Keep in mind, the higher performance in the Acer comes at the cost of a heavier device with shorter battery life, and it's more expensive compared to the Lenovo. 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
Good portability
Very good battery life
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
341.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is favored for its high-performance CPU and GPU, ample RAM for multitasking, and superior screen quality, which is critical for general use; however, it is less portable and has a shorter battery life, potentially making it less convenient for on-the-go use. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 offers longer battery life and better portability, which is beneficial for general mobile use, along with a capable processor and sufficient RAM for everyday tasks, but it compromises on screen resolution and lacks a dedicated GPU.
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
6.2/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
6.7/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers a more powerful CPU and GPU, greater RAM, and a higher quality screen, which are very important for demanding engineering and design software. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5, with its less powerful integrated graphics and lower RAM and screen resolution, is fairer for such tasks but offers better portability due to its lighter weight and smaller size.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.3/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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
7.9/10
7.3/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both good for software development, though the Acer Predator Helios 16 is somewhat better.
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
6.5/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
341.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you're focused on general use, the Acer Predator Helios 16 delivers sharp visuals and vibrant colors due to its high resolution and brightness levels, surpassing the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15", which offers satisfactory resolution and brightness but doesn't stand out. For engineering and design work, the Acer's wider color gamut coverage ensures more accurate color rendition, essential for detail-oriented tasks, whereas the Lenovo has more limited color range, making it less ideal for professional color work. On the other hand, gamers might find the Acer's lower refresh rate less appealing for fast-paced games compared to laptops designed for gaming, which typically have higher refresh rates to promote smoother motion and improved gameplay.
Battery
6.5 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has 11 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
4.0 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" 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
$690
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,599 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" costs $690.
"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."
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is convincing due to its long battery life. The device scores points especially with its large battery and long battery runtimes combined with its low consumption. The CPU and GPU perform in the test as one would expect, and in line with what was familiar from the somewhat smaller 14-inch sister model, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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.
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