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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the Lenovo Legion 5 17", consider that the Acer offers slightly better overall performance, a more color-accurate screen, and better features for intensive gaming. However, the Lenovo is often less expensive and offers good keyboard quality. The Acer is more portable considering its weight, but both laptops have mid-sized screens with the Acer featuring a slightly smaller 16-inch screen compared to Lenovo's 17.3 inches, providing more screen real estate. The Lenovo has lower battery life, making the Acer a better option for those needing to work unplugged for longer periods. Both are suitable for engineering tasks, but the Acer's higher performance gives it an edge for more demanding software and workloads. 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 battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 5 17"
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0
7.2
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo Legion 5 17" is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers high screen quality with better color coverage and higher resolution, which enhances the general use experience, while the Lenovo Legion 5 17" provides a larger screen but fewer colors and lower pixel density. Both have substantial RAM and capable processors for smooth performance, but the Helios 16 is more portable despite its slightly larger battery capacity, which contributes to a bit longer battery life compared to the Legion.
Gaming and AI
8.5
7.4
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Legion 5 17" is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers superior gaming and 3D capabilities owing to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 240, providing smoother visuals compared to the Lenovo Legion 5 17", which comes with a Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a refresh rate of 144. While both laptops are outfitted with quality IPS screens, the Acer's higher refresh rate and more robust GPU will be particularly appreciable in fast-paced gaming and demanding 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.6
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Legion 5 17" is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 typically offers top-tier CPU, GPU, and ample RAM, making it handle demanding engineering software with ease and deliver a crisp display for intricate design work. Meanwhile, the Lenovo Legion 5 17" provides solid performance with quality CPU, GPU, and sufficient RAM as well, but its larger screen size can be a tradeoff in terms of portability, though it is still an effective option for engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
8.2
7.2
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
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 Lenovo Legion 5 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.
Software Development
7.9
7.0
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Lenovo Legion 5 17" 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
7.3
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion 5 17" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 excels in general use and engineering tasks due to its high-resolution display and brightness, which enhance visual clarity and detail, plus it covers a wider color spectrum crucial for accuracy in design work. The Lenovo Legion 5 17" offers a similar but slightly less vibrant experience for general and engineering use, with adequate resolution and brightness, yet it too has a more limited color range impacting design precision. However, both fall short for gaming and 3D tasks, as their lower refresh rates mean less fluid motion and responsiveness, key factors in immersive and competitive gameplay.
Battery
6.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion 5 17" 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.
Portability
Fair
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.5 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has only fair portability, while the Lenovo Legion 5 17" has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,599
$1,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,599 and the Lenovo Legion 5 17" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
7.4
7.4
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Lenovo Legion 5 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 Lenovo Legion 5 17" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | Lenovo Legion 5 17" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,599 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 15.7'' x 11.4'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 6.57 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 15.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 11.41" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 80 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 | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 5.8/10 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 4 | |
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."
Lenovo Legion 5 17"
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NotebookCheck
Sebastian Bade | February 2022
"The Lenovo Legion 5 17 is a current-gen 17-inch gaming laptop and equipped with the latest AMD CPU and a powerful GPU, that manages to reach its full potential. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600H is a very good choice for this laptop and able to maintain its performance level for long periods of time. Our test model only falls behind consistently in a direct comparison with its competitors that are often equipped with eight cores and 16 threads. Despite this, the Legion 5 17 leaves an excellent impression and is almost able to keep up with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 mobile GPU in synthetic benchmarks."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the Lenovo Legion 5 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 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.
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