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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers superior performance for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering compared to the MSI Bravo 15, but it comes with a higher price and more weight, making it less portable. It also has a larger screen, higher resolution, and more storage and RAM, but its battery life is not significantly longer than the MSI despite the larger battery capacity due to the higher performance components which consume more power. The MSI Bravo 15 is more affordable, lighter, and thus more portable but falls short in performance and storage capacity, which makes it less ideal for high-end gaming or professional applications. Both laptops are not particularly long-lived on battery and have sizable screens, but if portability and cost are your priorities, the MSI is a better fit, whereas for higher-end gaming and task performance, the Acer is the stronger option. 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 speakers
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Bravo 15
- The MSI Bravo 15 has no clear advantages over the Acer Predator Helios 16.
Key differences
General Use
8.0
7.1
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for general use, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 leads in general use due to its superior CPU, larger amount of RAM, a higher resolution and brighter display, and more efficient heat management, which all contribute to better performance and user experience, despite being less portable and having similar battery life to the MSI Bravo 15. The MSI Bravo 15, while more portable and with excellent operating noise management, falls short in CPU performance, has half the RAM and a lower quality screen compared to the Helios 16, limiting its aptness for demanding tasks.
Gaming and AI
8.5
7.2
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers superior gaming and 3D performance with a high-end Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a faster screen refresh rate, making it better for demanding graphics tasks, whereas the MSI Bravo 15 packs a decent Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and has a lower screen refresh rate, still providing good gaming experience but at a potentially lower cost. The Helios 16's CPU and screen quality are also better, which cater to a high-end performance segment, whereas Bravo 15's corresponding features balance performance with budget considerations.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.2
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 excels in engineering and design use due to its superior Intel i7 processor, larger RAM, and high-end RTX 4070 GPU, providing robust performance for demanding applications, coupled with a high-quality screen with better resolution, brightness, and color accuracy.
Content Creation
8.2
7.1
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
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 MSI Bravo 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
6.8
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 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
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers a higher resolution and better brightness, making it ideal for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work where clarity is essential. Its color accuracy encompasses wider color gamuts, which are crucial for engineering and design professionals who need precise color representation. However, the lower refresh rate holds it back for gaming and 3D work where smooth motion is key, which the MSI Bravo 15 also lacks, plus it has lower resolution and brightness, diminishing its general use and engineering appeal despite being adequate.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Bravo 15 and Acer Predator Helios 16 both have only fair portability, though the MSI Bravo 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
6.7
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has good build quality, while the MSI Bravo 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
$862
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,236 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 has 6 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.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the MSI Bravo 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | MSI Bravo 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,236 | $862 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
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 | 267 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 6.9/10 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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."
MSI Bravo 15
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LaptopMedia
Nikolay Palaozov | July 2023
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the MSI Bravo 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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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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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