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Predator Helios 16
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GF65 Thin
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What we think

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Updated January 10, 2024·

The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers higher performance ideal for intensive engineering tasks or gaming due to its better main processor and GPU, along with larger storage and more RAM. It will suit you if a slightly bigger screen and superior refresh rate matter, but it is heavier and has a bulkier build which might affect portability. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin is lighter and easier to carry but has lower specs, which may not be suitable for demanding programs or games. It comes with a smaller screen and less powerful components, making it more appropriate for general use or light gaming. The Acer is generally more expensive, so if budget is a concern, the MSI might be the better choice despite its limitations. 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
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
  • Good portability

Key differences

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General Use

8.0
Predator Helios 16
GF65 Thin
6.5
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.

Gaming and AI

8.5
Predator Helios 16
GF65 Thin
6.8
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
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 GF65 Thin is only fair.

Engineering and Design

8.7
Predator Helios 16
GF65 Thin
6.7
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.

Content Creation

8.2
Predator Helios 16
GF65 Thin
6.8
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
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 GF65 Thin is only fair.

Software Development

7.9
Predator Helios 16
GF65 Thin
6.3
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.

Screen Quality

8.8
Predator Helios 16
GF65 Thin
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.

Battery

6.5 Hours
Predator Helios 16
GF65 Thin
4.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin has 4.5 hours of battery life.

Portability

Fair
Predator Helios 16
GF65 Thin
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin 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
Predator Helios 16
GF65 Thin
6.7
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.

Cost

$1,236
Predator Helios 16
GF65 Thin
$1,100
Product image
Product image

$0

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,236 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops

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Spec Comparison

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Acer Predator Helios 16MSI GF65 Thin
Acer Predator Helios 16MSI GF65 Thin

GENERAL

Price
$1,236
$1,100
Release Date
March 1, 2023January 1, 2021
Overall Dimensions
14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1''14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85''
Weight
5.73 lbs4.1 lbs
Width
14.15"14.13"
Depth
10.88"9.99"

INTERNAL

Processor
Intel i7-13700HXIntel i5-10500H
RAM
16 GB8 GB
DDR Memory Version
54
RAM Slots
22
Storage
1024 GB512 GB

BATTERY

Battery Life
6.5 Hours4.5 Hours
Battery Capacity
90 Wh51 Wh

SCREEN

Diagonal Size
16"15.6"
Display Technology
IPSIPS
Resolution
2560 x 16001920 x 1080
Refresh Rate
240Hz144Hz
Display Brightness
498 nits262 nits

RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS

Build Quality Score
7.4/106.8/10
Portability Score
6.4/107.4/10
Gaming Laptop Appearance
YesYes
Premium Business Laptop
NoNo
Fan Noise Score
7.5/106.5/10

HARDWARE FEATURES

Keyboard Quality Score
7.5/107/10
Speaker Quality Score
7/106.8/10
Webcam
1080p720p
Fingerprint Reader
NoNo
Backlit Keyboard
YesYes
Number Pad
YesNo

CONNECTIVITY

USB Type-A
32
USB-C ports
22
USB-C Charging
YesNo
Display Outputs
31
Thunderbolt Version
4N/A

Shopping

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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."

MSI GF65 Thin

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Dig into reviews and images

NotebookCheck

Allen Ngo | March 2021
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."

Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the MSI GF65 Thin

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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Joe Golden, Ph.D

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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.

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