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Predator Helios 16
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Katana 17
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What we think

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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·

The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers a more powerful CPU and GPU combination, higher resolution and faster refresh display than the MSI Katana 17, making it a better choice for intensive tasks like gaming or 3D work. However, the Katana 17 has more memory which is beneficial for multitasking or complex engineering projects. The Helios 16 has a better battery capacity for longer use, but it's a bit heavier, reducing portability compared to the Katana 17. Decide based on whether performance or multitasking and portability are your priority. 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 gaming and AI
  • Very good for content creation
  • Very good overall display quality
  • Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
  • The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the Acer Predator Helios 16.

Key differences

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Gaming and AI

8.5
Predator Helios 16
Katana 17
7.9
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
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
7.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.

Screen Quality

8.8
Predator Helios 16
Katana 17
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.

Battery

6.5 Hours
Predator Helios 16
Katana 17
3.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 17 has 3 hours of battery life.
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Key similarities

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General Use

8.0
Predator Helios 16
Katana 17
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 16 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.

Engineering and Design

8.7
Predator Helios 16
Katana 17
8.4
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and MSI Katana 17 are both very good for engineering and design.

Content Creation

8.2
Predator Helios 16
Katana 17
7.8
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 16 to be very good for content creation, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.

Software Development

7.9
Predator Helios 16
Katana 17
7.5
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and MSI Katana 17 are both good for software development.

Portability

Fair
Predator Helios 16
Katana 17
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and MSI Katana 17 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.

Build Quality

7.4
Predator Helios 16
Katana 17
7.2
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and MSI Katana 17 both have good build quality.

Cost

$1,301
Predator Helios 16
Katana 17
$1,367
Product imageProduct image

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,301 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.

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How the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops

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Spec Comparison

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Acer Predator Helios 16MSI Katana 17
Acer Predator Helios 16MSI Katana 17

GENERAL

Price
$1,301
$1,367
Release Date
March 1, 2023May 1, 2023
Overall Dimensions
14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1''15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99''
Weight
5.73 lbs5.73 lbs
Width
14.15"15.67"
Depth
10.88"10.75"

INTERNAL

Processor
Intel i7-13700HXIntel i7-13620H
RAM
16 GB32 GB
DDR Memory Version
55
RAM Slots
22
Storage
1024 GB1024 GB

BATTERY

Battery Life
6.5 Hours3 Hours
Battery Capacity
90 Wh53.5 Wh

SCREEN

Diagonal Size
16"17.3"
Display Technology
IPSIPS
Resolution
2560 x 16001920 x 1080
Refresh Rate
240Hz144Hz
Display Brightness
498 nits256 nits

RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS

Build Quality Score
7.4/107.2/10
Portability Score
6.4/106.2/10
Gaming Laptop Appearance
YesYes
Premium Business Laptop
NoNo
Fan Noise Score
7.5/107/10

HARDWARE FEATURES

Keyboard Quality Score
7.5/107.5/10
Speaker Quality Score
7/107.5/10
Webcam
1080p720p
Fingerprint Reader
NoNo
Backlit Keyboard
YesYes
Number Pad
YesYes

CONNECTIVITY

USB Type-A
33
USB-C ports
21
USB-C Charging
YesNo
Display Outputs
32
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 Katana 17

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Dig into reviews and images

NotebookCheck

Benjamin Herzig | February 2023
"The MSI Katana 17 B13V laptop impressed us in its main area of competency - gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 ensures high-performance levels which can compete with the previous generation's RTX 3070 Ti. In addition to the speedy GPU, the MSI comes with a 144 Hz display as well as an RGB keyboard and provides a very good typing experience. Despite the power at hand, the laptop remains comparatively cool."

Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the MSI Katana 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 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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About the laptop team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

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

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Craig Russell

Laptops Expert
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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