The Acer Predator Helios 16, usually less expensive, is a robust choice for gaming and engineering with a high-end processor and advanced graphics. However, it's heavier, which affects portability. On the other hand, the MSI Summit E16 Flip is somewhat more expensive and offers a touchscreen, a more professional appearance, better portability due to lower weight, and longer battery life, making it suitable for business and general use. 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
Advantages of the MSI Summit E16 Flip
Good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
6.8/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
7.7/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is very suitable for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7-13700HX CPU and RTX 4070 GPU, which deliver higher performance for computation-heavy applications, although it is heavier which affects its portability. The MSI Summit E16 Flip, while good for engineering and design with its Intel i7-1260P CPU and RTX 3050 Ti GPU, is lighter and has a convertible design, offering greater versatility and ease of portability for users who value flexibility and on-the-go usage.
Screen Quality
8.8/10
8.0/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a better screen than the MSI Summit E16 Flip for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and MSI Summit E16 Flip are equipped with displays that offer high resolution and brightness, making them suitable for general use where clarity and visibility are key. Their screens cover a wide range of colors, including DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, which is essential for accurate color representation in engineering and design work. However, for gaming and 3D applications that demand quick image refreshes, the lower refresh rate of these laptops may lead to less fluid motion and a suboptimal visual experience.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E16 Flip has 8 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
16.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Summit E16 Flip has good portability, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 16 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 offers a powerful CPU and ample RAM for multitasking, alongside a high-quality IPS screen with good color coverage, making it suitable for general use but less portable due to a slightly heavier design and shorter battery life. Conversely, the MSI Summit E16 Flip, while matching in CPU and RAM, adds touchscreen functionality and 2-in-1 versatility with better battery life and lighter weight, enhancing its portability and making it equally adept for general use tasks.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.9/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 Summit E16 Flip 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
7.6/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and MSI Summit E16 Flip are both good for software development.
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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.4/10
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and MSI Summit E16 Flip both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,526
$1,550
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,526 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip costs $1,550.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip compare to other laptops
"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 MSI Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop with pen, 16:10 display, and RTX 3050 Ti. The Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop from the business segment that primarily targets creative users. MSI combines a 16-inch touchscreen in the 16:10 format with a powerful midrange GPU. While the 2-in-1 laptop from MSI isn't meant for everybody, it should definitely attract some followers. The touchscreen display (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) covers the DCI-P3 color space. This is accompanied by stable viewing angles, a good color reproduction, short response times, and a good contrast level."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the MSI Summit E16 Flip
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.
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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