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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 16 is less expensive and offers strong performance for general use, 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks at a midrange price. It is a solid choice if you need a balance between performance and cost. In comparison, the Razer Blade 18 costs more but packs higher specifications, including a more powerful processor and double the RAM, which may be beneficial for more intensive tasks. However, this comes with the tradeoff of being heavier and less portable. Both have similar battery capacities and display qualities, but the Razer has slightly better screen size and superior build quality. 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
- Good battery life
Advantages of the Razer Blade 18
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0
8.5
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
498.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.1/10
The Razer Blade 18 and Acer Predator Helios 16 are both very good for general use, though the Razer Blade 18 is somewhat better.
The Razer Blade 18 stands out for general use with its superior CPU and double the RAM of the Acer Predator Helios 16, delivering smoother multitasking and performance for demanding applications, though with a slightly lower portability due to its larger size and weight. Despite both laptops having similar high-quality screens and battery life, the Razer Blade 18's edge in keyboard and speaker quality makes it more suited for extended use and media consumption.
Engineering and Design
8.7
9.3
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Razer Blade 18 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 is very good.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 provides a strong foundation for engineering and design with a robust CPU, significant RAM, a powerful GPU, and an IPS display ensuring good screen quality. However, the Razer Blade 18 tops it with a more advanced CPU, doubled RAM for superior multitasking, the same high-performance GPU, and an even larger, brighter display, albeit at a slight tradeoff in weight, making it slightly less portable and with somewhat noisier operating conditions.
Software Development
7.9
8.5
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for software development, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 is good.
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
8.9
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
498.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
The Razer Blade 18 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios 16 for content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the Razer Blade 18 provide crisp, vibrant displays due to their high resolution and brightness, ensuring that text is sharp and colors pop, making activities like browsing and video streaming enjoyable. For engineering and design, their wide color gamuts cover a broad spectrum that allows accurate color representation, which is crucial for tasks that require color precision, like photo editing and CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates may lead to less fluid motion, which is less ideal for fast-paced games or rendering where smooth motion is key.
Battery
6.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 18 has 4 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.
Build Quality
7.4
8.5
The Razer Blade 18 has very good build quality, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,236
$10
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Predator Helios 16 has a price of $1,236 and the Razer Blade 18 costs $10.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
8.5
8.9
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The Razer Blade 18 and Acer Predator Helios 16 are both very good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and the Razer Blade 18 are equipped with Nvidia RTX 4070 GPUs and high screen refresh rates of 240Hz, making them very good and excellent for gaming and 3D work respectively. While the Helios has a powerful Intel i7 CPU, the Razer Blade 18 has an even more potent Intel i9 CPU, which contributes to its superior gaming and 3D performance.
Content Creation
8.2
8.6
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Blade 18 and Acer Predator Helios 16 are both very good for content creation.
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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Predator Helios 16 and Razer Blade 18 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 16 and the Razer Blade 18 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 | Razer Blade 18 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,236 | $10 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 6.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 15.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.88" | 10.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | Intel i9-13950HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 91.7 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 498 nits | 524 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 6.2/10 | |
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 | 7.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1440p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
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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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."
Razer Blade 18
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | March 2023
"Razer made a powerful laptop in the Blade 18, showing off a beautiful and fast display and the same high-quality build we’ve come to expect from this product line. It’s also quite expensive, which is hardly a surprise, but bears repeating even in this price range. It’s pricier than the Scar 18 despite an inferior GPU and half the storage, so you really have to want the Blade 18’s design to justify the cost."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 16 or the Razer Blade 18
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 Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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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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