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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and the Apple MacBook Air (2020) are designed for different users. The Acer Predator is a gaming laptop, offering high performance suitable for gaming and intensive tasks like video editing, but it is heavier and may have shorter battery life. On the other hand, the MacBook Air is very portable with longer battery life and a focus on general use and light productivity tasks; however, it won't match the gaming performance of the Acer. Consider the Acer for gaming and heavy tasks, and the MacBook if you prioritize portability and battery life for everyday tasks. 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 300
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air (2020)
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.2
6.2
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications due to its dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, which means smoother visuals and better performance in tasks that require graphic processing power.
Software Development
7.1
7.7
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is somewhat better.
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
7.3
7.5
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
395.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a display with good resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate compared to specialized gaming models makes it less ideal for fast-paced gaming. The Apple MacBook Air's high-resolution screen and accurate color reproduction cater well to general use and professional design tasks, but the lack of a high refresh rate screen means it won't be as effective for 3D applications that benefit from smoother motion. Both laptops cover the necessary color gamuts for engineering and design but fall short for gaming and 3D tasks, where high refresh rates are crucial for optimal performance.
Battery
3.5 Hours
15.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Air has 15 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has very good portability, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
10.0
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,099
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a price of $1,099 and the Apple MacBook Air (2020) costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
395.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
15.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers a powerful Intel CPU and ample RAM, making it great for demanding tasks and multitasking, while its high-refresh screen excels in visual clarity, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the MacBook Air. The Apple MacBook Air, with its efficient Apple M1 chip, offers lighter weight, better portability, and longer battery life, along with a higher-resolution display, which is ideal for everyday use and on-the-go productivity, but it has less storage and might not handle intensive applications as well as the Helios 300.
Engineering and Design
7.6
7.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both good for engineering and design.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is equipped with a high-performance Intel i7 processor, dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, and ample RAM which are crucial for demanding engineering and design tasks, along with a high-refresh-rate screen for smooth visuals, but it is less portable due to its size and weight. The Apple MacBook Air (2020), on the other hand, boasts an M1 processor with integrated graphics that perform well in engineering software, a high-resolution display for detailed design work, and it scores high on portability, keyboard quality, and silent operation, making it suitable for on-the-go professionals who also prioritize build and speaker quality.
Content Creation
7.3
7.8
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both 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.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the Apple MacBook Air (2020) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | Apple MacBook Air (2020) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,099 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | November 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.9'' | 12'' x 8.4'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 2.8 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 11.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 8.36" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Apple M1 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3.5 Hours | 15 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 49.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 395 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 3 | |
Shopping
Acer Predator Helios 300
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | November 2022
"The Acer Predator Helios 300 review is an overclocked gaming laptop with a good display. The Predator is large, heavy, and loud, but also offers plenty of performance according to gamers. An overclocked gaming laptop - or its user - also has to struggle with the usual disadvantages we mentioned above. On the other hand, overclocking is optional, and those who like it quieter and can live with a few less frames per second can also switch to the significantly more moderate Standard mode. Then the Helios 300 won't be any louder than the competitors."
Apple MacBook Air (2020)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | July 2022
"The Apple MacBook Air M2 Entry is a very good, but too expensive daily MacBook. The new MacBook Air M2 is undoubtedly once again a very good mobile companion, but we are still a little bit disappointed on a very high level, which is definitely connected with the increased price point. The new chassis is extremely slim and the front edge is no problem during typing, but the bezels are pretty wide for a modern device and in addition with the vertical space required for the notch, the new Air has larger footprint than some Windows rivals."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 300 or the Apple MacBook Air (2020)
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 Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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