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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers higher performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks, along with a better screen for fast motion, making it suitable for gaming and intensive tasks. It has a larger screen, higher refresh rate, and dedicated graphics card but at the tradeoff of being heavier and having a shorter battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) favors portability, a higher screen resolution with better colors, and silent operation due to its fanless design, which enhances its build quality and makes it suitable for general use. It has longer battery life, but its performance for intensive tasks is not as high as the Helios 300. 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 Pro 13 (2020)
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.2
6.3
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 Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 300, designed as a gaming laptop, has a powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a high screen refresh rate, making it excellent for gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is equipped with an Apple M1 integrated GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, which, combined with limited game availability for MacOS, makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D despite its high screen 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 Pro 13 (2020) and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is somewhat better.
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
7.1
7.8
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 Pro 13 (2020) and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (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
7.6
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Acer Predator Helios 300 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) both offer high resolution and bright displays with robust panel types, ensuring clear and vibrant images. In the realm of engineering and design, the MacBook's superior color accuracy and wider color gamut give it an edge in rendering precise and rich visuals critical for these tasks. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast motion is key, the lower refresh rate of these laptops' screens may not deliver the fluidity and responsiveness that dedicated gaming laptops with higher refresh rates provide.
Battery
3.5 Hours
20.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 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
3.0 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (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 Pro 13 (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
$1,249
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a price of $1,099 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) costs $1,249.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
491.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
20.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers a powerful Intel i7 CPU and ample RAM, suited for demanding tasks, paired with a high-refresh-rate screen that's ideal for smooth visuals but has moderate portability due to its size and weight. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 comes with the efficient Apple M1 CPU and higher screen resolution, ensuring sharp images and long battery life, making it highly portable, albeit with less RAM and internal storage than the Helios 300. Both laptops exhibit strong screen quality, but the MacBook Pro excels in portability and battery life, while the Predator emphasizes performance and is better for graphically intensive tasks.
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 Pro 13 (2020) are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,099 | $1,249 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | October 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.9'' | 12'' x 8.4'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 3 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 | 20 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 58.2 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 | 491 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
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 Pro 13 (2020)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2022
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 300 or the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (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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