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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 300, being less pricey, offers a dedicated graphics card and higher overall performance suitable for gaming and engineering work, but at the cost of reduced portability due to its weight and lower battery life. Conversely, the MacBook Pro 14 prioritizes portability with a lightweight design, long battery life, and a high-quality display suitable for general use and media professionals, but it comes at a higher cost and might not handle intensive engineering and gaming tasks as efficiently as the Acer due to its integrated graphics and less RAM. 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 14 (Late 2023)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers ample RAM and a capable CPU for general computing tasks, but it is less portable and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go use compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 14, which boasts superior screen quality, longer battery life, and greater portability, albeit with less RAM.
Gaming and AI
7.2
6.7
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 300, with its Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a high refresh rate display, is tailored for gaming performance and smooth visuals, ideal for fast-paced games. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) offers a strong GPU within the Apple M3 for 3D tasks and a high-quality display, but the MacOS platform restricts the availability of many popular games.
Engineering and Design
7.6
8.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers strong performance in engineering and design applications with its capable Intel CPU and RTX GPU, along with sufficient RAM and a quality IPS screen, making it suitable for tasks requiring considerable computing power. The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its latest Apple M3 processor and integrated 10-core GPU, provides excellent screen quality with its Mini LED display, and it balances power with a lighter and quieter design, ideal for professionals who prioritize mobility and a premium build.
Content Creation
7.3
8.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 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
7.1
8.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 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
7.3
9.2
15.6in
SIZE
14.2in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios 300 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Predator Helios 300's screen quality excels in general use and engineering due to its high resolution and broad color coverage, offering crispness and vivid visuals, though its lower refresh rate results in subpar gaming performance where smoother motion is crucial. The MacBook Pro 14 shines in general use and engineering with its outstanding resolution, brightness, and color accuracy, providing professional-grade clarity and color fidelity; however, its typically lower refresh rate compared to dedicated gaming laptops makes it less ideal for 3D gaming where fluidity is key. Both laptops are not optimal for 3D gaming experiences that rely on high refresh rates to deliver smooth, immersive visuals.
Battery
3.5 Hours
17.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 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
14.2in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) 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 14 (Late 2023) 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
$1,649
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a price of $1,099 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) costs $1,649.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,099 | $1,649 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | November 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.9'' | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 3.4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 12.31" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 8.71" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Apple M3 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3.5 Hours | 17 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 69.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3024 x 1964 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 489 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 8.6/10 | |
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 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
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 14 (Late 2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 300 or the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
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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