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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is a more affordable, gaming-oriented laptop with high performance for 3D and machine learning tasks and has a high refresh rate display, suitable for gaming. However, its battery life is shorter, and it's heavier, impacting portability. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is considerably more expensive, offers top-notch build quality, a superior screen with a higher resolution, and longer battery life, making it more portable and suitable for long work sessions. The MacBook is better for professional use like video editing due to its color accuracy and processing power, while the Acer favors gaming and price-sensitive users. 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
- The Acer Predator Helios 300 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023).
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (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
- Good portability
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers a powerful Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM suitable for a variety of tasks, but the Apple MacBook Pro 16 stands out with a superior Apple M3 Pro chip and 18GB of RAM, offering smoother performance especially in resource-intensive applications. While the Helios 300 is heavier and thicker with a shorter battery life which impacts portability, the MacBook Pro boasts a longer battery life, a higher resolution Mini LED screen with better color accuracy, adding up to its outstanding screen quality, and it's significantly lighter, enhancing its portability.
Engineering and Design
7.6
8.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers solid performance for engineering and design with a capable Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU, but its screen quality is lower compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 16, which boasts a powerful in-house M3 Pro CPU and GPU, and a higher resolution Mini LED screen that excels in brightness and color accuracy. The MacBook Pro also leads in portability, keyboard, and speaker quality, but it commands a premium price, while the Helios 300, though less portable with a lower-quality keyboard and speakers, is often more affordable and has hardware tailored for gaming too.
Content Creation
7.3
8.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
16.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (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
8.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (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
9.3
15.6in
SIZE
16.2in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios 300 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MacBook Pro's high-resolution display and exceptional brightness provide crisp and vivid visuals, while its panel type ensures consistent color and wide viewing angles. Engineering and design professionals often prioritize color accuracy, and the MacBook Pro's adherence to DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color spaces ensures precise color representation in these fields. However, when it comes to 3D applications, the lower refresh rate of the MacBook Pro makes it less suitable compared to laptops designed for gaming, which usually have higher refresh rates crucial for smooth motion rendering.
Battery
3.5 Hours
17.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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
15.6in
SIZE
16.2in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has 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 16 (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
$1,204
$2,199
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a price of $1,204 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) costs $2,199.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.2
7.5
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers a high-refresh-rate screen and a powerful Nvidia GPU which makes it well-suited for gaming, including intensive 3D games, complemented by its ability to run a wide range of popular games available on Windows.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,204 | $2,199 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | November 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.9'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 4.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 9.77" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Apple M3 Pro (12C) | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 18 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 | 17.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 99.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3456 x 2234 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 487 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 7.6/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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 16 (Late 2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 300 or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (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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