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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the Dell Alienware m17 R5, consider that the Predator is lighter with a smaller screen size, which makes it more portable; however, its battery life is shorter than the Alienware's. Performance-wise, both feature similar main processors and GPUs, suitable for gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering tasks. The Alienware, though, has a higher storage capacity, a larger screen with a higher refresh rate, which can enhance your gaming and multimedia experiences, but it's heavier, affecting portability. Both devices run Windows and have ample RAM for most tasks but evaluate the battery life and portability against the larger screen and storage space when deciding. 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 Dell Alienware m17 R5.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m17 R5
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.2
7.7
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Dell Alienware m17 R5 is somewhat better.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and Dell Alienware m17 R5 both feature Nvidia RTX 3060 GPUs which are suitable for gaming and 3D tasks, with the Dell offering a higher screen refresh rate favorable for fast-paced actions. While both have good processing power, the Alienware's larger screen and slightly better screen quality might provide a more immersive experience, albeit with a bit of extra weight and size compared to the more portable Predator.
Engineering and Design
7.6
8.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is ranked higher for engineering and design use largely because of its superior AMD Ryzen CPU and more robust GPU, which outperform the Acer Predator Helios 300's Intel CPU and equivalent GPU in computational power, a critical factor for engineering applications. While both laptops have similar RAM and IPS displays, the Alienware offers better screen quality with higher color accuracy, contrast, and a significantly brighter display, as well as longer battery life, although it is less portable and noisier than the Predator.
Content Creation
7.3
7.8
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Alienware m17 R5 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.
Screen Quality
7.3
8.1
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
301.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios 300 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 both offer displays with sharp resolution and ample brightness, making them suitable for a variety of everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. When it comes to engineering and design, both laptops provide wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals and hobbyists get accurate color representation for detailed work. However, their screens have lower refresh rates, which makes them less ideal for gaming and 3D applications where smoother motion and rapid image updates are critical for an optimal experience.
Battery
3.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has 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
Poor
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
7.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has only fair portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,204
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a price of $1,204 and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
301.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.5/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is valued for its balance between performance and portability, offering a powerful Intel CPU and quality screen while being relatively light, making it suitable for carrying around, though with limited battery life. Conversely, the Dell Alienware m17 R5 stands out with its superior AMD processor, larger and more vibrant screen, and longer battery life, but is heavier and less convenient to transport.
Software Development
7.1
7.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for software development.
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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Acer Predator Helios 300 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | Dell Alienware m17 R5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,204 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.9'' | 15.6'' x 11.8'' x 1.05'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 7.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 15.64" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 11.76" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3.5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 97 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 480Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 301 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 5.5/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
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 | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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."
Dell Alienware m17 R5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | January 2023
"Overall, the all-AMD system in the Alienware m17 R5 is impressive, especially the graphics performance. However, various driver issues and unnecessary inconsistencies prevent us from truly enjoying such a potent gaming machine. In addition to strong 3D performance, we particularly like the build quality, the fairly bright UHD display with high color space coverage, and the fact that the gamer is often quiet when not under load and also rather quieter than some competitors under load."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 300 or the Dell Alienware m17 R5
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 Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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