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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the HP Envy 17 depends on your priorities. The Acer is pricier but offers better performance for 3D work, machine learning, and gaming due to its more powerful graphics card. It has a high refresh rate display, which is great for gaming but has a shorter battery life. The HP Envy 17 is more affordable, has a larger screen with touch capability, and better battery life, making it well-suited for general use and productivity tasks. Despite being larger, it's surprisingly similar in weight to the Acer. If gaming and performance-intensive tasks are less critical, the HP Envy 17 provides a better value. However, for gaming or specialized work, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is the better choice. 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
- Good overall display quality
- Good speakers
Advantages of the HP Envy 17
- Good portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.2
6.4
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Envy 17 is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is equipped with a superior Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a high screen refresh rate of 144 Hz, significantly enhancing gaming and 3D performance, while the HP Envy 17's Intel Iris Xe graphics and lower 60 Hz refresh rate are adequate for less demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Screen Quality
7.3
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a better screen than the HP Envy 17 for general use, and gaming and AI, while the HP Envy 17 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Acer Predator Helios 300 and HP Envy 17 both have screens that offer clear visuals and brightness, making them suitable for activities like browsing, video streaming, and document editing. Their color accuracy and wide color gamuts ensure that both are capable of handling the precision required for engineering and design tasks, providing vibrant and true-to-life colors. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates can result in less fluid motion, which might detract from the immersive experience that these tasks typically demand.
Battery
3.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The HP Envy 17 has 8 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.
Cost
$1,204
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a price of $1,204 and the HP Envy 17 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and HP Envy 17 both have high-quality screens and capable processors, making them suitable for everyday tasks and multitasking. However, the HP Envy offers a larger screen and a longer battery life which might be more appealing for extended use, while the Predator is more equipped for gaming thanks to its dedicated graphics card but is heavier and less portable.
Engineering and Design
7.6
7.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and HP Envy 17 are both good for engineering and design.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 thrives in engineering and design thanks to a high-performance CPU, abundant RAM, a powerful dedicated GPU, and a high-quality display, but with its bulkier build, it's less portable. In contrast, the HP Envy 17, while still strong in CPU and RAM for such tasks, offers a more integrated GPU and also a quality screen, its slimmer design and lighter weight make it more portable, albeit with possibly higher operating noise.
Content Creation
7.3
7.5
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Envy 17 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.
Software Development
7.1
7.5
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Envy 17 to have 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
7.2
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and HP Envy 17 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 HP Envy 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | HP Envy 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,204 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.9'' | 15.7'' x 10.2'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 5.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 15.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 55 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 | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 329 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
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."
HP Envy 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | April 2023
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 300 or the HP Envy 17
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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