The Acer Predator Helios 300, being less expensive, offers robust performance for gaming and demanding tasks due to its gaming-oriented design, but it's bulkier and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal for travel. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 14 is more expensive, provides flexibility with its convertible design, and typically has superior battery life, making it well-suited for general use, mobility, and productivity, but it may not handle intensive tasks like 3D work or gaming as effectively as the Helios. Choose based on whether you prioritize performance and price over portability and versatility. 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 HP Spectre x360 14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4/10
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 300, with its robust CPU and RAM, excels in performance for tasks like gaming or intensive applications, but due to its focus on power, it's heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to the HP Spectre x360 14, which offers a balance between performance, high-quality screen, and portability with longer battery life, making it very suitable for everyday use and productivity on the go. While both have ample storage, the HP Spectre also tends to have a superior keyboard and better heat management, enhancing user comfort during prolonged use.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
8.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a balance of high-quality screen, a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a capable GPU, making it very suitable for demanding engineering software and precise design work, while also offering the versatility of a convertible design and a comfortable keyboard. On the other hand, the Acer Predator Helios 300, while strong in CPU and GPU performance for complex calculations and rendering tasks, sacrifices some portability and operates louder, which may be a trade-off for users seeking quieter environments.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The HP Spectre x360 14 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
7.1/10
8.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 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
7.3/10
8.6/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios 300 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a display that offers adequate resolution and brightness, making it a solid choice for general use and engineering tasks where clarity is essential, but its lower refresh rate means it's not as suitable for gaming or 3D work where smooth motion is crucial. The HP Spectre x360 14 provides a crisp and bright image, and it covers a wide range of colors, which is ideal for professionals who need accuracy in color-sensitive engineering and design projects; however, like the Helios, its refresh rate is not tailored for the high-performance demands of gaming and 3D applications. Therefore, those who focus on general use and detail-oriented design work will find the Spectre x360 14 attractive, while dedicated gamers or 3D designers should consider other options better suited for their high-refresh-rate needs.
Battery
3.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 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
14.0in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The HP Spectre x360 14 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
8.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good 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
$1,630
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a price of $1,204 and the HP Spectre x360 14 costs $1,630.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 300 to be good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 14 is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 boasts a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth and visually demanding games and 3D applications, while the HP Spectre x360 14, though offering decent performance with its CPU and high-quality screen, falls short for intense gaming or 3D work due to its less capable GPU and lower refresh rate.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the HP Spectre x360 14 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 300 or the HP Spectre x360 14
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.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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