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Updated March 21, 2024·
When deciding between the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the MSI Creator M14, consider what you'll use the laptop for. If you need high performance for gaming or intensive tasks, the Acer Predator is a strong choice, usually boasting superior graphics and cooling systems. However, the MSI Creator is tailored for creators, with a focus on color accuracy and portability, making it lighter and often more suitable for graphic design and video editing. While the Acer may come at a lower price point, the MSI provides a better screen for creative work and is easier to carry around. Keep in mind that the Predator's gaming prowess may come at the expense of battery life and portability when compared to the MSI Creator. 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 MSI Creator M14.
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Good portability
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers strong CPU and ample RAM suitable for demanding tasks with a focus on gaming that may make it less portable and have shorter battery life compared to the MSI Creator M14, which while also providing powerful CPU and RAM, has superior screen quality geared towards content creators who prioritize portability and longer battery life for general use. Both laptops manage heat and noise efficiently, have quality keyboards and speakers, but the MSI's balance of features may appeal more for users requiring mobility without compromising on performance.
Engineering and Design
7.6
8.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The MSI Creator M14, with its more powerful CPU and GPU, combined with higher RAM, handles engineering and design tasks more efficiently, displaying rich details on a high-quality screen. The Acer Predator Helios 300, while robust, falls slightly short in performance, but may appeal to those who value a balance between capable specifications and gaming, with satisfactory portability and lesser operating noise.
Content Creation
7.3
8.0
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 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
7.8
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator M14 is somewhat better.
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
7.5
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a better screen than the MSI Creator M14 for gaming and AI, while the MSI Creator M14 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and MSI Creator M14 both excel in screen quality for general use and engineering with high-resolution displays and bright panels, ensuring crisp text and vibrant images. Their strong color reproduction, covering a wide color gamut, makes them suitable for engineering and design work where color accuracy is crucial. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates lead to less fluid motion, which could detract from the immersive experience that fast-paced games and high-end 3D simulations demand.
Battery
3.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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
14.0in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 has good portability, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,099
$1,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a price of $1,099 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.2
7.3
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 offers a high screen refresh rate and a powerful GPU making it well-suited for gaming and 3D applications where smooth visuals are critical, while the MSI Creator M14 also includes a robust GPU and a quality screen, but it emphasizes a balance between performance and creative work with its CPU and color-accurate display. Both are strong contenders for gaming and 3D use, with the Helios focusing slightly more on the high-speed gaming experience and the Creator M14 catering to creators who need precision in visual work.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The MSI Creator M14 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 MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,099 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.9'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 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 | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 7.8/10 | |
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 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 300 or the MSI Creator M14
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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