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What we think
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Updated February 17, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 offers high performance suited for intensive gaming, 3D modeling, and machine learning tasks but comes at a higher price and is less portable. The Apple MacBook Air (2022) excels in portability, general use, and has a longer battery life but may not handle demanding applications as well as the Acer. If your priority is portability and battery life for general use, and you are sensitive to price, the MacBook Air is a good choice. If performance for resource-intensive tasks is crucial despite the cost and portability concerns, the Acer Predator could be better suited for your needs. 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 Neo 16
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air (2022)
- Very good for software development
- Best in class overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.5
6.4
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1664
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 features a high-performance Nvidia GPU and a high refresh rate screen, both of which are very important for fast-paced gaming and rendering complex 3D scenes, whereas the Apple MacBook Air has a less powerful integrated GPU and a lower screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for those tasks. Additionally, the availability of games for Windows on the Acer laptop provides a wider selection for gamers, whereas the macOS on the MacBook Air limits the availability of popular game titles.
Engineering and Design
8.3
7.5
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 offers a high-performance package for engineering and design, featuring a powerful CPU, ample RAM, a capable GPU, and a quality screen with a high refresh rate, which suits intensive tasks and rendering; however, its bulkier design and heavier weight may limit portability compared to the Apple MacBook Air (2022), which, while also good for engineering and design due to its efficient M2 processor and high-resolution display, sacrifices some performance and screen size for a lighter, more portable build with a higher quality keyboard and silent operation.
Screen Quality
7.8
7.6
16.0in
SIZE
13.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1664
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
373.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
486.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a balanced combination of panel type, resolution, and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and engineering applications but falls short for gaming due to a lower refresh rate that can't match the fast-paced visual requirements of 3D gaming. The Apple MacBook Air (2022), with its sharp resolution and consistent color reproduction, excels in general use and design work but isn't geared towards 3D applications that benefit from higher refresh rates. Both laptops shine in areas like color accuracy for engineering and design, but for gaming and 3D performance, their screens don't support the rapid visual changes needed for an optimal experience.
Battery
5.0 Hours
15.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has 5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Air has 15 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
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.4in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
10.0
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.9
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1664
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
373.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
486.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
15.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
6.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.4/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, with a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a high-refresh-rate screen, excels in performance but is heavier and less portable than the MacBook Air, which offers a high-resolution display, excellent build quality, and superior portability due to its lower weight and longer battery life, making it well-suited for on-the-go use.
Content Creation
7.7
7.9
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1664
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 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
7.5
8.0
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1664
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air (2022) to be very good for software development, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 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.
Cost
$799
$799
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a price of $799 and the Apple MacBook Air (2022) costs $799.
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How the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the Apple MacBook Air (2022) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 | Apple MacBook Air (2022) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $799 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | July 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 11'' x 1.11'' | 12'' x 8.5'' x 0.44'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.2" | 11.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11" | 8.46" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500HX | Apple M2 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 15 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 52.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2560 x 1664 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 373 nits | 486 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.2/10 | 9.4/10 | |
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 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 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 | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 3 | |
Shopping
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16
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PCMag
Mark Knapp | August 2023
"The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 sacrifices portability and a truly budget price in the name of additional power. While remaining relatively budget-friendly, this gaming laptop packs serious processing chops, and Acer optimizes its internals to deliver respectable 1080p (or 1200p) gameplay from an RTX 4050. Its keyboard and chassis design won't win it any awards, but its display is a cut above for the price."
Apple MacBook Air (2022)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | July 2022
"The Apple MacBook Air M2 Entry is a very good, but too expensive daily MacBook. The new MacBook Air M2 is undoubtedly once again a very good mobile companion, but we are still a little bit disappointed on a very high level, which is definitely connected with the increased price point. The new chassis is extremely slim and the front edge is no problem during typing, but the bezels are pretty wide for a modern device and in addition with the vertical space required for the notch, the new Air has larger footprint than some Windows rivals."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 or the Apple MacBook Air (2022)
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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