If you prioritize performance for tasks like gaming or engineering software, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, with its powerful processor and graphics card, is a good option. However, it's less portable due to its larger size and weight. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022), on the other hand, offers a balance of performance suitable for general use, a higher-resolution display, and better battery efficiency, making it a good fit for everyday tasks and on-the-go use. Its fanless design ensures it operates quietly. Choose the Acer for high-performance needs and the Apple MacBook Pro for a balance of performance, portability, and quiet operation. 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 Pro 13 (2022)
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
6.5/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
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 Pro 13 (2022) is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is well-suited for gaming and 3D because it includes a powerful Nvidia RTX GPU and a high screen refresh rate, both key for rendering fast-paced visuals smoothly. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a less powerful integrated GPU and a standard refresh rate, plus many popular games are not compatible with its operating system.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
7.5/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
7.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
373.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 provides strong resolution and brightness for enjoyable everyday activities and sufficient color accuracy for engineering and design tasks, but its lower refresh rate can lead to less than ideal experiences in fast-paced gaming and 3D applications. The Apple MacBook Pro 13, with its high-resolution display and excellent brightness, excels in offering sharp and vibrant visuals for daily use and precise color representation for professional design work, yet it lacks the high refresh rate crucial for smooth rendering in 3D environments. Both laptops prioritize display characteristics that benefit productivity and creativity over gaming-centric features, making them better suited for general usage and professional tasks rather than high-end gaming or 3D rendering.
Battery
5.0 Hours
20.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has 5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 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
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has very good 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
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (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.
Cost
$1,100
$1,299
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a price of $1,100 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) costs $1,299.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, with its robust CPU and ample RAM, is tailored for performance-intensive tasks and presents a larger, high-refresh-rate screen, albeit it's heavier and has modest battery life, making it less convenient for on-the-go use.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (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
7.5/10
7.8/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 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.
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How the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 or the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (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.
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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