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Updated January 12, 2024·
Given that the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is often significantly less expensive than the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023), your decision would largely depend on your specific needs and preferences. If budget is a primary concern and you need a machine capable of gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks, the Acer is a strong contender. On the other hand, if you're looking for a more portable solution with a strong emphasis on build quality, software ecosystem, and battery life, the MacBook Pro is worth the investment. Keep in mind though that gaming and some specialized software may not be available or perform as well on the MacBook Pro compared to the Acer Predator, which is designed with high-performance components that excel in these areas. However, the MacBook Pro tends to offer better support for creative software and is favored in professional environments for its reliability and seamless integration with other Apple products. If you need more assistance to compare these two laptops based on their detailed specifications, let me know, and I can provide further information on both models. 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
- The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6
8.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
373.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
13.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
6.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) outperforms the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 in general use due to its superior battery life, portability, and screen quality; it has a higher resolution and brightness and a significantly better contrast ratio, which enhances visual clarity and color reproduction.
Content Creation
7.7
8.5
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 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
7.5
8.4
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is 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.
Screen Quality
7.8
9.2
16.0in
SIZE
14.2in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
373.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, where clarity and visibility are key, the MacBook Pro offers an exceptional panel with high resolution and brightness. In engineering and design, professionals need accurate colors; the MacBook Pro stands out with its wide color gamut, covering DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, ensuring precise color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications, a high refresh rate is crucial for smooth visuals, which the Acer Predator Helios might lack, making it less ideal for fast-paced interactive graphics despite its other qualities.
Battery
5.0 Hours
13.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has 5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 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
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.2in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) 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
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) 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
$799
$1,630
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a price of $799 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) costs $1,630.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.0
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is favored for gaming because of a powerful Nvidia GPU and a high screen refresh rate crucial for smooth visuals in fast-paced games, and it supports a wide array of games with Windows OS. The Apple MacBook Pro 14's potent M2 Pro GPU suits 3D rendering, and it offers a high-quality Mini LED display, but its refresh rate is lower than the Acer's, and many popular games are incompatible with MacOS.
Engineering and Design
8.3
8.4
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, with Intel i5-13500HX and Nvidia RTX 4050, offers high-end processing and graphical power crucial for complex engineering simulations and CAD design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) provides strong performance through its M2 Pro chip, suitable for heavy workloads and also boasts a high-quality display for detailed design work. Although both are capable, the Acer's dedicated GPU may edge it out for graphics-intensive tasks; however, the MacBook Pro's superior portability and build quality, including an excellent keyboard and speaker system, make it a versatile choice for professionals who value mobility and multimedia quality.
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How the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $1,630 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 11'' x 1.11'' | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 3.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.2" | 12.31" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11" | 8.71" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500HX | Apple M2 Pro (10C) | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 13.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 69.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 3024 x 1964 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 373 nits | 489 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.2/10 | 8.6/10 | |
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 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16
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Dig into reviews and images
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 Pro 14 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 or the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
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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