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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming or graphics-intensive tasks and are looking for a high-power machine at a lower price point, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 may be the better option. Its focus on performance typically means it could be bulkier and have a shorter battery life, catering to users who need more graphical and processing power and who perhaps do not mind less portability. Meanwhile, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 tends to command a higher price, but it offers a sleek design, longer battery life, and a seamless experience with other Apple products. The MacBook is optimal for professionals working in video editing, music production, or software development, especially those who prefer macOS and are invested in the Apple ecosystem. Therefore, your choice should reflect your primary activities, preferred operating system, and value for portability versus performance. 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 16 (Late 2023).
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 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
- Good portability
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6
8.8
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
373.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
6.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers superior screen quality with a Mini LED display and a high resolution, contributing to its very good rating for general use, along with an efficient processor and more RAM, leading to better multitasking and smooth performance. In contrast, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, while still good, has a standard IPS display with a lower resolution, slightly less RAM and an efficient processor, but falls short in portability and battery life compared to the MacBook Pro.
Engineering and Design
8.3
8.9
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, with an Intel processor and Nvidia GPU, represents a solid choice for tasks requiring good processing power and graphics performance, plus it offers a high refresh rate screen suitable for design work that may benefit from smooth visuals. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a more powerful custom Apple processor with a higher number of cores and an integrated GPU, coupled with a higher resolution Mini LED screen for exceptional color accuracy and detail, making it ideal for precision engineering and design tasks, although it may be pricier than the Acer.
Content Creation
7.7
8.9
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
16.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 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
8.9
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 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
9.3
16.0in
SIZE
16.2in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
373.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When selecting a laptop for general use, the Acer Predator provides a satisfactory experience with decent resolution and brightness, while the Apple MacBook Pro stands out with exceptional clarity and vibrant colors due to its advanced display technology. For engineering and design, both laptops offer wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color representation, but the MacBook Pro's screen is top-tier, offering a more precise color spectrum. However, for gaming and 3D work, neither is ideal primarily because they lack high refresh rates which are crucial for smooth motion and responsiveness, making other models with faster screens a better fit for those specific needs.
Battery
5.0 Hours
17.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has 5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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
16.0in
SIZE
16.2in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has 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 16 (Late 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
$3,099
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a price of $799 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) costs $3,099.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.5
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
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 16 (Late 2023) are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is equipped with a high-quality Nvidia GPU ideal for gaming and has a high screen refresh rate which enhances the gaming experience, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16, despite its powerful M3 Pro graphics, has a lower refresh rate and limited game availability on its operating system, making it less optimal for popular gaming but still very capable for 3D applications.
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How the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $3,099 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | November 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 11'' x 1.11'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 4.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.2" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11" | 9.77" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500HX | Apple M3 Pro (12C) | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 18 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 | 17.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 99.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 3456 x 2234 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 373 nits | 487 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.2/10 | 7.6/10 | |
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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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 16 (Late 2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 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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