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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
Laptops like the Acer Predator Helios Neo and Dell XPS 15 cater to different audiences. The Acer Predator Helios Neo is designed for gaming, offering high performance for graphics-intensive applications but may also be heavier and have shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Dell XPS 15 is more suited for professionals seeking a balance between performance and portability, with a slim design and longer battery life, but it may not match the high-end gaming capabilities of the Predator and can be more expensive. If gaming or intensive tasks are your priority and you're okay with less portability, the Acer may suit your needs at a lower cost. However, if you need a machine for general use, professional software, or value a lightweight machine with longer battery life and are willing to pay more, the Dell XPS 15 would be the better choice. 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
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Good portability
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6
8.2
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
373.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is good.
The Dell XPS 15 might be preferred for general use over the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 because it offers better portability, battery life, and screen quality, with a superior CPU and inputs like keyboard quality contributing to a more versatile everyday experience. While both laptops share similar RAM and storage, the Acer's gaming-oriented hardware leads to more weight and reduced battery efficiency, which could be less appealing for users not focusing on gaming or computational-heavy tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.5
6.8
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is equipped with a higher refresh rate screen and a robust dedicated Nvidia GPU, making it well-suited for smooth gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, while the Dell XPS 15 also features a dedicated GPU, its lower screen refresh rate suggests it may not deliver the same level of fluid visual experience, but it still stands as a strong contender for gaming and 3D tasks.
Content Creation
7.7
8.3
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 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
8.1
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 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
7.4
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
373.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
When looking at laptops like the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the Dell XPS 15 for general use, their high-resolution displays and bright panels ensure crisp and clear visuals for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. For engineering and design work, both models typically offer displays with wide color gamuts, providing accurate color reproduction essential for creating detailed designs and models. However, their screens may not be ideal for gaming and 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and slower response times during fast-paced action or complex 3D rendering.
Battery
5.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has 5 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 15 has 10 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
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 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
8.5
The Dell XPS 15 has very good 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
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a price of $799 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.3
8.1
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 offers a high-refresh-rate screen and a GPU with ray tracing capabilities, making it very suitable for graphically intensive engineering and design tasks; the Dell XPS 15 provides a balance of GPU performance and exceptional build quality with a slightly lighter composition and higher resolution screen, catering to engineering and design use while offering better portability and display sharpness.
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How the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 | Dell XPS 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 11'' x 1.11'' | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 4.21 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.2" | 13.57" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11" | 9.06" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500HX | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 86 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 373 nits | 606 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.2/10 | 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 | 9.1/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
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."
Dell XPS 15
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | May 2023
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 or the Dell XPS 15
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 Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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