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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming or resource-heavy tasks and you don't mind a heavier laptop with potentially shorter battery life, the Acer Predator could serve you well, especially with its more attractive price point. On the other hand, if you need a laptop for productivity, especially content creation that demands color accuracy and a more portable design, and you're willing to invest more, the MSI Creator might be better suited to your needs despite the higher cost. 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 MSI Creator M14.
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for content creation
- Good portability
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8
7.5
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
373.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a better screen than the MSI Creator M14 for gaming and AI, while the MSI Creator M14 has a better screen for engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Acer's and MSI's screens deliver crisp and clear visuals with their resolution and brightness, making everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing pleasing to the eye. Both laptops are well-suited for engineering and design due to their ability to display a wide range of colors accurately, helping ensure that work in these fields is depicted true to life. However, they fall short for gaming and 3D applications as their lower refresh rates may not provide as smooth an experience as screens designed specifically for these purposes, where fluid motion and quick image changes are critical.
Portability
Fair
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 has good portability, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$799
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a price of $799 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
8.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
373.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is good.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, with its high-powered CPU and ample RAM, excels in performance but is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable than the MSI Creator M14, which offers a balance of good performance, lightweight design, and longer battery life, all of which enhance its screen quality and overall appeal for general use. While both laptops have quality screens and sufficient storage, the MSI Creator M14's superior portability and battery life make it a more versatile choice for users on the go, despite the Predator's potentially better management of heat and noise due to its gaming-oriented design.
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.3
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and MSI Creator M14 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 comes with a high-end GPU that ensures smooth gaming and 3D rendering, complemented by a screen with a high refresh rate for seamless visuals. The MSI Creator M14, while also boasting a robust GPU suitable for gaming and 3D tasks, offers a display with strong screen quality, although the refresh rate may not match the Helios, impacting the fluidity of fast-paced scenes.
Engineering and Design
8.3
8.4
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, with its powerful CPU, large RAM, and high-end GPU, delivers excellent performance for demanding engineering software, while its high-quality screen offers vivid visuals crucial for design tasks. In comparison, the MSI Creator M14 also has a strong CPU and GPU combination for creative work, but its emphasis on portability may come with tradeoffs in screen size and overall performance.
Content Creation
7.7
8.0
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be 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
7.8
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 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.
Battery
5.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has 5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 11'' x 1.11'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.2" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500HX | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 373 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
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 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 or the MSI Creator M14
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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