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Updated January 12, 2024·
If your priority is high-end gaming or professional tasks like 3D rendering or machine learning that require top-notch graphics and processing power, the MSI GE66 Raider may be the better fit due to its more powerful CPU and GPU. However, if those extremes aren't a concern and you'd prefer to save money, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 provides solid performance for general use and mainstream gaming at a significantly lower price. The Raider also boasts a higher resolution screen which could be a plus for visual work, but this may also impact its battery life more than the Helios Neo. On the downside, the Raider is less portable due to its heavier weight. Both laptops have an RGB keyboard and good connectivity options, but extra features on the Raider may not justify its higher cost if your needs are met by the Helios Neo's capabilities. 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 GE66 Raider.
Advantages of the MSI GE66 Raider
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6
8.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
373.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is good.
The MSI GE66 Raider, with a high-end CPU and double the RAM, perfectly suits power-intensive general use tasks and it has a superior screen resolution for sharper visuals but trades off with a heavier build and slightly lower portability compared to the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16. The Acer is more modestly equipped for daily tasks with a mid-range CPU and less RAM, making it a good fit for casual users seeking a balance between performance and easier transport.
Gaming and AI
7.5
8.6
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is good.
The MSI GE66 Raider outshines the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 in gaming and 3D performance mainly due to its significantly more powerful GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti, in contrast to the Acer's RTX 4050. Although the Acer has a higher screen refresh rate, the MSI's superior GPU provides better overall gaming and 3D performance, and its CPU and screen quality are also higher tier.
Engineering and Design
8.3
9.1
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design, while the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is very good.
The MSI GE66 Raider stands out for engineering and design use with a higher-end CPU and GPU, which are crucial for demanding tasks, as well as a more vibrant and sharp screen which is important for detailed graphical work, compared to the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 which offers solid performance with a mid-range CPU and GPU, but a lower resolution and less color-accurate screen. However, the Acer model is slightly heavier and not as portable, and while both laptops feature quality keyboards and manage heat and noise well, the MSI has an edge in keyboard quality, potentially making it more comfortable for long work sessions.
Content Creation
7.7
8.4
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GE66 Raider 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
9.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider 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
8.2
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
373.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The MSI GE66 Raider has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Predator Helios and MSI GE66 Raider both offer high resolutions and bright displays, which are crucial for clarity and visibility in numerous applications, serving general use very well. For engineering and design, the sharpness, along with wide color gamuts, ensures precise and vibrant visuals, and both laptops provide adequate color accuracy. However, for gaming and 3D, a high refresh rate is essential to deliver smooth motion, and if both laptops have lower refresh rates, this can lead to poorer gaming experiences despite their strength in other visual aspects.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI GE66 Raider and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 both have only fair portability, though the MSI GE66 Raider has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
8.5
The MSI GE66 Raider 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
$3,199
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a price of $799 and the MSI GE66 Raider costs $3,199.
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Key similarities
Battery
5.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has 5 hours of battery life. The MSI GE66 Raider has 6 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.
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How the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the MSI GE66 Raider compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 | MSI GE66 Raider |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $3,199 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 11'' x 1.11'' | 14.1'' x 10.5'' x 0.92'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 5.25 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.2" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11" | 10.51" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500HX | Intel i9-12900HK | |
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 | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 99 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 373 nits | 347 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.2/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
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."
MSI GE66 Raider
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Patrick Schüdzig | June 2022
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 or the MSI GE66 Raider
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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