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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 offers a larger screen size and higher resolution with a taller aspect ratio, which could enhance your visual experience, especially if you appreciate extra vertical space for work or browsing. It also features a higher battery capacity, which could be beneficial for longer usage between charges but is heavier, making it less portable than the MSI Katana 15. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 has a higher storage capacity and a faster processor, which may provide better performance for demanding tasks, and it is lighter for easy transport. The MSI model also has a higher refresh rate display, which can be great for gaming. If budget is a primary concern and you're okay with moderate storage, the Acer could be more cost-effective for your needs; however, if performance, gaming experience, and portability are priorities, spending more on the MSI might be justified. 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
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- The MSI Katana 15 has no clear advantages over the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.3
7.7
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
7.8
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
373.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 offers a high-resolution screen with bright, vibrant colors ideal for everyday tasks and professional design work, ensuring sharp visuals and a wide color spectrum. Despite its solid visual quality, its refresh rate could be quicker for gaming, which demands fluid movement and ultra-responsive gameplay. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 provides adequate resolution and brightness for daily activities and color-sensitive work, but it's not as advanced for professionals in engineering and design, nor does it offer the high refresh rate needed for immersive 3D experiences.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Katana 15 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 both have only fair portability, though the MSI Katana 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$799
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a price of $799 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
373.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 provides a larger screen with higher resolution and more vivid colors, which, alongside capable CPU and RAM, makes it a solid choice for general use while also offering reasonable battery life and a backlit keyboard. The MSI Katana 15, on the other hand, is lighter and thinner, increasing its portability, and while it has a smaller screen, it compensates with higher storage capacity and satisfactory performance from its CPU and RAM for everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.6
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 stands out for gaming and 3D applications with its higher screen refresh rate enhancing smooth visuals, while its GPU is slightly less powerful compared to the MSI Katana 15's GPU which is better for rendering graphics. However, the MSI Katana 15 also provides good gaming performance, and while it has a lower refresh rate for its screen, it still offers a screen with high quality, making it suitable for vivid and responsive gameplay.
Content Creation
7.7
7.4
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for content creation.
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
7.0
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and MSI Katana 15 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
4.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has 5 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 15 has 4 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
7.2
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and MSI Katana 15 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 Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 11'' x 1.11'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.2" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500HX | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 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 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 373 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
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."
MSI Katana 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"The MSI Katana 15 B12 combines a Gen12 CPU with an RTX 4050, which is actually not a bad idea for a budget gamer. The CPU is anything but bad and the GPU in the Katana 15 proves to be significantly more efficient than last year's models. However, our main point of criticism for budget gamers is the price: while you can get budget laptops with RTX 3060 from around US$800, you pay a whole US$1,499.99 here! The efficiency advantages of the RTX 4050 do not justify this price premium."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 or the MSI Katana 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 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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