If you prioritize performance for intensive tasks like gaming or 3D applications and need more storage and memory, the MSI Katana 17 is a superior choice due to its stronger processor and graphics card. However, it's larger and heavier, which makes it less portable, and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 offers a balance between performance and portability with decent processing power and battery life, and while being more affordable, it has less storage and memory. Consider the MSI for its higher performance if workload demands it and portability isn't a major concern, or opt for the Acer if mobility and budget are your primary considerations. 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 overall display quality
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16.
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8/10
6.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
373.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, users typically look for clear, crisp displays that make reading text and viewing media enjoyable, which both the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the MSI Katana 17 provide through their resolution and panel brightness. Engineering and design professionals often require accurate color reproduction, and the Acer's superior color gamut coverage ensures that designs and models look more true to life compared to the MSI Katana 17. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key, the lower refresh rates of both laptops mean less smooth gameplay and less responsive rendering, with the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 offering slightly better resolution and panel type which can partially compensate for gaming and 3D deficits.
Battery
5.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has 5 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 17 has 3 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.
Cost
$799
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a price of $799 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
The MSI Katana 17 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, with its powerful processor and high refresh rate display, provides a solid performance foundation for general use, also featuring a better battery life which aids in portability despite its larger screen size and weight. The MSI Katana 17 offers a higher resolution screen and more storage and memory, enhancing multitasking and storage capacity, but has a lower battery capacity and portability score, indicating it may not be as convenient for on-the-go use as the Acer.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
7.9/10
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 17 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 offers a higher screen refresh rate, which is ideal for smoother visuals in gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Katana 17 comes with a more powerful GPU for better gaming performance and 3D rendering capabilities. Both feature quality IPS displays; however, the Acer has a slightly better CPU and higher screen quality in terms of brightness and color coverage, adding to the visual experience, while the MSI offers a larger screen size and overall higher GPU performance.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
8.4/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 excels for engineering and design due to its higher brightness, color accuracy, and ray tracing capabilities, which are critical for detailed visuals and rendering tasks, and the MSI Katana 17 stands out with its larger screen and robust processing power that's ideal for complex computations and multitasking needed in engineering applications. While the MSI Katana 17 has double the RAM, providing a smoother experience for memory-intensive design software, Helios Neo 16's superior screen features might be more attractive for design precision and visual clarity.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.8/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 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
7.5/10
7.5/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 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 17 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Katana 17 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.2/10
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and MSI Katana 17 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI Katana 17 B13V laptop impressed us in its main area of competency - gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 ensures high-performance levels which can compete with the previous generation's RTX 3070 Ti. In addition to the speedy GPU, the MSI comes with a 144 Hz display as well as an RGB keyboard and provides a very good typing experience. Despite the power at hand, the laptop remains comparatively cool."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 or the MSI Katana 17
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.
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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