Since we're discussing the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 versus the MSI Stealth GS66, let's focus on their differences. The Acer Predator is less expensive and may offer a strong performance that is suitable for gaming and intensive tasks. However, its lower price might mean compromises in build quality or features compared to the MSI. The MSI Stealth, while more expensive, is known for blending power with a thinner and lighter design, which makes it more portable. If top-tier gaming or professional applications for 3D, graphics, or engineering are your focus and budget is not a primary concern, the MSI might be preferable; while, if you are looking for a balance between cost and performance and portability is not as critical, the Acer could fit your needs better. Both machines should handle general use effortlessly, but consider battery life where the MSI might have an edge due to its focus on portability, which often includes power efficiency. 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 Stealth GS66.
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS66
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8/10
8.1/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
373.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS66 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the MSI Stealth GS66 both have screens that offer high resolution and brightness, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, hence their good quality for general use. For engineering and design, their screens cover a broad range of colors within the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB spectrums, ensuring accurate color representation which is critical in these fields. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial, their lower refresh rates may not deliver the seamless motion that gamers and professionals working with 3D graphics seek.
Portability
Fair
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth GS66 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
7.4/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 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
$1,799
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has a price of $799 and the MSI Stealth GS66 costs $1,799.
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both good for general use.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 offers a solid display, sufficient RAM, and a capable CPU for daily tasks and multimedia consumption, but its higher weight and slightly lower portability may not be ideal for frequent travel. Conversely, the MSI Stealth GS66, while also providing excellent screen quality, ample RAM, and a powerful processor for general use, stands out with its lighter build and better portability, making it a more suitable option for those who often work on the go. Both laptops have the necessary specifications to handle everyday use, but the MSI Stealth GS66 might edge out the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 due to its portability despite both having similar battery lifespans.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
7.8/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, with its Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and 165Hz refresh rate, is tailored for smooth gameplay and content creation, while the MSI Stealth GS66 steps up with an Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti and a higher 360Hz refresh rate, promising even more fluid visuals especially in fast-paced games. Both laptops also offer quality IPS screens and capable CPUs, but the MSI Stealth may deliver slightly superior gaming performance due to its more powerful graphics and faster screen.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
8.2/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and MSI Stealth GS66 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is equipped with a powerful CPU and GPU suitable for engineering and design software, and its larger, higher-resolution screen offers better clarity for detailed work, but it's heavier, impacting portability. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS66 also provides capable processing and high-end graphics power with a slightly lighter build for easier transport, though its screen is a bit smaller and less sharp than the Acer's.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.7/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS66 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
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and MSI Stealth GS66 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
5.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 has 5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS66 has 5.5 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.
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How the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the MSI Stealth GS66 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 Stealth GS66 is powerful enough for QHD. The Core i7-12700H and the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti found in the 12UGS model that we tested run all modern games smoothly in the native QHD resolution. The 15-inch display is very fast with its 240 Hz refresh rate, and it also offers a great color space (almost 100% DCI-P3) on top of that, which should please gamers as well as content creators, although we would have still wished for a higher brightness. Case, input devices, and connectivity (Thunderbolt 4) are at a good level. However, among other things, the GS66 loses points due to the high temperature development in 3D mode and its poor webcam."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 or the MSI Stealth GS66
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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