Gaming laptops are a dime a dozen lately, and everyone seems to be attempting to carry one thing distinctive to the desk. The brand new Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, though a mouthful, affords extra than simply gaming efficiency. AI is all the excitement proper now, and most producers try to affix the bandwagon by slapping ‘AI’ subsequent to the product identify. Whereas Acer hasn’t finished that with its newest Predator Helios Neo 16 laptop computer, it does have a devoted Microsoft Copilot key and may run a number of AI-accelerated software program.
I used the Predator Helios Neo 16 as my each day work/gaming laptop computer for a few days to see the way it carried out throughout varied duties and to search out out if it was well worth the Rs. 1,74,999 price ticket. Learn on to search out out.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Design: Appears to be like the half
- RGB brand on the lid
- Weighs 2.eight kg
- Color – Abyssal Black
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 appears to be like like most different gaming laptops whereas providing some distinctive design components. The lid is constituted of aluminium and has a single-colour RGB brand together with just a few laser-etched encrypted codes on the corners. These codes mainly divulge to be nothing greater than ‘Helios Neo’ and ‘Be a part of Predator Drive’. You will see directions on how one can decrypt the codes on-line.
The laptop computer will get twin followers for cooling
On the again, you will discover a protrusion that has a clear high and a few design components beneath, together with the world’s Helios Neo 16. The perimeters have loads of port choices as nicely. On the left, you will discover an Ethernet RJ-45 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Kind-A connector, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.
The proper aspect homes two USB Kind-A ports (one with power-off charging assist), a Kensington lock slot, and indicators for energy and battery. You will additionally discover ports on the again. There’s an HDMI 2.1 slot, an influence connector, and twin USB Kind-C Thunderbolt Four ports. The intakes sit on the again, whereas the exhaust vents are positioned on each the left and proper sides.
The ports on the rear assist with a clear desktop setup
Opening the lid is one-handed, and you will be greeted by a full-size keyboard and a big sufficient trackpad. There’s additionally a mode key on the highest left aspect of the keyboard that permits you to shortly change efficiency modes. You get three microphones on the laptop computer and an online digicam positioned on the high bezel.
The laptop computer is large and heavy, although, particularly when you take the 330W charger into consideration.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Show: Vibrant and vivid
- 16-inch WQXGA IPS show
- 240Hz refresh fee
- 500 nits brightness
You will discover a matte show on the Predator Helios Neo 16 that could be a pleasure to have a look at. The 16-inch panel has slim bezels on both aspect and has a 16:10 side ratio. It helps HDR mode and covers 100 p.c of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The 240Hz refresh fee and Nvidia G-Sync assist are helpful when taking part in video games. The panel delivers vivid colors with good distinction. With HDR enabled, you will discover that supported content material will seem brighter with higher dynamic vary. Watching motion pictures and TV reveals on the show was a joyful expertise.
The show helps HDR and will get loads vibrant
The show additionally affords a excessive response fee of as much as 3ms, which is especially helpful when taking part in shooter video games.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Keyboard, Touchpad, audio system, and webcam
- Twin audio system with DTS:X Extremely assist
- 4-zone full-size RGB keyboard
- 720p internet digicam
Acer has crammed a full-size keyboard on the laptop computer, which, whereas it affords good key journey, is just not tremendous snug as there’s not a number of hole between the keys. I discovered myself by chance urgent the unsuitable key on a number of events, even after spending a number of time utilizing the keyboard. You get 4-zone RGB customisation on the keyboard with 4 backlight ranges. The backlight will get fairly vibrant at night time, and also you get many lighting results to play with. The keyboard will get a devoted Copilot key and a key to launch the Acer PredatorSense software program.
Shifting on to the touchpad, you get a big floor that helps multi-touch gestures. I discovered the press to be exact whereas being gentle.
The backlight on the keyboard will get loads vibrant at night time
Subsequent up, the audio system. You get twin audio system on the laptop computer which are positioned on the backside on both aspect. The audio system assist DTS:X Extremely; whilst you get an immersive expertise, there isn’t any bass or loudness. The audio system are one of many weakest options of the Predator Helios Neo 16.
You get an HD internet digicam on the laptop computer, supported by Three microphones for higher voice recording. Though Acer claims that the digicam helps 1080p decision, I may solely get it to work at 720p decision. The digicam readability is nothing nice. There’s loads of grain, particularly in low mild.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Software program: Easy to make use of
- Home windows House 11
- Acer PredatorSense 5.0
- AI options
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 runs Home windows 11 House out of the field, and also you additionally get Microsoft Workplace instruments in addition to Copilot assist. Speaking about Copilot, there are a few AI-powered options on the laptop computer such because the Purified View Webcam that gives automated framing, eye contact, and background blur modes. You additionally get Purified Voice 2.0, which claims to make use of AI to scale back noise. You may also use the Copilot key to ask all types of queries and in addition create pictures.
The Acer PredatorSense 5.Zero instrument helps you to change the RGB lights and extra
Aside from the AI-powered options and Copilot, there are a few Acer instruments. A very powerful and helpful one is the Acer Predator Sense 5.0, which helps you to change the ability modes, customise the lighting on the laptop computer, and management different elements. You get 4 efficiency modes, a bunch of lighting controls, audio settings, and different system administration controls.
You additionally get different Acer instruments, similar to QuickPanel, which gives a floating panel with fast system toggles.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Efficiency: Quick and livid
- 14th Gen Intel Core i9 14900HX CPU
- As much as 32GB DDR5 RAM
- As much as 2TB storage
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 with 8GB VRAM
Our evaluate unit got here with the 14th Gen Intel Core i9 14900HX chipset and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU with 8GB VRAM, nevertheless it solely has 16GB of DDR5 reminiscence and 1TB storage. Nonetheless, the laptop computer delivered quick efficiency in each Efficiency and Turbo modes. The one bottleneck for me was the RAM, which triggered some lag when working a number of tabs on Chrome alongside a bunch of different apps. Fortunately, you possibly can improve the RAM to as much as 32GB, which needs to be loads.
We ran some artificial benchmarks within the Turbo efficiency profile, and the outcomes are beneath.
| Benchmark | Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 |
|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 CPU Single | 2,924 |
| Geekbench 6 CPU Multi | 13,678 |
| Geekbench 6 GPU rating | 1,18,700 |
| PCMark 10 | 9,030 |
| 3DMark Metal Nomad | 2,833 |
| 3DMark Time Spy | 12,848 |
| Cinebench R23 CPU Multi | 26,950 |
| Cinebench R23 CPU Single | 2,154 |
| Geekbench ML CPU | 4,103 |
| Geekbench ML GPU | 13,853 |
In Turbo mode, the Nvidia GPU delivers as much as 140W of TGP, which is loads of energy to run all types of AAA video games. Coming to gaming, the Predator Helios Neo 16 affords a superb expertise with a excessive body fee whereas additionally managing the warmth nicely. I ran a few video games on the laptop computer to check its efficiency.
| Recreation | Graphics setting | Body fee |
|---|---|---|
| Hogwarts Legacy | Extremely | 100 – 120 |
| Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | Epic | 45 – 55 |
| Forza Horizon 4 | Extremely | 150 – 160 |
As you possibly can see from the above exams, the laptop computer performs very nicely throughout all sorts of video games and artificial benchmarks. In most eventualities, you’ll not face any form of lag or stutter.
You possibly can play virtually any AAA sport on the laptop computer in Excessive settings
When it comes to cooling efficiency, the laptop computer has twin followers that direct warmth away from the consumer. Nevertheless, I did discover the world across the arrow keys getting considerably scorching throughout heavy utilization. It is not going to cease you from utilizing the laptop computer, however your palm might sweat after a few hours.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Battery: About common
- 90 Wh battery
- 330W energy adapter
- Quick charging assist
The Predator Helios Neo 16 from Acer did an honest job in relation to battery efficiency. Within the Quiet efficiency profile, the laptop computer lasted about Three hours with brightness set to 50 p.c, and all RGB lights off. This can final for about 2 hours, with brightness at 80 p.c and all RGB lights on. When you swap to Efficiency mode, the laptop computer will final you about one and a half hours with gaming. Charging is quick, and it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to cost from 10 p.c to 100 p.c.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Verdict
For Rs. 1,74,999, there aren’t a number of laptops with the identical specs. In order for you one thing with the identical {hardware}, you possibly can go for the Asus ROG Strix G16, which prices significantly extra. You may also go for the Lenovo Legion 5 Professional, which once more is priced greater than the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16. Whereas loads of gaming laptops can be found with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, they do not supply options similar to a 240Hz show, 14th Gen Intel Core i9 chipset, and a excessive TGP.
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is a wonderful gaming laptop computer, particularly when you’re capable of get it at a reduced fee. A number of on-line resellers in India are already providing as much as Rs. 10,000 value minimize on the laptop computer, and you’ll count on the value to drop even decrease throughout gross sales. The laptop computer affords an incredible show and top-notch gaming efficiency and even has a devoted Copilot key. I might suggest this to anybody who’s seeking to purchase a strong gaming laptop computer beneath Rs. 2,00,000.
