Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 vs Helios 16: A Detailed Comparison | LAPTOPROCONS

Introduction

The Acer Predator Helios series has always been a favourite among our audience. This time, Acer has launched two variations of the Helios series: the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the Acer Predator Helios 16. Many people are curious about the differences, so I ordered the same specs variant of both laptops to compare. Both laptops come with an i7 13th generation processor and a 4060 GPU, but the two models have a slight price difference. The Neo 16 costs Rs 1,50,000, while the Helios 16 costs Rs 1,55,000. This blog will cover everything you need to know about these two laptops. Let's start with the design.

Design

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the Helios 16 have similar overall designs. However, there are some subtle differences in appearance. The Neo 16 has a bluish tone, while the Helios 16 has a greyish tone. The Neo 16 features numbers and blocks on its exterior, while the Helios 16 has a plain design with a Helios logo, giving it a more premium feel. One notable difference is that the Helios 16 has RGB strips, which can be customized using software.

On the other hand, the Neo 16 has a simpler design with blue-coloured vents but no lighting. The Neo 16 also has a large Predator logo and a gap at the bottom, whereas the Helios 16 has a smaller chin and no hole, giving it a sleeker appearance. Ultimately, the choice between the two designs is subjective and depends on personal preference.

Build Quality

The Neo 16 and Helios 16 come with metal top lids, giving them a premium vibe. However, there is a difference in the materials used for the interior build. The Neo 16 has a plastic interior, while the Helios 16 has a metal build, enhancing its premium feel. The keyboard flex on both laptops is the same, and the base is polycarbonate. It's worth noting that the metal top lids of both laptops are prone to fingerprints, but the Helios 16's body is more susceptible to fingerprints than the Neo 16's plastic body. In terms of stability, both laptops are equally stable, but the Helios Neo 16 wobbles for a longer time. In terms of weight, the Helios 16 is slightly heavier, weighing 100 grams more than the Neo 16. However, this weight difference is negligible and unlikely to impact user experience. Both laptops have a 330W charging brick, ensuring fast and efficient charging.

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Unboxing Experience

The unboxing experience differs slightly between the Neo 16 and the Helios 16. The Neo 16 offers basic unboxing expertise, including the laptop, charger, power cord, and other standard accessories. On the other hand, the Helios 16 comes in a larger box with an additional smaller compartment inside, giving it a premium feel. While the unboxing experience may vary, it's important to note that it doesn't affect the performance or functionality of the laptops.

Display

The main difference between the Neo 16 and the Helios 16 is their displays. The Neo 16's 4050 variant features a WUXG 1200P panel, while the 4060 variant of the Neo 16 and the Helios 16 have a WQXGA panel. Both laptops share the same resolution of 2560x1600 and offer a peak brightness of 500 nits with an IPS panel. However, there is a difference in the colour gamut. The Neo 16 covers 100% sRGB, while the Helios 16 covers 100% DCI-P3, a wider colour gamut than sRGB.

Additionally, the Neo 16 comes with a 165Hz refresh rate, while the Helios 16 boasts a 240Hz refresh rate. If you're an esports enthusiast looking for a professional-level gaming experience, the Helios 16's higher refresh rate would be the better choice. Regarding colour accuracy, the Helios 16's display offers more accurate colours than the Neo 16. While both shows are excellent, the slight differences in colour gamut and refresh rate contribute to the higher price of the Helios 16.

Keyboard and Trackpad

There are noticeable differences in the keyboard and trackpad between the Neo 16 and the Helios 16. The Neo 16's trackpad has a plastic feel and lacks the smoothness of the Helios 16's trackpad. The Helios 16's trackpad offers a smoother experience and supports multi-gesture functionality. As for the keyboard, the Neo 16's keyboard resembles the Acer Nitro 5's basic plastic keyboard, while the Helios 16's keyboard provides a premium typing feel. The keys on the Helios 16's keyboard feel sturdier and offer excellent feedback.

Furthermore, the Helios 16's keyboard features per-key RGB lighting, allowing full customization. In terms of speakers, the Neo 16's speakers are slightly less loud compared to the Helios 16's speakers, which offer a punchy sound experience. Both laptops feature webcams, with the Neo 16 sporting a 720P webcam and the Helios 16 featuring a 1080P webcam. The webcam tests revealed differences in colour tone, with the Neo 16 giving a cool style and the Helios 16 offering a warm tone. The Helios 16 provides a superior keyboard, trackpad, and speaker experience.

Storage

Regarding storage, the Neo 16 and the Helios 16 share the same specifications except for one key difference. The Neo 16 comes with a 1TB SSD, while the Helios 16 has a 512GB SSD. Both laptops offer two SSD slots and support GEN 4 SSDs, each potentially supporting up to 2TB. However, the exact capacity support for each space needs to be confirmed. While the Helios 16 may have a smaller SSD capacity, it's essential to consider how much storage you require.

Performance and Thermals

In terms of performance, both the Neo 16 and the Helios 16 offer similar results. Running benchmarks like Cinebench R23 and 3DMark Time Spy yielded comparable scores for both laptops. Gaming performance was also identical, with no noticeable differences between the two models. When testing thermals, the Helios Neo 16 reached temperatures of 81-82 degrees, while the Helios 16 reached temperatures of up to 90 degrees during Cinebench R23 testing. The slightly higher temperatures of the Helios 16 can be attributed to its metal body, which heats up and cools down more efficiently. Both laptops offer good thermal management and perform well under normal usage conditions.

Conclusion

To wrap up the comparison between the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 and the Helios 16, both laptops have unique advantages. The Neo 16's 100% sRGB display with a 165Hz refresh rate is sufficient for most tasks. The Helios 16, on the other hand, offers a 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut display and a 240Hz refresh rate, making it the ideal choice for users seeking a more colour-accurate show and a higher refresh rate. If your budget allows for an additional Rs 15,000, the Helios 16 offers better overall performance and display quality. However, if you can still within a budget of 1.5 lakhs, the Neo 16 still provides excellent value for money. It's worth noting that the Helios 16's 512GB SSD may seem lacking compared to the Neo 16's 1TB SSD, but the decision ultimately depends on individual storage needs. Regardless of your choice, both laptops deliver solid performance and features, making them suitable options for gaming and other demanding tasks. Thank you for reading this comparison blog, and if you enjoyed it, remember to like and subscribe for more content. See you in the next video!