Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Review: Out on a Hunt

Gaming laptops are a dime a dozen today, 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, presents extra than simply gaming efficiency. AI is all the thrill proper now, and most producers try to affix the bandwagon by slapping ‘AI’ subsequent to the product identify. Whereas Acer hasn’t completed 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 day by 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: Seems to be the half

• RGB brand on the lid
• Weighs 2.8 kg
• Color – Abyssal Black

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 seems to be like most different gaming laptops whereas providing some distinctive design parts. The lid is produced from aluminium and has a single-colour RGB brand together with a couple of laser-etched encrypted codes on the corners. These codes principally disclose to be nothing greater than ‘Helios Neo’ and ‘Be a part of Predator Pressure’. You will see that directions on easy methods to decrypt the codes on-line.

The laptop computer will get twin followers for cooling

On the again, you may discover a protrusion that has a clear high and a few design parts beneath, together with the world’s Helios Neo 16. The perimeters have loads of port choices as effectively. On the left, you may 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 suitable facet 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 4 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 facet of the keyboard that allows you to rapidly change efficiency modes. You get three microphones on the laptop computer and an online digital camera 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: Brilliant and vivid

• 16-inch WQXGA IPS show
• 240Hz refresh charge
• 500 nits brightness

You will discover a matte show on the Predator Helios Neo 16 that could be a pleasure to take a look at. The 16-inch panel has slim bezels on both facet and has a 16:10 facet ratio. It helps HDR mode and covers one hundred pc of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The 240Hz refresh charge and Nvidia G-Sync assist are useful when enjoying video games. The panel delivers vivid colors with good distinction. With HDR enabled, you may discover that supported content material will seem brighter with higher dynamic vary. Watching films and TV reveals on the show was a joyful expertise.

The show helps HDR and will get lots shiny

The show additionally presents a excessive response charge of as much as 3ms, which is especially helpful when enjoying 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 net digital camera

Acer has crammed a full-size keyboard on the laptop computer, which, whereas it presents good key journey, isn’t tremendous comfy as there’s not a variety of hole between the keys. I discovered myself by chance urgent the mistaken key on a number of events, even after spending a variety of time utilizing the keyboard. You get 4-zone RGB customisation on the keyboard with 4 backlight ranges. The backlight will get fairly shiny at evening, 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.

Transferring on to the touchpad, you get a big floor that helps multi-touch gestures. I discovered the clicking to be exact whereas being delicate.

The backlight on the keyboard will get lots shiny at evening

Subsequent up, the audio system. You get twin audio system on the laptop computer which might be positioned on the backside on both facet. The audio system assist DTS:X Extremely; whilst you get an immersive expertise, there is no bass or loudness. The audio system are one of many weakest options of the Predator Helios Neo 16.

You get an HD net digital camera on the laptop computer, supported by 3 microphones for higher voice recording. Though Acer claims that the digital camera helps 1080p decision, I might solely get it to work at 720p decision. The digital camera 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 computerized framing, eye contact, and background blur modes. You additionally get Purified Voice 2.0, which claims to make use of AI to cut back noise. You too can use the Copilot key to ask all types of queries and in addition create photographs.

The Acer PredatorSense 5.0 software enables you to change the RGB lights and extra

Aside from the AI-powered options and Copilot, there are a few Acer instruments. Crucial and helpful one is the Acer Predator Sense 5.0, which helps you to change the facility modes, customise the lighting on the laptop computer, and management different points. You get 4 efficiency modes, a bunch of lighting controls, audio settings, and different system administration controls.

You additionally get different Acer instruments, comparable to QuickPanel, which offers 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 assessment 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 prompted 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 ought to be lots.

We ran some artificial benchmarks within the Turbo efficiency profile, and the outcomes are beneath.

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 presents a superb expertise with a excessive body charge whereas additionally managing the warmth effectively. I ran a few video games on the laptop computer to check its efficiency.

As you possibly can see from the above exams, the laptop computer performs very effectively throughout all varieties of video games and artificial benchmarks. In most situations, you’ll not face any form of lag or stutter.

You may play nearly any AAA sport on the laptop computer in Excessive settings

By way of 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 isn’t 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 a good job in terms of battery efficiency. Within the Quiet efficiency profile, the laptop computer lasted about 3 hours with brightness set to 50 %, and all RGB lights off. It will final for about 2 hours, with brightness at 80 % and all RGB lights on. In case 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 % to one hundred pc.

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Verdict

For Rs. 1,74,999, there aren’t a variety of laptops with the identical specs. If you would like one thing with the identical {hardware}, you possibly can go for the Asus ROG Strix G16, which prices significantly extra. You too can go for the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, which once more is priced increased 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 provide options comparable 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 in a position to get it at a reduced charge. A number of on-line resellers in India are already providing as much as Rs. 10,000 worth minimize on the laptop computer, and you’ll count on the worth to drop even decrease throughout gross sales. The laptop computer presents a terrific show and top-notch gaming efficiency and even has a devoted Copilot key. I would suggest this to anybody who’s trying to purchase a strong gaming laptop computer beneath Rs. 2,00,000.