We get fingers on with Acer’s new Predator Helios Neo 16 & 18 AI laptops – they usually’re spectacular proper off the bat

Acer has simply introduced its newest Predator Helios 16 & 18 AI laptops throughout this 12 months’s IEM Katowice occasion, and we have been fortunate sufficient to get hands-on with them each to see how they really feel, look, and carry out. Ever since we reviewed our first Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 in 2023 we’ve been excited to see what these units provide annually, as they usually present a good way of getting a laptop computer with excessive core specs at an inexpensive value level. This 12 months, because of the inclusion of the yet-to-be-released RTX 5070 Ti, we predict Acer might have gotten the steadiness between value and efficiency completely spot on.

Though we didn’t get the prospect to benchmark these laptops – not but anyway – on among the extra surface-level features, we obtained look – and have been quietly impressed. RGB isn’t as flashy as on the common Helios (there’s no lightbar on the entrance nook for example) however nonetheless contains the brand on the again of the lid – plus the keyboard. The display choices we noticed – the OLED show for the 16-inch and the MiniLED for the 18-inch – each regarded nice, though we didn’t get a have a look at the cheaper LED choices. The construct high quality, which has been a weaker level of the Neo line up to now, appeared pleasingly stable, together with across the bezel space, which was an issue within the 2023 mannequin. Fan noise was tough to get a learn on within the busy convention setting, nevertheless it appeared higher at the least from the final Neo we reviewed. The truth is, we cranked the followers as much as max throughout our fast hands-on of each laptops, they usually have been audibly much less intrusive than we’d have anticipated. The largest unknown for us stays the battery life (which was nice within the 2023 mannequin however poor within the Intel 14th-generation variant from final 12 months), and we gained’t know the way it performs till we get one in for correct testing.

We’ve obtained all the data under on the specs of those laptops, how they examine to the non-Neo fashions, and their pricing and launch date data.

How do the Neo 18 AI and Neo 16 AI differ from the opposite Helios Predator fashions?

The ‘common’ Acer Predator Helios 16 AI and Acer Predator Helios 18 AI have been each unveiled at CES 2025, so how do these new iterations examine?

Though you get the choice for a similar high-end Intel Core Extremely 9 275HX processor within the Neo laptops, you don’t get the choice for the RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 GPUs as you do with the common Helios, plus extra restricted storage (max of 2TB in comparison with 4-6TB) and RAM within the 18-inch mannequin (capped at 64GB reasonably than 92GB). The Neos do nevertheless provide extra choices in relation to shows, providing you with the choice to go for LED screens with the identical or decrease refresh charge to avoid wasting cash. The 18-inch Neo mannequin does lack the 4K/1080p dual-mode show possibility that you just get within the Helios 18 AI although.

Storage on the Neos is proscribed to PICe Gen 4 (versus PICe 5), you don’t get the identical ‘MagKey 4.0 system’ that lets you change the WASD and arrow keys with included mechanical choices, and the SD slot stays a micro-size versus the full-size one in the usual Helios. Followers are the fifth gen AeroBlade fashions in comparison with the sixth gen on the usual Helios, although the liquid metallic thermal grease stays the identical throughout all fashions. Web connectivity on the Neos stays restricted to WiFi 6E and a couple of.5GBps ethernet connection (versus the WiFI 7 and 5GBps ethernet in the usual Helios) nevertheless this shall be advantageous for many customers, significantly given broadband above 2.5GBps is comparatively uncommon. You get a single Thunderbolt 4 port on the Neo laptops, in comparison with the 2 Thunderbolt 5 sockets on the common Helios fashions.

Though the burden stays comparable throughout the ranges (although with the usual Helios 18 being 100g heavier), the size of the laptops differ barely, with the Neos being a few millimeters thinner. The battery stays the identical throughout each 16-inch fashions, however the Helios 18 AI will get a 99Whr battery, whereas the Neo 18 is proscribed to 90Whr. All of the laptops include the identical 1080p IR webcam. The audio on each traces can also be delivered by the identical DTS X:Extremely audio system, nevertheless, that is restricted to 2 audio system on the Neo laptops, however 4 on the Helios 16 and 6 on the Helios 18, which is able to improve quantity although we assume not have an effect on audio high quality.

Predator Helios Neo 18 AI & Helios Neo 16 AI specs

If you need a correct have a look at the detailed specs of each these laptops, we’ve listed them under.

How a lot will these Helios Neo laptops value?

The beginning value for each fashions (if you happen to decide the least-powerful loadout) is listed under. The Neo 16 begins at $400 cheaper than the usual Helios 16, and the Neo 18 round $700 cheaper than the usual Helios 18.

• Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI (PHN16-73) MSRP: begins at €1,699/$1,899.99
• Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 AI (PHN18-72) MSRP: begins at €1,799/$2,199.99

When will the Helios Neo 18 AI & Helios Neo 16 AI be launched?

The discharge date for each these laptops is determined by your area, with the US and Canada getting first dibs. Within the case of the Neo 16 it will likely be touchdown a month or so sooner than the usual Helios 16. The Neo 18 will arrive concurrently the Helios 16 in North American markets however a month earlier in EMEA areas.

• Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI launch date window: April in North America / Might in Europe, Center East & Africa
• Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 AI launch date window: Might in North America / June in Europe, Center East & Africa