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Extra – it’s an idea, an thought, and now due to Acer, one thing embodied bodily, within the type of a laptop computer.The Acer Predator Helios 16 AI is a beast; there are only a few different adjectives which so adequately seize its essence. You need numerous RAM? It has all you may eat, as much as 64GB. Want the very best graphical prowess? The 5090 with 24GB of devoted VRAM inside has you lined, and an Intel Core Extremely 9 CPU to deal with intensive duties.If the everyday activity of designing a laptop computer is to resolve a value level, then assemble a specification sheet as a cautious train, Acer’s playbook right here has merely been to throw conference out the window.That is probably the most laptop computer you should purchase as we speak, for practically any value. However what’s it like to make use of?Learn on for our full evaluation.Acer Predator Helios 16 (1TB 32GB RAM) at Amazon for £1,339Acer Predator Helios 16 AI evaluation: Key specs
(Picture credit score: Future/Sean Cameron)Swipe to scroll horizontallySpecifications as testedCPU:Intel Core Extremely 9NPU:Intel AI BoostGraphics:Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090Memory:64GB DDR5Storage:2TB SSDScreen measurement:16inScreen kind:OLEDResolution:2560x1600Refresh fee:240HzColour gamut (measured):100% DCI-P3Brightness (measured):400 nitsPorts:4 x USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, USB-C Energy Supply (PD), 1 x HDMI, 1 x 3.5mm headphone jackWireless connectivity:Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4Dimensions:25.9 x 363.5 x 262.1mmWeight:2.62kg
(Picture credit score: Future/Sean Cameron)Design, construct and displayDesign, Construct, DisplayConventional laptop computer design has come on rather a lot previously few years. Due to the likes of ARM chips, we’ve seen choices which are thinner than ever earlier than, however the Predator line doesn’t subscribe to thinness; fairly the other.The Predator is large, very a lot so, and heavy. It has large followers for pushing away warmth, and a mechanical keyboard, all issues that scale back thinness fairly than enhance it. In brief, it’s a laptop computer which nearly turns into a contradiction of the time period itself; you may feasibly apply it to your lap, however you gained’t wish to for prolonged durations.Every day design information, critiques, how-tos and extra, as picked by the editors.That isn’t to say that it is not properly constructed, it’s. The whole lot is machined from metallic, feels sturdy and like it’s a particular assertion of intent. Extra stable than the whole lot else surrounding it, even.The keyboard, regardless of being mechanical, isn’t something particular. There’s cheap journey, and it’s nice sufficient to kind on, nevertheless it doesn’t make any impression particularly. Completely common, by no means referring to wonderful. It lights up, as is to be anticipated of a machine with ‘gaming’ written into its DNA, and the lighting could be customised to your tastes.That is very a lot a tool with a ‘gamer’ aesthetic, and if that isn’t for you, you’ll have to look elsewhere. It isn’t precisely probably the most office-appropriate.As for the show, it’s an instance of the place extra may be very a lot better. OLED tech, a 16:10 facet ratio, 2.5K decision and a 240Hz refresh fee make practically any activity a pleasure. Prefer to sport? Your video games won’t ever look higher. Cyberpunk 2077 dazzled, the HDR actually bringing out the very best in darker scenes. It’s shiny too, even when not fairly sufficient to fight the brightest daylight. The two.5K decision ensures the whole lot is pin-sharp, and the 240Hz refresh fee retains the motion easy. That final half signifies that if you happen to get pleasure from aggressive shooters, you’ll have the ability to sustain extra simply with the motion than if you happen to had a 120Hz panel, for instance.In fact, gaming isn’t the identical as color work, however with a reported 100% protection of the DCI-P3 gamut, it must be sufficient for some workflows, however as ever, pay attention to your wants.Design rating: 3/5Features
(Picture credit score: Future/Sean Cameron)AI is right here, and right here to remain, it appears, and with the Predator, Acer has baked it proper in. ProCam can recognise gameplay highlights and document these moments, ‘Purifiedview 2.0’ guarantees visible enhancements, and ‘PurifiedVoice 2.0’ claims the identical for voice recording.In case you are a pro-gamer, a number of the above would possibly show to be of use; in my expertise, they proved to be slightly area of interest and patchy in efficiency.Maybe extra curiously for a lot of, there’s Thunderbolt 5 and WiFi 7 assist. Although the latter is slightly area of interest for the time being, it affords a little bit of future-proofing for the Predator that can see it stay helpful, notably for big downloads.And the previous signifies that working with giant information utilizing appropriate transportable SSDs shall be a cinch, an actual boon too for videographers when working with a number of terabytes of information.Fortunately, I/O can also be pretty beneficiant, there’s HDMI, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Kind A port, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind A ports, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind C ports and an RJ-45 ethernet port, that means reliance on dongles shall be comparatively restricted.Lastly, it comes with Home windows 11 Residence preinstalled, which can be a problem for energy customers wishing to make use of digital machines.Options rating: 4/5Benchmark scoresWe check each one among our laptops utilizing the identical benchmarking software program suite to provide you a radical overview of its suitability for creatives of all disciplines and ranges. This contains:• Geekbench: Checks the CPU for single-core and multi-core energy, and the GPU for the system’s potential for gaming, picture processing, or video enhancing. Geekbench AI assessments the CPU and GPU on quite a lot of AI-powered and AI-boosted duties.• Cinebench: Checks the CPU and GPU’s means to run 3D software program reminiscent of Cinema 4D and Redshift.• UL Procyon: Makes use of UL Options’ Procyon software program suite to check the system’s means for AI picture technology in Secure Diffusion, its Microsoft Workplace efficiency and its battery life in a looping video check.• Topaz Video AI: We use Topaz Video AI to check the system’s means to upscale video and convert video to slow-motion.• PugetBench for Creators: We use the PugetBench for Creators benchmarking suite to check the system’s means to run a number of key duties in Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Professional, in addition to its efficiency when encoding/transcoding video.• ON1 Resize AI: Checks the system’s means to resize 5 images to 200% in a batch course of. We take the overall time taken to resize the pictures and divide by 5.Efficiency
(Picture credit score: Future/Sean Cameron)As is likely to be anticipated from a tool with top-of-the-line parts, the Predator isn’t right here simply to compete, however to win. And with an Intel Core 9 Extremely, 64GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 paired with 24GB of VRAM, it actually has the chops to take action.Working artificial benchmarks proved to be an fascinating expertise. Resulting from driver points which couldn’t be resolved by the point of writing, it was not doable to check graphical prowess in Cinebench 2024. In Geekbench 6, it achieved a GPU rating round 25% larger than a tool working a 4090.The highest-tier graphic efficiency is borne out in gaming, the place working the Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark, it achieved a median FPS of 185.84 at excessive settings, that means it has greater than sufficient oomph to simply play the highest video games of as we speak at most high quality.Testing the processor proved to be extra easy, with a Geekbench CPU Quantised rating of 8921, it finds itself close to the highest of the rankings. This was true throughout the likes of DirectML, and in customary multi and single-core scores from the traditional benchmark. The Intel Core 9 Extremely is likely to be power-hungry, however that juice is put to make use of.With 64GB of RAM, practically each conceivable use case exterior of extra intensive and particular functions is roofed. If you happen to want extra, you’ll actually want a extra specialised machine.Lastly, as is to be anticipated from a tool with such a big energy brick, battery life was not even remotely a consideration in design. When you have work of any calibre to finish, being plugged in is an absolute prerequisite.For many, for energy customers and sure for creatives too, the Predator completely has what it takes to maintain up together with your wants.Efficiency rating: 5/5PricePower doesn’t come low cost, with the Acer Predator Helios 16 AI costs beginning at £3,799.99. That will get you a top-of-the-line configuration; nonetheless, it’s the solely construct possibility.Who’s it for?The Predator is aimed toward one very particular group – those that want absolutely the ‘most’ from a laptop computer, and for whom price range can also be not a problem.. Whether or not that’s in gaming or for inventive work, if you happen to balk on the thought of compromise then that is the laptop computer for you, except battery life is one thing you prioritise.Swipe to scroll horizontallyScorecardAttributesNotesRatingDesignBig, ugly and heavy3/5FeaturesFuture-proof port choice and quick WiFi4/5PerformanceEats tough duties for breakfast5/5ValueVery costly, even in comparison with the competition2/5Buy it if…You need the very best gaming performanceYou wish to change into a pro-gamerYou have demanding inventive wants and in addition prefer to gameDon’t purchase it if…You don’t like ‘gamer’ stylingYou want even respectable battery lifeYou want one thing portableAlso think about
(Picture credit score: Future)Apple MacBook Professional 16 (M4 Professional, 2024)The MacBook 16 has a number of benefits over the Predator. A nicer design, higher audio system and much improved battery life amongst them. Even absolutely the high of the road configuration runs for barely much less cash, and there’s a number of methods to customize to your specific wants. In case you are a inventive, you may also simply want MacOS. Its main weak point? Gaming, MacOS simply doesn’t have practically as a lot availability as a Home windows.
(Picture credit score: Future)MSI Stealth 18 HX AIThe MSI prices lower than the Predator, has a bigger display boasting Mini-LED tech and has a decision of 4K. The tradeoff? It gained’t be fairly as succesful for aggressive multiplayer capturing video games, and the 5080 isn’t fairly as highly effective because the 5090, however at this level it’s splitting hairs. As soon as once more, the query is whether or not you’re keen to compromise, with the Stealth presenting solely a light slip.
(Picture credit score: Future)Asus ProArt PX13Maybe you want energy and mobility; ought to that be the case, then perhaps the Asus ProArt PX13 is the machine for you. At 13 inches, it could be small, however that additionally means it’s simple to lug round. It’s additionally possessed of a GeForce RTX 4070, so it may possibly sport and make brief work of many inventive duties. It could actually bend too, boasting a tent mode, and with costs on sale beginning at £1,899.99, it’s a minimum of value a glance.Full verdictExcess is an idea, and the Acer Predator Helios 16 AI is the embodiment of that idea. The whole lot about it’s a assertion of intent, the product of an organization saying that is the very best we are able to do.It won’t sport probably the most enticing seems, it is likely to be a bit brash in its styling and boast a keyboard that’s simply okay, however these aren’t part of the imaginative and prescient right here. Extra isn’t about magnificence, it’s about an excessive amount of. And there’s a lot energy below the hood there’s actually nothing that it isn’t doable to attain with the Predator, from a piece perspective, besides journey. It can’t final any size of time away from the charger, nonetheless this class of laptop computer virtually by no means can.When you have a beneficiant price range, and must you be a eager gamer, there’s few decisions which can scream conspicuous consumption greater than this. For creatives, a MacBook will supply energy and portability at a cheaper price, and for players, for slightly compromise it’s doable to make large financial savings. However this machine isn’t about compromise, it’s the antithesis of it, and if that appeals to you, then this machine will signify perfection.Acer Predator Helios 16: Value Comparability
