Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 (2024) review: Best bet for 2 lakhs!

Just a few days ago, I reviewed the Nitro 16 (2024) as my top pick for those looking for a gaming laptop for 1.5 lakh rupees! Today, I'll be stepping up a notch and venturing into the 2 lakhs territory. While there is a multitude of options here as well, I chose to go with another Acer gaming laptop: the Predator Helios Neo 16 (2024) with a super powerful Core i9-14900HX CPU alongside RTX 4060 graphics. In this review, I'll briefly touch on the pros and cons of this laptop, alongside possible alternatives and comparisons.

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 (2024) Review: Specifications

• Dimensions, Weight: 14.18 (W) x 11.02 (D) x 1.05 – 1.11 (H) inches, 2.8 kg
• Display: 16" WQXGA IPS panel, 240Hz, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, 400 nits brightness, G-SYNC, MUX Switch, Advanced Optimus
• Keyboard: Full-size chicklet backlit keyboard, Per-Key RGB
• Trackpad: Multi-touch trackpad, Windows Precision drivers
• Processor: Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU (Raptor Lake Refresh)
  • 24C/32T, 5.8 GHz Max Turbo frequency, 36MB L3 Cache
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (140W)
  • 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, 2.37 GHz boost clock
• RAM: 32GB DDR5-5600 in dual-channel mode (up to 64GB)
• Storage: 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD (1x M.2 2242 and 1x M.2 2280 slot)
• Audio: 2x 2W speakers, Nahimic Gaming Audio
• Battery: 90 Watt-hours Li-Po battery with 230W Smart AC, 140W PD
• Webcam: FHD (1080p) camera, Array microphones
• Connectivity: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
• I/O Ports: 2x USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x RJ45 (LAN), 1x mic / headphone combo jack, 1x power connector
• Price in Nepal: NPR 204,999 (32GB RAM, 1TB SSD)
• Check the full specifications of the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 here
• Buy Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 here

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Review:

Design and Build

• Dimensions: 399.3 x 295.5 x 26.8-27.6 mm
• Weight: 2.6 kg

The 2024 edition of the Predator Helios Neo 16 actually gets a bunch of nice design improvements over the last generation we reviewed before! It looks much cleaner and streamlined now with most of the weird text out of sight. Among the many changes, the first I noticed was the redesigned back: the blue plastic is gone now (thank god) and you instead get a silvery accent! The Predator Logo also gets a modern polish with an RGB aura! And..there's a transparent hood adding that extra flair! It's pretty clear that you've leveled up from entry-level gaming computers because the overall build is also a tad more premium! The hinges are a bit sturdier, the deck is a bit stiffer, and the overall feel is just more solid!

It's still a large gaming laptop though so portability isn't exactly one of its strong suits. Still weighs a hefty 2.8 kilos (make that 3+ with the charger) and measures a chunky 26mms when closed.

Display

• 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600 pixels)
• 240Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI P3
• 400nits peak brightness

This display is one of the high-octane upgrades that give this Predator an edge in the 2 lakh segment. Firstly, it's a wicked fast 240Hz panel while most others top out at 165Hz. The extra smoothness not only helps in making everyday use feel magical but also aids in the gaming experience. Secondly, it's super vibrant (100% DCI-P3) and bright as well. So, say you want to get into video editing or do color grading for work, well, congratulations, you got yourself a portable workstation on hand. Lastly, it has a crisp 1600p resolution, a tall 16:10 aspect ratio with thin side bezels, and great viewing angles. With these numbers, the display on the Predator Helios Neo is not just best for gaming but content creation as well (excluding OLEDs and miniLEDs).

Keyboard and Trackpad

Seems like Acer didn't change much with the keyboard or trackpad this generation. It's pretty similar to the last Neo (from what I can remember) with slightly better feedback and travel compared to cheaper alternatives like the Nitro 16. The tiny right shift does annoy me from time to time but I am willing to let it go for my FULL-SIZED arrow buttons. The trackpad is large, has a smooth texture, and responds decently to glides and gestures. It's still plastic topped with a diving board underneath though so first-time buyers might find it a bit underwhelming for the money!

Audio and Webcam

• Speakers: Dual Stereo Speakers
• Webcam: 720p HD webcam

The speakers and webcam on the Predator are nothing stellar, they get the job done but I wish that laptop manufacturers put a little extra effort in this regard as well. The dual down-firing speakers have okayish volume with not a lot of low frequencies while the HD webcam is barely workable with minimal details and painting like output.

Performance

We have finally arrived at the performance section of this review so be ready to hear me hymn about it for a good couple of paragraphs. Firstly let's marvel once more at the specs you are getting: 

• Top-of-the-line Core i9-14900HX (the best mobile CPU you can get in Nepal)
• 140W NVIDIA RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (You can get some low-power RTX 4070s but this is definitely up there for 2 lakhs)
• 32GB of DDR5-5600 RAM (Double of what you normally get)
• 1TB NVME Gen 4 SSD (Pretty standard good stuff)

So I'll start from the top with the Intel chip!

The Core i9-14900HX has one of the snappiest single-threaded performances in this price segment thanks to its high clock speeds and the multi-core is simply unmatched! In CPU-reliant games like Counter-Strike 2, I was getting superb FPS both at 1080p (~250) and 1440p (~180) without noticeable frame drops or stutters.

Benchmark	Ryzen 7 8845HS (45W Base)	Ryzen 9 8945HS (45W Base)	i9-14900HX (55W Base)
Cinebench r24 Single	99	106	129 ↑
Cinebench r24 Multi	857	975	1737 ↑
Geekbench 6 Single	2562	2550	2912 ↑
Geekbench 6 Multi	9827	11574	17296 ↑

So, there's simply no debate on whether you could do better CPU-wise at this bracket because these numbers speak for themselves. And the GPU's great too!

Gaming Performance

As you can see, even with GPU-intensive games like CyberPunk 2077 and Forza Horizon 5, I was still getting over a 100FPS on average with 1% lows in the 70s. You can definitely crank up the settings even further and turn on VSync to enjoy stable 60FPS gameplay. Because even on 1440p resolution, the FPS numbers are very impressive for a laptop costing just 2 lakh rupees! It's a suitable blend of desktop-level performance with a portable form-factor.

If you are curious, here's how a similar Predator with a slightly weaker Core i7 14650HX would perform against a competitor. 

As you can see, most FPS numbers are pretty similar (with our i9 variant) because they all have the same RTX 4060 running at up to 140W and that part is more influential when it comes to gaming most of the time.

Cooling and Memory

Well, I would like to say right off the rip that the Core i9 14900HX inside this Predator CAN get really hot (100˚C) sometimes but the laptop has got a great cooling solution with a combination of really fast fans, liquid metal on the CPU, and well-placed ventilation. You can tweak the fan settings via the Predator Sense application and I kept it at the maximum speed for benchmarks and my games sessions! Here's how it compares against a Legion 5 of its own class.

As you can see from the above (GPU) stress test, the temps stay level over a prolonged period so you don't need to worry about hiccups or dips during your long gaming sessions. Just make sure the fans are either set to 'Auto' or 'Max' and don't block the intake below! Opening the back, you should be able to access the two SO-DIMM slots for your RAM sticks, and two M.2 slots for your SSDs. Since this unit already has 32GB installed, you might not need to spec it up for a good while but know that you always have the option to still DOUBLE it if you want!

Battery Life

• 90Wh, 4-cell Li-ion
• 330W AC Adapter

Well, I couldn't tell you much about the battery life on the Predator because it was plugged in 24/7 on my desk. But on the rare occasion that I used it away from the charger, I experienced your typical "gaming laptop" drain with roughly 1-2 hours of use before needing to plug back in. Dialing down to 60Hz + battery saver + low brightness + iGPU only should give you workable battery life but don't expect anything more than a couple of short hours. The cell itself is a large 90Wh unit and charges pretty quickly too. I noticed it filling up to 60-70% in just 20-30 minutes! But the 330W brick is a hassle to carry around and should be left at your desk if you have a Type-C cable and adapter at home (for PD charging).

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 (2024) Review: Conclusion

So, if you are looking for the best performance gaming machine under 2 lakh rupees, then this Predator is the one to get right now! With the ever-changing landscape of the laptop segment in Nepal, there are bound to be better or worse deals over time. But even if you are reading this review 6 months from publication, getting a Predator Helios Neo 16 would be the move as this lineup features powerful chips, good cooling, and a value-driven price tag. The display and the CPU primarily push this particular configuration to the top but you can always go with alternatives like the Legion 5 from Lenovo if you have different priorities when it comes to aesthetics and portability.

Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 (2024) Review Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent 240Hz screen
• Very powerful Core i9 14900HX CPU
• Refined design over its predecessor
• RTX 4060 can play at 1440p

Cons

• Heavy to carry around
• Can get really hot!
• The speakers and Webcam are meh