Once believed to have been banished in the quest for lighter, thinner systems, these goliaths have made a comeback to meet the increasing performance (and power consumption) of contemporary hardware. While many large laptops are expensive, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 tends to offer good performance for the money.
Details about the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18
The specs of the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 are standard for a gaming laptop in the mid-range. A 1TB solid state drive, 16GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card are combined with an Intel Core i7 processor.
The Predator Helios Neo 18 retails for $1,499.99; thus, pricing is a benefit. That is not a bad price for a laptop with Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, but other laptops with similar specs have smaller screens, and some go as low as $500 with a 512GB solid-state drive. For gamers who like to play AAA games that require more than 100GB to install, that price can add up rapidly. Good performance in relation to its hardware, which occasionally approaches peers with RTX 4070 graphics, adds to the Helios Neo 18’s value.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Superior construction and design
For a contemporary gaming laptop with an 18-inch display, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 isn’t pricey, but I quickly forgot that when using the machine. Acer builds a robust, eye-catching chassis by combining plastic trim with swathes of metallic black. Even a few stylish touches are included, the most obvious of which is a transparent plastic coating that hides the laptop’s logo along the vent.
To be clear, the Neo 18 isn’t very beautiful. It’s straightforward and really subtle. Even yet, the Acer doesn’t stick out as the less expensive choice when compared side by side with some more costly laptops, such as the MSI Raider GE78 or Asus ROG Strix Scar 18.
With a weight of 7.52 pounds and a thickness of up to 1.36 inches, this laptop is big. Compared to the majority of 18-inch or 17.3-inch options, like the MSI Raider GE78 and Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, it is heavier and larger. Though I would think a smaller system would be preferred for gamers who wanted to travel, the Neo 18 is an especially bad option. Due to its weight, it will be difficult to carry around and won’t fit into most backpacks, suitcases, or bags meant to accommodate laptops.
Keyboard and trackpad for the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18
The majority of the large interior of the Predator Neo 18 is taken up by a roomy keyboard with a numpad. The majority of keys are either full-sized or almost so, with the function row being the exception, as usual. Though they are ever so slightly shorter, the numpad keys are likewise around the same size as the alphanumeric keys.
The RGB backlighting on the keyboard is adjustable across many zones. It lacks the level of customisation offered by more costly 18-inch competitors, but it still has an appealing enough appearance to draw in gamers.
Predator Helios Neo 18 Acer: Screen and sound
You may be wondering at this point what Acer gave up to get a lower price point. The display is one possible response. Despite its 18-inch diagonal size, Acer maintains a basic IPS panel with a resolution of 1920×1200 and a refresh rate of 165Hz.
Views of the exhibit will vary depending on one’s viewpoint. It is obviously not as good as the 18-inch OLED and Mini-LED screens offered by more costly alternatives, especially when it comes to contrast. Games with a darker, gritty aesthetic, like Resident Evil: Village or Diablo VI, can appear flat and fuzzy. Although not particularly sharp, the 1920 x 1200 resolution is still superior to a 27-inch 1440p display. Another problem is brightness; in a bright room, the display may appear dark because it can only reach about 300 nits.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Biometrics, webcam, and microphone
When it comes to the webcam and microphone, Acer also stays true to its roots. Although functional for Zoom conversations, its 720p webcam and dual-array microphone are on the lower end of quality for a laptop released in 2024. A 1080p webcam that is sharper and microphones that produce louder, clearer sounds are now standard on many laptops.
In contrast, biometric login is not available. You will have to log in using a password, the traditional method.
Connectivity on the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18
Nonetheless, Acer doesn’t skimp on connectivity. Two Thunderbolt 4 (also USB-C compatible) ports, three USB-A 3.2 ports, HDMI, 2.5G Ethernet, a 3.5mm combination audio jack, a microSD card reader, and 2.5G Ethernet are among the features of the Predator Helios Neo 18.
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