Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 review: A huge gaming laptop for a small price

Price When Reviewed

$1,499.99

Best Prices Today: Acer Predator Helios Neo 18

18-inch laptops are again, child. These goliaths, as soon as thought banished within the pursuit of thinner, lighter programs, have returned to accommodate the upper efficiency (and energy consumption) of contemporary {hardware}. Many massive laptops include massive worth tags, however the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 bucks that pattern to ship respectable efficiency per greenback. 

Looking for different choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best gaming laptops out there proper now.

Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Specs

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 18’s specs are typical for a mid-range gaming laptop computer. An Intel Core i7 processor is paired with Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB of strong state storage. 

• CPU: Intel Core i7-14650HX
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR5
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 4060 at 140 watts
• Display: 1920×1200 IPS 165Hz
• Storage: 1TBPCIe 4.0 NVMe strong state drive
• Webcam: 720p
• Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (that includes energy off charging), 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1 port with HDCP help, 1x 2.5G Ethernet (RJ-45) port, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 90 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 15.93 x 12.39 x 1.36 inches
• Weight: 7.25 kilos
• MSRP: $1,499.99

Pricing is a perk, because the Predator Helios Neo 18 retails for $1,499.99. That’s not a low worth for a laptop computer with Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, however most equally outfitted laptops have a smaller show, and a few attain decrease pricing with a 512GB strong state drive that may shortly develop into tight for avid gamers who take pleasure in fashionable AAA video games with an set up dimension over 100GB. The Helios Neo 18’s worth additionally advantages from good efficiency relative to its {hardware}, which at instances comes near friends with RTX 4070 graphics.

Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 isn’t costly for a contemporary gaming laptop computer with an 18-inch show, however I simply forgot that whereas utilizing the laptop computer. Acer depends on expanses of metallic black with plastic trim to construct a sturdy, engaging chassis. There’s even just a few hints of aptitude, most noticeably a layer of clear plastic alongside the vent which covers the laptop computer’s branding. 

The Neo 18 isn’t attractive, to be clear. It’s comparatively refined and plain. Still, if positioned side-to-side by some dearer laptops just like the MSI Raider GE78 or Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, the Acer doesn’t stand out because the finances choice.

This is a big laptop computer that weighs in at 7.52 kilos and measures as much as 1.36 inches thick. It’s bigger and heavier than the MSI Raider GE78 or Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, in addition to most 18-inch or 17.3-inch alternate options. I’d think about avid gamers seeking to journey would decide a smaller system, however the Neo 18 is a very poor alternative. Its weight will show cumbersome and it received’t slot in most baggage, backpacks, and baggage designed to carry a laptop computer.

Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

A spacious keyboard with numpad spans the vast majority of the Predator Neo 18’s huge inside. Most keys are full-sized, or near it, with perform row (as ordinary) proving an exception. The numpad keys are additionally comparable in dimension to the alphanumeric keys, though they’re ever-so-slightly shorter. 

I additionally discovered the keyboard nice to make use of for prolonged typing periods. Each key has respectable journey and prompts easily earlier than reaching a refined however definitive bottoming motion. The keyboard is quiet, and I would like a extra tactile finish to key motion, however now I’m nitpicking. I used the keyboard for hours on finish with no complaints. 

The keyboard has an RGB backlight that may be personalized throughout a number of zones. It appears engaging sufficient so as to add curiosity for avid gamers who need it, but it surely lacks the diploma of customization out there from dearer 18-inch opponents.

The touchpad is sweet, too. It measures six inches huge and practically 4 inches deep, which is loads of area for Windows’ most complicated multi-touch gestures. A number of high-end opponents, just like the Razer Blade 18, supply a greater touchpad. But some dearer laptops, just like the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, have a smaller and fewer satisfying touchpad. 

Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Display, audio

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

At this level, you would possibly surprise what Acer needed to sacrifice to attain a cheaper price level. One reply: the show. Although it measures 18 inches diagonally, Acer sticks to a easy IPS panel with 1920×1200 decision and a refresh charge of 165Hz.

Opinions on the show will hinge on perspective. It’s clearly inferior to the 18-inch OLED and Mini-LED shows out there from dearer alternate options, and particularly missing in distinction. Darker, grittier video games like Diablo VI or Resident Evil: Village can appear hazy and flat. 1920×1200 decision isn’t particularly sharp, both, although nonetheless higher than a 27-inch 1440p monitor. Brightness is one other concern: the show barely clears 300 nits, so it might appear dim in a shiny room.

On the plus aspect, the Neo 18’s show delivers good shade efficiency with a large shade gamut and strong shade accuracy. Brighter and extra colourful video games, like Palworld or Stardew Valley, look glorious. The added dimension can be satisfying when in comparison with a 16-inch various. Two inches may not sound necessary, however going with the 18-inch display will increase the full show space by 25 %, which could be very noticeable. 

Motion readability is respectable. The IPS show’s refresh charge of 165Hz isn’t spectacular in 2024 however nonetheless supplies a significant leap in smoothness and readability when in comparison with a 60Hz or 90Hz display. It’s additionally an excellent match for the laptop computer’s capabilities. A refresh charge would look interesting, however the Neo 18’s mid-range {hardware} would have issue delivering the body charges wanted to reap the benefits of a 240Hz panel.

The laptop computer’s audio system, in contrast to the show, punch effectively above the laptop computer’s worth with loud, clear sound, a deep sound stage, and a touch of low-end oomph. They’re nonetheless laptop computer audio system and can begin to sound muddy in probably the most demanding, bass-heavy music, however they’re a terrific match for motion pictures and video games. 

Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

Acer additionally sticks to the fundamentals relating to the webcam and microphone. It has a 720p webcam and dual-array microphone which, although serviceable for Zoom calls, are in direction of the low finish of high quality out there from a laptop computer offered in 2024. Many laptops now have a sharper 1080p webcam and microphones that present stronger, clear audio. 

Biometric login, in the meantime, is absent. You’ll must login the old style approach: with a password.

Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Connectivity

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

When it involves connectivity, although, Acer doesn’t maintain again. The Predator Helios Neo 18 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports (additionally suitable with USB-C), three USB-A 3.2 ports, HDMI, 2.5G Ethernet, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a microSD card reader. 

That’s an especially broad vary of ports that ought to cowl what avid gamers want, after which some. It’s doable to attach a high-resolution, high-refresh charge monitor and a number of wired gaming equipment directly. 

However, whereas the connectivity is nice, it doesn’t set up a notable edge over opponents. Most massive laptops have gobs of ports. I additionally dislike that almost all of the out there ports are on the laptop computer’s flanks, quite than the rear. Large laptops will spend most time on a desk with many peripherals hooked up, and rear-facing ports enhance cable administration.

Wireless connectivity is supplied by an Intel Killer Wi-Fi adapter that helps Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. I would like to see Wi-Fi 7, but it surely’s not but widespread at this worth level, and Wi-Fi 6E nonetheless delivers glorious efficiency when paired with a top quality Wi-Fi 6E router. 

Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Performance

Acer sticks to mid-range {hardware} for the Helios Neo 18 however supplies it with the facility and thermal headroom wanted to carry out at its greatest. The laptop computer has an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor, Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of strong state storage. None of that sounds distinctive—and there’s agency limits to the Neo 18’s efficiency—but it surely’s a fast laptop computer for the worth.

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

PCMark 10, a normal system benchmark, posted a powerful results of 7,744 on the Predator Helios Neo 18. That’s higher than most price-competitive laptops except the AMD-powered Framework Laptop 16, which punched above its weight. 

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Neo 18 once more posts sturdy leads to Cinebench R20, which is a short-duration, closely multithreaded processor benchmark. It achieved a rating of 8,002, which defeats most equally priced gaming laptops other than the Dell G16 7630, which we examined with a 13th-gen Intel Core i9 HX processor. That might sound odd, but it surely’s consistent with what we’ve got come to count on from Intel’s 14th-gen {hardware}, which typically delivers efficiency that’s solely a smidge higher than the prior era.

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

Handbrake, a closely multithreaded long-duration processor benchmark, didn’t shake up the outcomes. The Neo 18 stays a performer, although Dell’s G16 barely outran it. To be truthful, nonetheless, the Dell G16 configuration we examined was additionally a number of hundred {dollars} dearer, so Acer’s efficiency stays sturdy for the worth.

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Neo 18’s good outcomes proceed in graphics benchmarks. The RTX 4060 isn’t the quickest cellular graphics chip, and it solely has 8GB of video reminiscence, which can show limiting in some video games. But the Neo 18 retains the RTX 4060 well-fed with as much as 140 watts of energy and, because of this, its efficiency is at instances nearer to an RTX 4070 than some RTX 4060 friends.

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

Shadow of the Tomb Raider barely modifications the story. In this sport, the Neo 18 scores identically to the older Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 and begins to fall noticeably behind the RTX 4070 laptops. Still, a median of 130 frames per second is nice for the worth and greater than sufficient to benefit from the sport.

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

Metro Exodus is a demanding sport (a minimum of on the Extreme preset, which we use), however the Neo 18 continues to do effectively. Here it as soon as once more reveals itself nearer to RTX 4070 {hardware} than some RTX 4060 programs, and it delivers a playable common of 45 FPS.

We wrapped up the benchmarks with Cyberpunk 2077. The sport averaged a wholesome 70 FPS at 1080p decision and Ultra element (with DLSS/FSR off). Using the Overdrive ray-tracing mode radically tanked efficiency to simply 17 FPS, a outcome that could be blamed on the RTX 4060’s mere 8GB of video reminiscence. Gamers can take pleasure in Cyberpunk 2077’s ray-tracing on the Neo 18, however the Medium preset is a greater match when ray-tracing is enabled.

All outcomes reported above have been achieved within the Neo 18’s default “Balanced” efficiency profile, however we additionally examined the laptop computer’s Turbo profile, which considerably elevated efficiency in lots of conditions. PCMark 10 leapt from 7,744 to 8,112, whereas 3DMark Time Spy elevated from 10,389 to 11,288. Turbo mode additionally maximizes fan noise, nonetheless, so we don’t suppose it’s a viable alternative for gaming in most conditions. 

Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Battery life

Acer packs a large 90 watt-hour battery within the Predator Helios Neo 18. That’s loads of juice, however the laptop computer’s {hardware} can suck down a full cost shortly.

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

Our normal battery exams, which loops a 4K file of the quick movie Tears of Steel, sucked down a full cost in slightly below 4 hours. That’s not unusable, but it surely’s fairly fast, and I’d advise avid gamers to not count on various hours of battery life even when having fun with the sunshine video games that don’t tax the GPU.

Indeed, I skilled that in a single scenario the place Nvidia Optimus failed to interact. Optimus is designed at hand graphics duties over to the Intel IGP when the Nvidia GPU’s efficiency isn’t required, however it may be finicky. Because of that, the battery drained in simply 58 minutes, regardless of a workload that was nothing greater than net shopping and watching video.

The 330 watt energy brick, which expenses the laptop computer over a barrel plug connection, doesn’t assist portability. It’s massive and heavy, additional rising the load you’ll carry should you journey with the Neo 18. 

Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Conclusion

Acer’s Predator Helios Neo 18 reveals the advantages of a big-screen laptop computer that may be delivered at a slim price ticket. Though offered for simply $1,499.99,  the Neo 18 supplies glorious efficiency, an enormous show, a lot of connectivity, and a sexy design. A scarcity of portability is the true worth paid for the Neo 18’s perks, because it’s even heavier and thicker than some 18-inch alternate options, and the battery didn’t maintain out for lengthy even in much less demanding circumstances. Still, the Neo 18 is a superb decide should you’re searching for a semi-portable various to a gaming desktop.