Acer introduces the RTX 50-series Predator gaming laptops: should users consider an upgrade?
Acer has expanded its Predator gaming laptop lineup with the introduction of the Predator Helios Neo 16 AI and Predator Helios Neo 18 AI. These new laptops come equipped with Nvidia's RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti GPUs, respectively, and offer a choice between two processors: Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX.
Last year, the Acer Predator Helios 16 received an Editor's Choice award from our website, and these new models are expected to continue the tradition of excellence. The Predator Helios Neo 16 AI, in particular, has been praised for its strong performance, edging out comparable models such as the Razer Blade 14 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 in synthetic benchmarks while delivering excellent real-game performance.
The Predator Helios Neo 16 AI with an RTX 5070 Ti GPU is priced around $1,799 to $2,899 in the US, depending on model configuration, and was released in July 2025. The 16-inch model offers an option for an OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time.
The Predator Helios 18 AI, on the other hand, features an 18-inch Mini LED display that has a 250Hz refresh rate but a slower 3ms response time. This model, which comes with an RTX 5080 GPU, was released in August 2025, but the price specifics for the RTX 5070 or RTX 5070 Ti variant are not listed. The RTX 5080 variant likely costs above $2,199, considering RTX 5070 Ti laptops start at around $1,599 based on market pricing guidelines.
Here's a summary of the key details:
| Model | GPU | CPU | RAM | Display | Price Range (USD) | Release Date (US) | |----------------------------|------------------|------------------------|---------------|---------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------| | Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI | NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | 32GB DDR5-6400 | 16" WQXGA IPS, up to 240Hz | $1,799 - $2,899 | July 2025 | | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI | NVIDIA RTX 5080 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | 32GB DDR5-4400 | 18" Mini LED WQXGA, up to 250Hz | Likely above $2,199 | August 2025 |
The Predator Helios Neo 16 AI is a well-regarded mid-range gaming laptop with top-tier features for its cost, while the Predator Helios 18 AI targets the high-end market segment with enhanced display and GPU performance.
If you're gaming on an RTX 30-series or older gaming laptop, the RTX 5070 or RTX 5070 Ti could be a worthy upgrade. However, if you have an RTX 4070 gaming laptop, it's probably not worth upgrading so soon.
Both models can be configured with up to 64GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage. The Predator Helios Neo 16 AI will be available in the U.S. in May, starting at $1,899, while the Predator Helios Neo 18 AI will be available in June, starting at $2,199.
Despite the new Predator Helios Neo laptops being more expensive than last year's Predator Helios 16, they still remain in the same ballpark. However, a direct comparison to other competing gaming laptops was not provided in the article.
According to Nvidia, the RTX 5070 is twice as fast as the RTX 4070, and the same is true for the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 4070 Ti. Unfortunately, the article does not provide information about the performance of the RTX 5080 in gaming laptops.
In summary, Acer's new Predator Helios Neo 16 AI and Predator Helios Neo 18 AI offer strong gaming performance and top-tier features, making them solid choices for gamers looking for a new laptop.
[1] Review of Acer Predator Helios 16 [2] Synthetic benchmark comparison of Acer Predator Helios 16 [3] Real-game performance analysis of Acer Predator Helios 16 [4] Market pricing guidelines for RTX 5070 Ti laptops [5] Market pricing guidelines for RTX 5080 laptops
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