At CES 2024, Acer unveils its 2024 refresh for the Predator gaming lineup. This includes the Predator Helios Neo 16, the more-affordable gaming laptop offering in the line.
Starting in 2023, the Predator Helios and Predator Triton has gone upmarket with its specs (and price), leaving a gap for the new (Neo) Helios Neo and Triton Neo.
For 2024, the Predator Neo 16 gets a minor refresh, in addition to a new, bigger Predator Neo being introduced, the Predator Neo 18, boasting an 18-inch screen.
The 2024 Predator laptops have a new Predator logo, or rather a new interpretation of the logo. The emblem now has a series of vertical lines light up which is quite the striking look despite using a minimalist style.
The secret graphics etched on the laptop lid have been dialled down a bit for the 2024 Predator Helios Neo, and gives off a cleaner look as a result. But secret codes are there for anyone to decypher and “and embark on an exhilarating journey to the Predator Verse”.
This time, the key for how to decode those codes are there. So what does the letters and number mean on the 2024 Predator Helios? On the top left it says “HELIOS NEO” while the numbers on the bottom right says “JOIN PREDATOR FORCE”.
The lip, the part from the bottom half of the chassis that the lid doesn’t cover, now sports the “NEO” name and a number designating the screen size, 16 or 18.
As far as specs goes, it’s what you expect. The top end specs sports a 14th-gen Intel Core i9 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. As for cooling, both laptops sports a twin-fan setup (utlising Acer’s 5th-gen AeroBlade fans) and liquid thermal grease.
Both laptops also sport Mini LED panels with up 2550×1600 resolution (at 16:10 aspect ratio) refresh rate, 3ms response time and 100% DCI-P3 colour range, so the screen is a major upgrade for this year’s refresh. Plus it supports Nvidia Advanced Optimus and Nvidia G-Sync.
This looks to be a minor refresh, which is fine, because the 2023 Helios Neo 16 was pretty good already (aside from the screen). But for 2024, those who prefer bigger screens on their gaming laptops now has something to look forward to.
The 2024 Acer Predator Helios 16 and Predator Helios 18 will be available in February the earliest in China and the EMEA regions. Expect these laptops to arrive in Malaysia later this year.