Acer Predator Helios 16 | Intel Core i7 13700HX | RTX 4070 | 16-inch | 1600p | 240 Hz | 16GB DDR5 | 1GB SSD | $1,899.99$1,399.99 at Newegg (save $500)
When we reviewed the RTX 4080 version of this laptop, we came away very impressed. This model is a lot cheaper, but what it loses in expensive components it more than makes up for in bang for your buck. That Core i7 13700HX should be kinder on the fans than the big Core i9 we reviewed, too.
Take it from someone who's used many a gaming laptop as a day-to-day machine—what you're looking for is balance. You'll want a set of components that the cooling system can handle, a decent amount of storage space, a good-looking chassis, and a great screen. All for a price that won't make your bank manager call you just to make sure you're feeling ok.
Which is why this Acer Predator Helios 16 is such a good deal, currently available at Newegg for $1,400. For a very reasonable price, you get some components that make a lot more sense than some of the overpowered (and as a result, immensely hot) combinations we see in some of the more expensive lappies on the market.
Let's start out with that display. This 240Hz IPS LED backlit panel is, unfortunately, not the Mini-LED model you get in the ultra high-end version with the RTX 4080. Boo. Still, with that refresh rate and a 500 nits peak brightness rating, it's still mega-fast and plenty punchy, and will still look stunning for gaming.
Of course, you could splash out on the more powerful model with the better screen. But while we liked the RTX 4080 version we reviewed, it did get incredibly loud under load.
Which hopefully should be less of an issue here. Now, don't get me wrong, almost all modern gaming laptops run hot and loud, and there's little you can do to mitigate that issue entirely. Here though, rather than the hot-running Core i9 13900HX we reviewed, you're getting the much more sensible Core i7 13700HX.
That's still a great gaming and productivity chip, and shouldn't
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