Acer has refreshed its Predator Helios Neo lineup with Intel’s Core Ultra 200HX Plus series processors and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 50 series laptop GPUs, launching three variants covering different use cases: a slim 16″ desktop, a full-featured 16″ and an 18″ desktop.
All three laptops, Predator Helios Neo 16S AI, Predator Helios Neo 16 AI, and Predator Helios Neo 18 AI, peak with the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and an RTX 5080 laptop GPU with
16 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, with a Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus option available on each model. Memory reaches up to 64 GB of DDR5 at 6400 MT/s and storage reaches 2 TB in two PCIe Gen 4 NVMe M.2 slots.
Predator Helios Neo 16S AI
The 16S AI is the thinnest option of Acer’s trio, measuring between 12 and 18.9mm and weighing 2.3kg. Despite the slimmer chassis, Acer has equipped it with a 240Hz HDR OLED display with WQXGA (2560×1600) resolution with a 1ms response time, Calman-verified color accuracy and 100% DCI-P3 coverage. NVIDIA Advanced Optimus and G-SYNC are also on board. Cooling is provided by a fifth-generation Predator AeroBlade 3D fan and liquid metal thermal grease. Connectivity includes Thunderbolt 4, Intel Killer Ethernet E3100, Killer Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.4.
Predator Helios Neo 16 AI
The standard 16 AI increases slightly in thickness (between 13.47 and 26.75 mm) and weight to 2.7 kg, but adds vector heat pipes to the cooling stack along with the AeroBlade fan and liquid metal. Its WQXGA HDR OLED panel runs at 165Hz with a 1ms response time, Calman Verified and full DCI-P3 coverage. The connectivity setup mirrors the IA 16S, with Intel Killer Ethernet E3100 and Thunderbolt 4.
Predator Helios Neo 18 AI
The 18 AI is the largest of the three with a weight of 3.4 kg and a size of 400.96 x 307.9 mm, with a chassis ranging from 14.9 to 28 mm. Its 18-inch WQXGA panel runs at 240Hz with full DCI-P3 coverage and adds ambient contrast ratio (ACR) film, which Acer says reduces glare and increases contrast in well-lit environments. Cooling follows the same setup as the 16 AI, with AeroBlade fan, liquid metal, and vector heat pipes.
Shared Features
On all three models, Acer’s PredatorSense software gives users control over performance profiles and fan speeds, and manages the four-zone RGB backlit keyboard and illuminated lid logo. PurifiedVoice and PurifiedView apply AI processing to reduce noise and improve webcam output during calls and broadcasts. The laptops also include Acer Intelligence Space, which houses tools like Game Assistant (an aiming aid for first-person shooters) and ProCam for automatic capture of game highlights.
Each laptop ships with a 92Wh battery, an FHD IR webcam, DTS
Availability
All three models will arrive in EMEA in June 2026. North America and Australia will follow in July 2026 for the 16S AI and 18 AI; The 16 AI arrives in Australia in June. The price has not been announced. Regional pricing and exact configurations can be found at local Acer offices at www.acer.com.
