Intel’s latest Core Ultra chips are a disruption from Intel’s previous series in several ways. There are some important architcture changes like the integrated NPU, which will become increasingly important in the age of AI. Now, Acer has a couple of new laptop offerings that you might want to check out if the new Intel chips have caught your interest.
Acer introduced two new gaming laptops: the Predator Helios Neo 14 and the Acer Nitro 16. The Predator Helios Neo 14 boasts the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series Laptop GPUs, so it’s probably as good as it gets for a gaming laptop right now. It features a compact design with a WQXGA display, 165Hz refresh rate and 100% sRGB color gamut support. You’re also covered in the thermals department, with inclusions like a dual-fan system and liquid metal on the CPU—this should run pretty well even taking into account the slim fit of the laptop.
The Acer Nitro 16, on the other hand, is equipped with Intel Core i7 14th gen processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series Laptop GPUs. The difference here is that while the Neo 14 comes with the newer Intel Core Ultra chips, Acer is going for the HX-series Intel 14th gen chips, which are basically the laptop equivalents of the chips we have on desktop computers. It packs a 16-inch WQXGA panel, a 165Hz refresh rate, and 100% sRGB color spectrum support, so it’s otherwise pretty similar to its Core Ultra cousin. You can customize performance modes and keyboard lighting effects according to your preferences.
Both laptops offer AI-related functionalities such as Copilot in Windows and AI-enhanced conferencing solutions. While the Neo 14 has an NPU, it doesn’t look like there’s much that you can actually do on-device yet, so you probably won’t be missing out much by going for the Core i7-powered model. However, that’s not to say that it won’t become important later on, so you might as well get an NPU-equipped laptop now. The Predator Helios Neo 14 starts at $1,799.99, while the Acer Nitro 16 starts at $1,399.99 in North America, with availability starting in May.
Source: Acer (Nitro laptops, Predator Helios laptops)
