Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI (PHN16-I71) vs MSI Vector 16 HX AI (A2XW)

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Predator Helios Neo 16 AI (PHN16-I71) compared with Vector 16 HX AI (A2XW)

	AcerPredator Helios Neo 16 AI (PHN16-I71)	MSIVector 16 HX AI (A2XW)
Overview
Released
Released	June 2026	March 2025
Display
Screen size
Screen size	16″	16″
Resolution
Resolution	2560 × 1600	2560 × 1600
Panel
Panel	IPS LCD or OLED	IPS LCD
Refresh rate
Refresh rate	240 Hz or 165 Hz	240 Hz
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	WQXGA IPS, 16:10, anti-glare, non-touch (UK models); a WQXGA OLED at 165 Hz is sold elsewhere	QHD+ (2560 × 1600) IPS-level, 16:10
Colour range
Colour range	100% DCI-P3	100% DCI-P3 (typical)
Screen finish
Screen finish	Anti-glare (ComfyView matte) on the IPS panel	–
Display features
Display features	NVIDIA Advanced Optimus and G-SYNC; Acer's range page quotes "up to 500 nits peak brightness" for the OLED, not the UK IPS screen	–
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus	Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX or Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
CPU cores
CPU cores	24	20 or 24
CPU threads
CPU threads	24	20 or 24
Graphics
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
AI engine (NPU)
AI engine (NPU)	13 TOPS	13 TOPS
Memory
Memory	16 GB or 32 GB	16 GB or 32 GB
Storage
Storage	1 TB	512 GB to 1 TB
CPU
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (8 P-cores, 16 E-cores, up to 5.5 GHz); Acer also lists the Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus	Core Ultra 7 255HX (20 cores, up to 5.2 GHz, 30 MB cache) or Core Ultra 9 275HX (24 cores, up to 5.4 GHz, 36 MB cache); Intel HM870 chipset
GPU
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, 16 GB GDDR7, boost up to 1907 MHz, up to 175 W (UK models); up to RTX 5080 in other markets	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (8 GB GDDR7, 115 W), RTX 5070 Ti (12 GB GDDR7, 140 W) or RTX 5080 Laptop GPU (16 GB GDDR7, 175 W), including Dynamic Boost; up to 240 W combined CPU and GPU power with MSI OverBoost Ultra
AI engine
AI engine	Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13 TOPS	Intel AI Boost NPU
Memory type
Memory type	DDR5-6400 in two SO-DIMM slots; 16 or 32 GB fitted, up to 64 GB	DDR5-5600 in two slots (supports up to DDR5-6400); up to 96 GB
Storage type
Storage type	Two PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 slots, up to 1 TB each (2 TB total); 1 TB fitted	One M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 slot and one M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen5 slot
Cooling
Cooling	5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fan, liquid metal thermal grease, vector heat pipes	–
Battery and size
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	92 Wh (better)	90 Wh
Weight
Weight	2.7 kg	2.7 kg
Thickness
Thickness	26.75 mm (better)	28.55 mm
Width × depth
Width × depth	356.8 × 275.5 mm	357 × 284 mm
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	92 Wh 4-cell Li-ion; Acer UK gives up to 10 hr video and 5.5 hr MobileMark 30 (PHN16-I71-96LQ) or up to 8 hr video and 5 hr "MobileMark 2025" (PHN16-I71-9915); the US OLED model is listed at up to 150 W GPU power	90 Wh, 4-cell
Charger
Charger	330 W adapter	330 W adapter (280 W on the RTX 5060 model); USB Power Delivery 3.1 over Thunderbolt 5
Colours
Colours	Black	Cosmos Gray
Connections
Ports
Ports	Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, 3 × USB-A, HDMI, microSD slot, Ethernet, headphone jack	2 × Thunderbolt 5, 2 × USB-A, HDMI, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6E	Wi-Fi 7 or Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.4	5.4 or 5.3
Webcam
Webcam	FHD with IR	1080p with IR
Operating system
Operating system	Windows	Windows
Port detail
Port detail	Thunderbolt 4 Type-C; USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C; 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A; USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A; HDMI 2.1; microSD card reader; RJ-45 (Intel Killer Ethernet E3100); 3.5 mm combo audio jack	2 × Thunderbolt 5 with DisplayPort and Power Delivery 3.1; 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A; HDMI 2.1 (8K 60 Hz / 4K 120 Hz); SD Express reader; 2.5 Gb Ethernet; 3.5 mm combo jack
Keyboard
Keyboard	4-zone RGB backlit keyboard with PredatorSense and Acer My Key keys	24-zone RGB gaming keyboard with Copilot key
Speakers
Speakers	2 speakers, DTS:X Ultra	2 × 2 W, Nahimic 3, Hi-Res Audio ready
Microphones
Microphones	–	Array microphone
Biometrics
Biometrics	IR webcam for Windows Hello	IR webcam with shutter