Overview
Two very different takes on a gaming laptop: the MSI Raider 18 HX ($2,499) is an 18” desktop replacement with an RTX 5080 and 64 GB RAM, while the Acer Predator Helios 16 ($1,999) is a more conventional 16” machine with an RTX 5070 Ti and Ryzen 9. The $500 gap buys a bigger screen, faster GPU, and double the RAM, but also 1.3 lbs more weight.
GPU Performance
The Raider’s RTX 5080 Laptop at 150W TGP is the clear winner. It’s 20-25% faster than the Helios 16’s RTX 5070 Ti in rasterization and 30%+ faster in ray-traced titles. At QHD+ resolution, the 5080 maintains higher frame rates with max settings, and the 12 GB VRAM (vs 8 GB) gives more headroom for texture-heavy games and future titles.
Winner: MSI Raider 18 HX. Faster GPU across the board.
CPU
The Helios 16’s AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX has an advantage in multi-threaded workloads thanks to its 16 cores. If you stream while gaming or run CPU-heavy background tasks, the AMD chip pulls ahead by 10-15%. The Raider’s Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX is competitive in single-threaded gaming performance.
Winner: Acer Predator Helios 16. More cores, better for streaming + gaming.
Display
The Raider’s 18” QHD+ 240Hz panel is bigger and more immersive. The Helios 16’s 16” QHD+ 240Hz panel is the same resolution, refresh rate, and similar quality, just smaller. Whether 18” matters to you is a personal preference, but the extra real estate is noticeable for gaming.
Winner: MSI Raider 18 HX. Larger screen, same quality.
RAM and Storage
The Raider comes with 64 GB DDR5 and 2 TB SSD. The Helios 16 has 32 GB DDR5 and 1 TB SSD. For pure gaming, 32 GB is plenty, but the Raider’s 64 GB future-proofs and helps if you multitask. Double the storage is a real convenience for large game libraries.
Winner: MSI Raider 18 HX. Double everything.
Portability
The Helios 16 wins here decisively. At 5.51 lbs vs 6.83 lbs, and 16” vs 18”, it’s meaningfully more portable. Neither is a travel laptop, but the Helios at least fits in a standard backpack without complaint.
Winner: Acer Predator Helios 16. 1.3 lbs lighter, smaller footprint.
Price and Value
The Helios 16 at $1,999 offers strong gaming performance at a competitive price. The Raider at $2,499 is $500 more for a GPU upgrade, bigger screen, and double the RAM/storage. The Raider’s extras are real, but the Helios 16 hits a better performance-per-dollar ratio.
Winner: Acer Predator Helios 16. Better value.
Verdict
The MSI Raider 18 HX wins overall for buyers who want the absolute best gaming experience in a laptop: bigger screen, faster GPU, more RAM and storage. The Acer Predator Helios 16 is the smarter buy for gamers who want excellent performance without spending $2,500, and who prefer a slightly more portable machine.