Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 Gets a Major Performance Upgrade with Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and RTX 5080
Acer has refreshed its Predator Helios Neo 16 gaming laptop with more powerful hardware, giving high-end laptop buyers another performance-focused option for demanding games, creative workloads, and multitasking.
The biggest change is the processor. The laptop was previously available with up to the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, but Acer has now replaced it with the newer Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. While the new chip keeps the same 24-core layout as the previous model, benchmark results suggest it can deliver around 11% stronger CPU performance. That makes the updated Predator Helios Neo 16 better suited for CPU-heavy tasks such as video editing, rendering, streaming, and competitive gaming at high frame rates.
Acer is also expected to introduce a version with the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus later this year, giving buyers a slightly more affordable configuration while still keeping the laptop in the premium gaming category.
On the graphics side, the upgraded Predator Helios Neo 16 can be configured with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti or GeForce RTX 5080 laptop GPUs. The RTX 5070 Ti model includes 12 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 5080 version increases that to 16 GB. These GPUs are designed for modern AAA gaming, ray tracing, AI-enhanced performance features, and GPU-accelerated creative applications.
To support the powerful components, Acer includes a 330 W power adapter. The laptop also features a 92 Wh battery, which is a sizable capacity for a performance-focused gaming notebook.
The display is another key highlight. Acer equips the Predator Helios Neo 16 with a 2.5K panel and a fast 240 Hz refresh rate, making it appealing for gamers who want sharp visuals and smooth motion. The screen reaches up to 500 nits of brightness, although it uses IPS technology rather than OLED or AMOLED. That means users can expect strong refresh-rate performance and good brightness, but not the deeper blacks and contrast levels typically associated with OLED panels.
In the UK, the new Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is listed at £3,099 for a configuration that includes the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 laptop GPU, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD.
Pricing in the US appears unusual, as the 32 GB RAM configuration is currently cheaper than the 16 GB RAM version in some listings. Acer has also indicated that a future configuration with the Intel Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 with 8 GB of VRAM should arrive at around $2,399.
Another upcoming variant is expected to include the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD, priced slightly higher than the Core Ultra 7 model.
With its upgraded Intel Core Ultra processor, Nvidia RTX 50-series graphics options, 240 Hz 2.5K display, and premium gaming-focused design, the refreshed Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is clearly aimed at players and power users who want desktop-class performance in a portable machine. For buyers looking for a new high-performance gaming laptop in 2026, this updated Predator model is likely to be one of Acer’s most competitive options.
