Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 Comparison

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Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61

18 inches | April 2025

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Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024

16.2 inches | October 2024

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Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024, two laptops from Acer and Apple. Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 was introduced to market in April 2025 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 was launched in October 2024. There is only 6 months difference between Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 are members of Apple's series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Acer Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Acer Aspire Go 15 AG15-71	August 2025	15.6"	362.9 x 237.5 x 19.9 mm	1.8 kg (3.97 lbs)
Acer Predator Triton 14 PT14-52	May 2025	14.0"	321.8 x 221 x 17.31 mm	1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)
Acer Predator Helios Neo 14 AI PHN14-71	May 2025	14.5"	323.9 x 254.7 x 20.8 mm	1.9 kg (4.19 lbs)
Acer Swift Go 14 AI OLED SFG14-75	May 2025	14.0"	312.4 x 227.4 x 9.7 mm	1.24 kg (2.73 lbs)
Acer Nitro Lite 16	April 2025	16.0"	362.2 x 248.47 x 22.9 mm	1.95 kg (4.3 lbs)
Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61	April 2025	18.0"	400.9 x 310.3 x 15.08-24.95 mm	3.02 kg (6.66 lbs)
Acer Nitro V 16S AI ANV16S-61	April 2025	16.0"	357.7 x 264 x 19.95 mm	2.1 kg (4.63 lbs)
Acer Nitro 16S AI AN16S-61	April 2025	16.0"	356.8 x 275.5 x 12.1-20.0 mm	2.18 kg (4.81 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 Key Specs

Launched in April 2025
18.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 7 350,AMD Ryzen AI 9 365
GPU: GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop 8GB,GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop 8GB,GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop 12GB
8GB,16GB,32GB Ram
400.9 x 310.3 x 15.08-24.95 mm (15.78 x 12.22 x 0.59-0.98 inches)
Weight: 3.02 kg (6.66 lbs)

Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 Key Specs

Launched in October 2024
16.2" Mini LED, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Apple M4 Pro (14-Core),Apple M4 Max (14-Core),Apple M4 Max (16-Core)
GPU: Apple M4 Pro GPU (20-core)
24GB,36GB,48GB,64GB,128GB Ram
355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm (14 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches)
Weight: 2.14 kg (4.72 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 over Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024

Display Size	18 inches vs 16.2 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	165 Hz vs 120 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
GPU FLOPS	18.4 TFLOPS vs 9.2 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	More RAM Options
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	Easily increase the Storage when needed
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs No	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.3	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 over Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61

Weight	2.14 kg vs 3.02 kg	0.88 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~86.2% vs ~75.5%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	3.4 mm vs 6.6 mm	3.2 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	254 ppi vs 168 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	3456 x 2234 pixels vs 2560 x 1600 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	1000 nits vs 500 nits	Brighter Screen
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 4 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 4 nm	Newer Generation GPU
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Bottom	Flexible cable positions
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Number of Microphones	3 vs 2	Better Sound capture
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Camera
Number of USB-C Ports	3x USB 4.0 vs 2x USB 4.0	Connect more device at the same time
Thunderbolt	v5 vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port

Common Strengths of Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 and Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61

Launch Dates	April 2025 vs October 2024	Both laptops are recent models
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 and Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024.

Physical Specs
Weight	3.02 kg (6.66 lbs)	2.14 kg (4.72 lbs)
Surface Area	1244 cm2 (192.8 inches2)	882 cm2 (136.8 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~75.5%	~86.2%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.6 mm	~3.4 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.17 kg/inch	0.13 kg/inch
	0.374 lbs/inch	0.286 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Black, Silver

Comparison of the Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 External Dimensions

Weight

Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 weighs 3.02 kg (6.66 lbs), whereas the MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 weighs 2.14 kg (4.72 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Thickness Comparison

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 is 0.17 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 is 0.13 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 AMD Ryzen AI 9 365	Apple M4 Pro (14-Core) Apple M4 Max (14-Core) Apple M4 Max (16-Core)
Base Frequency	2.0 GHz	4.51 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5 GHz
Number of Cores	8 (4P + 4E)	14 (10P + 4E)
Number of Threads	16	14
L3 Cache	16 MB
Integrated GPU	Radeon 860M	Apple M4 GPU (20-core)
CPU Fabrication Process	4 nm	3 nm

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( AMD Ryzen AI 7 350,AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 ) and compare them:

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop 8GB GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop 8GB GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop 12GB	Apple M4 Pro GPU (20-core)
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	115 W	26 W
Nvidia Optimus	Yes, Advanced Optimus
Type	Dedicated	Integrated
FLOPS	18.4 TFLOPS	9.2 TFLOPS
Memory Size	8 GB	System Shared
Memory Type	GDDR7	LPDDR5X
Memory Bus	128 bit	192 bit
Memory Speed	~24 Gbps	8.53 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	3328	2560
TMUs	104	160
ROPs	48	80

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 has a FLOPS value of 18.4 TFLOPS whereas the Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 ' has a FLOPS value of 9.2 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB	24GB 36GB 48GB 64GB 128GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	3x8 GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	8533 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	LPDDR5X
Upgradable	Yes	No
Max RAM Size	32 GB
Total Slots	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Custom

The MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 provides a larger RAM capacity of 24 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the Nitro 18 AI AN18-61's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Acer Nitro 18 AI (AN18-61)	Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M4, 2024)
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Good performance.	✔ Good performance.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	⚠ Can run using CPU + RAM fallback. Expect slower performance.	✔ Can run natively or with light optimization.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	⚠ Possible with CPU + RAM fallback using quantized models.	⚠ May be possible on Apple Silicon systems with 64–128 GB unified memory using quantized models.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	99 Wh	100 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	No
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left, Right
Charge Power	230 W	140 W

On the other hand, the MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 features a higher battery capacity of 100 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the Nitro 18 AI AN18-61's 99 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

STORAGE
The MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 offers a larger max storage capacity of 8 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the Nitro 18 AI AN18-61's storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB
Upgradable	Yes	No
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 has a display size of 18.0".On the other hand, MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 has a smaller 16.2" display.The total usable screen area of the Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 is 939cm² / 146inch² whereas the MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024's total usable screen area is 761cm² / 118inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 features a higher pixel density with 254 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Refresh Rate
The Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 offers a higher refresh rate of 165 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
The MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 offers a higher maximum brightness of 1000 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61

Avg: larger than 17.0"

Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Acer Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6E), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 is equipped with 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 have USB Type-C ports. Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 has 3x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 is equipped with Thunderbolt 5 port. Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Both Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Nitro 18 AI AN18-61 and MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.4	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	3x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	No	Thunderbolt 5
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	No
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes