Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 vs MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 Comparison

Laptop to replace

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Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025

18 inches | January 2025

Speed 9

Size 1.5

Display 8

Gaming 8.5

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MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000

17.3 inches | January 2020

Speed 4

Size 7.5

Display 5

Gaming 2.5

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Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 vs MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000, two laptops from Acer and MSI. Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 was introduced to market in January 2025 and MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 was launched in January 2020. As you can see, Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 is 5 years older than Predator Helios 18 AI 2025. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 Key Specs

Launched in January 2025
18.0" Mini LED, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop 16GB
16GB Ram
400.96 x 307.9 x 17.3-29.55 mm (15.79 x 12.12 x 0.68-1.16 inches)
Weight: 3.2 kg (7.06 lbs)

MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 Key Specs

Launched in January 2020
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
GPU: Radeon RX 5500M 4GB
8GB Ram
397 x 260 x 23 mm (15.63 x 10.24 x 0.91 inches)
Weight: 2.24 kg (4.94 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 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 Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 over MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000

Side Bezel Thickness	6.6 mm vs 7 mm	0.4 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	18 inches vs 17.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	250 Hz vs 120 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	168 ppi vs 127 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
sRGB Color Space	100% vs 60%	Wider sRGB Color Space Coverage
DCI-P3 Color Gamut	100% vs 40.5%	Wider DCI-P3 Color Gamut
Adobe RGB Profile	90.1% vs 42%	Wider Adobe RGB Coverage
Max Brightness	1000 nits vs 260 nits	Brighter Screen
Response Time	3 ms vs 35 ms	Faster Response screen
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 7 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 7 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	42 TFLOPS vs 4.632 TFLOPS	Faster RAM Type
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR4	Higher RAM potential
Max Total RAM	192 GB vs 64 GB	Better Sound capture
Number of Microphones	3 vs 2	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.1	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Thunderbolt	v5 vs No	Better HDMI connectivity
HDMI Version	2.1 vs 2.0	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 over Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025

Weight	2.24 kg vs 3.20 kg	0.96 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~79.9% vs ~76.1%	Larger screen area ratio
Noise Level	48 dB vs 50.3 dB	Less fan noise

Common Strengths of MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 and Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025

Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR4	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
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
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Numeric Pad	Yes vs Yes	Fast way to input numbers
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 and Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 vs MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and the MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000.

Physical Specs
Weight	3.2 kg (7.06 lbs)	2.24 kg (4.94 lbs)
Surface Area	1235 cm2 (191.4 inches2)	1032 cm2 (160.1 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~76.1%	~79.9%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.6 mm	~7 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.18 kg/inch	0.13 kg/inch
	0.396 lbs/inch	0.286 lbs/inch
Colors	Blue	Black

Comparison of the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and the MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 External Dimensions

Weight

Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 weighs 3.2 kg (7.06 lbs), whereas the Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 weighs 2.24 kg (4.94 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

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025

MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000

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Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025

MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000

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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 Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 is 0.18 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 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
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 vs MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX	AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
Base Frequency	2.7 GHz	2.9 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.4 GHz	4.2 GHz
Number of Cores	24 (8P + 16E)	8
Number of Threads	24	16
L3 Cache	36 MB	8 MB
Integrated GPU	Arc Graphics (4-Cores)	Radeon Vega 7
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm	7 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 Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX

Laptops with: AMD Ryzen 7 4800H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop 16GB GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop 24GB	Radeon RX 5500M 4GB
Base Clock Frequency	975 MHz	1375 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	175 W	50 W
Nvidia Optimus	Yes, Advanced Optimus
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	42 TFLOPS	4.632 TFLOPS
Memory Size	16 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR7	GDDR6
Memory Bus	256 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	~28 Gbps	~14 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	7680	1408
TMUs	240	88
ROPs	96	32

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 Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 has a FLOPS value of 42 TFLOPS whereas the MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 ' has a FLOPS value of 4.632 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB 96GB 192GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	6400 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR4
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	192 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	4	2

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000'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 Predator Helios 18 AI (2025)	MSI Bravo 17 2021 (Ryzen 5000)
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX	AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
GPU	GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop 16GB	Radeon RX 5500M 4GB
Memory	16 GB ; 16 GB VRAM	8 GB ; 4 GB VRAM
Available for LLM total	~27.3 GB (14.5 GB VRAM 12.8 GB RAM)	~8 GB (2.5 GB VRAM 5.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Runs Smoothly fits in your 16 GB VRAM	✔ Runs Well fits in your 4 GB VRAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✔ Runs Smoothly fits in your 16 GB VRAM	! Not Practical doesn't fit in 4 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	✔ Runs Well fits in your 16 GB VRAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✔ Runs Well fits in your 16 GB VRAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed doesn't fit in 16 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed doesn't fit in 16 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (2025)|MSI Bravo 17 2021 (Ryzen 5000)

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

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	99 Wh	51 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left
Charge Power	330 W	180 W

Moreover, the Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 boasts a larger battery capacity of 99 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000's51 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025

MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000

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STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 8 TB, the Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000's max. storage capacity of 1 TB.

Storage Options	1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 6 TB, 8 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	3	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)

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 Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 vs MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 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. Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 has a display size of 18.0".On the other hand, Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 has a smaller 17.3" display.The total usable screen area of the Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 is 939cm² / 146inch² whereas the Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000's total usable screen area is 825cm² / 128inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 features a higher pixel density with 168 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025

MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000

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Refresh Rate
The Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 offers a higher refresh rate of 250 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Furthermore, the Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 boasts a faster response time of 3.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 offers a higher maximum brightness of 1000 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025

MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000

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Acer Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 vs MSI Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 (v6).

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
Both Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 feature 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 have USB Type-C ports. Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 has 2x USB 3.2 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
Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 is equipped with Thunderbolt 5 port. Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Both Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 feature an HDMI port. Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 offers 1x HDMI 2.1, while Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 offers 1x HDMI 2.0.

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
Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Predator Helios 18 AI 2025 and Bravo 17 2021 Ryzen 5000 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)	v7	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.4	v5.1
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	2x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 5	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.0
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes