Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition vs Dell XPS 15 9500 Comparison

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Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition

15.6 inches | May 2023

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Dell XPS 15 9500

15.6 inches | May 2020

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Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition vs Dell XPS 15 9500 Comparison Overview

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Dell XPS 15 9500

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In this review, we will be comparing Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and XPS 15 9500, two laptops from Acer and Dell. Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition was introduced to market in May 2023 and Dell XPS 15 9500 was launched in May 2020. As you can see, XPS 15 9500 is 3 years older than Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition. 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 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and Dell XPS 15 9500 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition Key Specs

Launched in May 2023
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i9 13900HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB
16GB Ram
359.4 x 280.8 x 27.9 mm (14.15 x 11.06 x 1.1 inches)
Weight: 2.98 kg (6.57 lbs)

Dell XPS 15 9500 Key Specs

Launched in May 2020
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 10300H
GPU: GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB
8GB Ram
344 x 230 x 18 mm (13.54 x 9.06 x 0.71 inches)
Weight: 1.83 kg (4.04 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and XPS 15 9500 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 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition over Dell XPS 15 9500

Screen PPI	282 ppi vs 145 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	3840 x 2160 pixels vs 1920 x 1200 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Response Time	28 ms vs 43 ms	Faster Response screen
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm vs 14 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 12 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	21.3 TFLOPS vs 3.041 TFLOPS	Faster RAM Type
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR4	Faster RAM
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.1	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Better typing feel
Key Travel	1.8 mm vs 1.3 mm

Reasons to choose Dell XPS 15 9500 over Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition

Weight	1.83 kg vs 2.98 kg	1.15 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~89.2% vs ~66.5%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	4 mm vs 7 mm	3 mm thinner bezels
Contrast Rate	1650:1 vs 1470:1	more pleasing colors
DCI-P3 Color Gamut	94% vs 90%	Wider DCI-P3 Color Gamut
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Bottom	Flexible cable positions
Max Total RAM	64 GB vs 32 GB	Higher RAM potential
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
Number of USB-C Ports	3x USB 3.1 vs 2x USB 4.0	Connect more device at the same time

Common Strengths of Dell XPS 15 9500 and Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition

Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
HDR Support	Yes, HDR10 vs Yes, Dolby Vision	Watch HDR Clips
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Bluetooth Standard	v5.2 vs v5.2	Fast and Reliable Bluetooth Connections
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v3	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
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 Dell XPS 15 9500 and Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition vs Dell XPS 15 9500: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and the Dell XPS 15 9500.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.98 kg (6.57 lbs)	1.83 kg (4.04 lbs)
Surface Area	1009 cm2 (156.5 inches2)	791 cm2 (122.7 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~66.5%	~89.2%
Side Bezel Thickness	~7 mm	~4 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.19 kg/inch	0.12 kg/inch
	0.418 lbs/inch	0.264 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Silver

Comparison of the Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and the Dell XPS 15 9500 External Dimensions

Weight

Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition weighs 2.98 kg (6.57 lbs), whereas the XPS 15 9500 weighs 1.83 kg (4.04 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. The weight difference between the two laptops is not significant.

Weight Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition 2.98 kg

Dell XPS 15 9500 1.83 kg

Min 0.99 kg

Average 1.95 kg

Max 3.32 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition 27.90 mm

Dell XPS 15 9500 18.00 mm

Min 7.70 mm

Average 20.17 mm

Max 29.00 mm

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 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition is 0.19 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell XPS 15 9500 is 0.12 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
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
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition vs Dell XPS 15 9500: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i9 13900HX	Intel Core i5 10300H Intel Core i7 10750H Intel Core i7 10875H Intel Core i9 10885H
Base Frequency	2.2 GHz	2.5 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.4 GHz	4.5 GHz
Number of Cores	24	4
Number of Threads	32	8
L3 Cache	36 MB	8 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (32EU)	Intel UHD Graphics 630
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	14 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	2041	1186
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	20880	3813
Cinebench 23 (Single)	2104	1128
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	29042	4906

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 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and Dell XPS 15 9500.

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

Laptops with: Intel Core i9 13900HX

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 10300H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB	GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB
Base Clock Frequency	1395 MHz	1350 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1695 MHz	1485 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	115 W	55 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	15.62 TFLOPS	3.041 TFLOPS
Memory Size	8 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	128 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective	~12 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	4608	1024
TMUs	144	64
ROPs	48	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 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition has a FLOPS value of 21.3 TFLOPS whereas the Dell XPS 15 9500 ' has a FLOPS value of 3.041 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell XPS 15 9500 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x4 GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	2933 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR4
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	32 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the XPS 15 9500'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 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition	Dell XPS 15 9500
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.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

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	90 Wh	56 Wh 86 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left, Right
Charge Power	330 W	90 / 130 W
Full Charging Time	1:15 hr	3:00 hr

Moreover, the Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition boasts a larger battery capacity of 90 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the XPS 15 9500's56 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition 90 Wh

Dell XPS 15 9500 56 Wh

Min 36.00 Wh

Average 62.1 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 4 TB, the Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the XPS 15 9500's max. storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	2
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 Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition vs Dell XPS 15 9500: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and Dell XPS 15 9500 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. Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and XPS 15 9500 screens have the same size of 15.6".The total usable screen area of the Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition is 670cm² / 104inch² whereas the XPS 15 9500's total usable screen area is 706cm² / 109inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition features a higher pixel density with 282 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition 282 ppi

Dell XPS 15 9500 145 ppi

Min 100 PPI

Average 144 PPI

Max 294.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and XPS 15 9500 offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Furthermore, the Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition boasts a faster response time of 28.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and XPS 15 9500 offer the same maximum brightness of 500 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition 500 nits

Dell XPS 15 9500 500 nits

Min

60 nits

Average 319 nits

Max 1000.00 nits

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition vs Dell XPS 15 9500 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to XPS 15 9500 (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
Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition is equipped with 1x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. XPS 15 9500 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and XPS 15 9500 have USB Type-C ports. Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while XPS 15 9500 has 3x USB 3.1 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
Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and XPS 15 9500 feature Thunderbolt ports. Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition has Thunderbolt 4, while XPS 15 9500 has Thunderbolt 3.

HDMI
Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. XPS 15 9500 does not have an HDMI port.

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 Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and XPS 15 9500 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and XPS 15 9500 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	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.2	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	1x USB 3.2	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	3x USB 3.1
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 3
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	No
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	No