Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 Comparison

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Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition

15.6 inches | May 2023

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15.3 inches | June 2023

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Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and MacBook Air 15 M2, two laptops from Acer and Apple. Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition was introduced to market in May 2023 and Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 was launched in June 2023. There is only 1 months difference between Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and MacBook Air 15 M2 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

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 Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 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)

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 Key Specs

Launched in June 2023
15.3" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Apple M2
GPU: Apple M2 GPU (8-core)
8GB Ram
340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm (13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches)
Weight: 1.51 kg (3.33 lbs)

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 was replaced by Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M2
Apple MacBook Air 15 M3 2024 vs Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and MacBook Air 15 M2 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 Apple MacBook Air 15 M2

Display Size	15.6 inches vs 15.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Screen PPI	282 ppi vs 224 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	3840 x 2160 pixels vs 2880 x 1864 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
sRGB Color Space	100% vs 99.9%	Wider sRGB Color Space Coverage
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 5 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	21.3 TFLOPS vs 3 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	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	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 over Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition

Weight	1.51 kg vs 2.98 kg	1.47 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~83.9% vs ~66.5%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.4 mm vs 7 mm	1.6 mm thinner bezels
DCI-P3 Color Gamut	98.7% vs 90%	Wider DCI-P3 Color Gamut
Response Time	24 ms vs 28 ms	Faster Response screen
CPU Fabrication Process	5 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Number of Microphones	3 vs 2	Better Sound capture
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Camera

Common Strengths of Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 and Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition

Launch Dates	May 2023 vs June 2023	Both laptops are recent models
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
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi 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
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 and Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M2: 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 Apple MacBook Air 15 M2.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.98 kg (6.57 lbs)	1.51 kg (3.33 lbs)
Surface Area	1009 cm2 (156.5 inches2)	809 cm2 (125.3 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~66.5%	~83.9%
Side Bezel Thickness	~7 mm	~5.4 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.19 kg/inch	0.10 kg/inch
	0.418 lbs/inch	0.22 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Black, Silver, Gold, Gray

Comparison of the Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and the Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 External Dimensions

Weight

Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition weighs 2.98 kg (6.57 lbs), whereas the MacBook Air 15 M2 weighs 1.51 kg (3.33 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 15.0-15.9 inches

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition 2.98 kg

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 1.51 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

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 11.50 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 Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 is 0.10 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 Apple MacBook Air 15 M2: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i9 13900HX	Apple M2
Base Frequency	2.2 GHz	3.5 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.4 GHz
Number of Cores	24	8
Number of Threads	32	8
L3 Cache	36 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (32EU)	Apple M2 GPU
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	5 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	2041	1931
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	20880	8996
Cinebench 23 (Single)	2104	1586
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	29042	8690

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 Apple MacBook Air 15 M2.

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

Laptops with: Intel Core i9 13900HX

Laptops with: Apple M2

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB	Apple M2 GPU (8-core)
Base Clock Frequency	1395 MHz	500 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1695 MHz	1456 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	115 W	15 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX
Type	Dedicated	Integrated
FLOPS	15.62 TFLOPS	3 TFLOPS
Memory Size	8 GB	System Shared
Memory Type	GDDR6	LPDDR5
Memory Bus	128 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective	6.4 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 Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 ' has a FLOPS value of 3 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB 24GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	6400 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	LPDDR5
Upgradable	Yes	No
Max RAM Size	32 GB
Total Slots	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Custom

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 MacBook Air 15 M2'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	Apple MacBook Air 15 (M2)
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	66.5 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left
Charge Power	330 W	35 / 70 W
Full Charging Time	1:15 hr	2:50 hr

Moreover, the Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition boasts a larger battery capacity of 90 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the MacBook Air 15 M2's67 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition 90 Wh

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 67 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 MacBook Air 15 M2'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	No
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	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 Apple MacBook Air 15 M2: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 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 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition has a display size of 15.6".On the other hand, MacBook Air 15 M2 has a smaller 15.3" display.The total usable screen area of the Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition is 670cm² / 104inch² whereas the MacBook Air 15 M2's total usable screen area is 679cm² / 105inch².

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

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 224 ppi

Min 100 PPI

Average 144 PPI

Max 294.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and MacBook Air 15 M2 offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Furthermore, the MacBook Air 15 M2 boasts a faster response time of 24.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and MacBook Air 15 M2 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

Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 500 nits

Min

60 nits

Average 319 nits

Max 1000.00 nits

Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition vs Apple MacBook Air 15 M2 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 MacBook Air 15 M2 (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. MacBook Air 15 M2 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and MacBook Air 15 M2 feature 2x 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
Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and MacBook Air 15 M2 feature Thunderbolt ports. Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition has Thunderbolt 4, while MacBook Air 15 M2 has Thunderbolt 3.

HDMI
Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. MacBook Air 15 M2 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
Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. MacBook Air 15 M2 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition and MacBook Air 15 M2 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	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	1x USB 3.2	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	2x USB 4.0
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	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes