Acer has been making laptops for an age, and the pedigree shows in this affordable 14-inch machine. For a price of just $1,249.99, the Acer Predator Helios Neo not only gives you a well-built system with a decent screen, but it also contains one of Intel’s latest Core Ultra 7 CPUs.

From the price and specs list to the build quality, I’ve looked at this machine from every angle, and it’s a strong contender. It’s not flawless, don’t get me wrong. There are a few infuriating cut corners, which are somewhat expected at this price, but I’m nonetheless impressed by what Acer has managed to achieve with the Neo 14. It might not be the best gaming laptop out there to date, but it’s well-rounded nonetheless.

So who’s this for then? Well, the core spec alone gives us a great deal of insight on that front. Acer’s picked up one of Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H chips. These latest Meteor Lake laptop chips have some of the best AI tech Intel has available, paired alongside a high-performing and efficient processor architecture.

Acer’s Predator line has always been a well-equipped and stylish product stack, and the Helios Neo 14 is no different. It’s sleek yet potent. Gaming yet professional. What I’m looking for here, though, is a laptop that blurs the lines between gaming and professionalism. It needs to be flexible, solid enough for gaming, yet capable enough to render, work in Photoshop, or edit video on the fly.

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