This 16-inch Acer is the best gaming laptop deal I’ve found for Prime Day


Acer Predator Helios Neo 16

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Acer’s 16-inch Predator Helios Neo is a gaming laptop with high-end hardware, currently on sale for Amazon’s Prime Day event for just $1,749. To put that in perspective, it’s $450 off the regular price, making it one of the best gaming laptop deals I’ve seen during the event. 

This laptop is stacked with high-end hardware: an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, 16GB of RAM, a terabyte of storage, and a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU for running the latest titles at max graphics.

Also: June Prime Day live blog 2026: We’re tracking Amazon deals on SSDs, TVs, laptops and more

It wouldn’t be a Predator without the touches that gamers appreciate, though. The HDMI, power jack, and two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports are located on the back of the laptop for easy access, but you’ve still got three USB-A ports, a MicroSD, headset jack, Ethernet port, and Kensington lock slot on the sides. 

The GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU supports advanced ray tracing and DLSS, which leverages AI-powered neural rendering to boost FPS, improve latency, and image quality while not taxing the CPU. The result is better performance across the board, especially on CPU-intensive games. 

The display is no slouch on this laptop, either. You’ve got a 16-inch WQXGA IPS at 500 nits of brightness and support for 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate ensures smooth and lag-free visuals, along with Nvidia’s G-Sync Advanced Optimus, which automatically switches display power between the integrated GPU (to save battery) and dedicated GPU (for high-performance gaming) without requiring a system reboot.

Also: 15 of the best Prime Day laptop deals (I’d actually buy myself)

If you’re into customizing your laptop, the Predator Helios Neo doesn’t disappoint when it comes to RGB capabilities. It has four-zone RGB lighting on the keyboard, allowing users to deck out the device to be as flashy or subdued as they want. 

The reason why this laptop is so cheap is likely due to the 16GB of RAM on board, which puts it on the lower end compared to other gaming laptops with 32GB or 64GB. As the cost of memory skyrockets, models with lower onboard memory tend to drop lower during sale events. 

How I rated this deal 

I rated this deal a 4/5 for the sheer amount the price has been reduced. Getting $450 off the original price brings it down to a very competitive $1,749, which is absolutely a steal for the hardware you’re getting on this laptop

Amazon Prime Day begins Tuesday, June 23 and goes until Friday, June 26, 2026. This year, it falls earlier in the summer to better align with consumer spending habits. 


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Also: How we rate deals at ZDNET in 2026


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Recent Reviews


Forza Horizon 6 has already launched on Xbox Game Pass as a day one release, making May a big month for the subscription service. Still, what Microsoft gives, it also takes away, as two phenomenal JRPGs – Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden – will leave the service at the end of the month. 

Xbox Game Pass, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers a wide selection of games that you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for as little as $10 a month. And with a subscription to the higher-tiered Game Pass Ultimate ($23 a month), you can access hundreds of games, including new ones the day they’re released, each month. 

Here are the games Microsoft plans to bring to Game Pass in May. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in April, including Hades 2, and more options in our list of the best gaming subscriptions.


Forza Horizon 6

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Forza Horizon 6 is the latest open-world racing game from Playground Games. This time, players can speed around Japan, from the busy cities to the countryside roads. More than 550 cars are available to collect via races, seasonal events and online challenges. The game continues the arcade-style racing the series is known for, and with more car customizations, a deeper progression system and dynamic weather changes affecting road conditions. 


Dead Static Drive

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Dead Static Drive mixes road trip exploration, survival horror and action gameplay in a strange post-apocalyptic world filled with supernatural threats. Players travel across highways and down while scavenging supplies, upgrading vehicles and fighting bizarre creatures. The game combines tense combat with quiet exploration, creating an eerie atmosphere with retro graphics. 


Pigeon Simulator

New to Game Pass Premium. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Pigeon Simulator is a sandbox game unlike any other. As a pigeon, it’s up to the player to create as much disruption as possible in order to complete objectives, annoying pedestrians out for a walk and making use of the game’s unique physics systems. Players can fly over streets, knock over objects and find hidden secrets in this absolutely absurd game. 


Remnant 2

 On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

The soulslike subgenre is popular among gamers, and the Remnant franchise does a little something different by replacing swords with guns. In Remnant 2, players will fight off monsters and giant bosses in a world filled with secrets and loot. The sequel improves on the original by having more ways to customize your character and larger-scale battles intended for solo or cooperative play. 


Luna Abyss

On Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass now.

Luna Abyss is a fast-paced first-person shooter set in a mysterious underground colony. The sci-fi horror shooter has players descending deeper into a massive prison facility while battling enemies and learning the secrets of what happened here. The game offers stylish combat with fast movement as the story is told via the environments, which creates a tense and exciting experience built around shooting and exploration. 


Escape Simulator 

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 26.

Players work together to solve puzzles and uncover hidden clues in Escape Simulator. The cooperative escape room experience puts players in themed areas such as mysterious labs or fantasy dungeons. Each room introduces new mechanics and requires teams to work together to escape. The game’s online community can also contribute to the game by creating their own rooms with custom scenarios. 


Echo Generation 2

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on May 27.

Echo Generation 2 continues the voxel-inspired RPG series with a new adventure focused on supernatural mysteries with turn-based combat. Players explore strange towns, investigate paranormal events and battle bizarre enemies. The sequel expands on the original game’s storytelling and combat system while keeping the colorful visuals and quirky humor.


The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 27.

The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition is the complete, remastered version of the 2019 sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. This version includes the previously released DLC, a higher level cap, better graphics, improved performance, additional animations and more improvements on the original game.  


Crashout Crew

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on May 28.

A mix of party game chaos and cooperative action, Crashout Crew throws players into unpredictable arenas filled with traps, obstacles and physics-based mayhem. Players race to complete objectives while trying to survive the hectic action. Fast matches, colorful visuals and multiplayer gameplay make it easy to play online with friends or strangers. 


Kabuto Park

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on May 28.

Collecting rare insects and exploring colorful outdoor environments are at the center of Kabuto Park. You have to search forests and parks to find new species while upgrading equipment to compete in bug tournaments. The cheerful art style blends with exploration and creature collection, making for a relaxing game about finding bugs. 


Final Fantasy 6 

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on June 2.

Final Fantasy 6 is not only one of the best Final Fantasy games, but it’s also one of the best games ever. First released on the SNES in 1994, the game follows a cast of characters out to save the world. This version is part of the Pixel Remaster for the older Final Fantasy 2D games that improves on the visuals, updates the audio and adds modern gameplay improvements so new and returning players can enjoy. 


Jurassic World Evolution 3

Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on June 2.

Building and managing a dinosaur theme park returns in Jurassic World Evolution 3. As the park manager, you’ll have to balance guest entertainment, scientific research and park security while also dealing with those giant dinosaurs just waiting to take over the island. Expanded customized tools, a new management system and improved creature behaviors improve on the previous games while adding more depth to the simulation gameplay, giving players a taste of what running a dinosaur park could feel like. 


Watch this: Your Phone is Disgusting: Let’s Fix That


Games that are leaving the service

While Microsoft is adding the above games to Game Pass, it will also remove five games, including two amazing JRPGs: Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden. If you want to finish either of these games before the end of the month, now is the time as these games take many hours to beat.

For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you.





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