Acer Predator Helios 18 AI PH18-I71 RTX 5090 (2026) vs MSI Stealth 18 HX AI A2W RTX 5080 (2026)
What Predator Helios 18 AI PH18-I71 RTX 5090 (2026) does better (4) and where Stealth 18 HX AI A2W RTX 5080 (2026) wins (4) — every spec side by side.
vs
8.1Display6.6
6.9Memory & storage2.8
8.8Battery & portability9.6
6.9Features & cooling9.1
Dimensions
Size comparison
Predator Helios 18 AI PH18-I71 RTX 5090 (2026)Stealth 18 HX AI A2W RTX 5080 (2026)
| Predator Helios 18 AI PH18-I71 RTX 5090 (2026) | Stealth 18 HX AI A2W RTX 5080 (2026) | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 312 mm | 290 mm | +22 mm |
| Width | 404 mm | 400 mm | +4 mm |
| Thickness | 29 mm | 24 mm | +5 mm |
| Weight | 3.2 kg | 2.9 kg | +0.3 kg |
Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).
Why is Predator Helios 18 AI PH18-I71 RTX 5090 (2026) better than Stealth 18 HX AI A2W RTX 5080 (2026)?
- RAM (up to)96 GB vs 32 GB3×
- Video memory24 GB vs 16 GB+50%
- RAM (base)96 GB vs 32 GB3×
- GPU shader cores10,496 vs 7,680+37%
Why is Stealth 18 HX AI A2W RTX 5080 (2026) better than Predator Helios 18 AI PH18-I71 RTX 5090 (2026)?
- SSD (up to)1,000 GB vs 2,000 GB2×
- Weight3.2 kg vs 2.89 kg+11%
- Thickness29 mm vs 24 mm+21%
- SSD (base)1,000 GB vs 2,000 GB2×
Specifications
Side by side
| Graphics | ||
| Graphics card | GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop | GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop |
| GPU maker | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| GPU power (TGP) | 175 W | — |
| Video memory | 24 GB | 16 GB |
| Video memory type | GDDR7 | GDDR7 |
| GPU shader cores | 10,496 | 7,680 |
| GPU compute (FP32) | 51.4 TFLOPS | — |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Light | 29,527 | — |
| Processor | ||
| Processor | Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus |
| CPU maker | Intel | Intel |
| CPU cores | 24 | 24 |
| CPU threads | 24 | — |
| Max CPU clock | 5.5 GHz | 5.5 GHz |
| Processor options | Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | — |
| Geekbench 6 multi-core | 23,284 | — |
| Geekbench 6 single-core | 3,411 | — |
| Cinebench 2024 multi-core | 2,608 | — |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 18″ | 18″ |
| Resolution | 3840 × 2400 | 3840 × 2400 |
| Resolution class | 4K (2160p/2400p) | 4K (2160p/2400p) |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Panel type | Mini-LED | Mini-LED |
| Brightness | 1,000 nits | — |
| sRGB coverage | 100% | — |
| Response time | 3 ms | — |
| DCI-P3 coverage | 100% | — |
| Pixel density | 168 ppi | — |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| G-Sync / FreeSync | Yes | — |
| Advanced Optimus | Yes | — |
| MUX switch | Yes | — |
| HDR | Yes | — |
| Touchscreen | No | — |
| Memory & storage | ||
| RAM (up to) | 96 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM (base) | 96 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM type | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| RAM speed | 6,400 MHz | — |
| Max. supported RAM | 192 GB | — |
| RAM slots | 4 | — |
| Upgradable RAM | Yes | — |
| SSD (up to) | 1,000 GB | 2,000 GB |
| SSD (base) | 1,000 GB | 2,000 GB |
| M.2 SSD slots | 3 | — |
| SSD interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 | — |
| Battery & power | ||
| Battery capacity | 100 Wh | 100 Wh |
| Power adapter | 400 W | 280 W |
| USB-C charging (Power Delivery) | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C charging power | 140 W | — |
| Design & cooling | ||
| Weight | 3.2 kg | 2.89 kg |
| Thickness | 29 mm | 24 mm |
| Width | 404 mm | 400 mm |
| Depth | 312 mm | 290 mm |
| Body material | Aluminium, Plastic | — |
| Colours | Black | Black |
| Cooling fans | 2 | — |
| Vapor chamber cooling | No | — |
| Liquid metal (CPU) | Yes | — |
| Fan noise (max. load) | 50.3 dB | — |
| Ports & wireless | ||
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 5 | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Thunderbolt or USB4 | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C ports | 2 | — |
| USB-A ports | 3 | — |
| HDMI | HDMI 2.1 | HDMI 2.1 |
| HDMI 2.1 | Yes | Yes |
| (Mini) DisplayPort | No | — |
| Ethernet | — | 5 Gbit/s |
| Ethernet port | Yes | Yes |
| SD card reader | Yes | — |
| 3.5 mm audio jack | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Keyboard & camera | ||
| Keyboard backlight | Single-colour RGB | — |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | — |
| Numeric keypad | Yes | — |
| Webcam | 1,080p | 1,080p |
| IR camera (face login) | Yes | — |
| Fingerprint reader | No | — |
| Audio | ||
| Speakers | 2 speakers | 6 speakers |
| Dolby Atmos | No | — |
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