Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI lands at CES 2026 as RTX 5070 gaming laptop with 165 Hz OLED display

Last year, Acer introduced the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI as a sleek gaming laptop that doesn’t compromise on performance. Alongside new Swift Edge and Swift Go laptops, Acer has also updated the laptop for 2026, and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (PHN16S-I51) is the name the new model bears. The notebook appears to retain the design of the 2025 model, bringing new CPU options, more memory, and, curiously, what seems like a step back in the GPU department.

In a metallic chassis that weighs 2.3 kg (5.07 lbs.), the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI packs up to an Intel Panther Lake Core Ultra 9 386H CPU, with up to 64 GB of DDR5-6000 memory, and up to 2 TB of storage. The GPU is where the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI makes a weird concession compared to last year’s model. The notebook can be equipped with up to an RTX 5070 laptop GPU, while the 2025 Predator Helios Neo 16S AI could be had with an RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU.

Aside from the increased max memory (64 GB vs 32 GB), new Intel Panther Lake CPU options, and the RTX 5070 as the top option, everything else about the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (2026) seems to be identical to the previous model. So, we are still looking at a 16-inch WQXGA OLED panel with a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution, a 165 Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and a 1 ms response time.

Similarly, the cooling system and the port selection also appear to be identical with 5th-gen AeroBlade fans, five USB ports with one Thunderbolt 4 port, three Type-A connectors, and more. There is also a 4-zone RGB-backlit keyboard.

Acer offering few hardware upgrades and keeping the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI almost identical to the 2025 version could be an indication that the company is trying to keep costs down. This makes sense, as the price of DDR5 RAM is out of control. As such, laptop OEMs will have to find ways to reduce the impact of the increased memory cost.

The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (PHN16S-I51) will be available sometime in Q2 2026. Pricing remains under wraps for now.