Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) vs ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA
63.6Performancespec-based58
100Graphicschip55.6
54.7Displayspec-based58
98.7Batteryspec-based80.5
20Portabilityspec-based87.1
3 spec wins — Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71)4 spec wins — ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA
InnoReviews verdict
This one is close to a dead heat: Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) scores 66.3 against 66.5 for ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA. Pick by the categories that matter to you, or by price.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71)
- Stronger graphics score: 100 vs 56
- 35% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 22,741 vs 16,882
- 29% higher Screen size: 18 ″ vs 14 ″
- 29% higher capacity: 99 Wh vs 77 Wh
Reasons to pick the ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA
- 66% lower weight: 1.2 kg vs 3.5 kg
- 56% lower thickness: 12.9 mm vs 29.6 mm
- 15% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 2,899 vs 2,524
- 10% higher Peak brightness: 1,100 nits vs 1,000 nits
- Lower launch price: $2,000 vs $4,500
Display
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 18 ″+29% | 14 ″ |
| Panel type | Mini LED (Dual-Mode: 4K 120Hz / FHD 240Hz, G-SYNC) | OLED touchscreen (ASUS Lumina, 100% DCI-P3) |
| Resolution | 3840x2400 | 2880x1800 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,000 nits | 1,100 nits+10% |
Performance
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core Ultra 9 386H |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (24GB GDDR7) | Intel Graphics (4 Xe3 cores, integrated) |
| RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM type | DDR5 | LPDDR5X-8533 (soldered) |
| Storage | 1,024 GB | 1,024 GB |
| Storage type | PCIe NVMe SSD (Gen 5 slots) | M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 2,524Bottom 23% | 2,899+15%Top 32% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 22,741+35%Top 3% | 16,882Top 27% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (GPU) | 25,090Top 1% | — |
Battery
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 99 Wh+29% | 77 Wh |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 16.2 h |
| Charging | — | 68 W |
Design
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 3.5 kg | 1.2 kg+66% |
| Thickness | 29.6 mm | 12.9 mm+56% |
| Material | — | Aluminum (all-metal, Ceraluminum lid) |
Connectivity
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.1, SD card reader, 3.5mm combo audio jack, RJ-45 Ethernet, DC-in, Kensington lock | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps, display and power delivery), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS, 3.5mm combo audio jack |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (Intel Killer BE1750x) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Webcam | FHD 1080p IR webcam | FHD with IR |
| Biometrics | — | IR face (Windows Hello) |
Software
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | ASUS Zenbook S14 (2026) UX5406AA |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home or Pro |
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