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Acer Predator Helios 500 Review: The Game-Changer in Gaming Laptops
The laptop was way ahead of its time
7 min. read
Published onJuly 18, 2024
published onJuly 18, 2024
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In the last few years, gaming laptops have become increasingly popular as gamers switch to more portable devices. And while many manufacturers have gone with slim, sleek models,Acer Predator Helios 500was one that went with the conventional design, offering unmatched performance at the time of release!
The laptop features theGeForce RTX 3080GPU and the11thGen Intel Core i9CPU, key components behind its power-packed performance. The two are also responsible for the bulky design, apart from the display.
But is bulkiness worth it? Let’s find out in our detailed review ofAcer Predator Helios 500!
A comprehensive review of Acer Predator Helios 500
A performance like none other
Performance is one of the key aspects that drives gamers toAcer Predator Helios 500. Be it games or other resource-intensive apps, the laptop won’t disappoint you in any way!
Upon running some of the popular recent titles, I enjoyed excellent gameplay with high framerate and absolutely no lag. However, this might change with future game and OS updates since the laptop was released in 2021.
But given the powerful specifications, you won’t have to worry about it for another few years!
With four built-in modes,Quiet, Default, Extreme, andTurbo, you can quickly configure things based on the task at hand. With theQuietprofile, the CPU fans make minimal noise without compromising too much on the performance, while if you are on theTurboprofile, be ready to expect some disturbance.
Also, the pre-installedPredatorSenseapp allows you to monitor the laptop’s performance, overclock the system, customize the lighting,control the CPU fan, or switch between profiles. And it’s surprisingly seamless and straightforward. Overclocking has been made really simple onAcer Predator Helios 500, negating the need for third-party apps, which are often a necessity on other computers.
The full-sized keyboard and touchpad perform very well. The key placement is optimal, making the gaming experience all the more better.
I wouldn’t get into the various benchmarks as those have been extensively covered, and detailed reports are available on the web. But, in short, the performance ofAcer Predator Helios 500is simply extraordinary!
A huge display for the ultimate gaming experience
As gaming laptops become compact and feature the more common15″displays, theAcer Predator Helios 500still boasts of a huge17.3″,4K,120Hzscreen.
It’s not just the size that’s to be appreciated but the quality. The visuals are crystal clear, and the gaming experience certainly goes up a notch on theAcer Predator Helios 500for this very reason!
The excellent display is also an added advantage for anyone planning to runvideo editing appsorrendering software.
Also, with a high NITS, the display is bright enough to be used outside or near direct sunlight during the daytime. The display onAcer Predator Helios 500undoubtedly scores a perfect 10 in our testing!
An upgraded design
The earlier models ofAcer Predator Helios 500were just as fast but not as aesthetic. While there haven’t been many changes in the latest model, even the small ones seem to make a difference.
For instance, you would earlier find thePredatorbranding underneath the display in theAcer Predator Helios 500, 17″, AMD model, which has been replaced with a logo, giving it a much more elegant look. Similarly, the latest model features fewer bezels, making the screen look all the better.
As for the body, it features an all-plastic interior and a metallic exterior, both choices perfectly suited for their job. The plastic interior prevents smudge marks, while the metallic exterior gives it a premium feel. Also, going with a plastic interior would have helped Acer reduce the laptop’s weight, which is already a little over 8 pounds!
The design, if you ask me, is akin to a conventional gaming laptop, featuring RBG lighting for the keyboard as well as the body.
The feature I liked the most aboutAcer Predator Helios 500is the swappableWASDkeys, powered by theMagForcetechnology(has to be maually enabled in the PredatorSense app). Basically, you can replace these keys with ones that function like a joystick. The swappable keys respond to pressure, meaning that the more pressure you apply, the more pronounced the response!
As an example, in supported games, the intensity with which you accelerate/decelerate the vehicle or make a turn will depend on how you press the key and the increase in pressure.
Decent RAM and storage capacity
When we talk of gaming laptops, or even laptops for that matter, storage remains a concern. As opposed to desktops, most laptops don’t feature an upgradable storage option, often putting you in a tight spot. The good news is that this is not the case withAcer Predator Helios 500.
In addition to the 2 TB built-in disk in the top model, you get an additional slot to expand the storage. Similarly, while you have 32 GB RAM, it can be expanded to 64 GB if you multitask!
As for most gamers, the built-in storage should suffice, given that many have now moved to cloud gaming, which significantly reduces the local storage requirements. And for those who still prefer downloading all their favourite games, the expandable storage option will be an added advantage.
A not-so-good battery life
Battery life has never been a strong point of gaming laptops, with a few exceptions of course.The same is the case with theAcer Predator Helios 500!
On a full charge, you can expect 2-4 hours of uninterrupted gaming. For less resource-intensive apps, video streaming, or web browsing, the laptop will run for an additional hour or two, depending on the task(s) at hand.
For a laptop this bulky, I would have hoped for a better battery backup. But it’s understandable, given the kind of power-packed performance it delivers. Amongst all the key parameters in thisAcer Predator Helios 500review, battery backup is one where the laptop doesn’t score too well!
If you work for extended periods, take a look at our curated list oflaptops with the best battery life.
Effective cooling
For seasoned gamers, system temperature remains a key aspect as it directly affects the experience. This has been given special consideration onAcer Predator Helios 500, which features the5thGen AeroBlade 3D Fan Technologyfor seamless airflow.
The cooling system is too good, effectively dissipating heat from the processor while keeping the laptop’s body temperature under check withVortex Flow. Even upon running high-end games, the temperature was nowhere near the critical levels, which directly improved the overall performance!
But with theTurbomode during extensive gaming, the fans start to make noise. It’s something I would put in the cons column.
Acer Predator Helios 500 specifications
Factors to consider before buying Acer Predator Helios 500
While writing a review forAcer Predator Helios 500, it’s also critical to mention the key factors you must consider:
That’s a simple and straightforward review of a gaming laptop that was designed to redefine the segment. And theAcer Predator Helios 500succeeded in doing so to a great extent!
But over the years,powerful and user-oriented gaming laptopshave emerged to be the top favourites amongst the community.
What’s your review of theAcer Predator Helios 500? Share with our readers in the comments section.
More about the topics:acer,gaming laptops,review
Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim has always been fond of technology, be it scrolling through the settings on his iPhone, Android device, or Windows PC. He’s specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
Long-time Windows user, Kazim is ready to provide a solution for your every software & hardware error on Windows 11, Windows 10 and any previous iteration. He’s also one of our experts in Networking & Security.
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Kazim Ali Alvi
Windows Hardware Expert
Kazim is specialized in hardware devices, always ready to remove a screw or two to find out the real cause of a problem.
