Acer Predator Helios 500 Review: The Game-Changer in Gaming Laptops
The laptop was way ahead of its time
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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 500 was one that went with the conventional design, offering unmatched performance at the time of release!
The laptop features the GeForce RTX 3080 GPU and the 11th Gen Intel Core i9 CPU, 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 of Acer 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 to Acer 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, and Turbo, you can quickly configure things based on the task at hand. With the Quiet profile, the CPU fans make minimal noise without compromising too much on the performance, while if you are on the Turbo profile, be ready to expect some disturbance.
Also, the pre-installed PredatorSense app 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 on Acer 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 of Acer Predator Helios 500 is simply extraordinary!
A huge display for the ultimate gaming experience
As gaming laptops become compact and feature the more common 15″ displays, the Acer Predator Helios 500 still boasts of a huge 17.3″, 4K, 120Hz screen.
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 the Acer Predator Helios 500 for this very reason!
The excellent display is also an added advantage for anyone planning to run video editing apps or rendering software.
Also, with a high NITS, the display is bright enough to be used outside or near direct sunlight during the daytime. The display on Acer Predator Helios 500 undoubtedly scores a perfect 10 in our testing!
An upgraded design
The earlier models of Acer Predator Helios 500 were 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 the Predator branding underneath the display in the Acer 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 about Acer Predator Helios 500 is the swappable WASD keys, powered by the MagForce technology (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 with Acer 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 the Acer 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 this Acer Predator Helios 500 review, 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 of laptops 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 on Acer Predator Helios 500, which features the 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D Fan Technology for seamless airflow.
The cooling system is too good, effectively dissipating heat from the processor while keeping the laptop’s body temperature under check with Vortex Flow. Even upon running high-end games, the temperature was nowhere near the critical levels, which directly improved the overall performance!
But with the Turbo mode during extensive gaming, the fans start to make noise. It’s something I would put in the cons column.
Acer Predator Helios 500 specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i9-11980HK |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 |
| Storage | 2 TB SSD (expandable) |
| RAM | 32 GB DDR4-3200 |
| Display | 17.3″, 4K, 3840 x 2160 px |
| Weight | 8.77 lbs (3.98 kg) |
| Battery | 74 Wh, 330 W power adapter |
Factors to consider before buying Acer Predator Helios 500
While writing a review for Acer Predator Helios 500, it’s also critical to mention the key factors you must consider:
- Bulky design: If you plan to carry the laptop around, this might not be the best choice, given the reduced portability.
- Poor battery backup: The Acer Predator Helios 500, released a few years ago, doesn’t offer the best battery backup. Modern-day gaming laptops, on the other hand, can deliver 10 hours+ of seamless gameplay.
- Price range: The pricing is a little on the higher side. Many gaming laptops launched in recent years deliver the same performance but are more economical on the pricing front!
That’s a simple and straightforward review of a gaming laptop that was designed to redefine the segment. And the Acer Predator Helios 500 succeeded in doing so to a great extent!
But over the years, powerful and user-oriented gaming laptops have emerged to be the top favourites amongst the community.
What’s your review of the Acer Predator Helios 500? Share with our readers in the comments section.
