A gaming laptop from Acer's Predator Helios series, featuring AI technology, tackles the concern of whether excessive RAM could be a problem in a gaming laptop.
Acer is set to unveil its latest gaming powerhouse, the Helios 18 AI, scheduled for release in North America starting May 2025. This high-priced laptop promises desktop-class performance in a portable form factor, catering to those seeking the ultimate gaming experience on the go.
The Helios 18 AI features an impressive array of specifications. At its core, it boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, ensuring smooth and efficient operation. The laptop's graphics are powered by Nvidia's top-tier GPUs, with options ranging from the RTX 5080 to the RTX 5090, the latter boasting a hefty 24GB VRAM.
The Helios 18 AI's display options are equally impressive. The base model sports a 250Hz (2560 x 1600) Mini-LED panel without dual-mode functionality, while the top model offers a 120Hz (3840 x 2400) dual-mode Mini-LED panel. Both displays are rated at 600 nits of brightness for SDR content and up to 1000 nits of brightness in HDR. Remarkably, both options achieve a 100% rating for the DCI-P3 color gamut, ensuring vibrant and lifelike visuals.
The Helios 18 AI's display truly shone during the Black State game trailer demonstration, showcasing its ability to deliver stunning graphics. The laptop's display is further enhanced by its wraparound RGB lightbar, per-key RGB lighting in the keyboard, RGB lights in the keyboard deck, and RGB lighting on the Predator logo on the top cover.
To manage heat effectively, the Helios 18 AI sports a thicker chassis and is equipped with AeroBlade technology 6th gen fans, offering 20% increased airflow efficiency. The laptop also offers swappable MagKey 4.0 mechanical switches, providing a customisable gaming experience.
The Helios 18 AI's connectivity options include 1x DC-in, 1x HDMI 2.1, 2x Thunderbolt 5, 3x USB Type-A, 1x RJ45 ethernet, 1x Audio combo jack, and 1x Micro SD card reader.
With its powerful hardware, vibrant display, and unique features, the Helios 18 AI is poised to be a formidable contender in the gaming laptop market. Stay tuned for its release in May 2025.
In addition, Acer has also announced the Helios 18P AI for the European market, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor and an RTX 5090 GPU. This high-end configuration includes up to 192 GB ECC-RAM and 6 TB SSD storage, showcased at IFA 2025.
