That is the third 18-inch gaming laptop computer I’ve reviewed in 2023 (though the primary for Gizmodo). It’s a development that’s hopefully going to stay round nicely into the longer term, as getting access to an nearly desktop-monitor-size display, plus high gaming elements, is precisely what laptop computer players want proper now.
Meet Microsoft’s New Floor Laptops
Many latest gaming laptops have shrunk all the way down to 15-inch screens, which might be extra transportable and cheaper, however the general expertise pales compared to taking part in the identical recreation on a bigscreen TV by a $500 PS5 or Xbox Sequence X. Bumping your laptop computer display as much as 18 diagonal inches makes video games really feel rather more immersive, as I found when taking part in new video games like Starfield or Baldur’s Gate 3.
Photograph: Dan Ackerman
The configuration examined right here options an Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU, Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
I’ve beforehand examined 18-inch methods from Alienware and Razer, and each of these manufacturers have their followers. Configuring every system as identically as doable, each the Acer Helios 18 and Alienware M18 might be had for round $2,999, whereas the Razer Blade nonetheless costs a hefty premium of just about $800 extra. To be honest, it’s the nicest design of the bunch, but it surely’s not $800 a lot nicer.
Acer Helios 18
An 18-inch gaming laptop computer with nearly all the pieces.
Acer Helios 18
An 18-inch gaming laptop computer with nearly all the pieces.
What it it?
A gaming laptop computer with an 18-inch show
Worth
$2,999, however sometimes on sale
Like
Excellent worth for the elements and the massive display is unbelievable for gaming.
Dislike
No choice for the more-advanced Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU.
Observe that Greatest Purchase at present has this mannequin on sale for a number of hundred {dollars} off, but it surely reveals up as at present out of inventory. In case you can snag one at this discounted worth, it’s a no brainer. There’s additionally a $1,999 model (on sale at Greatest Purchase proper now for $1,699) with an Intel i7-13700HX, 16GB RAM, an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and 1TB SSD.
Design and construct high quality
Contemplating the Acer Helios lid homes an enormous 18-inch display, it’s impressively flex-free. The matte black physique picks up a couple of fingerprints right here and there, however the general look is refined and retains all the factor from wanting too gamer-y. That stated, I choose among the extra attention-grabbing coloration choices I’ve seen in some Alienware laptops over the previous few years, together with a really sharp-looking matte white.
The lid hinges are inset, leaving a portion of the physique behind it when the clamshell is open. This offers the system higher stability when open and permits for extra environment friendly cooling. The little little bit of the laptop computer that extends from the rear holds lots of the system’s ports and connections, together with the facility port and two USB-C ports, and it has some built-in lighting that’s good with out being intrusive.
Photograph: Dan Ackerman
Different ports are on the left and proper sides, together with a rarity lately, an ethernet jack, plus a complete of three USB-A ports and a microSD card slot. An enormous energy brick gives 330W of energy, so make sure you make room in your bag for it if you happen to plan on toting this factor round (it gained’t recreation for lengthy off the battery, which is typical for gaming laptops).
That huge show
The actual star right here is the 18-inch QHD+ IPS show. It’s a miniLED panel with a quick 240Hz refresh price, which is nice for aggressive players.
After all, even with the Nvidia 4080 GPU, taking part in new video games on the highest element ranges on the max 2,560 X 1,600 decision will preserve you nearer to 60-100fps in one thing like Starfield.
Enjoying video games, enhancing photographs or net browsing, the display was shiny and crisp, though I saved the brightness cranked up more often than not. A 1,920×1,200 decision model can also be obtainable, however that feels low for an 18-inch display designed to sit down so near your face.
Efficiency and gaming
A mixture of things assist this method be one of many quickest I’ve examined. The Intel Core i9-13900HX processor is a part of Intel’s HX line, that are almost desktop-level 55-watt chips (in comparison with Intel U-series chips present in super-slim or finances laptops, that are rated at 15 watts).
My present PC go-to video games are Starfield and Baldur’s Gate 3, each of which might be difficult to run at excessive resolutions and excessive element settings. We additionally ran, amongst different benchmarks, 3D Mark Time Spy to check this to different high-end gaming methods, and 3D Mark Wild Life Excessive simply to point out the way it compares to non-gaming laptops.
Photograph: Dan Ackerman
In case you’re seeking to spend much less on a gaming laptop computer, that’s simple. Yow will discover one thing like a 15-inch Dell G Sequence and a configuration with an Intel Core i7 and Nvidia RTX 4060 for below $1,500. In case you’re going all-in on an costly system that can final you thru the subsequent few generations of video games and gaming {hardware}, I really like the large display, high-end elements and the truth that this makes an important all-day, day-after-day laptop that feels extra like a semi-portable all-in-one PC than a laptop computer.
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