EXCELLENT
The Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022) is a fantastic 15.6-inch gaming laptop, with a gorgeous 240Hz display and offers the kind of outstanding anyone would need in a top-tier machine. However, it doesn’t do anything unique to make it stand out in a fiercely competitive field.
PROS
- Bright, colorful 240Hz QHD display
- Excellent gaming performance
- Solid build quality and keyboard
CONS
- Middling battery life
- Speakers should be louder
A stylish gaming laptop that represents what a high-end laptop should be is the Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022). This gaming laptop has it everything, including a basic but well-designed chassis, brilliant RGB illumination, and the newest technology, including a Turbo button. However, it is still inexpensive when compared to other gaming laptops that have identical hardware.
Due to its great gaming performance and potent hardware, we gave the Acer Predator Helios 300 (2021) our Editors’ Choice badge for midrange gaming laptops when we tested it last year. Although it competes with some of the most recent gaming machines produced, it has remained one of our top selections for the gaming category far into this year. It is still one of the finest gaming laptops you can purchase this year.
In order to compete with today’s top-performing gaming laptops, Acer has updated the already great Predator Helios 300 range for 2022. The result is a more streamlined gaming laptop with a simpler frame and potent internal components. The new Helios 300 is equipped with strong components that make it a formidable PC gaming driver in addition to an even superior design.
This 15.6-inch gaming laptop has a stylish design, a 12th generation Intel Core i7-12700H CPU, an Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU (which can be upgraded further), and a display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. Therefore, it can not only handle the most demanding PC games you can throw at it, but it can also handle them well.
About The Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022)
Several variants of the pretty high-end gaming laptop Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022) are offered. Starting at roughly $1,200 for the base model and about $2,100 for the gear we’re examining, it is rather affordable (all prices at the time of writing this review). It is definitely worth every penny because you get a tonne of features and amazing specifications, especially as you climb up the configuration ladder. In all honesty, this cost isn’t too high when compared to the finest gaming laptops it is up against.
Here is the Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022) configuration in this review:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H
- Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
- RAM: 16GB DDR5
- Screen: 15.6-inch, QHD IPS, 240 Hz
- Storage: 1TB
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
- Camera: 1080p
- Weight: 5.51 pounds | 2.5 kg
- Size (W x D x H): 14.1 x 10.9 x 1.02 inches | 36 x 28 x 2.6 cm
If you have the cash to spend lavishly on a gaming laptop, the new Helios 300 from Acer is unquestionably one of the best models available. Well, Acer offers a few top-notch gaming lines, which also brings fierce rivalry.
Naturally, having game graphics as good as the RTX 3070 Ti comes with it some class-leading gaming capabilities, but there are also costs associated with that. The laptop only lasts three hours in the case of the Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022), which must be due to the appalling battery life.You’ll need to keep this laptop plugged in, especially while playing games for extended periods of time. However, that is not a deal-breaker at all and is rather typical for gaming laptops.
Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022): Design
Although the Acer Predator Helios 300 design has been around for a while, the 2022 model has undoubtedly been redesigned by Acer to seem much more sexier and sleeker than its predecessors. It isn’t as portable as the Asus ROG Zephyrus 14 or the Razer Blade 15s of the world, which you can just throw over your shoulder and hit the road, but it is still the same hefty and thick gaming laptop. It belongs to the desktop replacement class because of its size and weight, which together total 5.51 pounds and 14.1 x 10.9 x 1.02 inches.
Acer has updated the Predator Helios 300 design for the 2022 version. The majority of its ports have been relocated to the notebook’s rear, and it now has a more streamlined design, a chassis with fewer moving parts, and straight corners. It has three USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a Thunderbolt 4 capable USB 3.2 gen 2 Type-C connector, an extra power port, an HDMI 2.1 port, an SD reader, a combo jack, and a Kensington Slot. Wireless communication is provided via Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 boasts an outstanding screen, much like any other contemporary gaming laptop. It has a QHD IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution and 240Hz refresh rate. This is one of the greatest screens on a 15-inch gaming laptop available. The screen quality is evident while playing visually demanding games, providing buttery smooth gameplay and the brilliant colours make the experience as clear as can be.
Additionally, a camera with full HD quality is available; this feature is useful for streaming game sessions. There isn’t a mechanical blind to cover the webcam for privacy, which is unfortunate, but it’s not a deal-breaker.
For those long gaming sessions, the keyboard’s well-built construction and evenly spaced keys with adequate travel are a plus. Although we wish it were a little larger, the trackpad is likewise a respectable size. The RGB lighting, though, which is built into each key and enables you to create a lights display on your keyboard and can also be adjusted if you prefer something more solid than the pre-set rainbow hues, is the actual star of the show here.
Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022): Performance
As a high-end gaming laptop, the Acer Predator Helios 300 should deliver excellent performance; otherwise, why would you pay top price for one in the first place? Additionally, the Helios Predator 300 outperforms most other high-end laptop models, including top choices from Alienware, Asus, and MSI, to give performance that is class-leading.
This is all made possible by the reliable internal parts, which include a 12th-generation Intel Core i7-12700H processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD storage. Additionally, with the option to upgrade to an RTX 3080 GPU, you may achieve top-tier specifications similar to those found in the Razer Blade 15 at a considerably lower cost.
The Helios 300(2022) offers G-Sync in addition to its Nvidia Ampere mobile GPU, ray tracing, and Deep Learning Super Sampling, making gaming even better if you don’t think the basic performance is good enough for you. Additionally, it has a unique Turbo button above the keyboard that you can press at any moment to overclock the GPU, CPU, and fans.
Along with the PredatorSense software, which comes preinstalled on the laptop and allows you to adjust the RGB lighting, overclocking settings, and fan settings, this complements each other.
The Turbo button is particularly helpful since it enables you to swiftly enhance the airflow, which is already excellent, and nearly immediately cools off an overheated laptop while also enhancing its performance. Ultimately, the Predator Helios 300 (2022) will crunch and spit out your preferred AAA game at the maximum frame rates, regardless of how visually demanding or badly optimised it is.
The Helios 300 is not a slouch as a productivity notebook either; it balances non-gaming duties, whether they be business or school chores, nicely, and it performs well. It won’t be as portable as the finest student laptops available, as you are already aware, but it’s a terrific option for individuals who need some relaxation after spending long hours in the library hammering away at college essays.
The strong specifications of the Helios 300 are more than adequate for handling a variety of activities, including conference calls, document editing, movie streaming, and everything else. It comes with a set of speakers that produce excellent sound quality, making them ideal for using while working on an assignment and using Spotify or your preferred music streaming service.
Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022): Battery Life
The Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022) is a gaming laptop full of positives, but battery life is a real negative, but we’re not surprised at all.
Even while the Helios 300 is quite powerful, its battery life is appalling, practically bringing to mind the days of desktop replacements from five or six years ago that couldn’t survive an hour idle when not plugged in.
The Helios 300’s battery life is a pitiful three hours, yet gaming laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus 14 have a battery life of well over eight hours. If you carry this laptop, you’ll almost always need to have it plugged in; you can never be too close to an outlet. Additionally, the substantial power pack makes your backpack considerably heavier.
Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022) Review | Verdict
The ideal midrange gaming laptop is the Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022). If you’re ready to drag the bulky piece of equipment around, it has an excellent gaming flair, a sturdy design, and is unobtrusive enough to take anyplace. Additionally, it is the most affordable choice of the lot.
The Helios’ great display, which has exceptional colour gamut coverage for a gaming laptop, especially one without OLED, is arguably its most remarkable feature. The 240Hz refresh rate and 1440p resolution offer a nice balance for both graphically demanding games and fast-paced esports games.
The Alienware m15 R7 impressed us when we evaluated it at a lower price point. It had the same 12th-generation Intel Core i7-12700H CPU and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and impressed us with its svelte appearance and strong gaming performance. If you don’t like the Helios 300, the Alienware m15 is a superb option that punches beyond its weight to give elite gaming and productivity performance. It looks excellent, runs games smoothly, and is very responsive.
There are often better solutions than the Acer Predator Helios 300, such as the Alienware m15 R7, with comparable specifications, components, practical port options, and most crucially, improved performance. The Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022) is still a good choice if you’re searching for something future-proof and seeking to save a little money, however all the competitors perform in a similar range.
Is the Predator Helios 300 worth buying?
Although the Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022) has components that are similar to those found in rival gaming laptops, it also has features that make it stand out. It aims to be a top-tier performance computer for the price and succeeds in doing so with flying colours. It also has one of the nicest gaming laptop screens we’ve ever seen.
Additionally, it has a Turbo button that makes it simple to overclock the system by increasing airflow, which also affects the FPS in real-time. In the end, a gaming laptop must have that type of sheer power. It comes highly recommended from us.
Aabi Tech 