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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a more cost-effective option with solid performance, especially in general use and gaming, the Acer Nitro 5 15 may suit you as it is less expensive and still offers quality features suitable for these tasks. However, if you prioritize a laptop with higher processing power for intensive tasks and don't mind spending more, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is equipped with a more powerful main processor. Both laptops share similar specs in terms of RAM, storage, and battery life, but the Helios might be heavier due to a larger power brick, reducing its portability compared to the Nitro. Both are well-equipped for gaming, thanks to their dedicated GPUs and refresh rate displays, but the Helios may provide a slight edge in color accuracy and contrast, benefiting tasks like photo editing. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Nitro 5 15
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Acer Predator Helios 300
- Good overall display quality
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9
7.3
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
262.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The Acer Nitro 5 15 has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios 300 for software development, and content creation, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Acer Nitro 5 15 offers sufficient resolution and brightness for casual activities, making it suitable for general tasks, but its limited color range can hamper precision in engineering and design where accurate color representation is crucial. The Acer Predator Helios 300 shines in those areas due to its broader color gamut, providing the accuracy needed for professional creative work. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications, as they lack the high refresh rates required for smooth motion rendering, which is a key factor for an immersive and responsive experience in fast-paced visuals.
Battery
5.5 Hours
3.5 Hours
The Acer Nitro 5 15 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and Acer Nitro 5 15 both have only fair portability, though the Acer Predator Helios 300 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$780
$1,204
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Acer Nitro 5 15 has a price of $780 and the Acer Predator Helios 300 costs $1,204.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
262.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Acer Nitro 5 15 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for general use.
The Acer Nitro 5 15 and Acer Predator Helios 300 both have strong CPUs and ample RAM suited for general use, with quality IPS screens providing clear and accurate colors. While they excel in these areas, the Nitro 5 has superior heat management and a quieter operating noise, enhancing user comfort during extended use, but the Helios 300 boasts a higher battery life and screen brightness for better portability and outdoor usability.
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.2
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Nitro 5 15 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.9
7.6
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Nitro 5 15 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for engineering and design.
The Acer Nitro 5 15 is equipped with a newer CPU and a powerful GPU, making it suitable for engineering and design tasks, while the Acer Predator Helios 300, although with a slightly older CPU, compensates with a superior screen quality that is vibrant and accurate for visual work. Both laptops come with ample memory and are similarly weighted, but the Nitro 5 15 offers better portability with longer battery life, and the Helios 300 provides a marginally better keyboard experience and has lesser operating noise, important for prolonged use and environments where less distraction is preferred.
Content Creation
7.5
7.3
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Nitro 5 15 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.4
7.1
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Nitro 5 15 and Acer Predator Helios 300 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Build Quality
7.2
7.4
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and Acer Nitro 5 15 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Nitro 5 15 and the Acer Predator Helios 300 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Nitro 5 15 | Acer Predator Helios 300 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$780 | $1,204 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.7'' x 1.06'' | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 5.51 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.19" | 14.3" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.67" | 10" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-12500H | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 3.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 59 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 262 nits | 294 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Nitro 5 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | June 2022
"The Acer Nitro 5 is a fast QHD gaming notebook. The Nitro 5 is a well-balanced gaming laptop for just under US$ 2400. A Core i7-12700H CPU and a GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU enable QHD gaming at high to maximum settings, accompanied by fast PCIe-4-SSD (1 TB) and 16 GB of RAM. Acer delivers a solid QHD gaming notebook with the Nitro 5 AN515-58. However, the laptop is not completely free of shortcomings. The CPU and GPU can work at consistently high clock rates. The laptop heats up noticeably under load, but not excessively. Noise development is on the usual class level. Once again, however, Acer needs to improve the fan control."
Acer Predator Helios 300
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | November 2022
"The Acer Predator Helios 300 review is an overclocked gaming laptop with a good display. The Predator is large, heavy, and loud, but also offers plenty of performance according to gamers. An overclocked gaming laptop - or its user - also has to struggle with the usual disadvantages we mentioned above. On the other hand, overclocking is optional, and those who like it quieter and can live with a few less frames per second can also switch to the significantly more moderate Standard mode. Then the Helios 300 won't be any louder than the competitors."
Get a great deal on the Acer Nitro 5 15 or the Acer Predator Helios 300
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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