You also get a 144Hz refresh rate here, so games run smoothly – so you’ll be able to game competitively. Likewise, a super-high resolution for gaming is nice to have, but for much of the time, 1080p on a screen of this size will look decent and sharp. Higher resolutions can be useful for some applications – for video editing, for example – but for day-to-day use, 1080p is fine. The 1080p resolution is ample for a display of this size. The Helios 300’s display offers the perfect balance. All too often, gaming laptop screens are compromised: they’re either stuck at a low refresh rate, use a low-quality LCD panel or have too low (or too high) a resolution. The standout feature of this laptop is its screen. Related: Best gaming mice Acer Predator Helios 300 – Display When it comes to gaming, the keyboard is absolutely fine, but you’ll be wanting to use a proper mouse instead of the trackpad. Nevertheless, it tracks reasonably well and offers an even, responsive click action. It’s a little on the small side by modern standards, and the surface isn’t the smoothest. It’s a shame the brightness can’t be altered, though.Īs for the trackpad, it’s okay. The keys are backlit in red – no RGB here – so typing in the dark won’t be a problem. Note, too, the keyboard doesn’t flex annoyingly at its centre – a common problem on some cheaper laptops. The action isn’t too stiff, feeling even across most of the keyboard. They return a nice, defined step as the switches actuate, so it’s easy to determine when a key has been pressed. It offers a proper UK layout, with all keys clearly labelled and minimal bunching. Related: Best multiplayer games Acer Predator Helios 300 – Keyboard and trackpad ![]() On the right is a headphone/microphone jack, two USB-A 2.0 ports and the power input.Īs you’d expect of a gaming laptop, the Helios 300 requires a fairly sizeable power brick. ![]() Round the sides of the laptop you’ll find plenty of connectivity options, which include a Gigabit Ethernet port, Type-C USB 3.1, HDMI, USB A 3.0 and SD card reader on the left edge. Note that the Helios 300’s pair of speakers fire downwards through the bottom grilles. The slightly clunky arrangement results in half the rear being a grille, with the other half a fake grille, but at a glance you’ll hardly notice it. Alongside these intake grilles, hot air is vented out of the rear of the Helios 300. However, the cheaper models with only 8GB might benefit.Īlso on the underside of the machine are a number of ventilation grilles, which should mean that even with the Helios 300 sat on your lap, it’s unlikely that you’ll be blocking all airflow. This particular model includes 16GB of RAM, with both slots occupied, so it’s unlikely you’ll want to upgrade. A second panel provides access to the two memory slots. ![]() You can access the drive through a panel on the underside of the laptop. Next to the keyboard you’ll find a numerical pad, and inside there’s also space for a 2.5-inch drive.īy default the Helios 300 comes fitted with a 1TB hard drive, but you could easily upgrade to a larger capacity disk or even a 2.5in SSD. One of the benefits of this larger footprint is added room for the machine’s main features. That said, compared to other budget gaming laptops, these specs are typical. The Helios 300 is also relatively chunky, at 26.8mm thick and weighing 2.7kg – 500g or so more than the lightest 15.6in gaming laptops. The bezels round the screen are noticeably wide, making for a hefty footprint of 390 x 266mm. ![]() This is far from the slimmest or lightest 15.6in laptop there’s ever been. You’re a long way from the all-aluminium, unibody designs of a MacBook Pro or Razer Blade 15, but there’s a reasonable sturdiness overall, with not much flex on display in the main panels. Slap a sticker over the Predator logo on the lid and it could just about pass for a more business-like machine.īuild quality is decent enough, too. Much of the laptop is finished in either matte black plastic or a brushed black anodised aluminium that looks reasonably smart. However, as such machines go, it isn’t too outlandish. You have a few red highlights, an aggressive-looking Predator logo, and an angular form overall. The Helios 300’s design features several hallmarks of a gaming machine. Acer Predator Helios 300 – Design and features It’s a decent spec list for the price, so let’s dig a little deeper to see if the Helios 300 delivers the goods elsewhere. The model being reviewed here includes an Intel Core i7-8750H, 16GB or RAM, a 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD and GTX 1060 – all for just £1199.
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