

The HP Omen 15 is trimmer (0.89 by 14.1 by 9.4 inches), as is the MSI Stealth 15M (0.6 by 14.1 by 9.7 inches). (Photo: Molly Flores)Īt 0.9 by 14.3 by 10 inches (HWD), the Predator Helios 300 is average-sized for a 15.6-inch gaming notebook. (See the 2019 Helios 300 model for context.) The Predator lettering now only appears under the screen, for a more mature vibe and a step toward broader appeal. It wasn't always one that the Helios 300 could make, either Acer toned down the Predator branding with this redesign, which debuted in 2020. The design is more mainstream than radical, a claim that Alienware's m15 R4 can't make. There's no mistaking the Predator Helios 300 for anything but a gaming laptop, with its all-black chassis, angled lid corners, aggro rear cooling vents, and turquoise-backlit Predator logo on the lid. (Besides, the base model has twice the storage.) If you'd prefer something more portable with better battery life, Acer's 14-inch Predator Triton 300 SE is a top choice, but this year's Predator Helios 300 once again nabs an Editors' Choice award among midrange 15.6-inch gaming rigs. Everything we liked about the previous Predator Helios 300 applies to this one, as does our recommendation to stick with the base model: Its features and price make more sense at $1,349, and its RTX 3060 will perform almost as well as our test unit's RTX 3070.
Acer predator helios 300 special edition upgrade#
The only difference is an upgrade to Nvidia's GeForce RTX 30 Series "Ampere" graphics, but that's an important change since it markedly improves gaming performance. Acer's 15.6-inch Predator Helios 300-at $1,699 as seen here, has gone up $200 from last year's model. Buying a gaming laptop in 2021 is more expensive than it was in 2020.
