Amazon’s Prime day is the first major shopping event of 2026 and many families will use this opportunity to purchase a laptop ahead of the annual back-to-school rush. With so many offers on the table, here’s an easy trick to avoid being disappointed by the numerous “fake deals” on Amazon right now.

A quick look at the best-selling laptops quickly brings up an interesting trend. Many laptops are sold with “Intel Processor” or “Intel CPU” in the headline. Now there’s nothing wrong with Intel but the sheer fact that the actual processor is not mentioned is a major red flag in my view.

So here’s my warning: be extra vigilant if you don’t see the actual name of the processor. Read my article about desktop PCs to avoid on Amazon Prime Day.

Not being upfront with details of the most important component in a laptop doesn’t bode well. A spot check of the top 100 best-selling laptops on Amazon yielded 20 such examples, four of them in the top 20 (out of the 10 Windows laptops).

Vague words like ‘High performance CPU’, ‘Quad-Core Intel’, ‘10-core’ or just ‘Intel Core’ are a sure ticket to instant regrets. Trust me on that. Look for models that spell out the actual processor, e.g. Ryzen 5 7520U, N150, Ryzen 7 250 etc.

Processors you should absolutely avoid

Do not buy laptops with the following processors or you will encounter sluggish performance and poor battery life. Note this applies to Windows laptops only, not Chromebooks.

• Intel N-series (N100, N150, N95)
• Intel Celeron (N4500, N3350 etc)
• AMD Ryzen 3 (3250U, 3200U)
• AMD A-series (A6-1450, A9-9400 etc)
• Intel Pentium

Don’t forget the memory

I cannot in all honesty advise anyone to buy an 8GB RAM laptop in 2026. Between resource-heavy browser tabs, background updates, and new AI features, 8GB is a recipe for constant freezing and elevated blood pressure. Fortunately, you don’t need a massive budget to save your sanity.

4 laptop deals that get it right

Here are four new, brand-name Windows laptops with good processors and 16GB for around $500 to $600 that you can buy right now.

If you’ve been waiting for a genuinely good 1440p monitor to drop into impulse-buy territory, this is it: the Acer Nitro KGB271U is currently $160 (was $200) at Best Buy.

For a 27-inch IPS monitor with a 200Hz refresh rate, 1440p resolution, and 90% DCI-P3, that’s an exceptional price, and it’s why this monitor deal has been a best seller right now.

This is the KGB271U - the updated variant with a 200Hz ceiling over DisplayPort, up from 180Hz on the previous model - with specs more than suitable for business professionals, content creators, gamers, and students. Overall, a sharp, smooth, versatile panel that delivers well above what the price suggests.

Today's top monitor deal

The combination of 2560×1440 resolution and 90% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage means content looks rich and vibrant. And the wide 178°/178° viewing angles mean colors stay consistent whether you’re sitting dead-center or glancing across from a multi-monitor setup.

At 200Hz over DisplayPort, this monitor is genuinely fast enough for video editing, without lags while scrubbing through complex timelines.

The HDR10 support is present but should be understood in context: with 350 cd/m² peak brightness and no local dimming, this is ‘basic’ HDR that adds 10-bit color processing rather than a high-impact HDR experience. For vivid HDR highlights and deep blacks, a mini-LED monitor with higher brightness and local dimming zones would be required. For the price, HDR10 is a welcome inclusion, but it’s not the headline feature.

I also like the inclusion of the flicker-free backlight and Low Blue Light modes. I call these essentials for professionals using the monitor for extended work sessions.

At $159.99, the Acer Nitro KGB271U X1 offers a combination of panel quality, refresh rate, and resolution that would have cost significantly more just a couple of years ago. It’s one of the clearest deals in the monitor market right now. You can also check out more options in our guide to the best business monitors.

Also consider: More monitor deals

• See all monitors at Best Buy

I cannot in all honesty advise anyone to buy an 8GB RAM laptop in 2026. Between resource-heavy browser tabs, background updates, and new AI features, 8GB is a recipe for constant freezing and elevated blood pressure.

Fortunately, you don’t need a massive budget to save your sanity. After scouring Amazon, Dell, Lenovo, and Newegg, I found that new, name-brand 16GB Windows laptops with actual decent processors under $500 are nearly extinct.

However, these three incredible exceptions are live right now — but you'll have to act fast, as one is a major clearance deal.

Best 16GB laptops under $500

Why buy it: This machine sports the fastest CPU of the three. Because of its smartphone-style architecture roots, it can easily squeeze out 20 hours of battery life — enough to let you leave the charger at home. It features a spacious screen and a dedicated numeric keypad, making it perfect for students, freelancers, and spreadsheet warriors. At just over $500, it’s a total steal when you consider HP sells the lesser 256GB version for $750.

Why buy it: This is a remarkably capable workstation masquerading as a budget notebook. Originally priced at $750, Best Buy is actively clearing these out for just $501 (compared to $659 at Newegg). The Ryzen AI processor is an absolute beast for multi-tasking and light content creation, though it won't quite match HP's legendary all-day battery life. Snag this one quickly before clearance stock dries up.

Why buy it: If you want the absolute lowest price tag, this is it. While it has a smaller 256GB SSD and shorter battery life than its rivals, it still holds its own in raw performance thanks to fast DDR5 RAM and a reliable Intel i5 chip. Even better? Unlike most modern budget laptops, you can upgrade its internal components down the road. Walmart has this marked down to $480, easily beating Amazon’s $540 price tag.

The verdict

Please don’t buy a cheap 8GB machine just to regret it the moment you power it on. Whether you choose the ultra-efficient HP Snapdragon, the powerhouse Asus on clearance, or the wallet-friendly Acer, upgrading to 16GB of RAM is the single smartest tech move you can make today.

I couldn’t find any new, branded Windows laptop with 16GB RAM and a decent CPU (no N-series, no Core i3, no older tech) from Amazon, Dell, HP, Lenovo or Newegg. I have focused only on Windows 11 laptops rather than Chromebook ones.

Think portable PC monitor and something pretty puny probably comes to mind. What you're probably not imaging is folding contraption with dual 24-inch 1080p displays. What you probably didn't think of is the extraordinary Acer PD243Y E Portable Monitor.

It's immediately obvious that the term "portable" is being used pretty liberally by this unusual dual-screen monitor. You're not going to be slipping it into a small bag with your 13-inch thin-and-light laptop.

However, it is much more compact and transportable than a typical 24-inch PC monitor, let alone a pair of them. So, it's not designed to be taken to the coffee shop, even if that isn't actually out of the question if you could put up with the attention you'd surely attract.

Instead, the Acer PD243Y E Portable Monitor makes more sense for someone wanting, perhaps, to take an additional screen with them on a long trip or for work presentations, that sort of thing. And for those kinds of remits, the basic ergonomics make sense. But what about the features and performance? Time to find out.

Acer PD243Y E: Design and features

• Surprisingly portable for a dual 24-inch display
• Clever hinge and ergonomics
• No USB-C power delivery

We'll come to the performance of the Acer PD243Y E Portable Monitor's dual 24-inch panels momentarily. But the real novelty here involves packaging them into something relatively portable.

OK, you're not going to sling this dual-24-inch contraption into your shoulder bag. But Acer has done a good job of keeping the chassis compact and the bezels slim. All told, it weighs in at 4.4kg, which really is pretty impressive given the sheer amount of screen on offer.

The ergonomics are clever, too. The two screens are attached via a sturdy hinge which folds around over 300 degrees. Combined with a kickstand on the lower panel, you can arrange the displays in a variety of configurations, including vertically stacked or tent mode. The latter setup could be handy for making presentations and screen sharing.

Incidentally, the displays automatically reorient in Windows when you fold into tent mode and both panels run off a single USB-C connection. However, all of that only applies to Windows. Support for Apple Macs is more limited. A MacBook Air, for instance, can only drive one external display, so won't output to both panels.

Speaking of connectivity, there's a single HDMI input and two USB-C ports. Either of later can be used for powering the displays via the included adapter or video input. Sadly, however, neither provides power-out. So, you can't, for instance, hook up a laptop via USB-C and both drive the display and keep the laptop charged.

That's a bit of a pity because it increases cable clutter. You'll need two power adapters, one for your laptop and one for this display, for long-duration use. What's more, all the ports are located on one side of the lower display. Ideally, at least one USB-C on the other side to give you more cable management options would have been welcome.

Acer PD243Y E: Performance

• Relatively low resolution
• No HDR support
• Good viewing angles

Dual 24-inch displays undeniably provide a huge amount of physical screen real estate in the context of a portable monitor. But usable screen space also depends on resolution, and here the Acer PD243Y E Portable Monitor is less impressive.

The 24-inch panels are native 1080p or 1,920 by 1,080 pixels. That kind of resolution would be pretty low spec these days on a 15-inch laptop, let alone panels this size, even if the comparison with conventional desktop monitors is probably more apt.

Anyway, the point is that, physically, these screens have plenty of space to run two app windows per panel and thus four across the two displays. But because of the relatively low resolution, you may find limitations in that regard. You only have 960 horizontal pixels each for two two app windows on one panel, for instance.

But whatever your metric, 1080p certainly isn't a huge resolution when applied to a 24-inch in terms of pixel density, too. That means fonts look pretty rough and the image detail just isn't terribly sharp.

In other regards, these displays are tolerable but inferior to what you'd expect from a conventional display, be that a desktop monitor or laptop panel. Peak brightness is 250 nits, which means they struggle a bit in really bright ambient light, and there's no HDR support at all.

That said, they do support 100Hz refresh and so feel fairly responsive, and the basic calibration is decent. Thanks to IPS panel tech, the viewing angles are good too, which will be appreciated for presentations and screen sharing.

Acer PD243Y E: Final verdict

There's a lot to like about the Acer PD243Y E Portable Monitor. It's surprisingly portable for something that offers dual 24-inch displays making it usable in a pretty wide array of contexts.

The ergonomics and build quality are good, too. The hinge and kick stand offer a wide range of configuration options both for personal use and for presentations or screen sharing. In those regards, this dual-screen monitor could be an extremely useful tool. The connectivity on offer via HDMI and USB-C is reasonable, too.

The quality of the panels is mostly acceptable, too. OK, the IPS panels only hit 250 nits, and there's no HDR support. But the colours and calibration are good enough for a portable monitor setup.

What isn't so impressive is the 1080p-per-panel resolution. It somewhat limits the utility of the Acer PD243Y E Portable Monitor in terms of multitasking and it definitely has an obvious impact on image clarity and text crispness.

If this display was 1440p per panel it would make for a pretty fantastic proposition for all round usage, including productivity work. As it is with dual-1080p, the appeal is narrowed somewhat. As a device for presentation and screen sharing, 1080p will often be just fine. But if you were hoping to use this dual-display contraption for, say, video editing or day trading while travelling, the low resolution is a bit of a pity.

For more displays, we've reviewed the best business monitors and the best portable monitors.

If you're a content creator looking for a machine that can handle photo and video editing but won't break the bank, I've found a top laptop deal on the HP Omen 16 for $1099 (was $1399) at Walmart. And in the UK, the same spec HP laptop is down to £1199 (was £1399) at Currys.

This 16-inch model is packed with a high-performance Intel Core Ultra 5 225H processor, RTX 5050 graphics card, and 16GB DDR5 of memory, which will making running image and video editing software feel snappy and responsive.

Now, it's not an ultra-cheap RTX laptop, but this discount does come in nearer the budget end for a model with the chops to tackle graphics-intensive tasks like content creation (generally, the cheapest I've seen is the HP Victus 15 and Acer Nitro V 15, which run to around $800-$900 for the base trim). Below, I've also rounded up an extra selection of US deals and UK deals with big savings on laptops built for content creation.

Today's best HP video editing laptop deal

Looking beyond the headline specs of the Core Ultra 5 and RTX 5050, there are a number of features that stood out to me for creators.

The processor is AI-enabled, which means you'll have a better experience when using tools like generative expand in the Adobe suite.

The graphics card here serves up a dedicated 8GB GDDR7 VRAM, which is the minimum I'd recommend for video editing tasks.

The display has a 2K resolution with color accuracy and coverage of 100% sRGB for online photos and videos. However, you'll want a laptop with as close to 100% DCI-P3 as you can get if you're looking to go beyond phone and laptop screens - you'll find a couple of options below.

It's not a powerhouse workstation by any stretch of the imagination - you'll have to pay at least double for that. But the HP Omen 16 will easily run creative software as well as games on lower settings, making it a good pick at this discount price for work and play.

More US laptop deals

• Shop all laptop deals at Walmart
• See all gaming laptops at Best Buy

More UK laptop deals

• Shop all laptops at Amazon.co.uk

Handheld gaming continues to grow year on year, with new hardware entering the fray to improve performance results in games — and with Computex 2026 well underway, it's time for PC enthusiasts to get excited.

There have already been several hardware announcements from the likes of Asus, Acer, OneXPlayer, and more, which means there's plenty for consumers to consider when picking out their next device.

Fortunately, Intel has been hard at work on its Panther Lake processor lineup and has delivered the powerful Arc G3 Extreme, which uses 14 cores and 14 threads and 12 Xe GPU cores, delivering some of the best performance on any handheld gaming PC we've seen thus far. However, it's not all just about power and performance.

Several other manufacturers have taken the time to fine-tune the handheld gaming experience, to improve visual enjoyment, comfort, and more — and here, we'll look at the best handheld gaming PCs that have been unveiled at Computex 2026.

1. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+

MSI has gone back to the drawing board after releasing the Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+, and now, unveiled the all-new, powerful handheld, the Claw 8 EX AI+. While the display is effectively untouched, the processor is now the Intel Arc G3 Extreme, a significant step up from the Claw 8 AI+'s Core Ultra 258V.

Intel claims the G3 Extreme is 44% faster than the Core Ultra 258V at 1080p with 2x upscaling (i.e., from 540p), at 35W, and, notably, 42% faster than one of its rival chips, the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme.

As a bonus to a monumental performance leap coming from the Core Ultra 200V series is its XeSS 3 upscaling compatibility, alongside Multi-Frame Generation, and access to Windows 11's Xbox Mode. Intel is the latest competitor to join Nvidia in utilizing Multi-Frame Generation technology, as AMD has yet to roll this out for Radeon GPU users.

With XeSS 3 upscaling, Multi-Frame Generation, and an overall raw performance boost, accompanied by better ergonomics for comfort, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ may end up being the best of the bunch among handhelds this year — however, its price could make or break it, especially if the rumored $1,500 figure is legitimate.

2. OneXPlayer 3

One-Netbook certainly isn't a mainstream manufacturer like MSI, but its new OneXPlayer 3 handheld is definitely a strong competitor to the Claw 8 EX AI+, and, on paper, in some cases arguably better.

The OneXPlayer 3 is a 3-in-one handheld gaming PC that supports AI, gaming, and productivity, and features the same Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor found in the Claw 8 EX AI+. However, it outshines MSI's device with a bigger, more immersive 8.8-inch 144Hz OLED display that is both VRR and HDR enabled.

Users have two storage options via microSD and mini SSD, while its battery has a capacity of 85 Wh. That latter might mean the handheld ranks among those with the best and longest-lasting battery life, but we'll need to see how it performs in real-world testing.

Without a doubt, this is a device that will be able to tackle any game thrown at it and provide exceptional visual quality while doing so. There's no information on its launch date nor its price, and yet again, the latter will likely be the defining factor in its potential success.

3. Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20

Doubling down on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X's impressive features, Asus revealed the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 to celebrate the ROG brand's 20th anniversary. More importantly, the X20 comes with a larger 7.4-inch OLED display with 1,400 nits of peak brightness, bundled with the ROG XReal R1 Edition 20 gaming AR glasses.

It's quite clear that Asus has prioritized visual improvements over performance or power, so it's hard to describe this as a 'mid-generation' upgrade, in the same way the Asus ROG Ally X was compared to its non-X counterpart.

The Xbox Ally X20 also features a rotatable D-pad, labeled a 'Transforming D-pad', which should cater to fighting game players when using the handheld, thanks to optimization for diagonal inputs.

The major downside is that Asus isn't currently selling this as a standalone device, and since the ROG XReal R1 Edition 20 gaming AR glasses retail for $849, the bundle will likely be priced at or around $2,000.

4. Acer Predator Atlas 8

Just like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and the OneXPlayer 3, the Acer Predator Atlas 8 is powered by Intel's Arc G3 Extreme, with power-ready capabilities that can bolster performance in several games for users.

Its design takes after the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X (and the new ROG Xbox Ally X20), just as MSI has, with controller-like handles that cater to comfort for those long gaming sessions. The adjustable triggers on the Lenovo Legion Go S handheld are easily one of my favorite features for any handheld, and fortunately, that's included here with the Atlas 8.

The only missing element is an OLED display for greater immersion, so it sits in a very similar ballpark as the Claw 8 EX AI+, with the only difference being the latter's comfier design.

In the same vein as all of Computex's handheld announcements, the Atlas 8 hinges on its price tag, and based on the current market conditions, thanks to the RAM crisis, it looks like it may be priced well above $1,000. Acer has confirmed that this will launch in October 2026, so price information shouldn't be too far off.

Portable monitors tend to have two problems. They're usually low quality displays and also low resolution. Give it up, therefore, for the new Acer PE160WUT. It's a 16-inch portable monitor with not only 2.8K native resolution, but also OLED panel technology.

That's a pretty good start, but add 120 Hz refresh and touchscreen functionality into the mix and this compact display is a seriously appealing proposition. It promises an external monitor solution that's at least as good, if not better, than the built-in display of most premium laptops.

There's also the tantalising prospect, albeit without official support, of adding touchscreen functionality for Apple MacBook laptops. Apple, of course, doesn't do touchscreen MacBooks. And it's all wrapped up in a fairly slick, slim-bezel chassis that's surprisingly light.

As with the entries in our guide to the best portable monitors, the Acer PE160WUT should also be widely compatible with most modern PC laptops. It connects via USB-C primarily, though it does have HDMI fall-back connectivity, too.

Just note that this is not a battery-powered display. It takes power via USB-C, so when you are away from mains power it will be drawing energy from your laptop's battery.

Acer ProDesigner PE160WUT: Design and features

• Compact and light
• 2.8K OLED display
• No integrated battery

Imagine detaching the display from a 16-inch laptop and you'll get a pretty good idea of the look and feel of the Acer PE160WUT. Just like a lot of laptops, it has slim bezels on three sides of its display, plus a slightly larger chin.

For the most part, it's about as thin as a laptop lid, too. The exception is a thicker section on the bottom third on the rear of the chassis. This houses the electronics, connectivity and hinged kickstand.

The latter allows the Acer PE160WUT to sit pretty comfortably on any flat, firm surface, though it's less useful for, say, propping the display up on your laptop. All told, this portable monitor comes in at just 0.65kg, making it conspicuously light and pretty portable. If you're already carrying a laptop and power supply, this extra monitor is a pretty plausible addition in pure portability terms.

Of course, a big part of the reason why it's so light is the lack of a built-in battery. The display is powered via USB-C and designed to take that directly from a laptop. If that's a boon for portability, it's not so great for battery life away from the mains.

Of course, the main attraction is the 16-inch OLED display. With a native resolution of 2,880 by 1,800 pixels, it offers a pixel density of around 212 DPI. That's a little lower than the 224 DPI of a MacBook Air or 254 DPI of a MacBook Pro. But it's still pretty decent.

What no MacBook can offer, of course, is OLED panel technology or, indeed, touchscreen tech. That's a combination several PC notebooks include, of course. But by any reasonable metric, this is a highly specified portable display.

Acer ProDesigner PE160WUT: Performance

• Bright and vivid OLED panel
• Smooth 120 Hz refresh
• Not quite as crisp as you'd hope

The 2.8K native resolution, 120 Hz refresh and OLED panel tech set up some pretty lofty expectations. The Acer PE160WUT doesn't quite nail all of them.

There's a lot to like, starting with the punchiness and vividness of the OLED panel. With a rating of 350 nits full screen, it gets plenty bright enough. But to that it adds OLED's usual advantages of perfect per-pixel lighting and outstanding pixel response speed.

This isn't a gaming panel, but the 120 Hz refresh makes it feel very slick and responsive, too. Those aspects are a real treat. Even LCD panels with full-array local dimming can't come close to matching the lighting precision of OLED.

However, there are some limitations, too. For starters, the brightness isn't adjustable in the otherwise nicely calibrated sRGB or Adobe RGB presets, which is a pity. You might want to ramp it up in some ambient light conditions and the default user mode isn't terribly well calibrated.

Short of DIY calibration, a work around is to run the panel in HDR mode, in which setting SDR content is actually well calibrated. But that brings us to two further snags. First, the HDR performance is underwhelming.

Acer doesn't provide detailed specs, but it very much looks like HDR brightness is capped at the panel's 350 nit full-screen brightness, or thereabouts. What's more, running in HDR mode consumes additional power. And power consumption is a definite issue with this monitor, which again does not have its own integrated battery and takes power over USB-C, typically from a laptop.

By way of example, with this OLED panel connected to an Apple MacBook Air with both the MacBook's screen and this panel set to half brightness, the combination consumed 10% of the MacBook's battery in just 15 minutes.

And the MacBook running on its own? 15 minutes of comparable running eats up 2% of battery life. In other words, there's a heavy battery life penalty of using this display. And that's in SDR mode. HDR would be even worse.

Speaking of connecting a MacBook, the touchscreen functionality only has limited, clunky support to the extent that it's not really usable. Meanwhile, the highest properly DPI-scaled resolution is 1,400 by 900 pixels, which is a little low for a 16-inch panel. It will run at the full 2,880 by 1,800 native, of course, but at that setting fonts and icons are absolutely tiny. For the record, in Windows the touch functionality works pretty well, aided by the nippy 120 Hz refresh.

But the biggest issue is the screen's anti-glare coating. It's matte and quite coarse with some distinctly visible sparkle. It definitely detracts from the crispness and precision of the display. Fonts and text, for instance, look a little soft and blurry as a consequence. It's not a total deal breaker, but this little OLED panel deserves a much better anti-glare coating.

Acer ProDesigner PE160WUT: Final verdict

There's a lot to like about the Acer ProDesigner PE160WUT. It's certainly novel to have an OLED panel in a portable monitor like this. The 2.8K resolution and 120 Hz refresh are likewise exactly what you'd want to see. Too many portable monitors are low resolution and low refresh.

It's also very compact and lightweight. At just 0.65kg, it really is plausible to chuck this thing in your bag with whatever laptop you have. And in terms of image quality, there are plenty of pros. The Acer ProDesigner PE160WUT is pretty punchy, with great colours and generally very good calibration.

OK, the HDR performance disappoints. But for colours and contrast, this display will beat most laptop panels. Add in the touchscreen functionality and you have a compelling proposition, albeit the touchscreen feature really only works well on PC laptops, rather than Apple MacBooks.

The one real issue, then, is the screen's coarse anti-glare coating. It definitely compromises the precision of the image quality and detracts from what is otherwise a very sweet little portable OLED panel. It's also worth bearing in mind that the lack of an integrated battery means that your laptop's battery will take a hammering when using this display away from the mains.

All that said, the Acer ProDesigner PE160WUT retains plenty of appeal. Even with the overly coarse anti-glare coating, it's still one of the best portable monitors we've seen.

For more displays, we've reviewed the best business monitors and the best 5K and 8K monitors.

As a veteran deal-hunter, I can honestly say Best Buy has had an incredible Memorial Day sale event this year - and what particularly stood out to me were a host of RTX 50-series laptops and desktop PCs that are perfect for video editing.

• See all laptop & PC deals at Best Buy

I've gone through the entire stock to find the best video editing laptop and PC deals and picked out my favorites - basically, all the ones with fast DDR5 RAM and discrete RTX 5060, 5070, and 5080 graphics card. That includes the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 for $1425 (was $1775) and the ever-impressive Asus ROG Strix G18 for $2800 (was $3300.

If you're a content creator, you'll need to act fast though - Best Buy's Memorial Day sale ends tonight (the clock is quite literally ticking on the page).

Top Memorial Day video editing laptop deals

Top Memorial Day video editing PC deals

More of today's best Memorial Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Best Buy: Big tech deals on laptops, office furniture, and more
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $369
• Saatva: up to $550 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $1,600 off appliances
• Target: 30% off clothing, patio & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 50% off furniture, grills, rugs & more

It might feel like you have to spend a fortune to be able to play games on the move, but if you don’t mind making some compromises, it’s still very possible to do so on a budget. That’s the case with this Acer Nitro V at Amazon for $699.99 (was $799.99).

It has the essentials, including a 15.6-inch full HD display with a 165Hz refresh rate, so it looks suitably sharp and responsive when playing most games. There are compromises for the lower price, though, like an older Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and only 8GB of RAM — but that’s not bad at all for the price and is capable of playing undemanding games at medium settings without issue.

It’s a good starter gaming laptop for anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much, but still wants to play some games such as Fortnite, League of Legends or Counter-Strike away from home or with limited space.

Today’s best gaming laptop deal

We haven't specifically reviewed this particular model but when looking at a newer revision, our Acer Nitro V review called it a “capable 1080p gaming machine with a surprisingly vibrant display to boot.”

We gave it four stars out of five and appreciated its “good 1080p performance.” Such performance led to it being one of the best gaming laptops around for anyone on a budget. Just bear in mind that its battery life could be a little better, but I’m not surprised there are some flaws when it’s such a low price.

That mentality extends to this slightly older model and looks just as good with a subtle but fun gamer aesthetic.

If you can afford to spend more, there are other gaming laptop deals to consult. If gaming isn’t a priority, there are some great value laptop deals around too.

Acer has a track record for doing things a bit differently. The new Acer ProCreator PE320QXT PC monitor is no exception. This 32-inch beast has something no other 6K panel we've yet seen can match, namely full touchscreen functionality.

Of course, the 6K native resolution is pretty special all on its own, even if in this case 6K means 6,016 by 3,384 pixels and thus slightly fewer than the likes of the LG UltraFine 6K Evo 32U990A, which clocks in at 6,144 by 3,456 pixels. Nevertheless, you still get an epic pixel density of 219 DPI. That's far higher than the circa 140 DPI typical of the best 4K monitors in the 32-inch form, and even the 163 DPI of 27-inch 4K models.

6K resolution and touchscreen support aside, the specifications are largely in line with expectations for the IPS panel technology used here by Acer. Long story short, the pros and cons of IPS are all present and accounted for, including good viewing angles and colour accuracy, but limited contrast and HDR capability compared to OLED technology and likewise mediocre pixel response.

Given there are no currently available 6K OLED displays, this monitor therefore poses mostly the same conundrum as competing 6K LCD monitors. If you want the pixel density of 6K, you can only currently have that courtesy of IPS rather than OLED panel tech. The exception is that touchscreen twist.

Acer ProCreator PE320QXT: Design and features

• Sturdy hinge for touch input
• Big, ugly bezels
• Good connectivity

The touchscreen functionality of Acer ProCreatorPE320QXT has fairly extensive implications for ergonomics, and it's not all good news. For starters, the bezels are fairly chunky, giving it a slightly dated appearance.

Then there's the stand and hinge. One the one hand, it's engineered to support tilting the display across a wide range from vertical to nearly flat to accommodate the touch functionality and, in that regard, it provides good stability. On the other, the hinge only allows for minimal height adjustment when viewing the display normally, and no swivel or pivot into portrait mode.

Then there's the plastic screen cover which lends the panel a glossy finish. That could be problematic in terms of reflectivity for any creative pros who prefer matte anti-glare coatings.

As for connectivity, the Acer ProCreator PE320QXT has you pretty well covered. Along with the usual DisplayPort and HDMI interfaces, there's USB-C with 90W of power delivery, plus a two-port USB-A hub.

It's worth noting that the preferred method of connectivity is USB-C, as that streamlines support for the touchscreen capabilities via a single cable. That said, it is possible to use the supplied USB-A to USB-B cable to connect the display to devices that lack USB-C in order to enable the touch interface.

Speaking of which, the Acer ProCreator PE320QXT comes bundled with an input stylus, though the panel's capacitive touch interface can also be used with old fashioned finger prods and swipes. Finally, on the features front, is the 8MP webcam with an integrated mic array.

Acer ProCreator PE320QXT: Performance

• Strong color coverage in DCI-P3
• Punchy 6K visuals but lots of light bleed
• Integrated webcam

Ostensibly, touch input is this monitor's defining feature. But the 6K resolution is also pretty special. Notably, most other 6K monitors currently available use an LG-sourced IPS Black panel. However, as the Acer ProCreator PE320QXT's very slightly lower resolution implies, there's something slightly different going on here.

In fact, Acer has opted for the competing AU Optronics panel. It's essentially the same type technology as the LG IPS Black item found in the LG UltraFine 6K Evo 32U990A. But because AU Optronics tends to price its products more aggressively, monitor models with this panel as opposed to the LG alternative are typically a fair bit cheaper.

Other than the resolution, the main difference is slightly lower static contrast, coming in at 1,500:1 versus the LG's 2,000:1. In practice, you'd be hard pushed to notice the difference. In neither case is contrast a strong point, especially compared with an OLED panel. Thanks to the HDR 600 certification, there is plenty of punch on offer, but also plenty of light bleed.

In part, that's thanks to the fact that this monitor lacks proper full-array local dimming. But if light bleed is something all displays of this type suffer from, there's one flaw that's very specific to the Acer ProCreator PE320QXT. As a consequence of the touch input layer in the panel, there's a very slight degradation of the image quality.

It's most noticeable on close inspection of fonts and texts, lending them a very slightly jagged appearance. How much of a problem this is — and, indeed, if you even notice it — is ultimately a subjective matter. However, given high pixel density and the crisp visuals that implies are core to the Acer ProCreator PE320QXT's appeal, this flaw is definitely worth noting.

As for the touch functionality itself, well, it's accurate and responsive enough, albeit the 60Hz refresh rate means that there's more latency than touch displays with 120Hz and higher refresh rates. That said, driving a 6K monitor at very high refresh rates poses bandwidth issues and likely explains the 60Hz spec. We also had issues with USB-C connectivity with our review unit which made using the touch interface with a Mac impossible. Hopefully, Acer will release a firmware to iron out USB-C connectivity issues.

All that said, color accuracy is definitely a strong point with the Acer ProCreator PE320QXT particularly well calibrated in DCI-P3 mode when connected to Apple Mac computers. For what it's worth, the HDR mode is well calibrated, too, though without full-array local dimming, this monitor's HDR capabilities are ultimately pretty notional.

As for the integrated webcam, it has good basic image quality that's superior to most laptop webcams and also offers a physical shutter for reliable security. However, its optics result in a very wide field of view. It does offer an autoframing feature which crops in pretty effectively. However, that comes at quite a loss of image quality.

Acer ProCreator PE320QXT: Final verdict

We've seen displays based on LG's 6K technology before. But Acer has opted for an alternative panel from AU Optronics that allows a lower price point. That's particularly impressive given that the Acer ProCreator PE320QXT includes full touchscreen functionality.

The snag is that the touch interface comes with some compromises. Firstly, the ergonomics aren't great for normal use, thanks to limited height adjustability and added panel reflectivity. The big bezels make the display look a little clunky and dated, too.

The touch layer in the panel also very slightly impacts image quality, which is a pity given that one of the key attractions here is ultra-crisp image quality from the 6K resolution and ultra-high pixel density.

We also had issues with the monitor's USB-C interface which we'd like to see addressed before this monitor can be recommended without a major caveat. In other regards, this is an impressive display with good connectivity and factory calibration.

Moreover, if you want the combination of 6K and touch support, this Acer represents one heck of a deal. But, ultimately, we'd probably rather see Acer offer this panel without touch support and with a conventional chassis and stand but at an even lower price. Now that would really be something.

For more displays, we've reviewed the best business monitors and the best 5K and 8K monitors.

If you’ve been thinking about expanding your storage with something fast and spacious, a terrific option is the Acer Predator GM6 4TB SSD, now £319.59 (was £375.99( at Amazon as part of the Tech Week sale.

Packing 4TB of storage into a compact M.2 format, this drive gives you plenty of room for personal and business files, creative projects, and growing media collections.

If you're after something fast, it's a clear winner. With PCIe Gen4 NVMe technology, it delivers read speeds of up to 7200MB/s and write speeds up to 6200MB/s. When storage keeps pace with the rest of your system, the entire computer feels nippier, especially if you're replacing an older SATA SSD.

• Shop the full Tech Week sale at Amazon

Today's Acer SSD deal

Installation is straightforward thanks to the standard M.2 2280 form factor, which fits neatly into most modern desktops and laptops without taking up extra space. The single-sided design also helps with compatibility in slimmer machines where clearance can be tight.

Support for HMB and SLC smart caching helps improve data handling by storing frequently used files in faster cache memory. That helps keep transfers smooth and responsive during repeated tasks, especially when working with large folders or regularly accessed content.

Thermal control is handled via a 0.5mm graphene heat dissipation pad that helps pull heat away from the drive during extended use.

Built-in thermal throttling and power management systems regulate temperatures in real time, helping maintain stable performance during longer work sessions.

Management software support also allows you to monitor drive health, run performance checks, and manage firmware updates from a single interface.

Compatibility across desktops and laptops makes it a flexible upgrade choice, whether you're expanding an existing system or building something new, and backward support for PCIe Gen3 systems also adds useful flexibility if you're upgrading older hardware.

It doesn't just have to be for work either. Support for the PlayStation 5 adds another useful angle if console storage is starting to feel cramped.

With 4TB of capacity, strong Gen4 performance, and a five-year warranty backing it up, this is a great chance to upgrade your storage at a much more affordable price.

For more top picks like this, these are the fastest SSDs we've tested and reviewed.

• Shop all SSDs at Amazon.co.uk

Amazon is holding a surprise Tech Week sale, and among the bargains on offer are a number of top name business laptops, including three under £500 that are well worth your consideration.

The Acer Aspire 16, which is now £499 (was £800), sees the biggest discount. This would be my top pick given the specs (see below), making it an all-rounder machine for day-to-day productivity tasks.

Elsewhere, the Asus Vivobook 16 is down to £350 (was £440), and finally, rounding out the trio is the HP 15.6-inch laptop that's a wallet-friendly £270 (was £399). Check out my full thoughts on each laptop deal below.

• Shop the full Tech Week sale at Amazon

My top 3 business laptop deals under £500

This laptop sports a large 16-inch WUXGA display that gives you more vertical space than a standard Full HD panel.

The laptop is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor and 16GB of RAM to keep demanding office tasks running smoothly throughout the day. It comes with a 512GB SSD, offering quick boot times and enough space for business files, presentations, and everyday software.

A premium aluminium lid gives the laptop a stylish look, while the backlit keyboard and numeric keypad add practical touches for productivity-focused work.

Next up is the Asus Vivobook 16, down to £350 (was £440), down from £440 to £350. It's powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X1 processor which supports Microsoft Copilot+ features, giving you access to the latest AI-powered tools built into Windows 11.

The 16-inch WUXGA display uses a taller 16:10 aspect ratio, which makes it an ideal laptop for coding, as well as writing, or browsing.

With 16GB of RAM and a 512GB PCIe SSD, it has the memory and storage capacity needed to keep daily workloads running smoothly.

Battery life rated at up to 19 hours adds impressive endurance for long working days without constantly reaching for a charger, making it a great choice for hybrid working, commuting, and travel.

This is the cheapest laptop deal I've selected - but that low price inevitably comes with some compromises, but its AMD Ryzen 3 processor can handle daily office duties and moderate workloads.

It only comes with 8GB of RAM, which is lower than the 16GB found on the other two laptops here, but that will be fine for email, office software, and general multitasking.

The 256GB SSD provides enough capacity for documents, spreadsheets, and essential applications, making it a practical fit for small office setups.

Battery life rated at over 11 hours adds flexibility for working away from a desk, while the anti-glare Full HD display helps maintain clear visibility in bright rooms.

For more top picks like this, these are the best business laptops we've tested and reviewed.

• Shop all laptops at Amazon.co.uk

If you're looking for a laptop that can handle demanding creative work, heavy multitasking, and modern graphics tasks without spending a fortune, the Acer Nitro V15 is a great choice and it's down to £619.99 (was £800) in Amazon's Tech Week sale.

In our four star review, we described the laptop as "admirable" and were especially impressed by the display. We were slightly concerned about the heat given off when playing top-tier games, but if you don't plan on running the latest AAA titles at the max settings, it will be fine.

Running on an Intel Core i7-13620H processor, the Nitro V15 has the speed needed for demanding applications, from photo and video editing software to large spreadsheets and development tools. With 10 cores and boost speeds reaching up to 4.9GHz, it handles sustained workloads without issue.

Today's top video editing laptop deal

Backing that processor with 16GB of DDR4 RAM keeps everyday tasks smooth even when several demanding programs are open at once.

Graphics performance comes from Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5050 with 6GB of GDDR6 memory, giving this system real capability for rendering, video editing, and GPU-accelerated software. It won't be ideal for complex 4K video editing, but for general content creation, this is a great entry-level machine.

Nvidia’s DLSS Multi-Frame Generation adds another layer of performance by using AI to improve frame rates when workloads get demanding.

The 15.6-inch display, which was a clear highlight for us, delivers Full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080, keeping images sharp and readable across creative and professional tasks. A fast 165Hz refresh rate keeps motion smooth, which benefits video playback, animation previews, and fast-moving content.

For storage you get a 512GB SSD, which offers plenty of space for essential software, active projects, and frequently used files.

Wi-Fi 6 and gigabit Ethernet provide reliable connectivity, while HDMI and Thunderbolt 4 ports make it simple to connect external displays and accessories.

At £619.99, this is a great deal for a Core i7 laptop with RTX graphics, but you'll need to act fast as it won't stay this price for long.

For more top picks like this, these are the best video editing laptops and the best laptops for photo editing we've tested and reviewed.

• Shop all laptops at Amazon.co.uk

• Acer Connect M6E 5G delivers 28 hours of active use without frequent charging interruptions
• Its IP68 rating ensures protection against dust and temporary water immersion
• Wi-Fi 6E and 2x2 MIMO reduce congestion in crowded environments

Acer has launched a mobile Wi-Fi device in the UK to address uneven access to stable internet connections across both dense cities and remote regions.

Available starting at £199.99, the Acer Connect M6E 5G is built for business travellers, event production teams, and hybrid workers who cannot rely on spotty public Wi-Fi or fragile consumer hotspots.

This device enables seamless movement between environments by eliminating manual provider switching, particularly during travel or field operations.

Built for durability and extended use

The M6E is engineered to survive conditions that would destroy most consumer networking gear.

Its IP68 rating means the unit is completely dustproof and can withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.

An 8,000 mAh battery provides up to 28 hours of active use, allowing a full day of productivity without hunting for power outlets - and when it runs out of power, it supports fast charging via USB-C port, which minimizes downtime between work sessions.

"The Acer Connect M6E 5G is more than a convenience; it’s a productivity insurance policy," says Darren Calow Business Development Manager of Accessories & Gadgets at Acer UK.

"For the nomad worker or the event team operating in high-pressure environments, it provides the freedom of a private, secure, and ultra-fast 5G bubble that fits in a pocket."

On the connectivity front, the M6E leverages Wi-Fi 6E technology, including the 6 GHz band and 2x2 MIMO to reduce network congestion in crowded environments.

The device can support up to 20 connected devices simultaneously, enabling entire event teams to stay online through a single unit.

The device supports both physical SIM and virtual SIM technology, eliminating the need to swap cards when crossing borders.

It also supports SignalScan, which enables it to automatically identify and connect to strong 5G signals across 135 countries.

A rugged mobile router with a 28-hour battery sounds ideal on paper, but the real test lies in how well it performs in the specific environments Acer markets it for.

NFC touch-to-connect allows Android users to bypass password entry, offering a practical convenience when onboarding clients or colleagues who need immediate network access.

Security features include WPA3 encryption, built-in firewalls, and VPN support, helping protect sensitive data when operating across public mobile networks.

This device is designed for professionals who cannot afford connectivity failures during critical moments.

However, at £199.99, the M6E costs significantly more than a standard power bank paired with a basic hotspot.

So, whether the ruggedization and all-day battery justify the premium depends entirely on how often users actually find themselves working in puddles.

I love finding accessories that actually solve a problem, and this Acer Gadget Mac mini M4 Dock is a great example of this. This Acer Enclosure & Stand is now $65 (was $80) at Amazon.

It's perfect for creators handling large video libraries, photo collections, or frequent backups that quickly fill internal storage. This dock sits neatly under a Mac mini M4 or M4 Pro and doubles as an SSD enclosure, supporting up to 8TB of M.2 NVMe or SATA storage.

It comes with 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A ports, so can move large files quickly, and built-in SD and TF card readers make it easy to offload photos and footage, saving time when working through large batches of media.

• View the full Amazon Big Spring Sale

Also, take a look at our Amazon Big Spring Sale live hub.

Today's top dock deal

Dual-screen setups are easy thanks to HDMI 2.1 support capable of reaching 4K at 144Hz (depending on the monitor and cable used, obviously). That extra display flexibility comes in handy when managing timelines, editing projects, or simply spreading out windows across multiple screens.

Thoughtful design details make daily use more convenient, including a rear-mounted 3.5mm audio output that keeps speaker cables neatly out of sight.

A dedicated side USB port helps reduce wireless interference, keeping keyboards and mice responsive even in busy setups.

For cooling, an elevated structure improves airflow while doubling as a passive heat sink for installed SSDs. The aluminum construction adds durability and helps manage heat during long file transfers or intensive workloads.

Everything needed for installation comes in the box, including tools, mounting hardware, and a power adapter, although you’ll still need to supply your own M.2 SSD.

At $64, this feels like a practical Mac mini upgrade for anyone looking to expand storage and connectivity for their Mac mini M4 or M4 Pro mini PC without spending too much.

More Acer gadgets to consider

More of today's best Amazon Big Spring Sale deals

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks, Echo & tablets from $18
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods, AirTags & iPads from $17
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Easter: gifts under $50 for all ages
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Toys: 57% off Lego, Tonies & board games
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: 30-second review

Having recently covered the TravelMate P6 14 AI, the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI seems like a remarkably similar design, until you investigate the details.

All brands have a version of the thin-and-light laptop market where every machine looks broadly the same: aluminium lid, backlit chiclet keyboard, 14 inches of 1080p, and the manufacturer's brand at the top of the bezel. However, the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI dares to be different.

Built around Intel's Lunar Lake platform, the Swift Edge 14 AI packs a Core Ultra 7 258V processor into a magnesium-aluminium chassis that comes in under 990g. That alone is enough to make most carry-on bags significantly lighter, but Acer has also fitted a 14-inch 3K OLED panel treated with Corning Gorilla Matte Pro. That’s not typical, and positions this hardware with creatives in mind.

The Lunar Lake architecture also brings several surprises with it. The eight-core hybrid design drops Hyper-Threading entirely, pairing four Performance cores against four Low-Power cores, all built on TSMC 3nm. Since Intel chose to run its own foundries for many processors, the results are much better.

The memory subsystem is on-package LPDDR5X running eight 16-bit channels wide. Regrettably, these types of memory installations mean they cannot be upgraded, but they do deliver bandwidth that most discrete memory configurations cannot match.

The review system had 32GB, and that’s all it will ever have.

Graphics duties fall to the Intel Arc 140V with 64 Xe2 execution units, a significant step up from the iGPU silicon Intel was shipping two generations ago. It will not make a games enthusiast happy, but for photo editing, light video work, and the kind of AI-accelerated tasks the machine is specifically marketed towards, it holds its own convincingly.

The port selection is genuinely commendable for a machine this thin: two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, full-size HDMI, and a headset jack. The one notable omission is a MicroSD slot, which feels like it should be standard on a creative-leaning portable at this price.

With an official cost of around $1499 / £1399, the Swift Edge 14 AI is priced to compete with some very capable alternatives. Whether or not it wins that competition depends almost entirely on how much the display and the weight matter to you. If both matter a lot, this deserves a serious look.

There are a few wrinkles in the off-white finish of the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI, but overall, it offers a stellar hardware combination at a price few of the best business laptops can match.

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $1500/£1400
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from Acer or online retailers

The laptop is available direct from Acer's US shop, as well as Amazon.com. In the UK, I'm seeing it available from Amazon.co.uk and Currys.

The UK model reviewed here has the part number NX.JG4EK.008 ships with the Core Ultra 7 258V, 32GB LPDDR5X, and a 1TB SSD for an RRP of £1,399. At the time of writing, Currys has it available for £1,399, which shifts the value proposition considerably. At that price, rivals start looking rather less compelling.

I have seen it for £1100 on Amazon.co.uk, but how long that deal will last is debatable.

In the USA, the American market equivalent (NX.JM6AA.002) with the same CPU, memory and storage sells for $1499.99 on Amazon.com, the same price as it is directly from Acer.

Direct competitors include the Asus Zenbook A14, which is half as much in the USA, using a Snapdragon X Plus processor, a lower-resolution OLED panel and half the RAM capacity. But due to the platform, that machine can’t run Intel X86 natively.

The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo lands in a similar territory to the Acer in the UK, but maybe £250 cheaper. However, that’s for one with only a Core Ultra series 1 CPU.

If you are prepared to stretch a little further, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 on the same Lunar Lake platform costs noticeably more and brings additional enterprise features that most home and small-business users will not need. With the same spec as the Acer, it’s £1595.99 in the UK, and $1,759 in the USA.

It’s interesting that most of the machines that undercut the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI do so either by using an older-generation processor or by using IPS panels instead of the OLED in the Acer.

Therefore, it might not be cheap, but it represents decent value for money.

• Value: 4 / 5

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Specs

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Design

• Magnesium-aluminium chassis, sub-1kg weight
• OLED display with Corning Gorilla Matte Pro treatment
• Great port selection
• No MicroSD or SIM card slots

Pick up the Swift Edge 14 AI, and the first thing you register is the weight, or rather the lack of it. At just under a kilogram, it sits in the hand more like a hardback novel than a laptop, and Acer has managed that without resorting to the flex-heavy thin plastic shells that cut corners on cheaper machines. The magnesium-aluminium build feels solid, with only the very slightest give under deliberate pressure on the lid.

Acer describes the finish as Stellar White, and the aesthetic is deliberately clean. The lid carries only a small Acer logo and the Swift Edge badge on the opposite side of the lid, which gives it an understated quality. The hinge action is smooth with some light resistance; it can be opened one-handed, and the lid can sit flat at 180 degrees if needed.

At 12.9mm thin, the Swift Edge 14 AI is noticeably slimmer than a lot of its competition. The side ports are arranged sensibly: both Thunderbolt 4 ports and the HDMI sit on the left alongside a USB-A port, while the other USB-A port and the 3.5mm combo jack are on the right. This keeps the more frequently used connectors on one side for desk use. The full-size HDMI is a genuine convenience. Although it is possible to convert a Thunderbolt port to HDMI or DisplayPort, if you need more screens.

The keyboard is a backlit scissor-switch design with a reasonable 1.3mm of travel. Key spacing is generous for a 14-inch chassis, and the layout avoids the cramped cursor cluster that plagues thinner machines. There is a Copilot key, as expected for a Copilot+ PC, and a fingerprint reader is built into the power button. A separate IR camera above the display handles Windows Hello facial recognition with reasonable speed.

My only reservation about that camera is that, for the cost of this hardware, I’d have liked to see one that could do 4K, and not the 1440p limited one that Acer installed.

The trackpad is glass-surfaced, well-sized, and supports Windows Precision gestures throughout. It does not click anywhere near the top edge, which is a minor irritation if you are a corner-clicker by habit, but the tracking accuracy and palm rejection are both good.

Where the design really earns its place is with the display. The OLED panel, manufactured by BOE (model NB140B9M-T10 as confirmed by the hardware data), is a 14-inch 2,880 x 1,800 unit at a 16:10 aspect ratio, running up to 120Hz.

Acer has fitted Corning's Gorilla Matte Pro glass, which is notable because most matte treatments on OLED panels visibly degrade colour saturation and blacks. Gorilla Matte Pro is designed to minimize that effect, and to the naked eye, it succeeds. The panel retains deep blacks and vivid colours while cutting reflections to a level where even outdoor use in the shade is genuinely comfortable. At 313.8 x 218.8mm, the footprint is compact for a 14-inch machine, partly because the bezels are thin all around.

There are plenty of things to like about the design of this laptop, and relatively few issues to address. It lacks a MicroSD card slot, and for whatever reason, Acer doesn’t have a SIM card variant yet, but in most other respects, this has almost everything that most laptop users would like in their hardware.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Hardware

• Intel Core Ultra 7 258V on TSMC 3nm
• On-package LPDDR5X 8-channel architecture
• Arc 140V GPU with 64 Xe2 execution units

The Lunar Lake platform that underpins the Swift Edge 14 AI is significantly different from the Meteor Lake and Raptor Lake generations that preceded it, and those differences matter more on paper than they might initially suggest.

The Core Ultra 7 258V uses a hybrid core design of four Performance P-cores and four Low-Power LP-cores, and none of these uses hyperthreading. Intel dropped it across the board for this generation to prioritise per-core efficiency over everything else.

The result is a chip that delivers eight threads from eight physical cores, which is a departure from the twelve-thread configurations of older 12th and 13th-generation machines. In practice, this rarely matters because most everyday workloads are not thread-saturated, and the efficiency gains are tangible in both thermals and battery life.

The processor is produced using TSMC's 3nm node, the same process used by Apple for its current M-series silicon. This places Lunar Lake at the leading edge of Intel's efficiency story, and the power figures confirmed during testing bear that out. The platform was drawing just over 4 watts at idle, with individual core temperatures sitting in the low-to-mid thirties Celsius. The thermal design of the Swift Edge 14 AI relies on a single fan with a heat pipe arrangement, and under light use, it is effectively silent.

Another high point of Lunar Lake is that it places the LPDDR5X in much closer integration to the other parts of the system, using a non-upgradable Memory on Package (MoP) design. While previous Intel chips capped out at 6400 MT/s, the LPDDR5X-8533 used here offers lower latency and higher performance for AI and GPU operations.

The downside of using this memory model is that the RAM cannot be upgraded.

The GPU is Intel's Arc 140V with 64 Xe2 execution units boosting to 1,950MHz. This is a meaningful step up from the 96 EU Xe graphics in Meteor Lake and offers DirectX 12 Ultimate support, hardware raytracing, and Intel's XeSS upscaling.

It draws from the on-package memory pool and can handle Lightroom adjustments, DaVinci Resolve colour grading on 4K footage at reasonable resolutions, and light 3D viewport work without complaint. Gaming is possible at reduced settings in less demanding titles, but anyone expecting discrete GPU performance will be disappointed.

The NPU within the Lunar Lake SoC is rated at 48 TOPS, clearing the 40 TOPS threshold that qualifies the machine as a Copilot+ PC. This unlocks features including Windows Studio Effects on the webcam, Live Captions, and the broader Copilot+ feature set. Connectivity is handled entirely by Intel silicon: the Wi-Fi 7 module (identified in hardware data as device 0xA840) and Bluetooth 5.4 controller (0xA876) are both integrated into the Lunar Lake PCH, eliminating the third-party wireless card that most laptops require.

Storage comes via a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD, which is accessible (with effort -- nine screws secure the base panel) for replacement. Buyers who anticipate needing more storage should consider that at purchase time, since adding a second drive is not included.

While this, like almost all laptops these days, has limited upgrade potential, the system is honed to deliver a good user experience and performance suitable for a wide range of tasks.

• Hardware: 4 / 5

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Performance

For my comparison, I originally considered the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI, but that’s an almost identical platform to the Swift Edge, and the numbers didn’t tell much of a story.

Instead, I chose the Dell Latitude 9450 to show what a major upgrade the 200-series machines are over the previous 100-series.

What we are seeing here is a major ram in power efficiency, and what that provides for both thermal ranges and clock speeds.

With CPU-Z confirming a package power draw of around 4 watts at idle and temperatures in the mid-thirties, the Swift Edge 14 AI is evidently conservative with its thermal budget when nothing demanding is happening. Under load, the picture is more nuanced.

Acer configures a sustained PL1 power limit of 30W and a short-burst PL2 of 37W, taking it slightly above Intel's reference values, suggesting a high degree of confidence in the cooling solution. In extended workloads such as video encoding or large RAW batch processing, the fan becomes audible. It is not aggressive, but it is present, which is worth noting for anyone planning to use the machine in quiet environments.

Per-core clock speed data captured during testing shows the P-cores reaching 4,500MHz on a single boosting core, with the LP-cores running independently up to 3,700MHz on their own tasks. Intel Thread Director dynamically distributes work between the two pools, and in practice, scheduling is handled sensibly. Background tasks migrate to LP-cores and stay there unless priority changes, conveniently.

When you consider that the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V has significantly fewer cores than the Core 7 Ultra 165U, it consistently delivers more compute, AI and GPU performance across the board.

The Arc 140V GPU proves its worth in tasks that conventionally required discrete silicon. Export times in Adobe Lightroom Classic with AI Denoise applied are substantially faster than equivalent Iris Xe workloads from the previous generation. DaVinci Resolve colour work on 1080p footage runs smoothly, though complex node stacks at 4K are probably asking the machine to work too hard. If you need to edit a 4K video, then consider something with a discrete GPU onboard.

In the same vein, games are possible but best treated as an occasional bonus rather than a primary use case. Older titles at 1080p with reduced settings run acceptably, while current AAA releases are better left to machines with discrete GPUs.

Battery life is one of the more compelling parts of the Swift Edge 14 AI's pitch. The 65Wh cell is substantial for a machine this light, and the efficiency of the Lunar Lake platform means it goes a long way. I should say that the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI lasted another 2.5 hours, but its performance numbers overall were lower. Nearly 18.6 hours is still a great result, and should get even the most dedicated worker through a whole day.

The 100W USB-C charger in the box is fast enough to recover a meaningful charge during a short break, recovering 37% in just 30 minutes from zero charge.

These days, I always test laptop displays with a DataColor Spyder X2 calibrator, but the OLED panel on this machine does not work well with the software's analysis. Where it revealed that the panel has a superb 100% of P3 Gamut, it couldn’t work out the contrast or Gamma levels at all.

The OLED panel's brightness peaks at levels that make indoor use comfortable under practically any overhead lighting condition, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling and cursor tracking smooth throughout. The Gorilla Matte Pro screen treatment does what it claims, keeping outdoor reflections manageable without noticeably impacting the OLED's characteristic contrast.

One detail that’s missing from my data chart is the weight of these machines, and that’s remarkably telling. The Acer is under 1kg, and the Dell is closer to 1.5kg.

Overall, on an Intel machine, the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI delivers top-drawer performance.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Final verdict

The Swift Edge 14 AI is the machine you reach for when the weight of a laptop has started to feel like part of the problem rather than part of the solution. At under a kilogram, it genuinely changes how you think about carrying it, without requiring any of the structural compromises that thinner, lighter machines sometimes hide.

The display is the obvious headline. A 3K OLED panel at 120Hz with Gorilla Matte Pro glass is not something you find at this price point very often, and it delivers on the promise in everyday use. The anti-reflective treatment is genuinely effective rather than token, which matters if any of your work takes place anywhere other than a controlled office environment.

Under the surface, the Lunar Lake architecture brings a memory subsystem that competes well on bandwidth against more expensive configurations, a chip that handles sustained workloads without melting its surroundings, and enough AI headroom to qualify for the full Copilot+ feature set. The Arc 140V GPU is not a gaming chip, but it is an effective creative tool, and the distinction is worth drawing.

The compromises are real and should not be minimised. The memory cannot be upgraded, ever. The webcam and speakers are both average for the asking price. There is no MicroSD slot. If any of those limitations are dealbreakers, they should be assessed honestly before purchase.

For buyers who want a genuinely portable machine with an exceptional display, solid real-world performance, and a port selection that does not require a dock, the Swift Edge 14 AI makes a strong case.

Should you buy a Acer Swift Edge 14 AI?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Acer Predator Orion 5000: one-minute review

Unmistakably from the Acer Predator line, the brand’s new Orion 5000 gaming PC is a superb machine to pick up in 2026 if you’re looking at the mid-range of what’s on offer. My review unit is the PO5-660 model, and features everything you’d expect from a pre-built, gaming machine from one of the big brands in the space. From specs to ports, and performance to style, it’s a great all-rounder.

The case of the Orion 5000 has a clear gamer lean to its aesthetic, but is otherwise basic and straightforward, with one easy-to-remove side panel, and a slightly protruding front that shows off some fancy RGB-infused fans and an Acer Predator logo that’s dominant - but this might not be to everyone's taste. That aside, there's a lot of basic, plain black metal on the outside and inside (visible through the glass side panel) across the case, but that’s nothing to complain about.

You’ve also got plenty of ports: more than enough to cater for even a pretty robust peripheral setup - though I'm personally disappointed there’s no audio optical port on the motherboard (some of us still use that port!). Built-in Wi-Fi 7 is a blessing, though, and Bluetooth 5.0 rounds out a solid connectivity package.

Look inside the case, and there's a collection of components that make the Orion 5000 perfectly positioned for mid-range, good-value gaming. No matter what game I threw at it, from Cyberpunk 2077 to Frostpunk 2, it chewed through it all - and at great output too. It steamrolls and is very consistent at 1440p resolutions, and can certainly give you a solid and robust 4K gaming experience with DLSS, too. Combine that with a smooth and very quiet level of performance for everyday and work tasks, and the overall performance of the PC is extremely hard to find fault with, considering the price.

You’ve also got a bit of room for expansion or customization, too, with the PC capable of supporting up to 128GB of RAM and up to 4TB of internal SSD storage. There’s even plenty of space for more hard drives in the case, should you need them.

There is some annoying Acer bloatware required, especially for controlling RGB of components, but overall, this is a gaming PC that’s so easy to recommend if you’re looking for a mid-range gaming PC in 2026 with some beefy but not outrageous specs.

Acer Predator Orion 5000: Price and Availability

• Starts at £2,199 in the UK
• RTX 5070 and 5080 builds available
• Not available in the US or Australia

Despite being an established range of PCs from a known brand, at the time of publishing this review, the Orion 5000 is not available in the US or Australia. Acer has confirmed to me that the PC is not available in the US or Australia. Which is a shame, as the brand has a presence in both regions, and this PC would serve as a great mid-range option for folks in both.

Nevertheless, in the UK, with a starting price of £2,199, the Acer Predator Orion 5000 offers robust value for money. You could try to keep things below the £2,000 mark by considering machines like the HP Victus 15L or Omen 16L, but these are cheaper for a key reason: they have lower specs and will not be as capable.

That UK price puts it in the same price territory as two other fine mid-range machines: the Lenovo Legion Tower 5 and the Alienware Aurora (ACT1250). As a result, it’s in a crowded bit of the market, but Acer’s pedigree shines here to make it an easy recommendation. What’s more, I am regularly seeing the model I have discounted in the UK, meaning the value proposition increases further still.

• Value: 4/5

Acer Predator Orion 5000: Specs

Acer Predator Orion 5000: Design

• Classic, Acer gamer-focused design
• Welcome mid-size mid-weight PC
• Only some opportunity for future expansion

The Orion 5000 is clearly, definitely, and unashamedly a gaming PC in its design. Which is perfectly fine, plus it’s not overly outrageous or cringeworthy in any of its aesthetic flourishes. As a result, it’ll sit nicely in any setup. The most gamer-y aesthetics are there if you look for them — the angular Predator logo won’t be for everyone, for example, especially if you have a setup where your PC will sit visibly on top of a desk. I attached my review unit to the PC holder on my Secretlab Magnus Pro gaming desk, however, so it’s not in my face enough for me to worry about.

In terms of cold, hard numbers, the Acer Predator Orion 5000 comes in at 19 x 8.6 x 19.84in / 485 x 219 x 504.8mm in dimensions, and 30.8lb / 14kg in weight. Not too large or heavy, and not too flimsy or small either.

Inside, there’s some room for expansion, and it supports up to 128GB of RAM, while there’s also another SSD slot, and two hard drive bays inside for good measure. Don’t expect endless customization options, but there’s room to work with.

You’ll also be well served when it comes to ports and I/Os with plenty of USB-A ports (four of which are high speed), though only a single USB-C port, but enough to ensure you’re well covered for peripherals. A slight blemish here is the lack of an optical port in the motherboard, which I personally still use.

• Design: 4/5

Acer Predator Orion 5000: Performance

• Comfortably runs AAA games at high settings
• Smooth and faultless for day-to-day or work use
• Runs smoothly and is quiet

The performance of the Acer Predator Orion 5000 is excellent, and it has not let me down on any occasion throughout my testing. It offers exactly the level of competent, consistent, and enjoyable performance that a mid-range machine should have.

During day-to-day and work use, every function and task felt like a breeze. Working with a silly amount of tabs open, as I always do, and getting on with spreadsheets, image work, manipulation, and other processes is a joy. 4K streaming over Wi-Fi? Not a problem either, and it juggles all my apps and programs with ease.

The PC is also excellent in its efficiency in deploying its power, from my experience using it. The fans work extremely well to keep things cool, and while some folks have noted that this line of PCs from Acer can get really loud with its fans during heavy workloads, honestly, I have just not experienced that once.

But the real meat and potatoes in the performance is how it presents games. And that is extremely well. It has given me faultless and hiccup-free performance and experiences from day one, with the right settings, of course.

In our standard testing at 1080p, the Orion 5000 cruised through all tests and provided some excellent levels of gaming performance that show its capabilities clearly. In real life, and playing my current PC games of choice at my current resolutions of choice, it’s been able to give me superb experiences in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Control, and brilliant gaming sessions on Frostpunk 2 and Crusader Kings 3. It even gave all my games a good go in 4K resolutions on my Acer Predator X32QFS monitor too.

Throw in an excellent level of everyday use performance — plentiful ports that are easy to access, reliable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 7 connections that never falter, for example —, and there really is a full package to be had here. It’s got a great mix of pedigree and quality, great — but not outrageous— specs that are balanced and good value, and enough utilities like ports and connectivity options that make it an easy gaming PC to recommend in this middle area of the market.

• Performance: 4.5/5

Should I buy the Acer Predator Orion 5000?

Buy the it if...

Don't buy the it if...

Also consider...

How I tested the Acer Predator Orion 5000

• Tested almost every day for nearly four months
• Used for personal gaming and tested rigorously with benchmarking tools and games
• Used with a variety of hardware, and also as an everyday work machine

I tested the Acer Predator Orion 5000 by using it almost every day for a period of nearly four months, for both gaming and everyday work use.

As well as putting the Orion 5000 through its paces on our go-to suite of games for benchmarking and to assess the machine’s capabilities, I personally have used it for a wide range of games myself in the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, Control, Crusader Kings III, Frostpunk 2, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III, and Titan Quest 2’s early access. Where needed, I used a SteelSeries Sensei 310 mouse, a SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 keyboard, or a DualSense Wireless controller.

I have used the PC as my everyday work machine too, and it has excelled in productivity tasks, meetings, calls, and all other work requirements. I tested and used the PC with both an Acer Predator X32QFS 4K gaming monitor and my productivity-focused LG DualUp 28MQ780-B monitor, as well as a SteelSeries Alias Pro mic, a Yamaha SR-C20A soundbar, and a SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite.

First reviewed November 2025-March 2026

Read more about how we test

This week, things were a little quieter as we await the reveals of Samsung Unpacked next week, but that's not to say it was boring.

YouTube went down, Apple teased its next product event, and Discord rivals crashed under the weight of new users fleeing to their platforms.

To catch up on this and more, scroll down for our recap of the week's seven biggest tech news stories.

7. The Discord exodus started

Discord has inadvertently spoiled its reputation over the last week, with an announcement that it will be introducing its strict age verification plans to its users globally, after the UK’s updated Online Safety Act. It unsurprisingly sparked outrage among Discord users, who fled to multiple alternative social platforms, so much so that it gave one in particular, Stoat, server capacity issues.

It comes after a plethora of users took to unsubscribing from the platform’s Nitro service, with many looking to force Discord to rethink its strategy. Unfortunately, Discord is yet to make any adjustments to its verification plans set for March, and has only issued an update to its initial press release, providing extra ‘clarification’ for those plans.

• Read the full story: So many Discord users are flocking to this alternative platform that it keeps crashing

6. We tested the weirdest e-bike so far

AI really is finding its way into everything, as this week we tried Acer’s ebii 20 — an e-bike with AI features aimed to enhance the rider’s experience.

There is something to be said for the security protection and AI pedal assistance, but the hub motor lacks the power most would expect from an e-bike in this price bracket.

It also has poor weight distribution, and made some annoying ticking and white noise sounds while we were testing it — likely because we didn’t outfit the bike with a SIM card — which led to frustrations that meant we could only award it three-and-a-half stars in our review.

• Read the full story: I tested Acer's very weird AI-powered e-bike for a whole month

5. Movie studios fought back against AI clones

Netflix and Paramount might be battling over which of them will buy Warner Bros., but for now, the trio, and some other Hollywood studios like Disney, are allies in pushing back on Seedance 2.0 — a new AI video generator from ByteDance (the TikTok owner).

That is because they all claim the platform is using their characters and IP without permission.

Several Seedance videos have gone viral recently, including one starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in a fight scene, with dialogue that sees Pitt accuse Cruise of killing Jeffrey Epstein — with the Screen Actors Guild of America (SAG-AFTRA) calling the video "unacceptable".

The Chinese company has since said it will take steps “to prevent the unauthorized use of intellectual property and likeness by users."

• Read the full story: Netflix, Disney, and Warner Bros. threaten legal action over Seedance 2.0 videos

4. We dissected the new Game of Thrones trailer

Thankfully, this week we didn’t need AI to get excited about one major entertainment property, as the trailer for House of the Dragon season 3 dropped.

With last season's finale suggesting that the Targaryen Civil War will finally take center stage this season, its first teaser, which you can watch above, is a thoroughly explosive one.

Unfortunately, the one thing we’re still missing is an official release date. It’s coming sometime in June, but precisely when is still a mystery for now.

• Read the full story: Our House of the Dragon season 3 trailer breakdown

3. Ring defended its leaked plan to “zero out crime”

Privacy has been a huge theme this week – and Discord (see above) wasn’t the only company that shot itself in the foot. Ring also had to defend itself from accusations that it’s planning to create an opt-out system that borders on mass surveillance.

A leaked email from Ring founder Jamie Siminoff poured gasoline on a controversy that was sparked by the company’s Super Bowl ad for its ‘Search Party’ feature. That feature is designed to help lost dogs, but the email said it could lead to a “future where we are able to zero out crime in neighborhoods”.

That understandably didn’t go down too well with privacy advocates – but Ring told us that it’s standing firm, despite the backlash.

• Read the full story: Ring says its leaked plan to ‘zero out crime in neighborhoods’ doesn’t mean mass surveillance

2. YouTube went down in a very rare outage

We’re getting pretty used to outages on X, which went down twice this week – but seeing YouTube go offline is a more panic-inducing rarity. Well, that unfortunate incident happened on Tuesday night when YouTube gave millions of people a taste of what life was like before 2006.

The 90-minute outage hit every part of YouTube – from the website and app to YouTube Music and TV – and was caused by an innocent “issue with our recommendations system”, according to Google. The experience made many realize how dependent they’ve become on the video-sharing site, which is so culturally significant it’s now an exhibit at London’s V&A museum.

• Read the full story: YouTube was down – here’s what caused the huge global outage

1. Apple announced a big March event

We might currently be gearing up for Samsung’s upcoming Unpacked next week, but not wanting to be left out of the conversation, Apple has teased a showcase for March 4 — and it could be a doozy.

As ever, the company is keeping tight-lipped about what product launches we might see at the event, with nothing specific mentioned in the press invite itself; however, there are suggestions from leaks and speculation that it’ll have a wide range of products to announce.

This could include new MacBook Pros, the iPhone 17e, a new iPad Air, and possibly a new Mac Studio. We’ll have to wait and see what gets announced, but if you’re an Apple fan looking to upgrade your tech, you might want to wait a week or so to see what Apple has up its sleeves.

• Read the full story: 5 things to expect at Apple's big event on March 4

• Acer and Asus have run into legal issues over patents in Germany
• This has led to laptops from these PC makers no longer being sold
• On top of that, German buyers can't access the local websites of these companies for their support needs with existing products

The situation with Acer and Asus laptops in Germany due to a legal issue over patents appears to have gotten worse, with a new and head-scratching development pertaining to getting support for PCs bought from these companies.

Tom's Hardware noticed that German tech site ComputerBase highlighted the problem whereby the German websites for both Acer and Asus are now unavailable – and what's more, it's tricky to even find a workaround to swerve those blocks in that country.

This follows a legal ruling in Germany in a case which has seen Nokia taking both PC makers to court over their use of HEVC (a widely used video-compression standard). There are issues with how much Acer and Asus have paid for the use of this tech in their products — which are covered as SEPs or standard-essential patents — with Nokia believing the two companies haven't contributed enough, and the German courts agreeing.

This affair has been colorfully described on Reddit as a "tire fire of monstrous proportions", and it has led to a block on sales of Acer and Asus laptops in Germany, and seemingly a knock-on effect in support. Even though Asus has previously stated: "All after-sales services in Germany remain fully operational, and existing customers will continue to receive uninterrupted support in full compliance with the current court order. Asus is evaluating and pursuing further legal action to reach a fair resolution as soon as possible."

After-sales support clearly isn't available from the Asus German site, and neither can German buyers of the firm's laptops access Asus sites in other regions. So, for example, if someone in Germany tries to access the Asus US site, they will still be blocked (redirected to the walled-off German local site, in fact).

Tom Guide's points out that using a VPN to set yourself as appearing to be from another country won't work to access the German Asus website either — it's blocked at a global level.

You can still access Asus sites in other countries via a VPN from Germany, of course, which is the main workaround a lot of folks will doubtless be using.

However, as ComputerBase notes, it's still possible to visit the Chinese Asus site from Germany via a Google search (without a VPN). Obviously, you'll need to use a translated version of the website, but at least you can access something. Other reports on Reddit indicate that the Macedonian Asus website may also work for VPN-less German people.

For Acer, ComputerBase highlights the Taiwanese Asus website as functional for those in Germany (with no VPN).

Finally, note that some German people do seem to be able to actually access the Asus website in the country — but they're seemingly in the minority. In most cases, it's blocked.

Analysis: a frustrating situation that needs to be swiftly resolved

This is an unpleasant situation for German consumers, of course. While given the legal dispute, it's understandable why sales — or rather, further shipments of Asus and Acer PCs, as this won't affect laptops on shelves already — might be blocked, but the same should not hold true for support.

It's bewildering, frankly, for people to have bought hardware that's still under guarantee — and support — to suddenly not be getting a service they've paid for already. German people shouldn't have to be scurrying off trying to find alternative obscure regional Asus websites that work for them, or be forced to download and use a free VPN (if they don't already have one), to get basic support.

If you run into a problem with your laptop that needs, say, a new driver download, or some kind of update, it's absolutely not okay to be unable to access that support just because of a legal dispute. One that has nothing to do with the transaction you entered into with a notebook maker.

Especially as Asus has said that existing buyers will receive "uninterrupted support" which clearly isn't happening. Is this a consequence of the legal team at Asus instituting some caution-first policy regarding the patent case? Is it an oversight? I don't know, and we can only guess — another possibility is that maybe the injunction's wording is particularly broad, as Tom's Hardware theorizes. Whatever the reason, it's a perplexing situation to put it mildly.

Yes, it's a Germany-only problem, and that country does have a stricter stance with complex patent issues like this. But it's still a move that should worry all consumers in terms of how the basic rights in terms of receiving support for an expensive tech purchase have seemingly been put aside — at least for the moment.

Hopefully we'll hear more from both laptop makers on the situation before long, because this needs resolving.

Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI: 30-second review

For many years, the Acer TravelMate series was seen as the affordable alternative to Lenovo or Dell offerings. But more recently, these machines have been getting to the punch on new platforms earlier than the competitors, and the new Acer Travelmate P6 14 AI is a prime example.

An ultralightweight 14-inch laptop built using the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 200 series processor that delivers excellent performance and power efficiency.

Typically, laptops are a balancing act between power and power consumption, but this system pulls off the almost unique trick of being quick while offering excellent longevity.

It also comes with a decent WQXGA+ display and biometric security for facial recognition and fingerprints. Those biometric features make it reasonably secure, and it even has a Kensington slot if you need to make sure nobody walks off with it.

But no design is perfect, and the limitations of the P6 AI models are that they aren’t easily upgraded, since the memory is soldered to the mainboard, and accessing the M.2 slot requires the removal of nine screws and the underside of the laptop.

Therefore, if this platform's memory and storage aren’t sufficient, this might not be the laptop for you. But for the majority of business users, this system has enough grunt and resources to make its owner productive, and with the addition of a docking station it potential is even greater. The standout features are its long battery life on a full charge and its ease of portability, but it’s strong across most key metrics.

This makes the TravelMate P6 14 AI a prime candidate for inclusion in our list of best business laptops, particularly for those focused on business travel.

Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $1655/£1600
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from Acer or online retailers

Currently, there is a single SKU of the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI (AKA TMP614-54-TCO) in the UK, and that is priced at £1,599.99 direct from Acer.

However, another SKU not offered at the Acer Store is a model using the Ultra 7 256V processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, which can be found on Amazon.co.uk for £1554. While that’s a saving over the first SKU, the improved processor doesn’t offset the loss of memory and storage, since the RAM can’t be added back later.

This exact SKU isn’t available to US customers, although I did find a version with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, but with a lower 1920 x 1200 resolution display for $1653.18 from Newegg.com.

Alternatives that use the same platform include the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, HP EliteBook X G1i 14 and HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1i.

Starting at $1809, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is more expensive for a similarly specified system, and in the UK or Europe, it's much more costly.

From HP, the EliteBook X G1i 14 starts at only $1,239, for a lower spec model, but with the same processor, memory and storage in the Wolf Pro Security Edition, it's an eye-watering $2,339. And, its brother, the EliteBook Ultra 14 G1i, is even more at $2,489.

While deals can be had, at the time of writing, the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI looks like an absolute bargain at this price.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI: Specs

Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI: Design

• Carbon Fibre construction
• High-quality display
• Decent port selection
• No upgrade access

A major advantage of having a laptop is that it’s portable, allowing you to take it to your place of work or travel with it as needed. The TravelMate P6 14 AI makes that a much more practical proposal, weighing less than a kilogram.

Acer achieved this with Carbon Fibre construction, delivering a reasonably robust yet extremely lightweight solution.

The maximum thickness is also only 16.65mm, and most of the side profile is closer to 12mm, making it exceptionally easy to pick up and handle.

The keyboard is a membrane variety with good spacing between the keys, even if the layout doesn’t fully utilise the width of the chassis. It does sport a basic cursor cluster, but no numeric pad, and as this is a CoPilot+ system, it has a key for summoning AI help.

The only aspect of the keyboard I didn’t like was that while it had most of the extended key functions via an Fn key, there was no PrtScn key option, making screen captures a little more awkward. The keyboard is backlit, though, which is useful for working at night.

Where this machine shines more, quite literally, is with the display. There are SKUs of this model which only come with a 1080p resolution panel, but the one I tested came with a truly impressive 14-inch WQXGA+ 2880 x 1800 IPS display. It was so good that I dug out my Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra calibrator and profiled the panel to get hard numbers on its brightness, contrast and gamut. I’ll talk about the results in the performance section, but for IPS technology, this is an exceptional panel, and definitely worth the upgrade if you have that choice.

The other points of note on this design are the ports, with two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports on the left, along with a USB-A and HDMI out. On the right are another USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, an audio jack, and a security slot. That port selection will work for most requirements, though the omission of a card reader might irk some people.

One of the Thunderbolt ports is required for charging, so if you use lots of USB-C/Thunderbolt hardware, you might want to consider a Thunderbolt dock to make that arrangement less restrictive.

Where this system is less accommodating is with upgrades, since there is no easy way to access the inside other than removing many screws.

I find it telling that in the manual for this system, there is zero information about opening it up or performing any upgrade, and for all errors that relate to storage, you are encouraged to use the official channels to get it fixed.

• Design: 4 / 5

Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI: Hardware

• Intel Core 7 Ultra 258V
• ARC 140V GPU
• Perfect for webcam use

As I’ve mentioned in other reviews, Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V is a slightly odd computer platform. Built for the AI PC era, with a dedicated NPU capable of delivering up to 47 TOPS of performance, it earns this system the CoPilot+ rating, if that’s of interest to you.

It utilises a hybrid architecture that doesn’t use hyperthreading, combining performance and efficiency cores, keeps thermals in check and extends battery life.

However, some reviewers have been critical of the direction that Intel took the Core Ultra series. Where it appeared that overall performance, especially multi-threaded performance, was sacrificed for power efficiency.

If we compare this system to a modern AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, this chip is slightly faster at single-thread performance, but gets utterly trashed when multi-threading. And when compared to the Ryzen AI 395 Max+, it is metaphorically nuked from orbit for raw performance.

The flipside of that coin is that where most Ryzen AI 7 laptop batteries offer around the 13-hour mark of continual use, those that use the Intel Core 7 Ultra 258V typically offer 18 hours or more.

Therefore, this chip is a good choice for those who need battery life, but possibly a less desirable one for those who need raw computing power. All laptops are compromises, and this one went with battery life as its priority.

It’s also worth saying that while the ARC 140V GPU is good enough for more office tasks, it lags behind where AMD is with its Radeon 8060S, and those who want more GPU power might need to wait for the Core Ultra 300 series to deliver something with more video punch.

What this platform does offer is a decent number of PCIe lanes, enabling it to support dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot for the storage, and another M.2 slot for the WiFi module.

If audio is all-important, this system does have DTS X spec stereo speakers, and it has multiple microphones with AI noise reduction, making it perfect for conferencing. One microphone is next to the 5.2MP webcam, and the other is on the front edge of the machine. And, if you want to use a professional podcast configuration, the audio jack can also be used as an external microphone input.

From a hardware perspective, aside from the possible limitations of the Intel Core Ultra 200 series, this is a solid specification that addresses the widest possible number of potential users. Easier upgrades and more Thunderbolt ports might have been nice, but not everyone wants or needs those things.

• Hardware: 4 / 5

Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI: Performance

My chosen perspective for these benchmarks is the HP EliteBook Ultra G1i, a machine that uses the identical Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor.

This could have been a remarkably tedious comparison, with all the numbers within expected variations. But what it shows well is that with mostly the same hardware, it is possible to adjust the defaults in a way that favours a particular operational aspect.

Looking holistically at the 3DMark, CineBench24 and GeekBench results, the numbers are close, with the EliteBook having a modest advantage in graphics power.

However, the headline story here is that by pulling back on CPU and GPU power a little, Acer has gained an impressive advantage in power consumption thanks to LPDDR5 memory, among other factors.

That’s translated into another 2 hours and 45 minutes of running time, or 15% more running. Admittedly, the Acer has 65Wh over the 64Wh battery of the HP, but that’s not enough to swing that time extension on battery. For those curious, it takes about 90 minutes to fully recharge from exhaustion using the provided USB-C PSU.

Acer might have chosen a better SSD, one that makes more of the PCIe 4.0 interface, but again, it might be that the Kingston OM8PGP4102Q is a frugal power solution.

Because I was impressed with the screen display, I also decided to run a full Datacolor analysis on the panel and see how it stood up.

It delivered 99% of sRGB, 77% of AdobeRGB, 79% of P3, 72% of NTSC, and 57% of Rec2020. Which, for IPS screen technology, is beyond respectable.

The only weakness of this design is that, like most laptops, the backlight is centrally positioned, and the middle is about 10% brighter than the edges.

Conversely, its 497 nits of brightness and 1520:1 contrast ratio put this at the top rung of screens I’ve seen on laptops that weren’t OLED.

Overall, if you are looking for a well-balanced design with exceptional battery life and a great screen, the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI is a significant box ticker.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI: Final verdict

Sometimes, computer platforms stand out for a single feature that outshines the rest, putting them head and shoulders above competitors.

That’s not the case here. What makes the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI great isn’t one big thing. It’s a host of much smaller features that come together, Voltron-style, to deliver a system that’s distinctively practical without being mundane.

In short, it does what most laptop owners genuinely want, and cares less about the things that they would generally consider nice-to-haves. And, it does it at a price that won’t break budgets, since it doesn’t implicitly require docking stations for home and work.

There are more powerful laptops around, mostly using AMD Ryzen AI platforms, if you need that level of computing power, but for the majority of business customers, the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI has the right blend of performance and practicality.

Should you buy a Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI?

Buy it if...

Don't Buy it if...

Acer Nitro 18 AI: Two-minute review

The Acer Nitro 18 AI is a large gaming laptop with a spec that looks capable of handling the latest and greatest AAA titles with assuredness. Like many in this sector, the Nitro 18 AI has a functional appearance, with little fanfare on display. The RGB backlighting of the keyboard is about the only lively element of its design.

Although it’s undeniably large, I was pleasantly surprised by how thin the Nitro 18 AI is. What’s more, the rear protrusion, common on many large gaming laptops, is quite restrained, while many of its sides are unsullied by further juts.

However, this isn’t a laptop that’s easy to carry around: the Nitro 18 AI weighs a considerable amount, which, coupled with its 18-inch diagonal, makes it a lot less portable than the best gaming laptop models.

I also found the build quality underwhelming. Materials don’t strike me as premium, while the chassis and the lid can be flexed a little too easily for my liking. What’s more, the touchpad in my review unit appeared to be faulty, sometimes failing to register clicks and taps, and other times the left click was stuck held down.

With the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU equipped in my review unit, the Nitro 18 AI took AAA gaming in its stride. Titles such as The Outer Worlds 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 ran with impressive frame rates, even with maximum settings applied.

What’s more, the Nitro 18 AI did an admirable job of keeping cool. Even its hottest parts could only be described as lukewarm. What’s more, fan noise, while noticeable, was much quieter than some others in this class, even when Performance mode was selected in NitroSense, Acer’s utility app. Naturally, Turbo mode increased fan volume considerably, but again, compared to its rivals, the Nitro 18 AI remained relatively hushed.

However, I did experience some issues with general performance. Apps and windows occasionally froze, and one of the 3DMark gaming benchmarks I ran crashed before it could complete.

Also, a Windows security update failed to install even after multiple attempts, which again is concerning. I hope these issues will be fixed with future updates from Acer or elsewhere but when you pay this much for a device, you don’t expect to run into such problems.

The WQXGA resolution of the display is suitably sharp for its 18-inch spread. Content is rendered with sufficient vibrancy, although it looks a little less vivid than what the best displays in this price range can manage. Reflections can make themselves known on occasion, too, although in the main I found the brightness levels sufficient to retain clarity.

Whether you’re gaming or typing, the keyboard on the Nitro 18 AI is a joy to use. The keys are comfortably spaced, while their snappiness and tactility make them feel satisfying. There’s also a good selection of shortcuts on the top row, although the omission of an Fn Lock shortcut is a baffling and inconvenient choice.

The price point of the Nitro 18 AI is commendable considering what’s on offer here, but I’m not sure it equates to the best value gaming laptop around, considering its drawbacks. There are plenty of alternatives with similar specs, and while they might be more expensive, they could be a more worthwhile proposition for you.

Acer Nitro 18 AI review: Price & Availability

• Starts from £1,899 (about $2,500 / AU$3,840)
• Available in the UK
• Reasonable price for the spec

The Acer Nitro 18 AI starts from £1,899 and is available in the UK and the EMEA region. US availability is yet to be announced.

Various configurations are possible, but they’re confined to a fairly narrow spectrum. Most aspects are binary choices: you can have a Ryzen 7 or 9 CPU, an RTX 5070 or 5070 Ti GPU, 16GB or 32GB of RAM, and 1TB or 2TB of storage.

Oddly, the pricing appears to be much the same across all models, since their various specs tend to even out: for instance, the model with an RTX 5070 Ti and 16GB costs the same as the model with an RTX 5070 but 32GB of RAM.

Regardless, the cost of the Nitro 18 AI is quite reasonable compared to its rivals. Other gaming laptops with RTX 5070s can be significantly more expensive. An Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with similar specs, including the same RTX 5070 Ti, costs considerably more, although it’s arguably one of the best thin and lightweight gaming laptops around right now. Acer’s other large gaming laptop, the Predator Helios 18 AI, is also dearer, although I found this to be a superior machine in most areas when I tested it.

• Value: 3.5 / 5

Acer Nitro 18 AI review: Specs

Acer Nitro 18 AI review: Design

• Surprisingly thin
• Quite heavy, though
• Poor quality in places

True to many gaming laptops, the Nitro 18 AI adopts a rather utilitarian aesthetic, with its all-black finish doing little to remedy this fact. However, the RGB backlighting of the keyboard does add some levity to proceedings.

Unsurprisingly, such a large machine eats up a lot of desk space, but it's not as bulky as you might expect. In fact, the Nitro 18 AI is relatively thin for a laptop of such proportions, and the rear bulge, common on many high-end gaming laptops, is pleasingly truncated.

Aside from this, there are no other protrusions that spoil the flat planes of any side, either. Even the two long rubber bars underneath that constitute the ‘feet’ are surprisingly shallow compared to others in this class.

It is, however, about as heavy as you might expect. This really isn’t a laptop I’d be keen to ferry around in my backpack all day. Yet despite its weight, the Nitro 18 AI doesn't feel as solid as you might hope. The base and lid have a fair amount of flex to them, while the display hinge fails to prevent small amounts of wobble.

What’s more, the materials used all over the Nitro 18 AI don’t feel particularly premium. The button in the top-left for switching fan modes is a particular lowlight, as it feels decidedly cheap and awkward to press.

Thankfully, the keyboard feels more upmarket. There are a good number of Fn and other shortcuts available as well, although I wished there was one for the Fn lock, as is common on many laptop keyboards. For reasons beyond me, you have to go into the BIOS to toggle this function, which means restarting the Nitro 18 AI every time you want to do so.

Given the sheer amount of real estate, you would expect there to be plenty of ports on the Nitro 18 AI and so there is. There are three USB-A ports and two USB-C ports (which support external display connections), as well as HDMI, RJ-45, headset, and microSD ports.

On the whole, the placement of all these interfaces is sensible. The three USB-A ports are spread across both sides, while the two USB-C ports, HDMI and power adapter connections can all be found on the rear. The headset jack is nice and close to the user as well.

However, I was a little dismayed by the close proximity of the two right-side USB-A ports, which could cause issues if you have particularly bulky peripheral connections. Also, it’s a small shame the card reader only accepts the microSD format – although many gaming laptops don’t get any form of card reader.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Acer Nitro 18 AI review: Performance

• Impressive AAA performance
• Relatively cool and quiet
• General performance issues

My Nitro 18 AI review unit was one of the top-spec models, equipped with an RTX 5070 Ti. As expected, it was composed when dealing with the demands of modern AAA titles.

Frame rates hovered around the high 70s and low 80s when I played The Outer Worlds 2 at its highest preset, with Hardware Ray Tracing, DLSS Frame Generation, and DLSS Quality upscaling enabled. Changing this latter setting to Balanced mode made little difference.

When playing Cyberpunk 2077 at the highest Ray Tracing: Ultra preset with Balanced DLSS upscaling, I saw around 30fps on average, with occasional rises to the low 40s. Turning on Frame Generation boosted these figures to between the high 50s and low 70s.

Heat was kept impressively low throughout, with the keyboard and most of the base remaining relatively cool. What’s more, fan noise is impressively suppressed, even when NitroSense’s Performance mode is selected.

It was just about quiet enough to hear audio clearly through speakers, which certainly isn’t something I can say about many gaming laptops. The volume of the fans inevitably soars when Turbo mode is selected, but even here, the Nitro 18 AI is impressively muted compared to the competition.

The display of the Nitro 18 AI has a 2560 x 1600 resolution, which offers plenty of sharpness on the 18-inch space. Colors are reproduced accurately enough, although they lack the same level of vibrancy seen on some of the best gaming monitors. Reflections can also show on occasion, but for the most part I found they could be outshone by the maximum brightness setting.

I do have some concerns about the general performance of the Nitro 18 AI, though. I encountered some freezing of everyday apps, such as Windows Explorer and the Chrome browser. Also, 3DMark’s Fire Strike gaming benchmark crashed midway when I ran it, something I haven’t experienced before when testing a gaming laptop. What’s more, a Windows 11 security update repeatedly failed to install, even after multiple attempts and restarts.

It’s possible the above issues are OS related and can be rectified with future Windows or BIOS updates. But the fact remains that I experienced them, and they’re troubling for a powerful and expensive gaming laptop such as Nitro 18 AI.

Less easy to rectify, though, is the dire touchpad. Clicks frequently registered of their own accord, and worse still would remain held down. Conversely, there were also plenty of times when clicks and taps failed to register at all. All this led me to believe that my particular touchpad was faulty, and further testament to the lackluster build quality of the Nitro 18 AI.

Thankfully, the keyboard fared much better. I found the layout comfortable thanks to the spacing of the keys, and their sufficient travel and dampening made them satisfying to use. However, while they don’t quite match the best gaming keyboard units for tactility, they’re just as snappy, thanks in part to their light actuation.

• Performance: 3.5 / 5

Acer Nitro 18 AI review: Battery Life

• Reasonable longevity
• Quick to charge

The Nitro 18 AI has a large 90Wh battery inside, which provides the Nitro 18 AI with a reasonable amount of stamina, relatively speaking. When I ran a movie on a continuous loop, it lasted five hours, which beats the three achieved by Acer’s other 18-inch model, the Predator Helios 18 AI – even though this had a larger 99Wh battery.

However, the Nitro 18 AI lags behind the Medion Erazer Beast 18, which lasted six hours. It is, however, quick to charge, taking just two hours to fully replenish.

• Battery Life: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Nitro 18 AI?

Buy the Acer Nitro 18 AI if...

Don't buy it if...

Acer Nitro 18 AI review: Also Consider

How I tested the Acer Nitro 18 AI

• Tested for several days
• Used for gaming and other tasks
• Plenty of gaming laptop experience

I tested the Acer Nitro 18 AI for several days, during which time I used it for gaming and general entertainment.

I played various AAA titles, including The Outer Worlds 2 and Cyberpunk 2077. Additionally, I ran our series of benchmark tests, designed to assess the overall performance of gaming machines.

I've reviewed many gaming laptops before, varying in their specs, form factors, and price points. I've been PC gaming in general for over a decade and have used many systems and components in that time, too.

• First reviewed: February 2025
• Read more about how we test

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Two-minute review

The Acer Aspire 16 AI is a large laptop promising powerful AI features in an elegant body. It certainly looks the part, thanks to the premium materials and finish, as well as the impressively thin chassis. It’s also surprisingly light for a laptop of this size, which further improves its portability.

However, the price paid for this litheness is the somewhat flimsy build quality, falling below the standards of the best laptop constructions. There’s a fair amount of flex to the chassis, while the lid hinge doesn’t offer the greatest stability – although it at least managed to stay planted while I typed.

There are a good number of ports on the Aspire 16 AI, including two USB-C and two USB-A ports. However, the former are located closest to you, a choice I usually lament since it means your power adapter has to cross over with any cable you have plugged in to the USB-A port. It’s also a shame that the card reader is only fit for microSDs.

For day-to-day use, the Aspire 16 AI is very capable. It can handle light productivity and 4K streaming without missing a beat. However, the included AI features are disappointing: they’re either too basic in their functionality or fail to work altogether.

Gaming also proved to be a lackluster experience. Its shared memory GPU can just about handle AAA titles on the lowest settings, and even then you won’t exactly be treated to the smoothest frame rates.

Under these kinds of intensive workloads, the Aspire 16 AI can generate a fair amount of heat, but thankfully it’s concentrated underneath, towards the back. Coupled with the hushed fans, the Aspire 16 AI remains comfortable to use in such scenarios.

The display in my review unit, with its OLED technology and 2048 x 1280 resolution, provided a crystal-clear image, rendering colors vividly and delivering high brightness levels. This latter aspect is especially useful for combating reflections, which can be quite prominent.

Thanks to the spacing and satisfying feel of its keys, the keyboard on the Aspire 16 AI is easy to use. However, the number pad keys are too small for my liking, and I wished there was a right Control key, as I find this useful for productivity purposes.

The touchpad is smooth and large, which helps with navigation, but it can get in the way when typing. Also, the one in my review unit felt loose and rattled when clicking, making it awkward to use and suggests signs of poor quality control.

Battery life is somewhat disappointing, and isn’t a patch on that of the smaller 14 AI. In fact, many of its key rivals can outlast it. I only managed to get roughly nine hours from it when playing a movie on a continuous loop.

On the face of it, the Aspire 16 AI might look like good value, but it doesn’t deliver enough to justify its cost. Its slender form and mostly great display aren’t enough to make up for its drawbacks, while other laptops at this price point offer more complete packages.

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Price & Availability

• $649.99 / £799.99 / AU$1,499
• Available now in various configurations
• Better value rivals exist

The Aspire 16 AI starts from $649.99 / £799.99 / AU$1,499 and is available now. It can be configured with various processors, including Intel and Qualcomm (ARM) chips, with a couple of storage and RAM options to choose from.

Unfortunately, there are better value laptops out there with more power and performance, better suited to heavier workloads. The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is one such example. Starting prices aren’t as low, but they’re similar to the higher spec models of the Aspire 16 AI. They also have excellent build quality, making them a better value proposition all things considered.

If you want to stick with Windows, the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is another alternative. Again, it’s similarly priced to the higher-spec variants of the Aspire 16 AI, but offers much better gaming performance, chiefly thanks to its AMD Radeon RX 7600S GPU. It’s no surprise we think it’s one of the best cheap gaming laptops around right now.

• Value: 3 / 5

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Specs

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Design

• Brilliantly thin and light
• Not the sturdiest
• Touchpad issues

Thanks to its minimal design, the Aspire 16 AI has sleek looks. The low-shine metallic lid also adds to its elegance, befitting its premium price tag.

It’s pleasingly light and slender, too, making it more portable than you might expect for a 16-inch laptop. The bezel for the display is minuscule as well, which helps to maximize its full potential.

There’s a satisfying click when you close the lid on the Aspire 16 AI, something I haven’t encountered on any other laptop before. The hinge also allows for the screen to recline all the back by 180 degrees, something I’m always happy to see.

However, lid stability isn’t the best, as it’s prone to wobbling, although, thankfully, it remains stable while typing on the keyboard. The overall construction of the Aspire 16 AI isn’t especially impressive, either, with the chassis having a fair amount of flex.

Worse still, the touchpad in my review unit had a horrible rattle, as if some part was loose at the bottom section. It’s possible this issue is confined to my review unit alone – perhaps it had been passed around several journalists before it got to me – but the issue still doesn’t speak highly of its build quality or Acer's quality control.

There’s a varied selection of ports on the Aspire 16 AI, spread evenly across both sides. On the left are two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and an HDMI port. However, I found it inconvenient that the USB-C ports are placed nearest to you, since one has to be used for the power adapter; I much prefer the thick cable for this to trail from the back of the laptop, rather than from the middle, as it does with the Aspire 16 AI.

On the right you’ll find another USB-A port, followed by a combo audio jack and a microSD card reader. It’s a shame the latter can’t accommodate standard SD card sizes, but this is a small grievance.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Performance

• Good productivity and streaming performance
• Poor for gaming
• Useless AI features

The Aspire 16 AI offers great general performance. It takes light productivity in its stride, from word processing to spreadsheet creation, and multiple browser tabs didn’t cause a problem for me, thanks to the 16GB of RAM in my review unit. Streaming 4K content is well within its grasp, too. I experienced little buffering or slow down, providing a seamless viewing experience in the main.

However, despite what Acer claims, the gaming performance of the Aspire 16 AI is quite poor. With its shared memory, the AMD Radeon GPU didn’t handle AAA titles very well. When I played Cyberpunk 2077 with the default Ray Tracing: Low preset and resolution scaling set to Performance mode, I was getting 20fps on average – not what you’d call playable.

The best I could achieve with the game was about 38fps, but that was at the lowest possible graphics preset and the resolution dropped to 1080p. This at least made it playable, but if you’re expecting to get even moderately close to the performance of the best gaming laptops, you’ll be sorely disappointed.

During my playtime, the Aspire 16 AI generated a fair amount of heat. Fortunately, this was heavily concentrated underneath and at the back, thus steering clear of any parts you might actually touch. Fan noise is also pleasantly subdued.

As when I tested the 14 AI, the AI features the Aspire 16 AI sports are disappointing. The centerpiece appears to be Acer LiveSense, a photo editing and webcam suite with very basic functionality, not to mention a poor UI and frequent glitches.

For more AI features, you’ll have to download Acer Intelligence Space, the brand’s hub. Contrary to when I tested the 14 AI, I managed to install it successfully. However, it didn’t get off to an auspicious start, as a dialog box warned me that I had insufficient memory resources, explaining that it needed 6.5GB free and a total of at least 16GB to execute smoothly.

I proceeded anyway and was greeted with a clear user interface that revealed the various AI apps I could install. However, a large portion of them seem to be incompatible with the Aspire 16 AI, and those that are were once more very limited in their functionality.

On a more positive note, the 2K OLED display in my review unit was as clear and as vibrant as you might expect. The very shiny coating can cause prominent reflections, but these can be mitigated by the screen’s brightness values (especially if you disable the ‘change brightness based on content’ setting).

The keyboard feels premium, too, thanks to the subtle texture and tight fit of the keys themselves. They’re also light, tactile, and reasonably spaced, although perhaps not to the extent of other laptop keyboards. I didn’t find this aspect to be a problem when typing, but I did while gaming, as it made adopting the WASD more uncomfortable for me.

At least the number pad doesn’t eat into the layout space. However, contrary to many full-sized laptop keyboards I’ve experienced, it’s the number pad itself that feels cramped, with its keys being too narrow to be used easily. Another small but notable gripe I have with the keyboard is the absence of a right Control key, which can be frustrating when performing productivity tasks.

The touchpad performs well enough, with its large and smooth surface making for easy navigation. However, thanks to the aforementioned rattle in its bottom portion, clicks felt unpleasant. It can also get in the way while typing: on occasion, the palm of my thumbs would activate the cursor, although thankfully not clicks or taps.

• Performance: 3.5 / 5

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Battery Life

• Average battery life
• 14 AI battery life much better
• Other rivals are better, too

The battery life of the Aspire 16 AI isn’t particularly impressive. It lasted just over nine hours in our movie playback test, which is a middling result. This is a far cry from the time achieved by the 14 AI, which lasted over twice as long, making the Aspire 16 AI even more disappointing by comparison.

What’s more, plenty of its rivals can beat this score, including the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch, which managed over 17 hours, and the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition, which lasted 11 hours.

• Battery Life: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Aspire 16 AI?

Buy the Acer Aspire 16 AI if...

Don't buy it if...

Acer Aspire 16 AI review: Also Consider

How I tested the Acer Aspire 16 AI

• Tested for several days
• Used for various tasks
• Plentiful laptop reviewing experience

I tested the Aspire 16 AI for several days, during which time I used it for various tasks, from productivity and browsing to streaming and gaming.

I also ran our series of benchmark tests to assess its all-round performance more concretely, and played a movie on a continuous loop while unplugged to see how long its battery lasted.

I have been using laptops for decades, and have reviewed a large and varied selection of them too, ranging in their form factors, price points, and intended purposes.

• First reviewed: January 2026
• Read more about how we test

• Acer’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 AI workstation is aimed at creators and developers
• Veriton RA100 specs closely match those of rival Ryzen AI Max+ systems
• Pricing will likely determine Acer RA100 success in an increasingly crowded market

At CES 2026, Acer introduced several new models to its Veriton desktop range, covering mini PCs, towers, and all in one systems aimed at business and advanced users.

The lineup includes the Veriton 2000 Large Tower and refreshed Veriton All In One desktop series, both powered by Intel Core Ultra processors and designed for office environments and SMBs.

Acer also announced the Veriton RA100, a compact Windows 11 Copilot+ PC for AI workloads, built on the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor with Radeon 8060S graphics, a 50 TOPS NPU, and up to 60 TFLOPS of GPU compute.

Ryzen AI Max+ 395 power

Memory support reaches up to 128GB of four channel LPDDR5X, with storage configurations going up to 4TB via an M.2 2280 SSD.

That combination targets workloads such as local AI models, generative applications, 3D design, and content creation without depending on cloud services.

The system sits in a smart, compact chassis measuring 203mm x 192mm x 70mm, keeping it firmly in mini PC territory despite the workstation label.

Connectivity includes Wi Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and 2.5G Ethernet, alongside USB 4 Gen3 Type C ports, USB 3.2 Gen2 Type A, USB 2.0, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, audio jacks, and a front card reader.

Selectable power modes allow users to tune performance, thermals, and noise for office tasks, multitasking, or heavier AI workloads.

RA100’s specification closely mirrors the growing number of Ryzen AI Max+ 395 powered mini PCs already on the market.

These systems, from brands such as HP, GMKtec, Corsair, Beelink, Bosgame, and Framework, all use the same processor, offering near identical core hardware.

Differences tend to come down to chassis design, port layouts, cooling approaches, and brand positioning, rather than compute capability.

That essentially leaves pricing and system tuning as the main points of difference.

The Veriton RA100 looks great, and will doubtless benefit from Acer's brand recognition, but unless it's keenly priced against these rivals, it risks blending into an already crowded field of similar mini PCs.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we’ll do our best to answer it.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

• The era of true 16:9 6K monitors is expanding beyond single flagship models
• Acer adds a creator-focused 6K screen with broad connectivity but skips KVM support
• Ultrawide 21:9 panels still aren’t the same as full 20-megapixel 6K displays

High-resolution desktop displays are starting to move beyond 5K, with more manufacturers committing to panels that deliver a full 20 million pixels.

At CES 2026, Acer introduced the ProDesigner PE320QX, a 31.5-inch monitor with a native 6016x3384 resolution and a true 16:9 aspect ratio.

That detail matters, because many displays marketed as 6K spread fewer pixels across ultrawide 21:9 panels instead.

Generous port selection but no KVM

Those ultrawide business monitors often top out around 5120x2160 or similar. They look wide and sharp, but they don’t hit the full pixel count or workspace creators expect from a proper 6K display.

The PE320QX does, matching the resolution used by Apple’s Pro Display XDR. It runs at 60Hz and supports HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C without limiting resolution to a single input.

Color coverage is aimed squarely at creative work. The panel reaches 99% Adobe RGB and 98% DCI-P3, using an 8-bit plus FRC approach to display 1.07 billion colors.

Brightness is rated at 400 nits normally, rising to 600 nits in HDR mode. VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification is included, although it isn’t a mini LED or OLED panel.

Acer quotes a 4ms gray-to-gray response time and a dynamic contrast figure that relies on backlight control. Viewing angles are the usual 178 degrees in both directions.

Connectivity includes HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, two USB4 ports with up to 100W power delivery on the input side, plus USB-A and USB-C for peripherals.

There’s also a built-in webcam and speakers, but no KVM switch. That will be a disappointment for users juggling multiple systems.

The PE320QX joins a small but growing group of true 6K monitors, including Dell's UltraSharp, LG's 6K UltraFine with Thunderbolt 5, Asus' ProArt 6K, and Clarity's 6K Touch touchscreen model.

There's no word on pricing or availability for the PE320QX, but the Asus ProArt Display PA32QCV, released last year, sells for $1300, so expect to pay north of that for the new model.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we’ll do our best to answer it.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

Acer announced a rather large selection of new laptops, displays, and accessories at CES 2026. But there are a few you’ll want to check out either virtually or in-person in Vegas.

Since there were no major updates on the desktop ecosystem, Acer’s laptops had a real chance to stand out alongside the company’s new gaming monitors.

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI

The Acer Swift Edge 14 AI is a smaller version of last year’s new Swift Edge 16, which is just as thin and durable as the 2025 version due to its stainless steel and magnesium alloy chassis. But the new Swift Edge 14 AI weighs under 1kg and is just 13.99mm thick, making it one of the thinnest and lightest laptops on the market.

When I was able to hold the Swift Edge 14 AI in my hands, I was paranoid about breaking the laptop, given just how thin and light the laptop is. However, as hard as it is to believe, both Swift Edge laptops meet the MIL-STD-810H durability standards, so it's hardly fragile.

Acer has upgraded the Swift Edge 14 AI and Swift Edge 16 AI for 2026 with Intel Core Ultra 9 388H chipsets and up to 32GB of memory and 1TB of SSD storage, along with 3K, 120Hz OLED touchscreen displays. But the real selling point is the multi-control touchpad for easier media, conferencing, and presentation tools.

Predator Helios Neo 16S AI

The Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is an ultra-slim gaming laptop with an 3K OLED display, Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and discrete Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics. Measuring just 18.9mm thick, it's one of the thinnest gaming laptops on the market.

While many gamers prefer chunkier, high-performance gaming laptops, I’m personally more inclined to slim, portable gaming laptops since I have a desktop or two for use at home. The sheer portability factor of Acer’s Triton 14 AI made it one of my favorite laptops from 2025 for good reason, and the Helios Neo 16S AI is a similarly powerful, portable laptop. However it’s got a more powerful CPU and a larger screen for more immersive gaming.

Predator X34 F3 monitor

Acer didn’t slouch on monitors either, with two new gaming displays that come with remotes to change settings without fiddling with keys on the back or underside of your monitor, so you’ll have no trouble orienting them in any direction or stacking them together.

While Acer did have two new Predator monitors, the Predator X34 F3 features a stunning QD-OLED panel that makes it shine compared to the XB27U F6. The X34 also hits a max refresh rate of 360Hz with a latency of 0.03ms which is impressive for a 34-inch curved QD-OLED display.

• Acer has revealed a range of new products at CEs 2026
• The main announcement is a fresh line of laptops featuring the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors
• Other reveals included an esports monitor and a Predator-branded e-scooter

The ball is rolling on CES 2026, and that means lots of new hardware reveals. It's an exciting time of year for us here at TechRadar, and it looks like Acer hasn't disappointed, with a range of new products coming in hot.

Leading the pack are several new laptops equipped with Intel's new 3rd-gen Core Ultra CPUs, including the Aspire AI, Swift AI, Swift Edge AI, Swift Go AI, and several new gaming laptops in the Predator and Nitro ranges. Yes, those have 'AI' tacked onto the end of the product name for no good reason, too.

I'm only gently chiding Acer for this, though, as it's become common practice across multiple laptop brands in recent years to include 'AI' in the name. In my inquiries, nobody has been particularly forthcoming about why they're doing this, but it's likely a combination of desire to demonstrate these new laptops' AI capabilities (thanks to the new Intel Core Ultra 300 chips powering them, which boast superior AI performance compared to the previous 200 generation) and pressure from Microsoft to champion Copilot, its AI assistant that now comes baked into Windows 11.

Overall, though? I have to say that these new laptops look good. The Aspire and Swift models come in both 14- and 16-inch display sizes, with the super-premium Swift Edge 14 AI weighing in at less than 1kg with a thickness of 13.95mm, making it one of the thinnest and lightest laptops in its performance class. The new Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is also impressively thin and light for a gaming laptop, packing an RTX 5070 GPU but with a chassis less than 19mm thick.

New visuals

The reveals didn't stop there, though. New monitors are up next: we saw two gaming-focused models under the Predator brand, one curved and one esports-oriented (with a ludicrous '1000 Hz dynamic mode' for maximizing your framerate), along with another gaming monitor from the Nitro family, which offers a 27-inch 5K panel. Meanwhile, digital creatives were served by the new ProDesigner PE320QX, which delivers a stunning 6K resolution and 1.07 billion color support.

Elsewhere in the display space, we saw a new projector, the Vero HL1820. Side note: did you know Acer makes home cinema projectors? I did, but several of my coworkers didn't! As part of the eco-friendly Vero product line, it's constructed with a chassis composed of 50% post-consumer-recycled materials.

There was also a host of connectivity products, primarily some new routers, including the Predator Connect X7S 5G CPE: a wireless router that uses 5G and 4G connectivity to deliver lightning-fast Wi-Fi 7 connectivity for gaming and streaming wherever you may go. Peripherals were included too, with the new Predator Cestus 530 gaming mouse and Galea 570 headset.

Get scootin'

The most unusual reveal, however, was the Predator ES Storm Pro E-scooter. Described as a 'performance-focused e-scooter designed for varied urban conditions', it features a foldable aluminum frame, ten-inch tubeless tires, and of course, RGB lighting. It's a Predator-branded product, after all.

Now, this isn't the first electric scooter Acer has produced; the ES series has been kicking around for a little while now, so it's not surprising to see Acer wheel out a new one at an event like CES. What is surprising is that this model proudly bears the Predator branding. I don't know if there's a lot of crossover between the PC gaming and e-scooter markets, but clearly Acer thinks so.

With IPX5 water resistance and a riding range of approximately 60km on a single charge thanks to regenerative braking technology, it certainly looks pretty sweet. But I don't really know a damn thing about e-scooters, so that's just about all the analysis I can offer on this particular product reveal!

Laptop deals are on fire this Black Friday, and the same applies to the Acer Aspire 16 AI laptop on Amazon for $449.99 (was $699.99), saving a significant $250 with a 36% discount, in a deal that epitomises affordability.

Oh, UK folks, you're not left out. The Acer Aspire 16 AI laptop is on Amazon for £699.99 (was £899.99), with a £200 price drop making it far more approachable.

Shop Amazon's full Black Friday sale

With Snapdragon X and Intel Core Ultra 5 processors, expect high-speed performance for daily tasks and elevated productivity. Both models feature lengthy battery lives to get you through hours of work without relying on recharging, so don't miss them!

Not in the US or UK? Scroll down to see today's best deals in your region!

Today's best Acer Aspire 16 AI laptop Black Friday deals in the US

Today's best Acer Aspire 16 AI laptop Black Friday deals in the UK

Again, affordability is key, and these Acer Aspire 16 AI highlight that very well. Both models are more than capable of ensuring you have enough power and battery to get through your important tasks, whether that's content creation, multitasking, or simply working from home.

The Intel Core Ultra 5 226V and Snapdragon X processor are key, as both are great at maintaining high speeds, paired with 16GB of RAM.

Black Friday is almost over, so now is the perfect time to make a move for either of these models!

Shop more of today's best US Black Friday sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
• Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

Shop more of today's best Black Friday sales

• Amazon: up to 66% off tech & essentials
• AO: up to £500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense
• Argos: up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys
• Boots: save on 1,000s of beauty products
• Currys: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo
• Dell: laptops from £279
• Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
• EE: Switch 2 bundles from £20/month
• John Lewis: up to 50% off tech & fashion
• Lego: sets & accessories from £2.99
• Samsung: deals on appliances & phones
• Very: up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion

Setting out for high school, college, or university, and looking for the best student laptop? It's not as simple as picking from the best laptops out there; you're going to need to consider what you need, rather than simply what makes a great laptop.

You'll want a laptop with good battery life, for starters. Unlike office or remote workers, students will often have to spend a full day in packed classrooms, potentially without easy access to a power outlet. So a device that can make it through the school day is a must – but preferably without sacrificing the necessary performance for the tasks you need it for, and without costing an outrageous sum.

Whatever level of education you're at, a new laptop is often one of the single biggest one-off expenses for students. To ensure you can buy with confidence, I've drawn on TechRadar's collective experience reviewing more than 1,300 laptops since our inception 17 years ago to help you find the perfect student laptop to suit your needs and budget.

The good news is that Apple has finally done the impossible and released a budget laptop, the new MacBook Neo, which is arguably the single best laptop on the market right from a pure price-to-performance perspective. It immediately rocketed to the top spot in the list below, as well as our ranking of the best budget laptops, so if you're an Apple fan, this is the definitive pick. Apple also has a student discount program, though if you're looking for a Windows laptop or Chromebook, many other retailers offer student discounts and back-to-school sales.

Every laptop featured in the list below has gone through our rigorous product testing and review process to ensure it deserves a place on our top laptop lists. This includes battery life testing, synthetic benchmarking, and real-world user experience – as well as gaming, since many students may want a laptop that can double up as a gaming device. When I decide to include a laptop in this list, it's because I'm 100% confident that it's a strong choice for any student looking for a new laptop.

If you don't need anything that flashy and would rather save some cash instead, look to the Acer Chromebook Plus 514, which is perfect for lighter coursework. Whichever laptop you choose, know that you're buying with confidence with TechRadar's expertise at your back.

The best student laptop overall

The MacBook Neo stands out as our top overall pick for students, delivering a tested 13.5 hours of battery life in our video rundown and launching at a student-friendly $599 / £599 / AU$899 – and you can save an extra $100 (or equivalent for your region) by utilizing Apple's own student discount function, making it even better value for money.

In daily use, the Neo’s A18 Pro chip handled note-taking, research, and multitasking without a hitch. We found it equally responsive for everyday tasks; the fact that you get the complete macOS experience, not a stripped-down OS, means you’re free to run all the software your courses demand. TechRadar's own Matt Hanson noted in his review that swapping between a half-dozen browser tabs, Zoom, and Word never slowed the Neo down, which was a big reassurance during finals week.

Compared to mainstream alternatives like Chromebooks or the Surface Laptop Go, the MacBook Neo offers a more polished build and smoother performance. While some Chromebooks are lighter, they can feel flimsy and are limited by ChromeOS. The Neo’s full macOS compatibility and reliable hardware make it a smarter long-term choice, especially if you want something that won’t hold you back as your workload ramps up.

There are trade-offs. The Neo isn’t aimed at gamers or those needing a premium display and advanced creative features, so serious gaming and heavy creative workloads are better served elsewhere. For most students, though, the balance of price, performance, and OS flexibility makes it a strong pick for campus life.

Read our full Apple MacBook Neo review.

The best laptop for students on a budget

Chromebooks can be an excellent choice for students working with a tight budget, as they're designed with affordable efficiency in mind. ChromeOS is a less resource-intensive operating system than Windows or macOS, meaning that a Chromebook can run smoothly even with a less powerful (and therefore cheaper) processor.

Still, the Intel Core 100U CPU at the core of the latest Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is leaps and bounds ahead of the feeble chips we've seen powering budget Chromebooks of yore. No, it's not going to run the latest triple-A games or handle complex scientific modeling software, but for straightforward tasks like writing assignments or researching online, our reviewer found it ran smoothly and efficiently, with enough battery life to see you through a full day of classes.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review

The best overall Chromebook for students

If you're already a ChromeOS lover or are looking to make the leap to Google's cloud-focused operating system, the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is a solid choice. With strong productivity performance and a battery that gave us more than 11 hours of continuous use in our tests, this feels like a laptop for serious students.

Reviewing this laptop, our Reviews Writer Lewis Maddison praised its premium-feeling build quality - something of a rarity for a Chromebook, which can often feel a little cheap in the hands - along with its surprisingly good display and quiet cooling fans. He described using the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch to navigate ChromeOS as "a largely seamless experience" - although he did note that the keyboard can feel a little cramped at times, due to the inclusion of a numpad.

Of course, since it's a Chromebook, it's not going to be the right choice for students studying creative disciplines like graphic design or videography. If you're taking a course that doesn't require the use of intensive software, however - like Business Studies or Creative Writing - this laptop can definitely go the distance.

Read our full HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review

The best lightweight student laptop

In his review, my American counterpart John Loeffler described the new Surface Laptop 13-inch as "the Purple MacBook I've been begging for" - and trust me, he's been begging for that for quite a while now.

With 17+ hours of continuous battery life, strong performance across productivity workloads, and a wonderfully portable design (weighing just 1.22kg), Microsoft seems to have finally hit its stride with the Surface product line. This is a made-for-Windows Ultrabook with a premium-feeling chassis, offering a very comfortable keyboard along with a high-quality touch display.

John did note that in terms of performance-per-dollar it loses out to the latest M4 MacBook Air, but for users who prefer Windows to macOS, it's practically perfect. It's also one of the best ways to use Microsoft's fancy new Copilot+ AI PC features in Windows 11.

Read our full Surface Laptop 13-inch (2025) review

The best laptop for creative students

As I've already noted further up in this guide, some laptops that are great for the average student won't hold up against the workload of a student studying creative disciplines. Graphic design, photo and video editing, 3D art – all of these need a bit more power than even the best student Chromebooks can provide.

Enter the MacBook Air 15-inch with Apple M4 chip. A powerful system that packs an improved CPU (10 cores vs 8 cores) over the M3 model, plus a larger battery thanks to the 15-inch chassis, this is a solid choice for anyone who wants plenty of bang for their buck when it comes to running creative software. With the M5 MacBook Air now on the market, it's swiftly becoming easier to find the M4 model below retail price, especially if you shop sales and seek out student discounts.

Sure, you could opt for a MacBook Pro if you really want a ton of power at your fingertips, but frankly, the standard M4 chip in the MacBook Air is perfectly capable - and you won't have to worry about fan noise here, either.

Read our full MacBook Air 15-inch (M4, 2025) review

The best 2 in 1 Chromebook for students

While its lower-end internal specs might hold it back from achieving true greatness, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 nonetheless does an admirable job of what it sets out to be: a lightweight, compact, and flexible laptop.

With the smallest display size of any laptop on this list, it's easy to take with you on the go or hold in your hands when flipped into tablet mode - and despite its small size, the touchscreen is a rather impressive QHD+ panel that places it above many of its Chromebook siblings.

Granted, some sacrifices have been made here to allow that excellent display at the very reasonable $429 / £419 / AU$707 starting price (though you can often find it cheaper than that). In terms of its CPU and RAM, this Chromebook is admittedly one of the weaker devices on this list - but as long as you're just planning to do basic tasks like word processing and watching YouTube, you should be fine.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 review

The best 2 in 1 Windows laptop

When John Loeffler, our US computing editor, reviewed the new Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 earlier this year, he was happy with its performance, design, and price point (models start at $649 / £849 / AU$1,498), though he did note that some of the things he was willing to accept in the regular Dell 14 Plus clamshell model to keep the price low are more problematic in a 2-in-1 form factor. Specifically, John notes in his review that the display on the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 can only be described as "decent enough".

On a 2-in-1 device, however, where notetaking and collaborating across a table with your classmates are common use cases, the quality of the display matters a lot more than it does on other laptops. That's not to say the 14-inch IPS panel on the 14 Plus 2-in-1 is bad, it's just not great, and it's a compromise that more than a few 2-in-1 fans might not be willing to make.

The other big issue John had with the laptop was its lack of high-end performance, but given the focus on a lower price point with the 14 Plus lineup, you really shouldn't be expecting more than a productivity and general computing laptop. In that regard, John found the performance more than up for the task, but he definitely recommends against trying to do any serious PC gaming or video editing work on this one.

Read our full Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 review

The best premium laptop for students

Looking for a laptop that just screams 'premium'? Look no further: students with some cash to splash who want a high-end device with some real staying power should absolutely spring for the 2025 Dell XPS 13 - perhaps the last XPS 13 we'll ever see, sadly.

See, Dell is switching up its naming conventions, ditching the XPS brand (a totally insane move, in my humble opinion) in favor of new Plus, Premium, and Pro tiers for its laptops. Despite this, the latest XPS 13 is still available from both Dell and third-party retailers, and it's still an absolutely gorgeous laptop.

When I reviewed it, I had nothing but praise for its excellent touch display, absolutely phenomenal 24-hour battery life, and strong productivity performance with its Intel Core Ultra processor. My only real criticism is the lack of ports; with just two USB-C ports and nothing else, you'll want to go fully wireless or invest in a USB hub.

Read our full Dell XPS 13 (2025) review

The best student gaming laptop

The Asus V16 stands out for students who want real gaming muscle in their backpack. Our lab tests saw it average 120 fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider at medium settings, a number that leaves most student laptops in the dust for smooth play.

Performance comes from an RTX 4050 graphics card, giving it the horsepower to tackle demanding schoolwork and AAA games alike. The V16 isn't a maxed-out desktop replacement, but it keeps up impressively with recent titles. Our reviewer described a session of Cyberpunk 2077 as "surprisingly smooth" for a laptop of this price, with only modest settings tweaks needed. That balance of classroom productivity and after-hours gaming makes it a compelling pick for students who want more than just basic performance.

Compared to our prime pick, the MacBook Neo, the Asus V16 is the obvious choice for anyone prioritizing gaming, thanks to its dedicated GPU. Chromebooks and the Surface Laptop 13 are lighter, quieter, and last longer unplugged, but can't come close to matching the V16's graphics power or real-world frame rates. If your school life includes projects, multitasking, and esports or AAA titles, the V16's value stands out, even if it isn't the cheapest option in the student lineup.

Like most gaming laptops, the V16 gets warm, and the fans spin up under load. This is noticeable during lengthy sessions, though not unusually loud. The keyboard is excellent for both gaming and essay-writing, but at nearly 2kg, it's heavier than typical all-day campus machines. For students who want the best gaming experience and can live with a bit more weight and a shorter unplugged runtime, the Asus V16 is easy to recommend. If portability, silence, or all-day battery life are your top priorities, you may want to look elsewhere.

Read our full Asus V16 review.

Other laptops we've tested

New laptops arrive on the market every single month, so anyone shopping for a laptop is usually spoiled for choice. Here, I've highlighted a few laptops we've recently reviewed that didn't quite make it into this ranking; consider them my honorable mentions.

• Dell Inspiron 14 Plus: A Windows laptop ideal for anyone who just needs a straightforward system to get through the day, the Inspiron 14 Plus from Dell is a no-frills system that can act as a solid MacBook Air alternative for those who prefer Windows to macOS.
  Read our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus review
• Dell 14 Plus: The non-hybrid version of the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 found in the list above, this is essentially the same laptop but without the 360-degree hinge and touchscreen functionality. Still a great laptop, mind you!
  Read our full Dell 14 Plus review
• Acer Nitro 14: Fundamentally a bit overpriced (which is its main downfall), but still a solid choice of 1080p gaming laptop, offering good gaming performance and a well-designed chassis.
  Read our full Acer Nitro 14 review

FAQs: How to choose the best student laptop for you

The best student laptop is going to give you the right balance between sufficient performance for productivity tasks, affordability for a student's budget, and durability to handle the kind of wear-and-tear that a student can put their laptops through – and having it look good never hurts.

But that can be a hard thing for students and families to balance, especially if they aren't as familiar with computer hardware as they'd like to be. Fortunately, there are some general guidelines that you can follow to get the right student laptop for your needs and budget: check out these frequently asked questions to get an idea of what you might need to look out for (and ways to save money!)

How we tested these student laptops

We know that buying a new laptop can be a huge investment. Even more so with laptops for college students. That’s why we take our jobs seriously, and test every laptop recommended on this list extensively.

That process involves using them in our day-to-day lives to see how long their battery lasts, how robust they are – college kids have hectic lives, after all, and how cool they stay under pressure. We also look at their design, including how stylish they are, if they are thin and light enough to carry around with, and how comfortable they are to work on. Because the webcam and microphone in a laptop are also incredibly important, especially these days, we take time to test those out as well.

When it comes to performance, we use a mix of real-world tests and synthetic benchmarks to see how powerful (or not) these laptops are. This means using Windows 10 (or ChromeOS on Chromebooks and macOS on MacBooks) and running various apps and seeing how fast they load, noting down any problems.

Battery lives are also important, so we’ll keep track of how long we can use the laptop without needing to charge it. To get specific numbers, we also run our own battery life benchmark that plays a looped 1080p movie until the battery dies and the PC Mark 10 battery life benchmark, which replicates real-world usage, such as web browsing and document creation. These tests give us an excellent idea of how long the batteries in these laptops last.

When all is said and done, we then take everything we’ve learned about the laptop and compare it to its price, to see if it offers the best value to students.

Tested by

Today's best student laptop deals

With Black Friday closing in fast, the deals are piling up – and there's no better time of year to buy new tech. For those on the prowl for a new gaming laptop this year, I've found what I think might be the single best-value deal I've seen so far: the Asus TUF Gaming A16, now just $1,199.99 (was $1,699.99) at Best Buy.

Now, at more than a thousand bucks, that's not exactly a cheap device, but the key thing to focus on here is the GPU: this model of the TUF A16 packs an Nvidia RTX 5070, and based on my deals research this Black Friday sales season, it might be the single cheapest laptop with that GPU right now. Similar models from the likes of MSI and Gigabyte can be seen close to that price on Amazon, but those laptops were cheaper to begin with, too; this $500 discount looks unbeatable.

If you're shopping on a tighter budget, some of the best gaming laptops featuring RTX 5060 GPUs are seeing respectable discounts, but getting a laptop with an RTX 5070 is a wise move if your budget can stretch that far. For starters, the extra power means it's simply more future-proof, and the overall specs on the Asus TUF A16 are nothing to sniff at either: with a shiny new AMD Ryzen 9 processor with local AI capabilities and a hefty 32GB of high-speed RAM, this laptop will be able to handle anything you throw at it.

Not in the US? Scroll down to see the best Asus TUF Gaming A16 deals in your region!

Today's best Asus TUF Gaming A16 deal

Considering that the Asus TUF Gaming A16 only has a 1200p display, there's basically no way you won't be able to breach the holy grail of 60 frames per second in virtually any game with this laptop. The RTX 5070 grants access to both Nvidia's DLSS 3 upscaling technology and Multi Frame Generation for boosting your framerate even further – all but the most demanding titles probably won't even need those.

The TUF A16 also features 1TB of high-speed storage, great for downloading numerous games at once – just so long as those games aren't all SSD hogs like Destiny 2 or Ark: Survival Evolved, anyway. Game devs, can we work on install package optimization, please?

Shop more of today's best US Black Friday sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
• Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

Black Friday is almost upon us, folks, and there's no better time of year to snap up a new laptop – especially if you're looking to buy one of the best Chromebooks. These Google-powered laptops are the perfect low-cost companion for everyday work and school needs, and with today's Black Friday discounts, you can easily snag a great Chromebook at a great price.

One such great price can be found right now, with a respectable 30% price cut on the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, now $299.99 (was $429.99) at Amazon. Now, there are certainly Chromebooks out there that can be found for less than 300 bucks, but once you're south of that figure in MSRP, you're normally looking at a decidedly budget-feeling device.

Not so with the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, though: with an Intel Core processor and 8GB of RAM, this isn't one of the underpowered laptops that can give Chromebooks a bad name. Sure, it's no MacBook-beater, but if you want a speedy and reliable device for straightforward tasks – think browsing the web, working on documents, and watching videos – then this is a good pick.

Not in the US? Scroll down to see the best Acer Chromebook Plus 515 deals in your region.

Today's best Acer Chromebook Plus 515 deal

Chromebooks have come a long way since their humble beginnings as bargain-basement netbooks. With the latest version of ChromeOS, you can now access Google's AI tools at the touch of a button – and you get 12 months of free access to Google AI Pro, plus 2TB of cloud storage, with your purchase.

That's not even mentioning how great ChromeOS is itself. This lightweight operating system can run smoothly on lower-spec hardware than competitors like Windows 11 and macOS, helping keep the price of Chromebooks down. There's a great selection of parental control features for parents looking to buy a laptop for a younger kid, and cross-compatibility with the Google Play Store means that many Android apps can run on ChromeOS too.

Funnily enough, we haven't reviewed this exact model, but I feel pretty confident recommending it, since we have reviewed both its little and big siblings: the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 and Plus 516, both of which took home respectable four-star ratings from our reviews team. Considering that the Plus 515 is simply the 15-inch middle child, I'm certain it can deliver the same reliable Google-powered performance.

Shop more of today's best US Black Friday sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
• Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

The Black Friday sales are already in full swing across multiple online storefronts, and this is one of the highlights for gaming laptop deals. The Acer Nitro V 16S AI RTX 5060 gaming laptop is now available for $1,099.99 (previously $1,299.99) on Amazon, saving you $200 at a 15% discount.

For the UK folk (I'm not leaving you out, don't worry), the Acer Nitro V16 AI RTX 5070 gaming laptop is available at £1,089.99 (previously £1,149) on Amazon, with a smaller 5% discount, saving you £59.01, with a laptop utilizing a stronger GPU than its counterpart.

Shop Amazon's full Black Friday sale

Both of these deals are compelling for gamers looking to spend that extra amount for more performance capabilities, compared to something like an RTX 5050-powered laptop. While the RTX 5070 model might be the best option here, don't write off the RTX 5060 from providing great performance at either 1080p or 1440p display resolutions.

(Not in the US or UK? See today's best deals in your region below)

Today's best Acer Nitro V16 Black Friday deal in the US

Today's best Acer Nitro V16 Black Friday deal in the UK

No matter which gaming laptop you choose out of the two, you're going to have a great time in a plethora of games – and yes, I'm aware that 8GB of VRAM feels like a push too short for more demanding modern games, but having tested a laptop equipped with an 8GB GPU, I can assure you that it'll get the job done when using DLSS 4.

You'll have more luck with the RTX 5070 model to push graphics settings up slightly higher, but the same applies to its counterpart when using DLSS 4 super resolution's balanced or performance modes.

Shop more of today's best Black Friday sales

• Amazon: up to 66% off tech & essentials
• AO: up to £500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense
• Argos: up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys
• Boots: save on 1,000s of beauty products
• Currys: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo
• Dell: laptops from £279
• Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
• EE: Switch 2 bundles from £20/month
• John Lewis: up to 50% off tech & fashion
• Lego: sets & accessories from £2.99
• Samsung: deals on appliances & phones
• Very: up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion

• Acer Veriton GN100 uses NVIDIA’s GB10 chip for extreme AI acceleration
• Acer’s mini workstation delivers one petaflop performance in a 1.2-kilogram chassis
• Two GN100 units can link together to manage huge model sizes

Acer has introduced the Veriton GN100 AI mini workstation, a small desktop device that claims to deliver up to 1 petaflop of FP4 AI performance.

It uses the Nvidia GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, bringing a level of processing power usually reserved for servers to business laptop and workstation users in compact office setups.

The company has opened early-access registration for UK organisations, presenting the system as a way to handle local AI workloads without relying heavily on cloud computing.

Desktop AI with enterprise ambitions

The Veriton GN100 appears to target professionals and researchers seeking powerful edge-based computation.

Measuring 150 by 150 by 50.5 mm and weighing about 1.2 kg, the device includes up to 128 GB of LPDDR5x unified memory for shared CPU-GPU access and 4 TB of self-encrypting NVMe storage.

Acer says two units can be connected using NVIDIA ConnectX-7 networking to manage large-scale models with up to 405 billion parameters.

The system runs NVIDIA DGX OS alongside the company’s AI software stack and supports development tools such as PyTorch, Jupyter, and Ollama.

This setup gives users an environment for prototyping and fine-tuning models directly on the desktop, removing the need for constant cloud access and helping reduce operational latency.

The Veriton GN100 integrates four USB 3.2 Type-C ports, HDMI 2.1b output, and an Ethernet interface for wired connectivity, alongside Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.1 support.

Acer’s messaging emphasises privacy, cost control, and latency reduction, three areas where cloud-based AI services often fall short.

By enabling inference and data handling locally, the Veriton GN100 aims to keep sensitive data under internal governance, which is relevant for UK organisations bound by GDPR compliance.

The company also claims predictable expenses compared to fluctuating pay-per-use cloud pricing, though long-term cost comparisons remain untested.

This device targets enterprise environments that require high-speed on-device AI processing in a desktop form factor and includes a Kensington lock for added security.

This mobile workstation is listed from €3,999 in EMEA, with pricing and availability varying by region.

• Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 714 uses Core Ultra 5 processors with Intel Graphics
• Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 514 offers Intel Core 7 options and PCIe Gen4 SSDs
• Both Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise models support up to 16 GB of LPDDR5X memory

Acer has unveiled the Chromebook Plus Enterprise 714 and Chromebook Plus Enterprise 514, both business laptops designed for cloud-first workplaces.

The devices incorporate Google's Gemini AI tools as a priority, and are built to handle demanding, AI-assisted workflows.

Both run ChromeOS with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade unlocked from the start, giving administrators built-in management tools and enterprise-grade security.

Balancing portability, performance, and durability

The Chromebook Plus Enterprise 714 is powered by Intel Core Ultra 5 processors, while the 514 offers configurations up to the Intel Core 7 series.

Both systems use Intel Graphics, support up to 16GB of LPDDR5X memory, and include PCIe Gen4 solid-state storage.

Acer clearly wants these machines to challenge traditional mobile workstations in performance, although ChromeOS remains a limiting factor for heavy software users.

The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 714 has a slim, lightweight aluminum chassis built to military-grade standards, measuring roughly 17mm thick and weighing around 1.32kg.

This device features a 14-inch WUXGA display with optional touch support and a sturdy aluminum body weighing under three pounds which also carries MIL-STD 810H certification for shock resistance and reinforced hinges designed for prolonged use.

Its QHD webcam with “Temporal Noise Reduction” and triple-microphone array aims to improve clarity during virtual meetings.

The Chromebook Plus Enterprise 514 variant keeps the same 14-inch form factor, includes anti-glare coating, and supports Full HD or QHD webcams.

It measures slightly thicker at about 19mm but maintains the same focus on durability and portability.

Battery endurance is a highlight, with Acer quoting up to 20.5 hours for the 714 and up to 17 hours for the 514.

Both use Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity and include multiple USB ports, HDMI, and Ethernet on the higher-end model.

Acer’s Earthion mission influences the build, with EPEAT Gold certification, Energy Star compliance, and an OceanGlass touchpad made from ocean-bound plastic.

Management through ChromeOS enables centralized deployment, while Cameyo integration lets users run Windows and Linux applications virtually.

Fingerprint readers and webcam shutters enhance privacy, and the ChromeOS environment provides round-the-clock administrative control.

These are among the most powerful Chromebooks Acer has produced, however persuading IT teams to adopt them may prove difficult because many enterprises remain tied to Windows-based ecosystems that support a wider range of legacy software.

IT decision-makers will likely view them as secondary devices rather than replacements for full workstations.

Acer’s new hardware delivers impressive polish, yet its success will depend on whether businesses truly embrace ChromeOS beyond lightweight, web-centric roles.

Acer Aspire Go 15: Two-minute review

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is an affordable Windows laptop with a spec that should prove capable enough for everyday use.

Considering its 15.6-inch form, it has a sleek and slender body. It’s also quite thin and light, which makes it easier to carry around than expected. The light silver finish and minimal aesthetic also imbue the Aspire Go 15 with some style, although there are a few unsightly angles that mar its appearance somewhat.

It isn’t built to the same high standards as the best laptops, much less many of the best Ultrabooks, either. The materials aren’t premium, and its construction isn’t as reassuringly solid as I would’ve liked. The lid isn’t the most stable, either, and its downward protrusion means it lifts up the rear of the unit when opened beyond 90 degrees, which is a design choice I’m not particularly fond of due to its impractical nature.

On a more positive note, there’s a decent selection of ports, including three for USB-A, one for HDMI cables, and one for Ethernet connections. There’s only one USB-C port, though, and no SD card reader.

The everyday performance of the Aspire Go 15 is very good, handling light productivity and entertainment workloads with speed. However, more intensive tasks such as gaming fare worse, given that it lacks a dedicated GPU. Light gaming is still possible, though, and both fan noise and temperatures are kept to a minimum.

One of the most disappointing aspects of the Aspire Go 15 is its display. Its grainy finish can be distracting, while colors can look a little washed out in some cases. Worse still is the restrictive viewing angle, with images and scenes becoming totally obscured when the display is set even slightly beyond optimal bounds.

The battery life of the Aspire Go 15 is quite good, though, lasting close to 12 hours during our movie playback test. However, there are quite a few rivals that can outlast it, such as the Dell 14 Plus.

Considering its price, the Aspire Go 15 represents a very good value, offering a more affordable alternative to the best Windows laptops that cost a good bit more. There are also better-performing Chromebooks for less money, such as the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, which also has a better display, but if you can live with its display, the Aspire Go 15 is one of the best budget laptops going and well worth adding to your shortlist.

Acer Aspire Go 15 review: Price & Availability

• Starts from $299.99 / £299.99 (about AU$450)
• Base models have weak specs
• Review model is still well-priced, though

The Aspire Go 15 starts from $299.99 / £299.99 (about AU$450) and is available now. A range of Intel and AMD CPUs are available to choose from, while RAM and storage capacities range from 8GB to 32GB and 128GB to 1TB, respectively.

This is a good starting price for a Windows laptop, but for this outlay, you’ll have to settle for a weak spec. My review model was considerably more powerful than the base model, and priced closer to some strong rivals.

However, it still undercuts other affordable Windows machines, such as the Dell 14 Plus. We found this laptop to be an excellent value, though, thanks to its fast performance and enduring battery life, while its light design even makes it a worthy alternative to some of the best MacBooks.

If you’re willing to look beyond Windows machines, the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is another enticing proposition. This is cheaper than the Aspire Go 15, but has a stronger performance and a superior display that doesn’t suffer from the same issues. No wonder we think it’s one of the best Chromebooks around right now.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

Acer Aspire Go 15 review: Specs

A wide selection of spec configurations are available, with both Intel and AMD processors. There is a mix of PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 SSDs depending on the spec, so some drives will run slower than others, and that's not always immediately apparent when looking at retailer specs sheets.

It also doesn't include the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standard, but Wi-Fi 6 is fast enough for most people's needs, while the inclusion of an Ethernet port is welcome.

Overall, for their various price points, these are about the specs one should expect.

• Specs: 3.5 / 5

Acer Aspire Go 15 review: Design

• Reasonably light and thin
• Lacking solidity
• Odd lid design

The Aspire Go 15 is a basic but smart looking laptop, with extraneous details kept to a minimum. The light silver finish of my review unit helped to impart some elegance, too, although a few unsightly juts and angles spoil its otherwise smooth contours. While the Aspire Go 15 is quite wide, it’s relatively light and pleasingly thin, which makes it easier to carry around than you might imagine for a 15.6-inch laptop.

Build quality isn’t exactly the greatest, though, with cheap looking – and feeling – plastics that flex to an inauspicious degree. Thankfully, the keys feel more premium: they’re solidly fitted and have a prominent texture that’s satisfying to touch.

The lid is also better made than the rest of the unit, featuring a solid yet smooth hinge mechanism. I welcomed how thin it was, too, although I was less keen on its bottom protrusion. This causes the rear of the Aspire Go 15 to lift off ground when opened to angles beyond 90 degrees – a deliberate design choice but one that feels unintuitive and can result in loose fabrics and other materials underneath the chassis getting caught, which isn’t ideal.

There was a reasonable selection of ports on my Aspire Go 15 review unit. I welcomed the three USB-A ports, spread across both sides for added convenience. There was also an HDMI port and an ethernet port: increasingly rare sights on modern laptops, and again ones I was glad to see. There’s only one USB-C port, though, and no SD card reader, both of which are mild shames.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Acer Aspire Go 15 review: Performance

• Great general computing performance
• Some light gaming is possible
• Relatively cool and quiet

For everyday tasks, the Aspire Go 15 is very capable. It can handle light productivity, from word processing to spreadsheet creation, without much if any slowdowns. It also had no problem streaming 4K content. I didn’t experience any midway buffering pauses or stuttering, for example.

However, the viewing experience is marred by the quality of the display. It has a noticeably grainy finish, which can be distracting at times. Colors can also look washed out.

What’s more, the display darkens considerably if the angle isn’t set just right, to the point of near-total blackness sometimes. Thankfully, once you’ve found the optimum position, there are next to no reflections visible on screen.

Since there’s no dedicated GPU installed in the Aspire Go 15, it isn’t particularly great for creative and gaming workloads. Cyberpunk 2077 is playable on the lowest preset, but naturally, you’ll have to make do with some rough visuals and uninspiring frame rates.

The game is even passable on Medium settings and upscaling, but you’ll have to contend with even lower frame rates and more input lag, rendering the experience less than enjoyable.

Mercifully, though, I experienced little fan noise from the Aspire Go 15 during such intensive workloads, never elevating above a faint whir. It also stayed commendably cool, with certain portions of the body reaching lukewarm temperatures only.

Another highlight of the Aspire Go 15 is its keyboard. The aforementioned keycap texture helps them feel more tactile, as does the surprising amount of dampening of the switches, despite their short travel and very low profile.

What’s more, they’re snappy and responsive, which only improves their typing prowess. And despite featuring a number pad, the layout doesn’t feel cramped. Those number pad keys are relatively small, though, but they’re still eminently usable. So overall, if you’re looking for one of the best laptops for writing, the Aspire Go 15 could well be a contender for you.

The touchpad is less pleasant to use, though. While it’s smooth enough for easy gestures and swiping, it’s not as large as those in other 15-inch laptops, which compromises its navigation abilities. Also, clicks and taps lack feedback and even rattle at points, which further hampers their functionality.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Acer Aspire Go 15 review: Battery Life

• Reasonable longevity
• Rivals can far outlast it, though

The battery life of the is quite impressive. It managed to last close to 12 hours when playing a movie on a continuous loop. It’s also quick to charge, taking about two hours to fully top up.

The HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch achieved a similar score. However, others in this sector can outlast it by quite some distance, including the Dell 14 Plus, which lasted over 13 hours when we ran a similar test.

• Battery Life: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Aspire Go 15?

Buy the Acer Aspire Go 15 if...

Don't buy it if...

Acer Aspire Go 15 review: Also Consider

How I tested the Acer Aspire Go 15

• Tested for several days
• Used for a variety of tasks
• Plentiful laptop reviewing experience

I tested the Acer Aspire Go 15 for several days, using it for working, entertainment, gaming, and general browsing.

I also connected various peripherals to it, and ran our series of benchmark tests to assess its overall performance. I also tested its battery life by playing a movie on a continuous loop until it expired.

I have plenty of experience testing all kinds of laptops, from everyday workhorses to high-end specialist machines. I’ve also reviewed Chromebooks and other computing devices, such as tablets.

• First reviewed: October 2025
• Read more about how we test

Now that it's officially game over for Windows 10, many older PCs are no longer receiving vital security updates. And that means that if your current system cannot run Windows 11, you may be looking for a reliable and affordable replacement without having to spend a fortune.

That is where this Acer Aspire Go 15 Laptop deal for $300 (was $600) from Best Buy really shines. With a full $300 off its regular price, this laptop delivers modern performance and excellent value for everyday computing.

The Acer Aspire Go 15 is powered by the Intel Core i5 1334U processor, a 10 core and 12 thread chip. With 8GB of fast DDR5 memory and a 256GB PCIe Gen4 SSD, it's a good choice for multitasking, productivity, and entertainment.

Today's best Acer Aspire Go 15 Laptop deal

The laptop sports a 15.3 inch WUXGA 1920 x 1200 IPS display, offering crisp visuals, rich colors, and wide viewing angles. The 16 x 10 aspect ratio provides more vertical space for reading and productivity, while the lightweight 3.7lbs design makes it easy to carry anywhere.

You also get Windows 11 Home preinstalled, providing up to date security, useful features, and a modern interface. Connectivity includes USB Type C, USB Type A, HDMI 2.1, Wi Fi 6, and Bluetooth support.

Other highlights include Acer PurifiedVoice audio technology, Energy Star certification, and EPEAT Gold qualification, making it both efficient and environmentally friendly.

At just $299.99, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is an outstanding choice for anyone who needs a dependable Windows 11 laptop to replace an older PC without overspending.

Available now at Best Buy - save $300 while supplies last.

While you're here, check out our round-up of the best business laptops, and the best laptops for video editing.

More top laptop deals to consider

Other laptop deals under $300 - quick links

• Dell
• Walmart
• Newegg
• HP
• Lenovo
• Best Buy
• Amazon

Other laptop deals to consider

Gaming laptops are a great compromise if you don't want to invest in a full-size rig but still want to enjoy PC games. With that in mind, a solid budget option is this Acer Nitro V 16 Gaming Laptop with an RTX 5050 at Walmart for $749 (was $1,049).

Even with its multiple iterations, the Acer Nitro V has persisted as our pick for the best value budget gaming laptop. It's hard to find a gaming laptop with a brand-new RTX 5050 GPU, a Ryzen 7 260 processor, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD for under $900. We had a deal like this last month, but the CPU wasn't quite as modern as the Ryzen 7 260, so this is a deal to snap up while you can

Today's best budget gaming laptop deal

In our Acer Nitro V 16 review, our reviewer gushed about the "robust 1080p at 165Hz performance" and solid keyboard with RGB lighting on the 2024 model. This one from the Walmart listing is very similar, just with an RTX 5050 and 180Hz refresh rate instead.

The Acer Nitro V 16 still won't be as powerful as gaming laptops pushing $1,500, but you can invest in something like that when you have the money and will to do so. It's more than enough to play the latest games, even if it performs best at 1080p resolution.

If the Acer Nitro 5 isn't enough for you, check out our best gaming laptops. We also have our best budget gaming PCs for those who'd prefer that over a gaming laptop.

As a chronic deal-finder, I know when I've seen an outstanding deal for PC storage - and the Acer FA200 4TB internal SSD is now $187 (was $220) at Amazon, making it the cheapest 4TB SSD I've seen in the Prime Day sales and cheapest SSD per TB.

In the UK, the FA200 4TB is discounted down to £205 (was £230) too.

• Shop all Prime Day sales at Amazon.com
• Shop all Prime Day deals at Amazon.co.uk

At this price, that works out at $46.75 per TB (or a little under 4.6 cents per GB, if you prefer), which is the cheapest I've seen in the deals.

The drive is well-specced for both general computing, as well as heavy workloads like video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming. Connectivity-wise, it features a PCIe Gen 4x4 with NVMe 2.0 interface, hitting read speeds of 7200 MB/s and write speeds of 6200 MB/s.

For more savings on laptops, TVs, phones, and more, head to our hub for the latest October Prime Day deals - but remember all the deals end at midnight tonight.

Today's top 4TB SSD deal

More 4TB SSD deals

• Shop all 4TB SSDs at Amazon.com
• Shop all 4TB SSDs at Amazon.co.uk

It's that time of the year again, when a plethora of deals are available for some of the best gaming laptops available, and I've found the Acer Nitro V 15 RTX 4050 gaming laptop, which is now available for just $599 (previously $749.99), with a 20% discount making it the cheapest Nvidia-powered gaming laptop you'll find this Prime Day.

The UK model features an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor instead of the Intel Core i5-13420H, which is also on sale for £749.99 (previously £899.99), with a slightly smaller 17% discount.

There will be plenty of gaming laptop deals to go around this Amazon Prime Day, many of which will be huge discounts on more expensive offerings, but for those on a budget, the Acer Nitro V 15 should be right up your alley. While 8GB GPUs may seem weak, they're enough to get the job done at a 1080p resolution, and this system should do just that.

(Not in the US or UK? See today's best deals in your region below)

Today's best Acer Nitro V 15 RTX 4050 Prime Day deal in the US

Today's best Acer Nitro V 15 RTX 4050 Prime Day deal in the UK

The Acer Nitro V 15 recently had a refresh with the RTX 5050 GPU replacing the RTX 4050, and that helps users step up from regular Frame Generation to Multi Frame Generation, but don't let that throw you off from a purchase here.

The RTX 4050 is still more than capable of providing good performance when playing at more reasonable graphics settings in the most demanding games, and using DLSS 4 to your advantage. It's not wild to be thrown off by 8GB laptop GPUs due to the increasing hardware demands in new games, but having used an 8GB laptop, I promise you it's not as bad as you may think.

Acquiring good gaming performance across the board is indeed possible, and DLSS 4 will play a crucial part in games like Cyberpunk 2077, and the same goes for many other big titles.

Prime Day quick links

• Amazon Devices: Fire TV Sticks from $25
• Apple: AirPods + iPads from $99
• Beauty: Oral-B, Philips & Dyson from $9
• Clothing: 50% off Nike, Adidas & Levi's
• Halloween: decor, PJs, candy & more from $5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats, Apple & Sony
• Kitchen: save on Ninja, Breville & Instant
• Laptops: Windows and MacBooks with big discounts
• Phones: up to 25% off Google & Samsung
• Smartwatch: up to 30% off Samsung & Apple
• Tablets: Apple, Amazon & Samsung from $139
• TVs: $1,500 off 4K, QLED, and OLED TVs
• Vacuums: Shark and Bissell from $49.99

• Acer Predator Helios 18P AI fused gaming laptop design with workstation power
• ECC memory slows things down while inflating the laptop’s retail cost
• vPro processors add security features with zero benefits for higher frame rates

Acer has introduced a new system that blurs the line between traditional gaming laptops and professional workstations.

The Predator Helios 18P AI, unveiled at IFA 2025 in Berlin, is marketed not just as a gaming machine but also as a “local AI workstation.”

By combining features usually reserved for enterprise-class systems with the aesthetics of a gaming laptop, Acer appears to be testing whether gamers and professionals will embrace the same machine for different reasons.

A gaming look with workstation and enterprise internals

The Predator Helios 18P keeps the traditional gamer styling. RGB lighting, sharp lines, and the Predator branding leave no doubt about its target audience.

Yet, under the hood, Acer has fitted technology more familiar in enterprise machines. Buyers can equip the laptop with Intel’s vPro processors and ECC memory.

These hardware combinations usually appear in mobile workstations rather than in consumer gaming models.

The company also lists support for up to 192GB of ECC memory, something unusual in gaming laptops.

On paper, the system sounds powerful. The Predator Helios 18P AI offers up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX with vPro, paired with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU.

Storage reaches as high as 6TB of PCIe Gen 5 SSD capacity, and connectivity includes Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, and Killer Ethernet.

The display is an 18-inch Mini-LED panel with a 3840 x 2400 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, and refresh rates up to 120Hz.

Yet, despite these specifications, the decision to use ECC memory and vPro CPUs introduces some questions.

ECC ensures data integrity, important for professional workloads and some business laptops, although unnecessary for gaming.

The inclusion of vPro raises similar questions, as it offers manageability and security functions for IT departments but brings no performance increase over standard CPUs.

vPro chips are no faster than their non-vPro equivalents, and ECC memory runs slower than standard RAM.

That means while the machine looks like a flagship gaming laptop, it could actually deliver less gaming performance than competitors with cheaper, non-ECC setups.

The Predator Helios 18P AI is priced as a premium product, starting at €4,499 in Europe.

For that cost, buyers are essentially paying for enterprise-level features in a gaming frame.

This raises the question of whether Acer is trying to shift high-end gaming laptops toward the workstation market, presenting them as multipurpose AI machines rather than pure gaming rigs.

Via Toms Hardware

You might also like

• Here are the best mobile workstations around today
• We've also listed the best monitors for every budget and resolution
• Lenovo launches a mobile workstation with Core Ultra 9 285 HX CPU and RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell GPU

• Acer TravelMate X4 14 AI unveiled at IFA 2025 with Intel Core Ultra processors
• Weighs 1.27kg, offers up to 32GB memory, 1TB storage, and OLED display option
• Features Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and 65Wh battery rated 12 hours

Acer has taken the wraps off a number of new products at IFA 2025, including the TravelMate X4 14 AI, lightweight Windows 11 Pro laptop aimed at small and medium businesses.

The Copilot+ PC (model TMX414-51) is powered by Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 processors, with options ranging up to the Core Ultra 7 258V, and can reach up to 115 TOPS of overall performance.

Graphics come from integrated Intel Arc, with configurations including Arc 130V and Arc 140V.

Advanced hardware and modern processors

“As AI is becoming increasingly important in modern business workflows, small and medium businesses need devices that integrate intelligent tools, robust security, and mobility,” said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, Acer.

“The TravelMate X14 AI was designed to deliver just that, powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and Copilot+ PC experiences, offering professionals a lightweight yet durable solution crafted to accelerate productivity and collaboration from anywhere.”

The business laptop weighs 1.27kg and measures 15.9mm thick. It meets MIL-STD 810H testing standards covering vibration, humidity, and temperature extremes.

The system is available with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory and up to 1TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage.

The 14-inch screen is available in two versions. Buyers can choose an IPS WUXGA display with 120Hz refresh and 100% sRGB coverage, or an OLED WUXGA display with 120Hz refresh, 500 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification.

Both panels use a 16:10 aspect ratio. An FHD webcam with IR support is included, paired with a built-in shutter for privacy.

Acer has also included UserSensing 2.0, which dims and locks the screen when the user steps away. Other security features include a discrete TPM, Acer ProShield Plus, and support for a Kensington Nano lock. The laptop also carries TCO and EPEAT compliance.

Mark Linton, Vice President, Windows + Devices at Microsoft, said, “The Acer TravelMate X14 AI demonstrates what’s possible when advanced hardware and modern processors come together. With powerful performance, enhanced security, and unique AI experiences, it’s an ideal choice for today’s professionals looking to upgrade to a PC that prioritizes portability and performance.”

Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, an audio jack, and a Gigabit Ethernet jack.

The 65Wh battery supports fast charging and is rated at up to 12 hours of use under MobileMark 2025 testing.

The laptop also integrates Acer PurifiedView 2.0 for improved video calls, along with PurifiedVoice 2.0, DTS:X Ultra Audio speakers, and a triple microphone array.

There's no word on pricing or availability yet - but we should know more soon.

You might also like

• These are the best business laptops you can buy right now
• And these are the lightest laptops for all kinds of budgets
• Acer's new 16-inch laptop weighs less than a McDonald's Big Mac meal

• Acer debuts Chromebook Plus Spin 514 powered by MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910
• Convertible Chromebook delivers AI features, dual display choices, durable design
• Enterprise Plus edition adds business upgrade for security, management, and deployment

Acer introduced the Chromebook Plus Spin 514 at IFA 2025, its first Chromebook powered by the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor with an integrated neural processing unit.

Highlights of the new convertible laptop include on-device AI features, multiple display options, and a durable design.

“We are excited to introduce our first Chromebook with the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra processor, unlocking a new level of AI-powered capabilities that streamline multitasking, content creation, and productivity on an Acer Chromebook,” said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, Acer Inc.

Enterprise Plus

The Spin 514 can be configured with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS storage. It has a 70Wh battery capable of up to 17 hours of use.

The 14-inch touchscreen comes in WQXGA+ 2880x1800 at 60Hz and 340 nits or WUXGA 1920x1200 at 120Hz and 300 nits.

Both options include Gorilla Glass, anti-fingerprint protection, and a 16:10 aspect ratio.

The MIL-STD 810H compliant chassis weighs 1.36kg and measures 15.5mm thick.

There are two USB-C 3.2 Gen2 ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen1 ports, and a headphone jack. It supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

The webcam is available in 5MP or 1080p, and comes with a blue-glass lens, privacy shutter, and AI-assisted lighting and noise reduction.

Alongside the consumer edition, Acer also launched the Chromebook Enterprise Plus Spin 514.

This business laptop comes with the Chrome Enterprise Upgrade that unlocks centralized device management, stronger security, and simplified deployment, allowing companies to manage fleets of Chromebooks, enforce IT policies, and provide employees with secure remote access.

The Enterprise Plus model offers the same hardware as the standard edition, including the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor with an Arm Immortalis-G925 MC11 GPU.

The Chromebook Plus Spin 514 will be available in October starting at $699.99 in North America and €699 in EMEA.

The Chromebook Enterprise Plus Spin 514 will be available in October in EMEA starting at €879. No word on USA pricing.

You might also like

• These are the best mobile workstations you can buy right now
• And these are the lightest laptops for all kinds of budgets
• Acer's new 16-inch laptop weighs less than a McDonald's Big Mac meal

I’m currently in Berlin for IFA 2025, where I watched Acer unveil its upcoming lineup of computing tech – and its presentation included a teaser for the world’s first official Panther Lake PC (powered by Intel’s upcoming chip series).

Unfortunately, that laptop was sealed behind a cabinet, which I was politely but firmly instructed shouldn’t be moved when I attempted to shift it to get a better photo.

However, I was able to get up close and personal with the rest of the lineup, and while we’ll have to reserve full judgment until we’ve properly tested these new devices, there are three devices I really want to highlight as ones to watch from the event.

The productivity-focused amongst you will want to check out the Acer Swift 16 Air. Similarly named to the aforementioned Panther Lake laptop, this Windows 11 machine is instead powered by (in the top configuration) an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with AMD Radeon 860M graphics, with up to 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage.

But what makes this laptop stand out for me is that the model outfitted with an IPS display comes in at just 0.99kg – which, even having picked the thing up, sounds ridiculous. It’s like picking up a toy, or as if Acer had forgotten to include a battery – but this is a fully functional (and sizable) laptop.

The AMOLED display version is 1.1kg, but even so this heavier option is still one of the lightest laptops we’ve seen, especially for models with a screen larger than 14 inches.

If you’re more of a gamer, then keep your eyes on the Acer Nitro XZ403CKR monitor, which is set to drop at the start of next year.

This widescreen curved monitor measures 39.7-inches – just over 1m if you prefer metric – and boasts a 5K (5120 x 2160) resolution with a 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms VRB and 0.5ms GTG response time. If you’re wiling to drop to WFHD resolution (2560 x 1080) then you can bump that refresh rate up to 288Hz.

It’s big, but not ridiculously so – it looks like an ideal replacement for a two-monitor setup if you wish you could spread one app across your whole screen real estate.

Unfortunately it won’t come cheap at $999.99 / AU$1,899 (we’re waiting for official UK pricing), but if you’re after the ultimate gaming setup and can afford to splurge a little, this could be the monitor you’ve been waiting for.

Rounding things out is the limited-edition Acer Predator e-bike I saw. Inspired by the brand’s gaming line, this bike boasts a 750W motor, a max speed of 45km/h (around 27.9mph), and a max range of 75km (about 46.6 miles).

What I loved was that it even incorporates the RGB lighting look synonymous with gaming tech, thanks to its colorful pedals and front suspension which glisten with a rainbow of yellow, pink, and blue.

It’s not Acer’s first electric mobility machine – it’s made a handful of scooters before, for example – but this entry really looks to combine the aesthetics of its gaming tech with the practicality of an e-bike in a way that I loved.

You might also like

• Leaked Legion Go 2 images suggest SteamOS could be offered as a Windows 11 alternative
• Corsair has just solved a major multitasking issue I've had with PC gaming, and I'm all in
• Swappable laptop GPUs sound like a myth, but that's not the case anymore, thanks to Framework and Nvidia

• Acer Veriton GN100 uses Nvidia GB10 superchip with 128GB memory and 4TB storage
• Compact design under 1.5kg still delivers 1 PFLOPS of FP4 AI performance
• Two linked systems scale to handle AI models with up to 405 billion parameters

Acer has announced the Veriton GN100 AI Mini Workstation, a compact desktop built on Nvidia’s GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip.

It is designed to run large AI models locally, with the option to scale workloads further by linking two systems together.

The Veriton GN100, revealed at IFA 2025 in Berlin, delivers up to 1 PFLOPS of FP4 AI performance through a combination of 20 Arm-based CPU cores, CUDA cores and fifth-generation Tensor Cores.

Up to 405 billion parameters

The device comes with 128GB of unified LPDDR5x memory and 4TB of self-encrypting NVMe storage.

Despite its diminutive 150mm x 150mm footprint, and sub-1.5kg weight, the Veriton GN100 is intended to deliver server-class compute power in a mini PC form factor.

The system includes Nvidia’s AI software stack and DGX Base OS, with support for commonly used developer tools such as PyTorch, Jupyter and Ollama.

Acer says this will allow developers, researchers and students to prototype, fine-tune and test large language models directly on the system, reducing reliance on remote cloud infrastructure and helping lower operating costs.

With an Nvidia ConnectX-7 SmartNIC installed, two Veriton GN100 units can be linked to scale workloads further, allowing processing of AI models with up to 405 billion parameters.

This will make it possible to work with even larger training sets and experiments without requiring immediate access to data center hardware.

Connectivity includes four USB 3.2 Type-C ports, HDMI 2.1b, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.1.

Security features include a Kensington lock and local execution of AI models to help protect sensitive data.

Acer has set pricing for the Veriton GN100 at $3,999 in North America and €3,999 in EMEA, with availability varying by region.

Acer is just the latest PC maker to launch a Nvidia DGX Spark clone, following in the footsteps of Asus, HP and Dell, and MSI.

You might also like

• These are the best business computers you can buy right now
• Nvidia’s DGX Station has the most powerful chip ever launched in a desktop workstation PC
• Nvidia brings Blackwell to your desk - DGX Spark is more like a mini supercomputer

• Acer Swift Air 16 IPS model weighs just 990g, making it lighter than a Big Mac meal
• Offers AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors with Radeon graphics and up to 32GB memory
• The lightweight device features a small 50Wh battery with quoted 13 hours of video playback

Acer has announced the Swift Air 16, a 16-inch Copilot+ PC laptop that weighs less than 1kg. The company presented the device at IFA 2025 in Berlin as part of its thin-and-light Swift family.

The Swift Air 16 is powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 Series processors paired with integrated Radeon graphics.

The magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis helps place the new device among the lightest laptops available.

Lighter than a Big Mac meal

Two display options are available. Users can choose a 2880 x 1800 AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh and 100% DCI-P3 color support, or a 1920 x 1200 IPS display with 60Hz refresh. Both share the same 16:10 aspect ratio.

Acer says the IPS version, with a slim profile of just 15.9mm, comes in at a little under 2.2lb / 990g, while the AMOLED model is slightly heavier at 1.1kg.

The lighter model weighs less than a McDonald’s Big Mac meal, which with the burger, medium Coke and fries comes in at about 2.27lb / 1030g in the United States.

Memory is offered up to 32GB of LPDDR5, with storage up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD.

The laptop also features a 2MP IR camera with privacy shutter, dual microphones, and stereo speakers.

Connectivity includes two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, HDMI 1.4, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.4.

Acer has fitted the Swift Air 16 with a disappointingly small 50Wh battery, which is less than those in some competing large-screen ultrabooks.

The company lists a maximum of 13 hours video playback, although actual figures will depend on workload and configuration so you might end up tethered to a wall outlet for more time than you might like.

Cooling is handled via a dual fan system with twin heat pipes, while the camera supports infrared facial recognition through Windows Hello.

The Swift Air 16 will be available in EMEA markets from November starting at €999, with variations by region.

It will be available in a choice of four color finishes: silver, blue, gray, and white.

You might also like

• These are the lightest laptops: Where performance meets featherweight portability
• We've rounded up the best business laptops around
• A Microsoft employee designed this unbelievably tiny Surface laptop

Acer Nitro V 15 Intel: Two-minute review

The Acer Nitro V 15 Intel is yet another gaming laptop from the esteemed brand that promises high-end performance for a relatively modest outlay.

It has a fairly muted design for the most part, although the variegated lines and Nitro symbol on the lid hint at its potential. It’s quite bulky and reasonably heavy, but still manages to be more portable than some of its rivals. This is also helped by the omission of a rear ventilation bulge common on many gaming laptops.

It’s not as well built as the best gaming laptops, though. It employs less-than premium materials in places, and the flex of the chassis doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. In the main, though, it’s perfectly acceptable, and the important aspects, such as the keys and the lid hinge, are engineered to a higher standard.

Most of the ports you'll typically find on a gaming laptop are present and correct on the Nitro V 15 Intel, although they’re loaded on the left-hand side; all you get on the right is a headset jack and a USB-A port. I would’ve liked to have seen a few more here for versatility’s sake, but this is a minor gripe.

The performance of the Nitro V 15 Intel isn’t exactly off the charts, but it’s more than sufficient for solid 1080p gaming. You’ll get around 60fps or above with high – if not the highest – settings selected in AAA titles.

The display impressed me with its vibrant colors and deep blacks. Reflections can get in the way, but its maximum brightness does just about enough to mitigate the worst of them. It’s a small shame, however, that the lid doesn’t open all that wide, which limits its viewing angles.

There’s also a fair amount of fan noise, even when gaming at modest settings, although it’s still mostly tolerable. The Nitro V 15 Intel also generates plenty of heat, which can be a little disruptive as it makes its way to the space bar and even up to the display, which is less than ideal.

With its relatively low starting price, the Nitro V 15 Intel makes for a tempting proposition. However, there are some other great budget picks at this end of the market, including its bigger sibling, the Nitro 16. And if you don’t need the latest tech, the MSI Katana 15 (2023) is another admirable 1080p performer. But the Nitro V 15 Intel can stand proud alongside these as another reasonably priced gaming laptop worth the money.

Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Price & Availability

• Starts from $899.99 / £849.99 (about AU$1370)
• Available now
• Budget end of the market

The Nitro V 15 Intel starts from $899.99 / £849.99 (about AU$1370) and is available now. It can be configured with an RTX 5050 or 5060, an Intel Core i5 or i7 of the 13th generation, and 512GB or 1TB of storage.

This is good value for a gaming laptop with an RTX 5000 series GPU. It does face some stern competition at this price point, however – chiefly from its larger counterpart, the Nitro 16, which we think is the best budget gaming laptop around right now, and it has a larger display (albeit slightly).

If you don’t need the latest components, the MSI Katana 15 (2023) is another strong alternative with a reasonable price tag. It does have a few flaws, such as its poor trackpad and middling battery life, but there are worse areas to have made sacrifices.

• Value: 4 / 5

Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Specs

Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Design

• Minimal design
• Reasonably thick and heavy
• Well-made keyboard

The Nitro V 15 Intel adopts a fairly minimal aesthetic for a gaming laptop. About the only indication of its leanings is the multicolored linear pattern on the lid, which adds a small amount of interest to its appearance.

It’s a somewhat bulky, blocky unit and it weighs a considerable amount, although there are certainly thicker and heavier examples in this class. It also lacks the rear bulge for cooling purposes common on many gaming laptops, which improves its portability.

The materials employed throughout the unit don’t strike me as being among the most premium, feeling a little cheap compared to those of the competition. There’s also some flex to the enclosure for the keyboard and trackpad, but not to a disconcerting extent.

Thankfully, the lid hinge seems built to a higher standard, opening with ease and offering sufficient stability. It doesn’t open very wide, though, since the bottom of the lid hits the underlying surface if you take it even slightly past 90 degrees.

The keys are also a highlight in terms of build quality. They’re smooth to the touch and comfortably proportioned, as well as being generously spaced apart. And despite the inclusion of a number pad, the overall layout doesn’t feel cramped.

One strange omission, though, is an FN lock shortcut. For some reason, this function is buried in the BIOS settings, which is very inconvenient – especially given there are no dedicated media control keys (they’re bound to the F row as secondary inputs).

There are four rubber feet underneath the Nitro V 15 Intel that provide adequate grip and support, and raise the chassis from the surface by a small amount – although perhaps not by enough for optimal airflow.

You’ll find most of its ports on the left-hand side. The rear-most is the power port, followed by the ethernet and HDMI ports, and in turn two USB-A ports and one USB-C.

On the right there’s only a USB-A port and a headset jack. I would’ve preferred a better balance between the two sides – perhaps more USB-A ports on the right for connecting various peripherals, but this is a small gripe.

The power brick that comes with the Nitro V 15 Intel is pleasingly small, while the cable that runs from it to the laptop is relatively long, which makes it better suited to a wider variety of setups.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Performance

• Runs AAA titles at very high settings
• Maximum settings not attainable
• Vivid and bright display

With the RTX 5060 equipped in my review unit, the Nitro V 15 Intel performed quite well, if not blisteringly so. When I played Cyberpunk 2077 with the Ray Tracing: Low preset (which the game chose by default), I got somewhere in the region of 60-70fps. I’m sure many gamers are happy to play at these rates (myself included), but those looking for figures in the hundreds will be disappointed.

The display does a commendable job of rendering colors vibrantly; there are no washed-out tones here, as there are on other LCD displays. There's also plenty of contrast, with blacks being particularly impressive in their richness. Reflections can be prominent, but thankfully there’s enough brightness to combat the worst offenders.

A fair amount of fan noise accompanied most of my play time, but it was nothing a good pair of headphones or the best PC gaming headsets couldn’t mask. As expected, heat was also generated, which can make its way to the keyboard, even after a short time, and concentrating mostly around the space bar. Here it exceeded temperatures on the edge of my comfort zone.

Also, since there’s no large protrusion behind the lid, the vents are placed in front of the display, which can lead to heat radiating onto the display. This isn’t exactly the best place for it to go, and I would be concerned about the long-term effects on the screen.

As for the keys, I found their lack of dampening and surprising resistance can make them uncomfortable to game with, leading to fatigue when using the WASD keys for long periods. However, their clicky feel and short actuation point makes them snappy and responsive, which in turn makes them ideal for typing as well as gaming (their aforementioned size and spacing also help in this regard).

The trackpad, however, frequently got in my way while typing, registering unintentional swipes even when I made marginal contact with the palm of my thumb.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Battery Life

• Middling longevity
• Quick to charge

The Nitro V 15 Intel has a reasonable, if not spectacular, battery life. It managed to last six and a half hours during our movie playback test, and one hour and 37 minutes in the PCMark gaming battery test, neither of which are class-leading scores.

Having said that, there are certainly gaming laptops with worse batteries, and thankfully the Nitro V 15 Intel is very quick to charge, taking about an hour and twenty minutes to totally replenish.

• Battery Life: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Nitro V 15 Intel?

Buy the Acer Nitro V 15 Intel if...

Don't buy it if...

Acer Nitro V 15 Intel review: Also Consider

How I tested the Acer Nitro V 15 Intel

• Tested for a few days
• Used for gaming, work, and browsing
• Plentiful gaming experience

I tested the Nitro V 15 Intel for a few days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.

I played AAA titles and ran our series of benchmarks that test gaming and productivity performance, storage speeds, and battery life.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and have experienced various machines and components during that time. I’ve also reviewed a number of laptops previously, including other Acer and gaming-oriented models.

• First reviewed: August 2025
• Read more about how we test

Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025): Two-minute review

The Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) is a mid-range laptop with AI capabilities that aim to streamline advanced tasks without compromising processing power.

It looks smart and sleek with its minimal design. The blue colorway of my review unit also added an element of vibrancy to proceedings, offering something a little different from the usual black and silver finishes.

It’s also very light and thin, which makes it easy to use and carry around. The bezel around the screen is very small, too, which helps to maximize the size of the display.

The materials feel premium enough, especially the keys, but it’s not the sturdiest unit. There’s a considerable amount of flex to the lid and chassis, falling some way short of the best laptop constructions.

As you’d expect given its name, there are various AI features in the Aspire 14 AI (2025). However, there aren’t as many as you might think, with the flagship app appearing to be Acer LiveArt – a disappointingly basic image editing suite.

The AI apps run fairly smoothly in the main, though, and the Aspire 14 AI (2025) performs everyday tasks quite well, from productivity and browsing to streaming. However, it can succumb to the occasional slowdown and lag, and doesn’t handle 4K content particularly well. More strenuous tasks, such as gaming, are beyond it, as you might expect given the middling GPU it’s saddled with.

What’s more, there’s a pretty consistent fan noise, even during moderate workloads, which increases the harder the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is pushed. I also noticed a strange rattling sound at times, which was slightly concerning.

The display is more impressive, providing plenty of sharpness and brightness. Colors are rendered quite well, too, although they’re not the most vivid, with some of its rivals achieving greater saturation.

The keyboard is mostly pleasant to use, thanks in no small part to the sizable and generously spaced keys. The trackpad is smooth enough, but taps and clicks lack consistency and feedback.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is the battery life. It lasted 22 hours in our movie playback test, which trounces most of the competition, even at the top end of the market.

Ultimately, the Aspire 14 AI (2025) ends up being a somewhat underwhelming laptop considering its price tag. You might be better off paying a little more to have a laptop with a better design and overall performance.

Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Price & Availability

• Starts from $699.99 / £699 / AU$1,399
• Well-priced for the spec

The Aspire 14 AI (2025) starts from $699.99 / £699 / AU$1,399 and is available now in the US, UK, and Australia in various finishes. It can be configured with 512GB or 1TB of storage.

On the face of it, this is a reasonable price for a laptop with this spec. But it does face some stern competitors who, despite being a bit more expensive, might represent better value, all things considered.

Take the Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch, which starts at $899.99 / £1,039 / AU$1,498, and while it has a similar everyday performance to the Aspire 14 AI (2025) and a marginally shorter – but still impressive – battery life, it’s built to a higher standard and more enjoyable to use in our view.

Similarly, there’s also the Dell 14 Plus. Again, this is more expensive than the Aspire 14 AI (2025), but its everyday performance is better – although it still can’t handle the most intensive workloads, like video editing and AAA gaming. It too has an impressive battery life, although it’s still not quite as enduring as that of the Aspire 14 AI (2025).

• Value: 3.5 / 5

Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Specs

Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Design

• Very thin and light
• Flimsy build quality
• Poor AI features

The Aspire 14 AI (2025) is very portable, even for a 14-inch laptop, thanks to its light and slender frame, free from any bulges or protrusions. This also adds to its sleek appearance. The dark blue colorway of my review unit suited it very well, and helped distinguish it from the monochromatic homogeneity of the sector.

The lid is easy to open, yet offers sufficient stability. Pleasingly, it also reclines all the way back by 180 degrees, making it versatile for various stands and setups.

Instead of four feet, the Aspire 14 AI (2025) features two long bars running across its width, with the rear one being taller than the front. They don’t provide as much grip as more traditional rubber feet, but they suffice for keeping the Aspire 14 AI (2025) stable while in use. What’s more, some may find this lack of traction preferable, as it makes the laptop easier to slide around on a given surface.

Build quality is good in places, such as the keyboard, with the plastics looking and feeling premium. I also appreciated the very thin bezel around the screen, which serves to maximize the full real estate.

However, there’s a considerable amount of flex to the chassis and the lid, which is somewhat disconcerting. It’s probably not one to take on more extreme adventures – it’s certainly no match for the best rugged laptop units in this regard – but it should suffice for basic travel.

As for software, the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is mercifully free from bloatware – although that statement largely depends on how you feel about AI features. Thankfully, those that are installed are unintrusive and only there if you need them.

The included AI features of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) are mainly confined to image and video editing, courtesy of Acer LiveSense. This app has some very basic image editing and webcam effects to play around with, but to call this an AI feature is a stretch. Its generative features boil down to buttons that open Microsoft's Copilot app instead.

If you want more AI offerings from Acer than those preinstalled, you’ll have to download Acer Intelligence Space, which acts as a hub for its suite of AI apps. However, I couldn’t get this to install on my unit, with the app failing to appear once the installer had finished running.

As a side note, if you’re looking to install third-party apps, keep in mind that the Aspire 14 AI (2025) uses an ARM processor, so you may run into compatibility issues. Check with the software provider where you can to determine suitability for the architecture.

There’s a well-judged selection of ports on the Aspire 14 AI (2025). It features two USB-C ports, both of which employ the Thunderbolt 4 standard. These are both located on the left-hand side, in front of the HDMI 2.1 port and USB-A port, which may prove inconvenient for certain setups, since you’ll need to connect the power adapter to one of them.

On the right you’ll find a USB-A port, followed by a headset jack and a microSD slot. It’s a shame there isn’t at least one more port on this side, but this is a minor complaint.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Performance

• Reasonable workaday performance
• AI apps eat memory
• Noisy even under moderate loads

The performance of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is good, if nothing spectacular. It can handle most everyday tasks, including word processing, spreadsheet editing, and video streaming, although 4K content can result in significant pauses for buffering. There were also a few occasions where it was a little sluggish, such as when waking from sleep.

The AI apps and features run well enough, although they do tend to eat up a considerable amount of memory, despite the 16GB of RAM on board. Models with more would be preferable to deal with such workloads on a regular basis.

Even under moderate loads, the fans of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) are audible. The noise isn’t too loud or shrill, but it’s still noticeable and unexpected. The volume does increase with heavier tasking, though – but at least the unit remains cool throughout.

I also noticed a strange rattling sound at times, as if some part was loose and vibrating. Pressing the offending area fixed the issue temporarily, but this speaks further to the less-than-stellar build quality of the Aspire 14 AI (2025).

Intensive tasks are beyond the Aspire 14 AI (2025). It doesn’t handle gaming very well, even when playing moderately demanding titles with modest settings. I encountered severe stuttering and lag when playing Counter-Strike 2 on the Medium preset, rendering it virtually unplayable; this certainly isn’t a device to replace the best gaming laptops.

The 1920 x 1200 display is sharp and renders colors quite well, although it’s not the most vibrant you’ll ever see. It has high levels of brightness, too, which helps to keep reflections at bay.

The keys are large and generously spaced, which makes them easy to type with. They lack the feedback and satisfying feel of the best laptops for writers, and the omission of a number pad might deter those after maximum productivity, but for basic note taking and essay writing, the keyboard should suffice.

The trackpad manages to stay out of the way while typing for the most part, with it refraining from registering palm contact. It’s smooth and pleasingly large, but the taps are a little inconsistent, and the click feels quite nasty and lacks feedback, making it awkward to use for constant navigation around documents and web pages.

• Performance: 3.5 / 5

Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Battery Life

• Incredible longevity
• Beats all the competition

The battery life of the Aspire 14 AI (2025) is very impressive. During our movie playback test, it managed to last an incredible 22 hours – a few hours shy of Acer’s 28-hour claim, but this is forgivable given there are very few rivals that can match this kind of endurance.

It trounces even more premium laptops, such as the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) (the best student laptop in our view), which only managed a little over 14 hours. The Microsoft Surface Laptop managed just over 17 hours, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus lasted over 18 hours.

• Battery Life: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025)?

Buy the Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) if...

Don't buy it if...

Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025) review: Also Consider

How I tested the Acer Aspire 14 AI (2025)

• Tested for a few days
• Used for various tasks
• Plenty of laptop reviewing experience

I tested the Aspire 14 AI (2025) for a few days, using it for productivity, entertainment, and general browsing.

I did plenty of typing and content streaming, and even tested its gaming credentials. I also ran our series of benchmarks to assess various aspects of its performance, and made sure to use as many of its in-built AI apps and features as I could.

I have reviewed many laptops before, ranging in their price points and usage types. I’ve also used them consistently for decades for all manner of tasks.

• First reviewed: August 2025
• Read more about how we test

Parents, it's almost time for students to return to school, with the summer holidays coming to an end, and what better way is there to get them prepared than with generous laptop deals? Fortunately, we've found a few that might catch your eye, with specifications suitable for multitasking and study, for as little as £249.

With both Acer and HP at the forefront here, affordability is key, and I'm happy to say that all of these deals fit the bill.

Starting with the best deal available, the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is now available for just £249 (previously £349) at Currys, with a further 10% discount available for students. With an Intel Core 3 N355 processor, 128GB of storage, and up to 10 hours of battery life, the Chromebook Plus 514 will get you through strenuous daily tasks easily.

Performance and power get better with the Acer Aspire Lite 15-inch, and it's now available for £399 (previously £549) at Currys. Powered by AMD's Ryzen 5 6600H processor alongside 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, the Aspire Lite is a steal at £399.

If you're willing to spend much more and get a bang for your buck, then the HP OmniBook AI 17-inch laptop is your answer. It's available for £699 (previously £999), and fortunately, you can save another £100 if you're a student.

This laptop uses Intel's Core Ultra 5 226V processor (which is capable of triple-A gaming), 16GB of RAM, including Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1 ports, suitable for fast charging and multitasking. Don't miss it!

Not in the UK? Scroll down to see the best Acer and HP deals in your region!

Today's best Acer and HP laptop deals in the UK

All of these laptops are fantastic potential purchases for study and work. While the HP OmniBook 7 AI 17-inch is the clear standout thanks to its powerful processor and other specifications like 16GB of RAM that are well-suited for multitaskers, the other laptops are still capable of good performance, especially considering their low prices.

If you're looking to strike a balance between affordability and power, your first option here should be the Acer Aspire Lite 15-inch, as AMD's processor will just about get you over the line in a wide variety of heavy workloads. The best alternative is the Acer Chromebook Plus 514, which is only £249; if you ask me, that's a steal for any laptop, particularly one using ChromeOS.

The HP OmniBook 7 AI 17-inch should only be considered if you're looking to use the laptop for more than just regular work and study, as it's more than capable of breezing through CPU-intensive tasks. So much so that it can run triple-A games at lower graphics settings.

These sales won't stick around for too long, so now is the time to act!

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI: Two-minute review

The Acer Predator Helios 18 AI is a top-tier gaming laptop with a phenomenal spec that’s sure to whet the appetites of even casual gamers. Despite what lurks inside, its exterior is remarkably restrained. At 18 inches, it's obviously very large, but the black finish and lack of branding keep its profile reasonably low. However, that large rear protrusion and ostentatious RGB lighting give away its intentions.

I think Acer has done well to keep the Predator Helios 18 AI as slender as possible. Of course, this is all relative given the size of the laptop we’re dealing with here, but it’s impressively thin for the most part, although it thickens at the rear.

Build quality is also excellent, equaling the best gaming laptops in this regard. Premium materials are employed everywhere, and the hinge for the lid is smooth and easy to operate, while offering plenty of stability once set.

The keyboard is tactile and snappy, and the generous spacing of the keys makes it easy to type and game on the Predator Helios 18 AI. The number pad somewhat compromises the layout, though, with the space bar paying the highest price; it’s a little too short for my liking.

On the other hand, the large trackpad does a fine job of not interfering while using the keyboard, with accidental contact failing to register in my experience. It’s also very smooth and accurate, should you wish to use it over one of the best gaming mice.

Considering its mighty spec, the Predator Helios 18 AI performs as well as you might expect. Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom: The Dark Ages ran with aplomb, each delivering fps figures in the hundreds with maximum graphics settings, including those for ray tracing.

You will have to endure constant fan noise when gaming, but thankfully this isn’t egregious when the default Balanced mode is selected in the Predator Sense app. The Predator Helios 18 AI also generates a fair amount of heat, which can spread to the sides and the keyboard after a while. Again, though, this isn’t bad enough to cause an issue.

The biggest price you’ll have to pay for all this performance is… well, the price. Starting at $3,000, the Predator Helios 18 AI is incredibly expensive. I struggle to think who’ll need such a large and powerful laptop, and be willing to pay this much for one.

Of course, the entire gaming laptop market is a premium one, but there are better value alternatives out there if you don’t need an 18-inch display and triple-digit frame rates, such as the excellent Razer Blade 16 (2025) or the MSI Katana 15 (2023), the latter of which we think is currently the best budget gaming laptop around.

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Price & Availability

• Starts from $2,999.99 / £3,499.99 / AU$7,299
• Hugely expensive
• Better value alternatives

The Predator Helios 18 AI starts from $2,999.99 / £3,499.99 / AU$7,299 and is available now. It comes with spare WASD and arrow keys, as well as a thermal pad upgrade kit for the RAM.

You don’t need me to tell you what an eye-watering sum this is. It’s understandable considering the spec, and my review unit was even more outlandish, equipped with a 3840 x 2400 display and 192GB of RAM(!).

Prices are similar to the Razer Blade, which performs similarly too. If you want something that’s even better value, the MSI Katana 15 (2023) is, in our view, one of the best budget gaming laptops around, if you’re happy to game at 1080p.

• Value: 2.5 / 5

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Specs

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Design

• Large but surprisingly thin
• Relatively understated
• Excellent build quality

Given its large display size, the Predator Helios 18 AI is a reasonably understated gaming laptop. The rear bulge that extends beyond the lid hinge gives it some distinction, and the RGB lighting can light up the whole unit like a Christmas tree if you want it to (the bar that runs along the front edge and wraps around the side is especially striking). But switch this off and you’ll struggle to tell it apart from the best business laptops.

It’s quite bulky, although I think the Predator Helios 18 AI does an admirable job of keeping its dimensions contained considering the beastly components that lay within. The front end is reasonably thin, but thickens as it moves towards the back. This increased size does allow for larger vent openings, though, so it’s a worthy sacrifice to improve cooling performance.

The overall build quality is hard to fault. All the materials that are used look and feel premium and durable. The lid is also impressively smooth to operate yet remains sufficiently stable when set in position.

Underneath you’ll find three feet that run across the width of the Predator Helios 18 AI, and they provide plenty of grip on desktop surfaces. They also raise the chassis from the surface by a significant degree, again allowing for improved ventilation.

There are plenty of ports on the Predator Helios 18 AI. On the left, you’ll find an ethernet and a USB-A port, as well as an SD card slot and a 3.5mm audio in/ out jack. On the right are two more USB-A ports, which is a sensible location considering this is where you’ll likely be connecting external peripherals.

On the rear are two USB-C ports, an HDMI port, and a large power cable port. As you would imagine, the power supply is large, but unfortunately the cable running from the brick to the jack end is quite short. Owing to my setup, this meant I had to keep the brick on my desk rather than placing it on the floor, which was quite the inconvenience.

• Design: 4 / 5

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Performance

• Fantastic AAA performance
• Vibrant and sharp display
• Some fan noise and heat

Gaming with the Predator Helios 18 AI didn’t get off to a particularly auspicious start. When I ran Cyberpunk 2077 for the first time, the game’s benchmark function recorded a disappointing 42fps, with the maximum 3840 x 2400 resolution and Ray Tracing: Ultra preset selected.

Some tinkering with the graphics settings resulted in modest improvements to performance, but it wasn’t until after restarting the game a couple of times that things suddenly improved: I started getting about 100fps, even in busy in-game environments, without lowering the resolution or any other graphical settings.

Similar figures were achieved when I played Doom: The Dark Ages, although I did have to change the DLSS mode from Auto to Ultra Performance to get there. Thankfully, this made no discernible difference to the image quality.

And on that front, both games looked fantastic on the WQUXGA display. Colors were accurate and vibrant, if very slightly washed-out. This is a common issue on many IPS displays, but here the effect did little to detract from the awesomeness of the visuals.

The ultra-high 3840 x 2400 resolution in my review unit offered incredible levels of sharpness, while the high response times resulted in super-smooth gameplay. It’s also capable of very high brightness levels, which helps to keep pesky reflections at bay.

Fan noise is constant when gaming on the Predator Helios 18 AI, but I didn’t find it distractingly loud. The volume increases considerably if you set the Predator Sense profile to Performance mode, though – then you’ll really need one of the best PC gaming headsets to drown out the noise.

The Predator Helios 18 AI does a good job of keeping temperatures down. Its underside doesn’t get too hot, although over time heat leaks out of both sides, which can be a little distracting for your mouse hand. After a couple of hours of gaming, I noticed the bottom of the keyboard became quite hot, too, especially around the space bar.

It wasn’t hot enough to make using the keyboard a problem, though. And what’s more, the keyboard on the Predator Helios 18 AI is great to game with. The keys are clicky but damped enough to make them tactile.

They’re a little on the small side (although they’re generously spaced apart), owing to the inclusion of the aforementioned number pad. This compromises the layout somewhat – especially the space bar, which isn’t as long as I would’ve liked, and therefore somewhat awkward to hit with my left thumb.

The trackpad on the Predator Helios 18 AI is large and very smooth, making it easy to use. Mercifully, it also appears unaffected by contact with the sides of your palms, meaning it won’t accidentally register movements while your hands lean over it to use the keyboard.

• Performance: 5 / 5

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Battery Life

• Large 99Wh capacity
• Underwhelming longevity
• Quick to charge

The battery life of the Predator Helios 18 AI isn't particularly impressive. Despite its 99Wh capacity, it lasted just under 90 minutes PCMark10's battery test for gaming scenarios.

This makes it considerably worse than the Razer Blade 16 (2025), which managed about an hour more, but much better than the MSI Katana 15 (2023), which didn’t even last one hour.

Charging the Predator Helios 18 AI back up to full is a surprisingly quick process, though – and given the size of the power brick, you would hope it would be.

• Battery Life: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Predator Helios 18 AI?

Buy the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI if...

Don't buy it if...

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Also Consider

How I tested the Predator Helios 18 AI

• Tested for a few days
• Played AAA games
• Extensive PC gaming experience

I tested the Predator Helios 18 AI for a few days, during which time I played games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom: The Dark Ages, both AAA titles that provide stern tests for rigs owing to their demanding, cutting-edge graphics.

I also ran TechRadar’s series of benchmarking tests, including a battery test where I played a movie on a continuous loop until the Predator Helios 18 AI shut down.

I have been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I have experienced a number of systems and components. I have also reviewed laptops previously, as well as copious amounts of gaming hardware.

• First reviewed: July 2025
• Read more about how we test

You can scroll through Amazon’s best-selling laptops all day, but I don’t think anything beats this affordable Acer Aspire Go 15, which is just $300 at Amazon.

Frankly, it’s better than any cheap Windows laptop the site is currently promoting.

I'm seeing some really questionable picks in Amazon’s current list of the 50 best-selling laptops, and honestly, not a single Windows machine on there gets my stamp of approval.

A full 21 of those are MacBooks (great, if you’ve got the budget), and another seven are Chromebooks (fine for basic use). But the Windows options? Most of them are powered by older Intel CPUs, Celerons, or Celeron-class chips like the N150, and way too many are still shipping with 1366x768 HD displays. That might have flown five years ago, but not anymore. That's why the Acer Aspire Go gets my vote.

What caught my eye here is the Intel Core i3-N305 chip, a newer 8-core processor that beats everything else in its price range. If you check CPU benchmarks, it’s miles ahead of anything running on a Celeron or older Pentium.

Paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 1080p Full HD IPS display, this laptop is built to actually handle basic productivity, light multitasking, and streaming.

That’s a huge step up from the slower, outdated options you’ll typically find in the sub-$300 bracket.

Storage-wise, you’re getting 128GB of fast onboard flash, which is enough for school or office use, especially if you lean on cloud storage.

It runs Windows 11 in S Mode, which can be switched out if you want to install other apps.

The laptop also brings in solid extras like Wi-Fi 6, HDMI 2.1, and USB-C with charging and DisplayPort support. The webcam uses Acer’s AI noise reduction and image enhancement tech, which helps on video calls.

It’s lightweight, packaged in recycled materials, and built by Acer, a reliable brand that’s been around for decades. And best of all, it’s brand new, not refurbished.

If you're trying to stretch your dollars and still want a Windows laptop that can actually keep up with your day-to-day tasks, this is easily the pick I’d go for right now.

• Shop all Amazon laptop deals

For more top picks, we've tested and reviewed the best business laptops and the best laptops for MBA students you can get right now.

So, for casual PC users and gamers, do you think it's time to make a visual upgrade? If so, you'll be happy to hear that I've found several monitors that will suit your needs, whether you're looking for the best of the best or simply on a budget.

My favorite among them (and quite possibly the best deal overall) is the LG UltraGear OLED 34GS95QE gaming monitor, which is now available for $769 (was $1,299.99) on Amazon in the US. It's also available for just £617.99 (was £766) on Amazon in the UK.

• See all of today's best Amazon deals

It provides an exceptional immersive experience with its impressive 800R curvature; think of a VR headset experience, and the 800R curvature is the closest you can get to that with a gaming monitor. That's even without mentioning the 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time you'll have at your disposal, so it's an easy choice. It's possibly the best ultrawide OLED monitor you'll find that's reasonably priced, and as we approach the final countdown on Amazon Prime Day, it's your last chance to act on some of the best deals we've seen on products like it in a while.

If you're on a budget though, the AOC Q27G3XMN 27-inch mini-LED gaming monitor is available for $254.99 (previously $299.99) on Amazon in the US, a shockingly low price for a bright mini-LED monitor, thanks to DisplayHDR 1000.

Fortunately, that's not all, as there's a wide range of displays available – but I must warn you, don't wait around too long, as the clock is ticking, and many of them are already low on stock!

Today's best Amazon Prime Day monitor deals in the US

Today's best Amazon Prime Day monitor deals in the UK

More Amazon Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: 50% off Kindle & Echo
• Apple: AirPods + iPads from $99
• Back to school: deals from $5.99
• Beauty: up to 50% off Oral-B & Philips
• Headphones: up to $120 of Beats, Apple & Sony
• Kitchen: up to 50% off Ninja, Breville & Instant
• Laptops: HP, Lenovo & Apple from $119
• Prime Student: six-month free trial for 18-24 year olds
• Tablets: iPad and Fire Tab from $54.99
• Toys: 40% off Lego, scooters & Toniebox
• TVs: cheap TVs from $69.99
• Vacuums: Shark, Bissell & Dyson from $49.99

More Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Devices: up to 50% off Kindle & Ring
• Appliances: Ninja & De'Longhi from £29.99
• Gaming: Nintendo Switch 2 – in stock now
• Headphones: Bose & Sony from £14.99
• Health: up to 68% off Philips, Remington & Oral-B
• Home: fans from £12.99
• Laptops: Lenovo, Asus and HP from £139
• Phones: up to 30% off Apple & Samsung
• Tablets: iPads & Fire Tabs from £59.99
• Toys: up to 50% off Lego & Mattel
• TVs: cheap TVs from £99.99
• Vacuums: Shark and eufy from £99
• Wearables: Huawei & Samsung from £39