Acer Predator Helios 300 Review

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is Acer’s attempt at making a powerful gaming laptop, which has been largely successful.

In terms of performance and display, this device is one of the best in its price range. However, it does come with a few drawbacks, such as battery life and weight. 

Is Acer Predator Helios 300 worth it, and what else can you expect? Let’s find out.

Gaming with style > Watch our Acer Predator Helios 300 Review

This YouTube review was created by the Not Just Laptops team. The specs may slightly differ from the laptop in the article.

Predator Helios 300 Specs and Upgradability

My test version of Acer Predator Helios 300 came with a 12th Gen. Intel Core i7, 6GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, 64GB of RAM, and 2GB of SSD storage.

You can also get upgraded options with an Intel i9 CPU and RTX 3070 or RTX 3080 GPUs with up to 16GB of dedicated video memory, or go for a more budget-friendly version with (somewhat) downgraded specs.

Predator Helios 300 Performance

12th Gen. Intel Core i7 and NVIDIA graphics make a powerful team. Boosted with ample RAM and storage, this dynamic duo can handle almost any game you throw its way.

For example, in my tests, Predator easily ran games like Metro Exodus or Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings. These are some of the more demanding titles, but I had lots of fun (and no lags) while playing them.

Compared to other models, this device shows great results. Let’s take Acer Nitro 5, which is a popular budget gaming laptop. I checked out both Nitro and Predator, and the Helios 300 consistently produced higher FPS.

When in turbo mode, it even kept up with the ROG Zephyrus G-15, which packs a significantly more powerful RTX 3080.

If you’re also considering Predator Triton 500, it is, based on my findings, more powerful in the gaming arena than Helios. But it also comes at a steeper price, yet its cooling system and battery life weren’t nearly as good.

However, the Predator Helios 300 is by no means a one-trick pony. Besides gaming, it showed great performance when handling serious creative tasks, like 3D animation in Blender and video editing. 

Not only did GPU perform well in creative tasks, but 64GB RAM is looots of RAM, even for 3D modeling and video editing pros. So that’s a win in my book, any day.

Predator Helios 300 Build Quality

Screen, Keyboard and Trackpad

Predator Helios 300 is equipped with a bright, colorful IPS display. I got an FHD 15.6″ version, but you can also opt for QHD and 17.3″ models. With such a massive screen, who needs an extra monitor to play games? 

And yes — the 165Hz refresh rate and RTX 3060 mean that you will easily spot and outmaneuver any enemy before they make their move. For example, when I tried GTA V, the car chases looked awesome and loaded very fast.

The refresh rate caps when playing eSports, so if you’re into those, I might consider a 240Hz or even 300Hz panel.

Helios 300 has a nicely rounded, full-size keyboard with a number pad and gorgeous multi-zone RGB backlighting. The keys feel good and I like the highlighted movement keys and arrows, though the key caps could have been a little more tactile. 

Just above the keyboard, there’s a special treat – a turbo button that turns Predator into a real beast, maximizing CPU, GPU, and fan speed for ultimate gaming performance. 

As for the trackpad, it is ok and serves the purpose, but it isn’t the most responsive at times, which I kinda expected from this type of laptop. If you’re a gamer, you will likely be using a mouse anyway.

Design and Weight

The design is clean, with a Predator logo in the middle of the lid, and not many more branding elements or gaming accents. To me, Predator definitely feels premium — metal pieces are used for the lid, interior, and sides. I did notice fingerprints on the chassis, so get ready to clean it more often than some other laptops. 

At 5.73 pounds, the 15.6” Helios 300 is the heaviest among its direct competitors. The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro is somewhat lighter at 5.49lbs, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 comes in at 5.07lbs. The Razer Blade 15 remains a champion in this department, with only 4.4lbs.

Acer Predator Helios 300 during our test | Photos by Bence Fagyal

Webcam and Speakers

Zooming in on camera, at 1280 x 720 and 720p HD quality, I’d have to say it’s average. It gets the job done, but if you’re planning on streaming – think again. I’d go for an external HD cam if that’s the case.  

Speakers, on the other hand, are loud and crystal clear. They’re better than most laptop speakers if you’re looking to binge-watch your favorite shows. However, for a truly immersive gaming experience, I’d get a dedicated headset. 

Port Selection

Acer added a great port selection to Predator Helios 300. The model I tested has three USB-A ports, one USB-C, an HDMI, mini display ports, a 4-pole headphone jack, Ethernet, onboard Wi-Fi, and DC. 

So many connectivity options leave room for a full set of peripherals, external storage, an external display, and even an Elgato if you’re streaming. 

The port selection of the Acer Predator Helios 300 | Photos by Bence Fagyal

Predator Helios 300 Thermal Design

Every true gamer knows that victory is best achieved with a nice set of cooling fans on a laptop — and Predator Helios 300 is a champion in the cooling department. A dual fan setup takes the air from the bottom and exhausts it on the sides and on the back, which prevents the laptop from overheating. 

The computer also has a liquid metal thermal grease printed in a thin layer between the CPU and the thermal module. This warrants a more efficient heat transfer and helps your CPU stay cool, improving your gaming experience.​​

Based on my tests, the laptop remains reasonably cool even in Turbo mode.

Predator Helios 300 Battery Life and Portability

If you’re watching videos or doing some schoolwork, the Helios 300 can run for four to five hours. Yet, if you’re playing games, you can expect an hour or two of juice, depending on the settings you use and the game you play. 

The good news is – charging is no problem, as you get a super-powerful adapter. 

This laptop isn’t exactly what you’d call thin and light. In fact, with a massive screen and a giant charger, which alone can weigh up to 2 pounds, the weight adds up pretty quickly. 

If portability is important to you, I’d look at more compact alternatives, such as the 15.6-inch Razer Blade 15, or 14-inch ROG Zephyrus G14. 

Pros

The design and build quality are a huge plus for this laptop. Since it is entirely made of metal, the Helios 300 is one of the most durable gaming machines. It’s a sturdy machine, capable of enduring an occasional bump.

Another strong point is the display quality. Any display options, ranging from FHD with a 144Hz refresh rate to QHD with a 165Hz refresh rate, will do a great job.

You will also get top-notch performance from your Helios 300 device. Even the i5 variant packs enough punch for a smooth experience, and the i7 and i9 options are better, of course. 

Cons

The power-hungry components inside this machine reduce the battery life to just a few hours of gaming. Other best gaming laptops have been known to offer more juice. 

The weight doesn’t do the Helios 300 any favors, either. Carrying almost 8 pounds on your back (charger included) isn’t much fun. 

Conclusion

So, is the Acer Predator Helios 300 a good choice? If gaming and content consumption are your thing, this device will possibly give you the best bang for the buck. 

Yet, depending on the configuration you choose, it has a few drawbacks, especially regarding portability and battery.

Still, when it comes to gaming laptops, Predator Helios 300 remains one of the gaming evergreens that brings a whole lotta value and countless hours of enjoying the best titles on the market. 

If you’d like to check out what else Acer has in store, check out these 8 Best Acer laptops in 2023.