Acer Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition review: Great laptop, iffy gimmick

Price When Reviewed

$3,499.99

Best Prices Today: Acer Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition

Remember the Nintendo 3DS handheld? Personally, I cherished my 3DS and I nonetheless get pleasure from one infrequently even now. Although many opted to play in 2D, with the addition of eye monitoring in later fashions, glasses-free 3D grew to become a reasonably neat expertise. Unfortunately, 3D as a fad had overstayed its welcome and few video games actually supported a full 3D expertise.

Now, Acer is attempting an identical tack to Nintendo. With its SpatialLabs display expertise, customers can get just a little added depth from their video games with out having to don a VR headset or pesky 3D glasses. The Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition one of many first laptops of its variety…however is it an expertise price forking over $3,500 to see with your individual eyes? Let’s discover out.

Looking for extra choices? Check out our roundup of the best gaming laptops.

Acer Predator Helios 300: Specs and options

Our overview unit got here outfitted with an Intel Core i9-12900H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of NVMe SSD storage. For extra info on the specs and different options, try the checklist under:

• CPU: Intel Core i9-12900H (14 cores, 20 threads with 6 efficiency cores and 8 effectivity cores)
• Memory: 32 GB DDR5 4800MHz
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 with 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM
• Display: 15.6-inch 3840×2160 60 Hz IPS SpatialLabs glasses-free 3D display at 350 nits  
• Storage: 2 TB (2x 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD in RAID 0)
• Webcam: 720p
• Connectivity:  1x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, 2x USB-A 3.2, 1xUSB-A 3.1, HDMI 2.1, mini DisplayPort, gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm headset jack
• Networking: Killer AX1675i Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
• Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition
• Battery capability: 90Wh
• Dimensions: 12.4 W x 8.7 L x 0.7 H inches
• Weight: 5.7 kilos, 7.82 kilos with AC adapter
• Price as Reviewed: $3,499.99

Acer Predator Helios 300: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Even although cell computing has come a good distance over the previous years, gaming laptops typically aren’t as skinny or gentle due to the demand for added energy. That’s why the Acer Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs version is such a massive chungus. The scorching i9 chip and RTX 3080 want a giant heatpipe, followers, and room to dissipate a lot warmth. Plus, the big 15.6-inch show necessitates a broad body so as to match. But all of that thought-about, at 5.7 lbs, this Predator is plenty of laptop computer.

Thankfully, it feels effectively constructed with a mix of aluminum and plastic. Although I nonetheless discovered the design a bit too gamer-y for my tastes, its aggressive angles and quite a few rear vents jogged my memory of a stealth airplane. I’ve seen far weirder, worse designs with cheaper supplies so no less than know that you simply’re getting a flimsy, chintzy gaming pc with the Helios 300. Perhaps the most important nit I can decide right here is that the gunmetal end of the Helios 300 picks up fingerprints like loopy and I discovered myself continually wiping it off with a microfiber fabric.

Acer Predator Helios 300: Connectivity

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

With its ample chassis, the Predator Helios 300 has a ton of ports, however possibly not those I’d want to see in 2023. With such highly effective inside parts, this might simply be a pc that artistic professionals use whereas docked at a desk. You’ll discover three helpful USB-A ports, a gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.1, and a miniDisplayPort. What I’d like to see is greater than the one Thunderbolt 4 port. Computers that value far lower than the Helios 300 give customers no less than two of those versatile, high-speed ports that may be tremendous helpful when working with massive video information on an exterior drive. That mentioned, you’ll have to plug within the exterior A/C adapter to get the pc correctly powered and charging.

Wireless is top-shelf right here, with the most recent WiFi 6E customary and Bluetooth 5.2 onboard. This wi-fi card is from Killer, Intel’s gaming-focused wi-fi model, and may present a clean streaming and on-line gaming expertise, must you lack entry to a extra dependable wired connection. I’d have favored to see quicker, extra future-proofed 2.5 gigabit Ethernet for the worth.

Acer Predator Helios 300: Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

While the WASD keys is likely to be an important on the keyboard for a gamer (they’re sometimes used for transferring round), a laptop computer is barely pretty much as good as its typing expertise. Acer put a reasonably good keyboard within the Predator Helios 300. While they’re not fancy mechanical keys, I discovered that they had been responsive and gave me correct suggestions on when a key was pressed accurately. If you’re a spreadsheet wizard, it’s possible you’ll discover the marginally small numpad on the proper hand aspect to be of worth. Of course, you may customise the keyboard’s backlight to be no matter shade or animation you like.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

The trackpad, sadly, wasn’t superb. Although it was wonderful for many mousing round, the clicking mechanism beneath feels weirdly free and weak. You can see and really feel the trackpad wiggle only a tad as you run your finger throughout it. I’ve used cheaper laptops with far nicer feeling touchpads—it’s actually too dangerous that Acer bestowed the Helios 300 with such a chintzy one.

Acer Predator Helios 300: 3D show

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Although it’s a strong pc that may recreation fairly effectively, the Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs version is all about its massive, 3D display. Why else would you pay nearly $3,500 on a machine that would in any other case be extra inexpensive? The display has a number of completely different parts that it must work accurately. The first is the panel itself, with its particular glasses-free expertise layer inside. The second piece of the puzzle is the infrared digital camera system that tracks the person’s eyes so as to inform the show learn how to offset the photographs for every eye so as to add depth. The last piece of the SpatialLabs expertise is its proprietary video games launcher software program. This tells the system which suitable recreation you’re launching and permits an overlay to allow you to tweak the depth settings whilst you’re operating a recreation.

On paper, there have been greater than 70 video games once I tried the Helios 300 SpatialLabs version. There are two tiers of augmentation. Some video games have a “3D+” score, which is the usual addition of some depth whereas others are “3D Ultra,” which ought to take extra benefit of the expertise. During my time with the laptop computer, I principally performed two video games: Psychonauts 2 (which is 3D Ultra-rated) and Forza Horzon 5 (which is barely 3D+ tier). I had very completely different experiences with these titles.

Forza Horizon 5, with its considerably real looking graphics, seemed solely okay in 3D. Many of the menus had been rendered incorrectly in 3D and it was very unusual having to refocus my eyes on the sport’s speedometer, which exists on a separate aircraft from the deeper panorama and automobile. Although the graphics seemed fairly good and ran at a stable 60 FPS, there’s a lack of element because the display’s efficient decision goes from 4K (3840×2160) in 2D to 1920×2160 in 3D mode. The general image seems to be a bit such as you had been gazing at it by way of a display door in 3D.

My so-so Forza expertise pales compared to the eye-popping graphics of Psychonauts 2. This cartoony, trendy third-person recreation seemed incredible with 3D on and the quantity of depth—each inside and outdoors the display—was superior. The impact merely works higher as a result of it’s not attempting to recreate the true world, so my eyes can purchase it for what it’s. But that is most likely all down to private style and whether or not or not your favourite video games are well-supported by the SpatialLabs software program.

The greatest disadvantage of the show is that it shows all video games at solely 60 Hz. That signifies that the graphics energy from the RTX 3080 chip can’t get you smoother-looking video games, no less than not with out an exterior display. With the discount in decision if you’re having fun with 3D, any extra element in video games could also be nullified. Plus, you’re depending on Acer so as to add assist to video games sooner or later, so it might take some time in your favorites to make the minimize. All of this makes me really feel a bit like though it demos effectively, the 3D could also be a gimmick you don’t wish to pay for.    

Acer Predator Helios 300: Speakers and webcam

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

You’d hope {that a} brainy, brawny laptop computer would pack massive audio system, however sadly the sound from the Predator Helios 300 appears small and weak. Acer says this laptop computer has two inside audio system, half the variety of great-sounding machines just like the HP Dragonfly Pro I attempted earlier within the yr. The result’s that this dear laptop computer would possibly as effectively trumpet a “whomp whomp” everytime you attempt to play a video or music on it.

The webcam in-built right here was form of a letdown given the worth of this machine. It’s restricted to 720p and though picture high quality was wonderful, it doesn’t are compatible with Windows Hello. It has the flexibility to trace your head for the 3D impact, however no biometric login in any respect. Not that you’d, however the single microphone setup is fairly retro and doesn’t have any form of fancy noise cancellation for if you’re on work calls at dwelling. Acer most likely (accurately) assumes the audience for this laptop computer will don a headset once they get to “work.”

Acer Predator Helios 300: Performance

As far as gaming laptops go, the Predator Helios 300 has a few of the finest efficiency out there. It comes with the top-tier i9-12900H 14-core chip (with 6 efficiency cores and 8 effectivity cores) and Nvidia’s succesful RTX 3080 for added graphics efficiency. Although not one among Intel’s excessive HX-class chips, this is without doubt one of the finest cell processors round for sheer muscle. Not content material to provide customers software program settings for altering efficiency, you can even hit the Turbo button like on an previous 286 PC and kick the cooling system into overdrive for max clocks on the CPU and an overclock on the GPU.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

We benchmark each laptop computer with the PCMark 10 suite. This offers us a great overview of a laptop computer’s efficiency when doing on a regular basis duties like working in paperwork, searching the net, and chatting on video calls. The Acer Predator Helios 300 has loads of energy on faucet and saved tempo with different 12th gen Intel-based gaming laptops with H-class chips.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

In this efficiency take a look at, we use Cinebench R15 to get a way for the way effectively all a laptop computer’s processors work collectively to render a 3D scene. With its plentiful efficiency cores, the Helios 300 SpatialLabs version was capable of chew by way of the take a look at scene round as quick as different high-end Intel-based gaming machines. It’s price noting that the MSI outfitted with the Nvidia 4090 chip is far nearer to a desktop-class GPU than the mobile-focused 3080 and 3080 Ti’s in these graphs.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Using the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark, we are able to get a way for a laptop computer’s graphical efficiency when in comparison with others. Although it was blown away by the higher-end MSI Titan GT77 with its beefier, newer RTX 4090 graphics chip, it nonetheless turned in efficiency in keeping with comparable 3080-based machines.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

In a real-life situation, we run the Metro Exodus benchmark to get a median body charge in a graphically-intensive recreation. Using the Extreme setting at a 1080p decision, we measured a median body charge rely of 49 fps, making it aggressive with different laptops with 3080 Ti GPUs.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

An older, however nonetheless difficult gaming benchmark we use is Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Although the Helios 300 is behind another Nvidia 30-series powered laptops of late, however not by a lot.

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

In our last efficiency chart, we use Handbrake and time how lengthy it takes to show an HD film right into a tablet-friendly file that’s closely compressed. Unsurprisingly, the i9-equipped Helios 300 outdoes the i7 and Ryzen 9 choices on the market whereas coming manner behind the i9-12980HX, which is a unique efficiency tier.

Acer Predator Helios 300: Battery life

IDG / Brendan Nystedt

Gaming laptop computer battery life can hardly be anticipated to final a complete day. But on the very least, the Helios 300 SpatialLabs version kind of hangs with the remainder of at the moment’s high-performing pack. We measured just a little over 5 hours from this beastly machine on our customary looping 4K video take a look at. That’s decrease than different Intel i9-equipped gaming laptops just like the Razer Blade and effectively behind i7 and AMD Ryzen ones.

Acer Predator Helios 300: Conclusion

While the heart of the Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition are fairly stable, the complete system is let down by its display. The tech works, however in the event you’re into gaming on the go, this costly bundle is a disappointment. I’d say even with the upcoming 13th gen Intel/Nvidia 40-series refresh of this product, having a restricted 60Hz panel makes it a tricky advice. When comparable gaming laptops are reaching 240Hz and past, 60Hz even at 4K appears fairly wimpy. More than that, the inconsistent 3D implementation dulls the sharpness of the sluggish panel. For its $3,500 worth, you actually have to need the glasses-free 3D display, and can must be into any style however fast-twitch shooters or e-sports titles that profit from the responsiveness of a high-refresh display. That’s plenty of caveats.

I’ll admit that when the 3D impact works, it may be completely enchanting. And there could also be attention-grabbing purposes of this expertise—if they’ll get the refresh charge up in future SpatialLabs screens, then the premium is likely to be price it for avid gamers. But because it stands proper now, this particular Predator Helios 300 model ought to be skipped.