Customer Ratings & Reviews

If you can get this on a deal under 2.5k usd then I guess this is going to be a good deal. Its been over a month since I got this laptop and it has been performing well. In its stock condition it comes with 32gb and 1tb hdd. Which is more than enough if you have a decent internet. For those who want more storage it does have a free ssd slot(m2.nvme gen4). I have played cod4, forza, train sim and aoe iv definitive at highest settings and it does hold up well. As for cons, weight, conflicting reports on ram compatibility and the high noise of fan are the main concerns. This is not a mobile friendly device and more or less serves as a desktop replacement.

Wish i had returned this. Games lag and skip frames. This laptop runs extremely hot. It will burn u quickly. I had to delete armor crate because the laptop would not switch to the video card when playing a game. The display is amazing and looks crystal clear and vibrant however the rest of the laptop is not good at all and I wish I had returned it but I didn't know it was going to do all of this.

Laptop is a beauty, rgb on the back, keyboard feels nice but does this thing get hot. With core temp, i was seeing 103c on all 8 performance cores on the cpu with performance mode (NOT EVEN ON TURBO). Predator sense can only show a max of 99C. This laptop was consistently thermal throttling. Acer made it impossible to undervolt the PC too. I can see why this laptop is constantly getting discounted, you pay for 4090 but it behaves as a 4080. Screen is gorgeous though, and the box Acer send it in is magnificent. I just wish they could of created a system that had much better cooling. TLDR: Gets way to hot that it impacts gameplay on all modern games, but man is it a pretty laptop.

Overall my review is mixed. I bought this in June of '24 on sale. Perhaps I got a lemon, and I will update after I see how good (or bad) Acer is with supporting their products. Overall, the performance is great, and I get it over 100 fps on the most demanding new games with ultra maxed out settings. However, the cooling has to be at maximum to maintain reasonable temperature while gaming - which is expected when you put a bunch of powerful hardware in a small confined space. The big issue is with the power connector, and possibly motherboard in general. This is where the "lemon" part comes in. The connector for the power supply is VERY loose, as in it pretty much falls out with a light breeze. It was tolerable as long as I didn't move it, but now it loses connection even when sitting still. The power connector is just garbage! Worst still, it switches performance modes when it loses connection and switches to power and when it gets connection again too, causing massive lag spikes in my game or anything really. BIOS also randomly loses settings and the laptop just has issues booting sometimes, with the keyboard flashing for several minutes before it *finally* decides to boot (usually with BIOS cleared....). The issues have become pretty bad, so I'll see how good (or bad) Acer is at honoring their warranty and will update this review. Hopefully they're as good as Dell is and will send a tech to my home with parts.

Got this amazing laptop in. Much better quality then I expected as I can see so much within it and even the fans at the back work as good heaters for my freezing hands. +1 for the display. +1 for the keyboards, I like the clicky feel I get from them. +1 for the touchpad. Feels smooth and nice. +1 for RTX 4090. I can play games without weird glitches yay! +1 for good support already for questions answered about upgrading. Only complaint I've had so far is on software side when it upgraded the bluetooth drivers got mucked up. Resolving it was easy, just download from support page on acer. All in all, at the price I bought this, a very good deal.

This laptop is well-built but very loud at high fan settings. I would recommend using Performance setting rather than Turbo as the fans ramp up the noise very fast. The Mini-LED screen is very bright and color-accurate in DCI-P3. 250 mhz refresh rate taxes eve the RTX 4090 unless you reduce graphics settings or frame-generate. The Wi-Fi 7 is great for maxing out your home Internet if you have a 1gb/s or slower Internet speed. And the 2.5 gb/s Ethernet can go even faster than that.

This laptop is such a disappointment. The screen is amazing, the keyboard feels great, the sound is even pretty decent. This is where the good ends. The touchpad is too big and sensitive. This is so bad that if you are typing in something like word, because the cursor keeps moving. The second issue is sound. There are intermittent white noise bursts when watching videos and playing games. It causes pauses in the videos and games both. It's pretty annoying. The third issue I'm guessing is due to heat. In intense games like Spider-Man Remastered, Tekken 8, SF6, etc. I notice texture issues and graphics glitches. They don't last long, but they break the immersion and can cause clipping issues in game. It's really sad because the laptop itself is really amazing feeling. (to answer questions, yes, I've used different sound driver packages and I'm updated to the latest firmware).

This is the second Acer I have bought and I am very happy with it. The first one, bought eight years ago is still running fine and has no issues other than the chipset cannot work with Win 11, that was the only reason I had to get a new machine. This Win11 model has been fantastic. I dont use either of these for gaming, but instead I bought them for the graphics specs, screen quality, speed, etc. I have been very happy with all. It was very easy to get up and running, it boots up in seconds and is just an all round terrific machine. If there was one thing I was not sure if I was going to like it was the multi-colored backlit keys. However, those can be controlled and have a multitude of colors (solid colors) and that was solved very easily. These 'laptops' are big though and I keep mine on my desk and it will not likely be taken anywhere as its bigger than most and might be too heavy for some people. Otherwise, I will have this one for as along as I can and will likely look to buy another Acer many years from now.

I purchased this unit when it was on sale and I regret it. The display is very nice as is the keyboard and speed wise it is snappy for a laptop. Its able to drive my 5k2k and 3440x1440 monitors at their native resolutions with the lid open. Where it fails is with storage. You cannot place a 5th gen ssd in slot 0 as it will not be seen. I contacted Acer support and this and they told me they do not have any reports of drive problems with this model. They treated me like my report didn't matter. I've tried a Samsung 9100 pro, WD Black SN8100 and Crucial T710 and they do not show or intermittently show in slot 0. They will show in slot 1 apart from the Crucial's which will not show in any slot. I am currently running a Samsung 9100 pro boot drive in slot 1 and a 2nd Samsung 990 pro in slot 0. You should also know that Intel VMD is active on this laptop so Samsung Magician will not update the drives while installed. Samsung's standalone firmware updater will not operate with the latest MS bios security updates. Samsung is too lazy to update their software as WD Dashboard can update their drives just fine. My unit will draw down the battery in just a few minutes. I honestly didn't even get 20 minutes out of it before having to put it back on the charger. There's no way I could recommend this or any other Acer laptop with a clear conscience.

My current gaming laptop is an Alienware M17-R4 which is a great laptop but it's 3+ years old and I have the version with only 16 GB RAM which is soldered on unfortunately. I've been searching for a replacement laptop within the last 1-2 months and the first laptop I settled on was the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i. I don't game too much so the 9i would've been a good compromise especially since it offered a Mini LED screen for media consumption. Well, I purchased one from Best Buy and discovered a few things that bothered me with the 9i. One, even though it came with a Mini LED screen, it only works when HDR mode through Windows is activated, otherwise, you have a regular IPS display. Second, with HDR OFF/disabled, I still noticed some IPS glow and minimal backlight bleed which could be attributed to the QC process from Lenovo. I ended up returning the 9i because those "minor" issues were something I wasn't willing to compromise on especially given the price. The hunt for another laptop began. Next was the Alienware M18-R2 which has great specs and build quality but the display sucks especially for the price so this was a no go! Ultimately, it came down to the Acer Predator Helios 18 and Asus ROG Strix Scar 18. As much as I liked the design of the Scar 18, I couldn't justify the price difference of almost $1000 between the Helios 18 and Scar 18. Luckily, Best Buy had the Helios 18 on sale at the time of purchase with a sale price of $2499.99! Upon picking up my order from the store and opening it when I got home, I was surprised by the quality of the packaging! Next, the build quality seems really good and it's definitely heavy for sure! Upon booting up for the first time and going through the standard Windows process, I was amazed at the quality of the display like OMG it looks so darn good!!! Best of all, the local dimming from the Mini LED is ON at all times (i.e. no need to turn it on by some command or through enabling of HDR via Windows)! Definitely no backlight bleed or IPS glow whatsoever. The only noticeable "issue" I see is minimal glow around white text against a black background but this is expected with Mini LED! Again, I'm just stunned at the quality of the display and to me, this laptop alone is worth the display even if it didn't come with a 4090 but unfortunately you can only get the Mini LED with the 4090 from my understanding. From my research, the Helios 18 supposedly has 1000 dimming zones compared to the Scar 18 which has 2000+ dimming zones but with the difference being almost $1000, I'd take the 1000 dimming zones as it is really good already!!! If you're looking for a gaming laptop that can also function as a media device, I'd highly recommend taking a look at the Helios 18!

This laptop is amazing. I traded in my 16" MacBook Pro for this laptop, and I was a little wary about buying this laptop. There is no better laptop design than the MacBook Pro. However, I am extremely happy with this machine. The most important thing to me is usability as a laptop. A MacBook Pro never gets warm and never gets loaded, the speakers sound great, and the keyboard is comfortable. So switching to a PC laptop worried me. I was worried that this laptop would be too hot for sitting on my lap when I was in bed, or it would be loud. If you put the laptop in "Quiet Occasion" mode in PredatorSense, it shuts down the GPU and minimizes performance, and this laptop is comfortable and quiet on your lap. In performance mode, this thing is loud and hot, but you do not always need that kind of power. Being able to cool and quiet down the laptop is a great feature. For most people, this is a very powerful gaming laptop. However, it is still amazing that you can get this laptop so you can sit on your lap. For anyone complaining about battery life, what is wrong with you? This thing is a beast and is not meant to be on battery. If you want battery life, get a MacBook Pro, I love the keyboard, especially the fact that the keyboard does not get warm when in "Quiet Occasion" mode. I am a MacBook Pro user, so I have high standards. The keyboard is comfortable and responsive. I like this keyboard more than I do my MacBook Pro. I am amazed at how good this laptop is at being a laptop. Lowering the performance by switching to "Quiet Occasion" in PredatorSense is comfortable, quiet, and cool. Then, when I want to play a game, I put it on a table and put it in gaming mode, which is blazing fast, super loud, and really hot. I cannot believe how amazing this laptop is and I have been saying this nonstop for the past three days to everyone. To top it all off, you can get a 3-year accidental damage warranty from Acer for $229. This is an expensive laptop, and the three-year accidental damage warranty for that price was amazing. This laptop is absolutely amazing. It is well worth the money. It can be both a gaming laptop and an everyday work laptop all at the same time.

I really wanted to like this laptop. Here is the bad: 64gb modules will not work. They get too hot. 111.8c on the module closet to the heatsink. The CPU sits at 99/100c for any gaming. While its made for this, yes, other 14900k laptop will sit 90 or under. Only intensive cpu taske should cook this high. But I could forgive all of that (including the locked down bios for undervolting or underclocking) if it wasnt foe their MUX chip. This laptop will NOT play nice with Freesync or non-gsync monitors. By that I mean, on GSync monitors, this will have zero stutter and task issues. On an LG TV with VRR or Freesync monitors with gsync compatibility, it will stutter horribly. Tab out to youtube and back to your game? Prepare for serious stuttering until it can regain its senses. Turning off features for gsync does not work. Other laptops do not have this issue. Seems to be Acer only. Returned and will just wait for the 50 series from Asus or a 4090 from Asus/MSI to get back in stock.

Very nice, great display, can run a bit hot but for my purposes no additional cooling has been required. Super fast. Would highly recommend.

I recently purchased the Acer Predator Helios 18, and it has exceeded my expectations in almost every way. As someone who uses their laptop for both work and gaming, this device provides a seamless experience. What I Liked: Performance: Equipped with an Intel i9-4900HX processor and an RTX 4090 GPU, this laptop handles heavy multitasking, gaming, and video editing effortlessly. The 32 GB RAM ensures smooth operation, even with multiple demanding applications running simultaneously. Display: The 18-inch screen is a standout feature, offering vibrant colors and sharp visuals. It’s perfect for both gaming and productivity tasks. Build Quality: The laptop feels robust and well-designed. The RGB keyboard adds a nice touch, and the cooling system does an excellent job, keeping temperatures under control during intense sessions. Storage: The 1 TB M.2 SSD provides ample storage space and fast boot/load times. I haven’t experienced any lag or delays while accessing files or applications. What Could Be Improved: Portability: Due to its size and weight, it’s not the most portable option, but that’s expected for a high-performance laptop like this. Battery Life: The battery life could be better. While it’s sufficient for moderate use, it drains quickly during gaming or heavy tasks, so keeping it plugged in is often necessary. Overall, the Acer Predator Helios 18 is an incredible choice for gamers and power users who need top-tier performance. I’m thoroughly impressed and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a premium laptop.

Works but gets hotter than the 4080 o had before same computer basically same besides the screen an graphics card but cpu was running 10 degrees Celsius hottor an was work to setup the 4080 was quick easy an simple on this one had to redo almost all the drivers an alot more updates an as for graphics qaulity the screen is better but not sure if the 4090 is that much better than the 4080

This is a highly cost-effective laptop. At this price point, with these specifications, nothing more needs to be said.

All in one portable powerhouse. Impressed by the visuals and performance during gaming on this thing.. It's sexy, well built with a side of stealth. Gave it 4 stars because 1tb of SSD is mediocre given today's standards. Picked up an additional 2tb during Black Friday.. Overall I'm happy with my purchase. Thank you best buy!

I either got a faulty product or it's bad design. Likely the latter and the reason this is quite a bit cheaper than the competition at this spec. Lost a whole weekend to this. 1. First issue was the screen is dim when turning on until unplugging and plugging back in the power cord. After talking to ACER (zero help) and their forms settled on making sure to shut down and never rest since it would retain the fix on a shut down. Was going to keep it at this point, but then the problems began to stack once a load (not even a gaming one, just downloading a game while watching YT). The CPU throttles unless you manually go in a turn the fans to max, since the auto fans will let it cook. While under the moderate load of downloading and watching YT, it seems it can't provide enough power to the USB ports and connected devices drop out. My sound blaster g6 kept dropping out, tested it on another laptop and it's fine. Checked logs and the usb ports go to low power state while under any load at all. First and last ACER product. You get what you pay for and although still very expense it's cheaper than other brands and there's a reason for that. Real shame, has the best display I've ever seen short of latest LG OLED TVs. On its way to be returned.

First of all, terrible name for a laptop. I'm grateful they didn't put it in big bold letters on the back of the screen. Good luck taking that laptop to a coffee shop. Unfortunately you can't take it to a coffeeshop anyway because the jet turbines they put in this thing kick on at full blast. Also, the bloatware on this device is insane. Not a fan.

The computer is excellent, Only one issue, and hardly worth mentioning. the fan noise is noticeable in Performance and Turbo modes. However, no drop in performance. The screen is beautiful. If an 18 inch laptop is an option, this one should be given due consideration.