Acer unveils a powerful gaming laptop, an X3D laptop, and a streaming handheld
Table of Contents
Acer has a new range of gaming devices to show off, with two gaming laptops, a streaming handheld, and even a keyboard and backpack for them all. Expanding on its lineup, there are a few interesting features on all of those, so here are some of the highlights of them.
Firstly, the Predator Helios 18 AI is stacking up to be a rather impressive RTX 5090 laptop with a Core Ultra 9 290HX processor. That is the highest spec, but it looks to be quite the flagship, especially as I have already reviewed last year’s Helios 18 AI, which was a near-perfect machine. With the new one offering Vox Audio and AeroBlade 3D fans, it might bring some improvements.
Then there’s the Acer Nitro 16, which is Acer’s first X3D-powered laptop. With the top-end 9955X3D processor and RTX 5070 Ti graphics, it should be quite a powerful machine. As shown by our MSI Raider A18 HX A9WJG review, the tiered cache does increase its processing power, especially in non-gaming tasks. So Acer’s option should provide a great experience for it.
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- AMD Ryzenâ„¢ 9 9900X 12-Core - was $499 now $337
- CORSAIR 4000D PC Case - was $124.99 now $75.99
- Hisense 65" Class E6SR - was $549 now $377.99
- Apple 2026 MacBook Air - was $1,999 now $1,799
- Skytech Gaming PC Desktop (9850X3d) - was $3,699 now $3,199
- Apple Magic Mouse - was $79 now $59
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra - was $2,099 now $1,699
- Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet - was $154 now $72
Prices correct as of October 6th, 2026.
As for the Acer Nitro Blaze Link, it is a WiFi 6-enabled FHD handheld to connect to your other devices to play remotely. Like the PlayStation Portal, it is a lightweight option for taking away and streaming your games instead.
PREDATOR HELIOS 18 A -PH18 i71
Acer Nitro 16 AI AN16 A91
ACER NITRO BLAZE LINK GN772
Laptop specs and release dates
The Predator Helios does bring power and specs, and packs it with a mini LED screen for an impressive look for the media onboard. Especially the 18-inch, 1,000-nit display that also has a dual mode to change between 4k 120Hz and FHD 240Hz. Along with plenty of connectivity, the Helios is a powerful machine, but it’s not light either, so be prepared for a workout if you want to move it around.
As for the Nitro, it does cut down on the weight and size for a bit more portability, at just a 16-inch size. Cutting down to a 5070 Ti GPU but packing in a 9955X3D that has some impressive specs. Dropping the screen resolution too; it’s a 1600p screen at 240Hz for some fast responsiveness and immersion.
| Spec | Predator Helios 18 AI | Acer Nitro 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Model | PH18-I71 | AN16-A91 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 290HX Plus | AMD Ryzenâ„¢ 9 9955HX3D processor AMD Ryzenâ„¢ 9 9955HX processor |
| Graphics | Up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090 Laptop GPU with 24 GB GDDR7 VRAM | Up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5070 Ti Laptop GPU with 12GB GDDR7 VRAM |
| Display | Up to 18-inch 16:10 Mini LED, 4K WQUXGA 3840 x 2400, HDR mode, 1000 Nits, Calman Verified (Delta E<2), DCI-P3 100%, Dual-Mode Display enables switching between 4K/120Hz or FHD/240Hz, NVIDIA® Advanced Optimus, NVIDIA® G-SYNC | Up to 16-inch WQXGA 2560 x 1600, 16:10 aspect ratio, up to DCI-P3 100%, up to 240 Hz refresh rate, up to 3 ms response time, NVIDIA® Advanced Optimus, NVIDIA® G-SYNC |
| Memory | Up to 256 GB DDR5 | Up to 32 GB DDR5 5600 MT/s |
| Storage | Up to 6 TB total, including via three PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD slots | Up to 2 TB total: two PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD slots, each supporting up to 1 TB of connected M.2 NVMe storage |
| Cooling | Dual 6th Gen Predator AeroBlade 3D Fans, vector heat pipe, liquid metal thermal grease | Dual-fan quad-intake quad-exhaust cooling, vector heat pipe |
| Dimensions and Weight | 400.96 (L) x 307.9 (D) x 17.3~29.55 (H) mm 3.5 kg | 356.78 (W) x 275.5 (D) x 22.05~27.95 (H) mm 2.5 kg |
| Battery | 99 Wh | 92 Wh |
| Wi-Fi and Connectivity | Intel Killer DoubleShot Pro, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750x and Intel Killer Ethernet E5000B, Bluetooth 5.4 | Intel Killer DoubleShot Pro, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750x, and Intel Killer Ethernet E5000B, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Ports | Two Thunderbolt 5 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, SDâ„¢ card reader, 3.5 mm combo audio jack, RJ-45, DC-in, and Kensington Lock | USB 4 Type-C, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 2.0 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, microSDâ„¢ card reader, 3.5 mm combo audio jack, RJ-45, DC-In, Kensington Lock |
| Audio | 6 speakers with Predator Vox technology, DTS®:X Ultra | 2 speakers with DTS: X® Ultra |
| Camera | FHD 1920 x 1080 IR webcam with PurifiedView AI assistance | FHD 1920 x 1080 IR PurifiedView AI-assisted webcam |
| Features | PredatorSense, Acer Intelligence Space, per-key RGB keyboard, Acer PurifiedVoice AI noise reduction, Predator MagKey 4.0, mechanical switch, PC Game Pass (3 months) ​ | Acer NitroSense, Acer Intelligence Space, 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, Acer PurifiedVoice AI noise reduction, PC Game Pass (3 months) |
| Release date | August 2026 – NA & EMEA | August 2026 – NA & EMEA |
Acer handheld specs
The Acer Nitro Blaze Link (GN772) does offer a mobile gaming experience with a lightweight package at 464 grams, about 200g less than the Steam Deck. That is due to it just streaming seamlessly from Acer devices and your gaming library. The 7-inch WUXGA touchscreen should provide a great look and be able to take your games places, if you have good connectivity, though. Or you just want to continue your game while on the toilet.
| Spec | Acer Nitro Blaze Link |
|---|---|
| Model | GN772 |
| Operating System | Linux |
| Display | 7-inch WUXGA 1920 x 1200, 5-point multi-touch touchscreen, 16:10 aspect ratio |
| Memory | 1 GB LPDDR4, 2133 MT/s |
| Storage | 8 GB eMMC |
| Ports | USB Type-C (charging only), 3.5 mm audio combo jack |
| Control and Input | A B X Y buttons, D-Pad, L & R bumpers, L & R joysticks, L & R triggers, power button, volume button (+/-), Start/Enter button, Back button, Home button, Overlay widget button |
| Audio | Dual 2W speakers |
| Battery | 1-cell 18 Wh |
| Power Supply | AC power adapter, 15-watt Type-C power cord |
| Wi-Fi and Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 80 Mhz |
| Software | Sunshine, Moonlight |
| Dimensions | 286.87 x 109.8 x 15.5/33.52 mm ​ |
| Weight | 464 g |
| Release date | Q4’2026 – NA & EMEA |
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