Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022)
| Manufacturer | Acer Inc. |
|---|---|
| Product family | Predator |
| Release date | January 2022 |
| Introductory price | USD 1200 to 2000 |
| Discontinued | No |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Home Windows 11 Home |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-11800H Intel Core i7-12700H |
| Memory | 16 GB or 32 GB DDR4/DDR5 |
| Memory slots | 2 user accessible |
| Storage | 512 GB or 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD |
| Storage slots | 2 user accessible |
| Display | Screen size: 15.6 inch or 17.3 inch Panel type: IPS Coating: Matte (anti-glare) Resolution: 1920 x 1080 or 2560 x 1440 Refresh rate: 144 Hz or 165 Hz Brightness: 340 Nits sRGB: 99.9 % Display P3: 96.8 % Screen-to-body ratio: |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop 6 GB GDDR6 Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Sound | 2 x stereo speakers w/ DTS:X Ultra audio |
| Camera | Front: 720p or 1080p |
| Touchpad | 12.15 x 8.3 cm |
| Connectivity | Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675i Bluetooth 5.2 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) 1 x USB 4.0 (Type-C, Thunderbolt 4) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x Mini DisplayPort 1 x Ethernet 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack |
| Dimensions | W: 14.3 inches (36 cm) D: 10 inches (25 cm) H: 0.9 inches (2.3 cm) |
| Mass | 4.8 pounds (2.2 kg) |
| Power brick | 280W AC adapter |
| Battery | 4 cell Li-Polymer 90 Wh |
| Keyboard | Per-key RGB backlit |
| Chassis | Color: Matte black Materials: Aluminum lid; Plastic bottom cover Cooling: Dual fans with multiple heat pipes |
| Number pad | Full size |
| Fingerprint reader | No |
| Facial recognition | No |
| Website | Acer |
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The Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022) is a mid-range gaming laptop designed for high-performance gaming and productivity tasks. It features Intel 11th and 12th generation processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 series GPUs. Available configurations vary by store and location.[1]
Primary Hardware
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Processor
The Predator Helios 300 (2022) can come with the following processors[1]:
- Intel Core i7-11800H with 8 cores (8 P-cores) and 16 threads, 24 MB cache and a max frequency of 4.6 Ghz.
- Intel Core i7-12700H with 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threads, 24 MB cache and max frequency of 4.7 Ghz.
The Helios 300's CPU performance is solid, with the i7-11800H providing good productivity and occasional multimedia task performance. The i7-12700H, on the other hand, offers significantly better performance due to its higher core count and overclocking capabilities. In synthetic benchmarks, the i7-12700H achieves higher scores, making it suitable for demanding applications.[2][3]
Benchmarks:
- Cinebench R15 Multi:
- i7-12700H: ~2840 pts[3]
- Cinebench R23 Multi:
- i7-12700H: ~18203 pts[3]
- PCMark 10:
- i7-11800H: ~6000 pts[2]
Graphics
In addition to the integrated Intel UHD Graphics, the Predator Helios 300 (2022) ships with the following discrete GPUs[1]:
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6 GB GDDR6 memory.
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory.
The RTX 3060 provides solid 1080p gaming performance, while the RTX 3070 Ti excels in more demanding gaming scenarios, particularly in overclocking mode. Both GPUs perform well in synthetic benchmarks and real-world gaming tests, with the RTX 3070 Ti maintaining high frame rates in demanding titles.[2][3]
Benchmarks:
- 3DMark Fire Strike:
- RTX 3070 Ti: ~24043 pts[3]
- 3DMark Time Spy:
- RTX 3070 Ti: ~11693 pts[3]
- The Witcher 3 (Ultra):
- RTX 3070 Ti: ~110 fps[3]
Memory
The Predator Helios 300 (2022) supports up to 32 GB of DDR4 or DDR5 memory, depending on the configuration. Pre-configured SKUs come with either 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM. The memory is sufficient for gaming and multitasking, providing a smooth experience in most scenarios.[1]
Benchmarks:
Storage
The Predator Helios 300 can ship with either a 512 GB or 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD. The SSD provides fast load times and decent storage capacity for games and applications. However, the SSD experiences throttling under constant load, which affects sustained performance.[2][3]
Benchmarks:
Co-processors
The Predator Helios 300 features the Intel Alder Lake-P PCH, which supports various functionalities, including audio and voice processing. The coprocessor enhances the overall performance of the laptop, particularly in audio and connectivity features.[3]
Input Devices
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Keyboard
The Predator Helios 300 comes with a multi-zone RGB keyboard with dedicated Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys, as well as a numeric keypad. The keyboard offers good feedback with a moderate typing noise, allowing for comfortable and fast typing. However, the keys have a soft, shallow typing feel that isn't particularly responsive, which may not be ideal for all users.[2][3]
Touchpad
The touchpad measures approximately 12.15 x 8.3 cm and features integrated keys. It provides good sliding characteristics and a comfortable pressure point for clicks, though the click noises are moderate. The touchpad glides and taps smoothly, but it's difficult to click except at the very bottom, which may affect usability for some users.[2][3]
Webcam
The Predator Helios 300 comes with a 720p or 1080p webcam. The webcam produces decent images in good lighting but lacks impressive color accuracy, making it suitable for video conferencing but not for high-quality streaming. The 720p webcam captures fairly colorful and well-lit images with noticeable noise or static.[2][3]
Microphone
The Predator Helios 300 features an integrated microphone that provides adequate quality for video calls and voice commands. The microphone quality is sufficient for casual use, but it may not meet the standards for professional audio recording.[3]
Output Devices
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Display
The Predator Helios 300 is available with two display options[1]:
- 15.6 inch, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate, IPS panel
- 17.3 inch, 2560 x 1440 resolution, 165 Hz refresh rate, IPS panel
The displays are bright with good color space coverage, achieving 99.9% sRGB and 96.8% Display P3 coverage. The 15.6-inch display offers ample brightness and rich, well-saturated colors, with high contrast and fine details. The 17.3-inch display is matte, reducing glare and reflections, but has a slower response time than advertised, measuring around 11 ms.[2][3]
Benchmarks:
- Brightness: ~340 Nits[3]
- Contrast: ~1181:1[3]
- Color coverage: 99.9% sRGB, 96.8% Display P3, 84.8% AdobeRGB[3]
Audio
The Predator Helios 300 features DTS:X Ultra Audio speakers that provide sound output. The speakers are relatively soft and somewhat hollow, with good high frequencies but average mids and bass. The DTS:X Ultra software offers an equalizer and presets for music, movies, voice, and gaming genres, enhancing the audio experience.[2][3]
Connectivity
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WiFi
The Predator Helios 300 is equipped with a Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675i Wireless Network Adapter, allowing for high-speed internet connectivity. The Wi-Fi performance is decent but slightly slower than average for the module, with consistent performance across various tests.[3]
Benchmarks:
Bluetooth
The Predator Helios 300 comes with a Bluetooth 5.2 module.[1]
SD Card Reader
The Predator Helios 300 does not include an SD card reader.[2]
USB
The Predator Helios 300 is equipped with the following USB ports[1]:
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A)
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A)
- 1 x USB 4.0 (Type-C, Thunderbolt 4)
Display Outputs
The Predator Helios 300 comes with the following display outputs[1]:
- 1 x HDMI 2.1
- 1 x Mini DisplayPort
Case
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The Predator Helios 300 (2022) features a robust design with a black aluminum lid and a plastic bottom cover. The laptop has a stylized, illuminated Predator logo on the lid and blue color accents. It weighs approximately 4.8 pounds and measures 0.9 by 14.3 by 10 inches (HWD). The design is visually appealing and robust, with minimal creaking noises and no unusual gaps between materials.[2][3]
Maintenance
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The bottom panel of the Predator Helios 300 is held on by 11 screws. The bottom plate is difficult to pry open, requiring care to avoid damage. The RAM and SSD are accessible for upgrades, but the RAM is covered by an additional metal plate that requires further disassembly to access.[3]
Cooling System
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The Predator Helios 300 is equipped with an expansive cooling system with multiple vents and heat pipes, designed to keep the laptop cool during high-performance tasks. The cooling system is effective but results in noisy cooling fans, which may be distracting during use.[2][3]
Heat
The laptop manages heat well during gaming sessions, with the bottom heating up significantly but the overall temperature management being effective.[3]
Benchmarks:
Noise
The cooling fans are noisy, especially under load, reaching over 60 dB during gaming in Extreme mode. In Standard mode, the noise level is significantly reduced.[2][3]
Benchmarks:
Energy Management
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Power Consumption
The Predator Helios 300 ships with a 280 W AC adapter. The laptop consumes more power than competitors, especially during gaming, but the power supply is sufficient to handle the load.[3]
Benchmarks:
Battery Life
The Predator Helios 300 comes with a 90 Wh Li-Polymer battery. The battery life is decent for a gaming laptop, lasting around 5 to 6 hours for web surfing and video playback.[3]
Benchmarks:
- WiFi Websurfing: ~6h 02min[3]
- WiFi Websurfing max. Brightness: ~5h 04min[3]
- Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p: ~5h 54min[3]
- Load (maximum brightness): ~1h 45min[3]
Biometrics
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The Predator Helios 300 does not support Windows Hello face recognition and does not have a fingerprint reader.[3]
Software
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All SKUs ship with Windows 10 Home or Windows 11 Home. The laptop comes with various preinstalled software, including gaming and performance management tools.
Preinstalled Software
Predator Sense
The Predator Sense software acts as the primary control center in the Predator Helios 300. It handles performance profiles, RGB lighting control, and other system settings.[3]
Other Preinstalled Software
The laptop also comes with other preinstalled utilities like PhotoDirector, PowerDirector, Dropbox, ExpressVPN, and Planet9 (Acer's gaming community) promos, providing a mix of productivity and entertainment options.[2]
Linux Support
Not specified, but compatibility may vary based on hardware configurations.[3]
Accessories & Warranty
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The Predator Helios 300 comes with a 280 W AC adapter and paperwork. There is a one-year limited manufacturer warranty if purchased in the US.[3]
Reviews Summary
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Overall Sentiment
The Predator Helios 300 (2022) is considered a good value among gaming laptops, offering solid performance for 1080p gaming, a bright and colorful display, and a good array of ports. However, it does not stand out in a fiercely competitive field. The primary drawbacks include noisy cooling fans, the absence of an SD card reader, and SSD throttling under load.[2][3]
Problems Summary[2]Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many
- No SD card reader.
- No fingerprint reader or IR webcam for biometric security.
- Noisy cooling fans, especially under load.
- SSD throttling under constant load.
- Soft, shallow typing feel on the keyboard.
- Touchpad difficult to click except at the very bottom.
- Webcam lacks impressive color accuracy.
- Speakers are relatively soft and somewhat hollow.
- Slightly slower Wi-Fi performance compared to other laptops with the same module.
- Larger and heavier than some competitors.
Links
i7-11800H, RTX 3060, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD: PCMag
i7-12700H, RTX 3070 Ti, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: NoteBookCheck
Community Reception
Overall Sentiment
Problems Summary
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Predator Helios 300 (2022) Specifications". Acer.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 "Acer Predator Helios 300 (2022) Review". PCMag.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 3.36 3.37 3.38 3.39 3.40 3.41 3.42 3.43 3.44 3.45 3.46 "Acer Predator Helios 300 Review". NotebookCheck.