Acer Predator Helios 18 (2024)
| Manufacturer | Acer |
|---|---|
| Product family | Predator |
| Release date | January 2024 |
| Discontinued | No |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home |
| CPU | Intel Core i9-14900HX |
| Memory | 32 GB DDR5-5600 MHz SDRAM |
| Memory slots | 2 user accessible |
| Storage | 1 TB or 2 TB PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Storage slots | 2 user accessible |
| Removable storage | microSD |
| Display | Screen size: 18 inch Panel type: IPS with Mini-LED technology Coating: Matte (ComfyView) Resolution: 2560 x 1600 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: 240 or 250 Hz Brightness: up to 751 Nits DCI-P3: 100 % VRR: G-Sync |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop 12 GB GDDR6 175 W Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop 16 GB GDDR6 175 W |
| Sound | 2 x stereo speakers |
| Camera | 1080p webcam |
| Touchpad | Microsoft Precision Touchpad, 5.9 inches (15 cm) x 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) |
| Connectivity | WiFi 7 (Killer 1750x) Bluetooth 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) 2 x USB Type-C (supports DisplayPort over USB-C, Thunderbolt 4, USB charging 5 V; 3 A, DC-in port 20 V; 65 or 100 W) 1 x HDMI 1 x microSD card reader |
| Dimensions | W: 15.9 inches (40 cm) D: 12.3 inches (31 cm) H: 1.14 inches (2.9 cm) |
| Mass | 7.17 pounds (3.25 kg) |
| Power brick | 330W power supply |
| Battery | 90 Wh Li-Ion |
| Keyboard | Per-key RGB backlit |
| Chassis | Color: Black Materials: Plastic or metal chassis Cooling: Advanced thermal design with Aeroblade metal fans and liquid metal thermal solution |
| Number pad | Yes |
| Fingerprint reader | No |
| Facial recognition | No |
| Website | Acer |
All statements attributed to reviews are the reviewer's own opinion. Note that these claims were accurate at the time of publication and may be dated when you are reading this article. Read more.
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The Acer Predator Helios 18 (2024) is a high-performance gaming laptop designed for enthusiasts seeking top-tier gaming experiences. It features the powerful Intel Core i9-14900HX processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4000 series GPUs, making it suitable for demanding gaming and productivity tasks.[1] The Helios 18 is positioned as a premium gaming laptop with a large 18-inch display and advanced cooling solutions.[2]
Primary Hardware
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Processor
The Acer Predator Helios 18 (2024) is equipped with the Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, a 14th Gen Tetracosa-core (24 Core) CPU with a base frequency of 2.20 GHz. This processor is designed to handle intensive tasks, offering 8 performance cores with hyper-threading and 16 efficiency cores without hyper-threading, resulting in 32 parallel threads.[1]
Reviewers note that the CPU delivers excellent performance, suitable for both gaming and productivity tasks. It performs well in synthetic benchmarks, although it shows slightly below-average results in performance mode during prolonged loads. The CPU is considered overkill for just gaming, making the Helios 18 suitable for demanding workloads outside of gaming.[3][4]
Benchmarks:
Graphics
The Helios 18 can be configured with either the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 Laptop GPUs. The RTX 4080 comes with 12 GB GDDR6 memory, while the RTX 4090 features 16 GB GDDR6 memory. Both GPUs have a maximum graphics power of 175 W and support NVIDIA G-SYNC technology.[1]
The RTX 4090 GPU performs well but does not fully utilize its potential in performance mode, achieving slightly less than the previous average. It is capable of handling modern titles at maximum settings, particularly at 1080p, and maintains smooth performance even at its QHD+ native resolution.[3][4]
Benchmarks:
Memory
The Helios 18 is equipped with 32 GB DDR5-5600 MHz SDRAM, configured as 2x 16 GB SO-DIMM modules. This configuration provides sufficient bandwidth for gaming and multitasking, ensuring smooth operation during intensive tasks.[1]
Benchmarks:
- AIDA64 Memory Copy: 83392 MB/s[3]
Storage
The Helios 18 comes with either a 1 TB or 2 TB PCIe NVMe SSD, with some configurations featuring RAID 0 for enhanced performance. The storage delivers excellent sequential read and write rates, although performance fluctuations may occur under load during extended use.[1][3]
Benchmarks:
- CrystalDiskMark 5/6 Read Seq: 8578 MB/s[3]
Co-processors
The Helios 18 includes the Intel Raptor Point-S PCH for HD Audio, providing standard integrated sound capabilities suitable for general use.[3]
Input Devices
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Keyboard
The Helios 18 features a chiclet-style keyboard with per-key RGB backlighting, a number pad, and swappable MagKey 3.0 WASD keys. The keyboard is noted for its satisfying depth and clickiness, enhancing the typing experience. It includes a Predator Sense key for quick access to system settings.[1][2]
Touchpad
The laptop is equipped with a large Microsoft Precision Touchpad, measuring 5.9 inches (15 cm) x 3.5 inches (8.9 cm). While the touchpad is responsive and supports smooth movements, it may require a bit of force to press down, which could hinder navigation.[2]
Webcam
The Helios 18 includes a 1080p webcam, which delivers mediocre video quality with grainy images and over-exposure in certain lighting conditions. It is not recommended for high-quality streaming or conferencing.[2]
Microphone
The integrated microphone provides standard quality suitable for casual use but is not exceptional for professional audio recording.[3]
Output Devices
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Display
The Helios 18 features an 18-inch Mini-LED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a refresh rate of either 240 Hz or 250 Hz. The display supports NVIDIA G-SYNC and offers excellent brightness and color space coverage, making it suitable for gaming and media consumption.[1][3]
Benchmarks:
Audio
The Helios 18 is equipped with a 2.0 speaker system. While the audio quality is improved over previous models, it lacks bass, and the mids and highs are more pronounced. The maximum volume is 85 dB(A), but external audio devices are recommended for better sound quality.[3]
Connectivity
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WiFi
The Helios 18 supports Wi-Fi 7 with the Killer 1750x module, providing solid performance with good transmission and receiving rates, supporting the latest wireless standards.[1][3]
Benchmarks:
- iperf3 transmit: 1011 MBit/s[3]
Bluetooth
The laptop includes Bluetooth connectivity, supporting modern wireless peripherals.[1]
SD Card Reader
The Helios 18 features a microSD card reader, which achieves mediocre speeds compared to competitors, making it less ideal for high-speed data transfers.[3]
USB
The laptop is equipped with multiple USB ports, including 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, and 2 USB Type-C ports with support for DisplayPort over USB-C, Thunderbolt 4, and USB charging.[1]
Display Outputs
The Helios 18 includes 1 HDMI output and 2 DisplayPort connections, allowing for multiple external displays with high-quality output.[1]
Case
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The Helios 18 features a sturdy chassis available in either plastic or metal, with a black finish. The design is robust, though the hinges could be improved for better stability. The laptop's dimensions are 15.9 inches (40 cm) in width, 12.3 inches (31 cm) in depth, and 1.14 inches (2.9 cm) in height, with a weight of 7.17 pounds (3.25 kg).[1][2]
Maintenance
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The Helios 18 requires unscrewing 14 Torx screws to access the internals, which may deter some users. The RAM and SSDs are accessible but may be difficult to swap out due to thermal pads covering them.[3]
Cooling System
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The Helios 18 is equipped with an advanced thermal design featuring Aeroblade metal fans and a liquid metal thermal solution on the CPU. The cooling system is effective in keeping the powerful components running smoothly, although it can lead to throttling under heavy loads.[4]
Heat
The laptop can get quite hot, especially on the bottom during heavy use, making it uncomfortable for lap use. During gaming, the hottest it got was 99 degrees Fahrenheit at the bottom center of the chassis.[2]
Noise
The fan control is suboptimal, leading to unnecessary noise during idle and load. Under load, the noise levels are audible but not excessively loud, with load noise levels reaching 48 to 51 dB(A).[3]
Energy Management
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Power Consumption
The Helios 18 comes with a 330 W power supply. It has high idle power consumption, leading to poor battery life, with the laptop requiring more power than many competitors.[3]
Benchmarks:
- Idle: 31 to 43 watts[3]
Battery Life
The Helios 18 is equipped with a 90 Wh Li-Ion battery. The battery life is limited, lasting just over 3 hours in web surfing tests, which is below average for gaming laptops. Users should expect to keep it plugged in during extended gaming sessions.[3][2]
Benchmarks:
- WiFi Websurfing: 3h 12min[3]
Biometrics
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The Helios 18 does not include a fingerprint reader or support for facial recognition.[1]
Software
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The Helios 18 ships with Windows 11 Home and includes Acer’s suite of pre-installed applications, such as Predator Sense for performance monitoring and customization. It is recommended to remove Acer Jumpstart as it advertises random mobile games to the user.[2]
Accessories & Warranty
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The Helios 18 comes with a 330 W power supply and standard documentation. Warranty details are not specified in the reviews.
Reviews Summary
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Overall Sentiment
The Acer Predator Helios 18 (2024) is praised for its powerful performance and high-quality display, making it a strong contender in the gaming laptop market. It is particularly suited for stationary gaming setups due to its size and powerful hardware. However, it suffers from high idle power consumption and suboptimal fan control, leading to less than ideal battery life.[4][2][3]
Problems Summary
- High idle power consumption
- Suboptimal fan control leading to unnecessary noise
- Limited battery life
- Mediocre webcam quality
- Hinges could be improved for better stability
- MicroSD card reader achieves mediocre speeds
Links
i9-14900HX, RTX 4090, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD: PCMag
i9-14900HX, RTX 4080, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: LaptopMag
i9-14900HX, RTX 4090, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD: NotebookCheck
Community Reception
Overall Sentiment
Problems Summary
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 "Acer Predator Helios 18 Specifications". Acer.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Acer Predator Helios 18 Review". LaptopMag.
- ↑ 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 "Acer Predator Helios 18 (2024) Review". NotebookCheck.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Acer Predator Helios 18 Review". PCMag.