Acer Nitro V 16 AI assessment: Price range gaming meets nice battery life

Best Prices Today: Acer Nitro V 16 AI

Shoppers trying to purchase a laptop computer with Nvidia RTX 50-series graphics for round $800 or much less have few choices—one in every of which is the Acer Nitro V 16 AI, which retails for about $799 on-line. Although it supplies acceptable efficiency for a finances machine, its day-to-day usability and battery life are what units it other than the pack.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Specs and options as-tested

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI’s specs make the laptop computer really feel like a vessel for the RTX 5050 8GB GPU. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 CPU is among the many least succesful in AMD’s line-up, and the laptop computer makes do with solely 16GB of RAM in addition to a 512GB strong state drive.

• Model: ANV16-42
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 240
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR5-5600
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 5050 8GB
• NPU: Up to 16 TOPS
• Display: 16-inch 1920×1200 180Hz IPS-LCD show
• Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 strong state drive
• Webcam and microphone: 720p webcam with dual-array microphone
• Connectivity: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 1x microSD card reader, 1x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45), 1x 3.5mm combo audio
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 76 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14.2 x 10.9 x 0.92 inches
• Weight: 5.38 kilos
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home
• Price: $899 MSRP / $629 to $799 typical retail

This is a typical technique for a finances gaming laptop computer. Most opponents, from the Asus ROG TUF line to the Lenovo LOQ 15 and Dell G15, additionally depend on entry-level CPUs and have 16GB of RAM alongside a 512GB strong state drive. You’ll normally must pay about $1,000 if you’d like 1TB of storage (in a laptop computer with an Nvidia RTX 50-series GPU, no less than).

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Design and construct high quality

Foundry / Matthew Smith

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI doesn’t make a lot of an impression. It’s a black laptop computer with a refined metallic luster adorned solely with a chrome “N” on the lid, which is the brand for Acer’s Nitro sub-brand. Besides that, there’s not a lot to say concerning the laptop computer’s model. It’s easy however inoffensive.

Opening the laptop computer will reveal a pair refined touches, although none are all that engaging. The Nitro brand is engraved into the palm relaxation, together with the phrase “Victory starts here” engraved just under the numpad.

Build high quality is appropriate. Quickly opening the laptop computer’s lid reveals apparent show flex, however the decrease chassis is strong when the laptop computer is picked up from a nook or edge. Keyboard flex could be discovered in the event you strive nevertheless it’s not an issue in regular use.

As with most finances gaming laptops, the Nitro V 16 AI isn’t small. It measures over 14 inches vast, almost 11 inches deep, and nearly an inch thick at its thickest level. It additionally weighs 5.38 kilos. With that mentioned, most gaming laptops of this measurement are no less than this heavy (over six kilos is just not unusual).

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Keyboard, trackpad, mouse

Foundry / Matthew Smith

I discovered the Acer Nitro V 16 AI’s keyboard to be merely useful. The laptop computer’s measurement supplies a great quantity of room, which Acer makes use of to squeeze in a numpad. However, the areas between every key are massive, which in flip means the keys are smaller than you would possibly anticipate. This is most noticeable for the proper facet Shift key, and left-side Tab and Control keys, that are tiny.

Annoyingly, the Microsoft Copilot key is without doubt one of the largest keys on the keyboard. This is odd as a result of, regardless of its title, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI doesn’t qualify as a Microsoft Copilot+ PC.

Though the important thing structure does the keyboard no favors, it’s balanced by the basic benefits of a bigger, thicker laptop computer. Keys have a great quantity of key journey, the general measurement of the keyboard is spacious, and the palm relaxation presents a great quantity of room. I used to be in a position to hammer out just a few thousand phrases in consolation.

The touchpad is a bonus. It measures about 5 inches vast and a bit of greater than three inches deep. Alternatives just like the Lenovo LOQ 15 and Dell G15 have noticeably smaller touchpads that really feel cramped by comparability.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Display, audio

Foundry / Matthew Smith

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI ships with a 1920×1200 decision IPS-LCD show that may obtain a refresh price as much as 180Hz.

The 16-inch 1200p show is price particular point out. Most finances gaming laptops nonetheless use a 15.6-inch 1080p show. Compared to those, the Nitro V 16 AI supplies a barely taller show with extra usable house. It’s not a giant deal in video games nevertheless it makes the laptop computer extra pleasant for internet looking and work.

IPS-LCD shows are inclined to have lackluster distinction and shade when in comparison with OLED options. That interprets to comparatively boring, flat picture high quality. With that mentioned, the IPS show is nice sufficient in most conditions. The distinction subject solely turns into apparent when the laptop computer is utilized in a darkish room, as darker scenes seem grey and hazy.

The picture is sharp and vivid and the show has a semi-gloss coat that resists reflections. You should discover the show troublesome to see in the event you sit close to a big sunlit window, nonetheless, and open air use isn’t snug even with the show at its most brightness. The similar is true for different finances gaming laptops.

Motion efficiency is first rate. The 180Hz refresh price supplies fluid, responsive movement when video games render at a body price near the panel’s most refresh price. Motion readability is first rate with good element throughout a scene, however small components like fonts or HP bars can nonetheless be troublesome to make out. G-Sync is absent, sadly, which implies you’ll want to make use of a sport’s V-Sync setting or danger unpleasant display screen tearing.

Audio high quality is an issue. The built-in audio system aren’t loud even at most quantity. Despite that, I typically observed an disagreeable rattling sound attributable to vibrations within the laptop computer chassis when the audio system have been at excessive volumes.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

You’re not going to need to take video calls on the Acer Nitro V 16 AI. The laptop computer has a barebones 720p webcam with a comfortable, grainy picture. It’s a fundamental expertise excused solely by the very fact best finances gaming laptops even have a 720p webcam.

The dual-array microphone is a little more usable, however not by a lot. It picks up audio that’s crisp, clear, and loud sufficient to be usable on Zoom or Google Meet. But, as soon as once more, it is a minimalist expertise.

Biometric login is just not supported. This, as soon as once more, is typical for a finances gaming laptop computer. Very few supply a fingerprint reader or IR digicam for facial recognition.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Connectivity

You’ll discover loads of ports lining the Acer Nitro V 16 AI’s flanks. The left facet supplies Gigabit Ethernet, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, 3.5mm audio, and a microSD card reader, whereas the proper facet presents two extra USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports. The rear contains HDMI 2.1, USB-C with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and a barrel plug connector for the bundled 135-watt energy brick.

The USB-C port can be utilized to cost the laptop computer, although it doesn’t present as a lot energy because the 135-watt energy brick.

While the Nitro V 16 AI’s bodily connectivity is strong, it’s common for the class. Most finances gaming laptops have the same quantity and configuration of ports. The microSD card reader is the one bodily connectivity possibility that’s surprising.

Wireless connectivity is disappointing, because the Acer Nitro V 16 AI solely helps Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. This places it two generations behind the newest Wi-Fi normal and a era behind the newest Bluetooth normal.

I wouldn’t name it an instantaneous downside, as Wi-Fi 6 remains to be relatively fast and new requirements are backwards-compatible, however this might make the laptop computer’s Wi-Fi connectivity really feel outdated extra shortly as new requirements emerge (Wi-Fi 8 is already introduced).

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Performance

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI that I acquired for assessment had an AMD Ryzen 5 240 CPU. It’s a low-end CPU in AMD’s present line-up. It has the AMD Zen 4 structure (a step behind the newest Zen 5) and a complete of six CPU cores with hyper-threading for a complete of 12 threads. The most enhance clock is 5GHz.

That’s paired with the Nvidia RTX 5050 with 8GB of VRAM and a most graphics energy of solely 95 watts—pretty low for a contemporary Nvidia cellular GPU in a devoted gaming laptop computer. 16GB of DDR5-5600 reminiscence and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 strong state drive spherical out the specs.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

First up is PCMark 10, a holistic system benchmark. Here the Acer Nitro V 16 AI supplies a great results of 7,259. That defeats the Alienware 16 Aurora and older HP Victus 15.

On the opposite hand, there’s nonetheless an enormous distinction between the Acer Nitro V 16 AI and options with a extra power-hungry processor, such because the Lenovo Legion 5i with the Intel Core i7-14900HX.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Cinebench 2024, a closely multi-threaded CPU benchmark, reaches a modest rating of 685 on the Acer Nitro V 16 AI. That’s not an enormous shock as a result of, as talked about, the AMD Ryzen 5 240 is in the direction of the decrease half of AMD’s product stack. Still, there’s important hole between the Ryzen 5 240 and different CPUs you would possibly discover in finances gaming laptops, such because the AMD Ryzen 7 250 and Intel Core 7 240H.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Handbrake is one other multi-threaded CPU benchmark, however one with an extended period. This check as soon as once more places the Acer Nitro V 16 AI in the direction of the underside of the pack, although the margin of its defeat is smaller than it was in Cinebench 2024.

I feel it’s clear the AMD Ryzen 5 240 is just not a performer in CPU checks. It’s fantastic, nevertheless it’s straightforward to discover a gaming laptop computer with a quicker CPU even within the sub-$1,000 value bracket. The Acer Nitro V 16 AI is geared toward gaming, nonetheless, so how does Nvidia’s RTX 5050 8GB carry out?

Foundry / Matthew Smith

3DMark locations the RTX 5050 the place I might anticipate it. The Acer Nitro V 16 AI is a good bit faster than the HP Victus 16 that PC World examined with an RTX 4050. However, new laptops with an RTX 5060 show faster.

The margin of victory for the RTX 5060 is usually slim, although, relying on the laptop computer used for comparability. The Lenovo LOQ 15 leaps forward, however the Alienware 16 Aurora with RTX 5060 is just about 10 p.c faster in 3DMark benchmarks.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is an older sport that almost any trendy gaming laptop computer can deal with, and the Acer Nitro V 16 AI isn’t any exception. It achieved a median of 120 frames per second.

As the 3DMark check outcomes instructed, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI is just not as fast as RTX 5060 laptops, however has a bonus over the older RTX 4050.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Metro Exodus, although additionally an older sport, stays extraordinarily demanding if the Extreme preset is used. The Acer Nitro V 16 AI can’t even crack a median of 40 FPS. To be honest, although, most RTX 5060 laptops additionally barely exceed 40 FPS. And the Nitro V 16 AI as soon as once more reveals a good lead over the HP Victus 15 with the older RTX 4050.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

We spherical out issues with Cyberpunk 2077. While the Nitro V 16 AI is unquestionably much less succesful than RTX 5060 machines, the RTX 5050 permits Acer’s finances gaming laptop computer to hit a median of 72 FPS at 1080p and the Ultra preset. In common, a nice 1080p/60 expertise is feasible on the laptop computer even with out using DLSS, which was not energetic for this check.

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI’s general outcomes are about what I might anticipate. Nvidia’s RTX 5050 8GB is an entry-level half and, predictably, it doesn’t fairly match the efficiency out there from an RTX 5060—although the 2 are sometimes shut. If you’re upgrading from an older RTX 3050 or RTX 4050 laptop computer you will note a noticeable enchancment.

Pricing doesn’t work to Acer or Nvidia’s favor, nonetheless. Laptops with the RTX 5060 are barely dearer than the Acer Nitro V 16 AI. Lenovo’s LOQ 15 is an effective instance of this, as it may well retail as little as $809.99.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Battery life and portability

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI has a 76 watt-hour battery. That’s a modest measurement for a gaming laptop computer (although typical for one priced under $1,000). You would possibly anticipate battery life to be terrible, however right here the Nitro V 16 AI is ready to pull off a shock.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Our normal battery rundown check, which loops a 4K file of the brief movie Tears of Steel, ran for over 12 hours earlier than the Nitro V 16 AI needed to name it a day. As the graph reveals, that’s a a lot better outcome than is typical for a gaming laptop computer—at any value.

Several components mix to assist the Nitro V 16 AI pull this off. It has help for Nvidia Optimus, which turns off the discrete GPU when it’s not wanted. This transfers work to the AMD Ryzen 5 240, which is a miserly chip for a gaming laptop computer. I think the 1200p IPS LCD additionally helps, because it ought to draw much less energy than the higher-res OLED show you’d discover on a dearer gaming laptop computer.

While this result’s glorious, keep in mind that battery life will differ relying on how the laptop computer is used. Gaming on the laptop computer will interact the Nvidia GPU, which in flip can drain the battery in beneath two hours in the event you’re enjoying a demanding sport.

Real-world use may also are typically lower than the benchmark suggests, relying on what you’re doing. Still, I skilled real-world battery lifetime of roughly eight hours in a mixture of internet looking and writing in LibreOffice. That’s not dangerous for a finances gaming laptop computer.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Conclusion

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI is a decent finances gaming laptop computer that gives first rate sport efficiency and surprisingly good battery life. I additionally just like the laptop computer’s 16-inch show with 1200p decision, which is a step up from opponents with a 15.6-inch 1080p show. Other benefits embrace a variety of bodily connectivity and a good touchpad.

However, the AMD Ryzen 5 240 doesn’t put up nice ends in CPU checks and the laptop computer has to make do with simply 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The built-in audio system are a miss, too.

I like to recommend the Acer Nitro V 16 AI over many of the finances gaming laptops I’ve examined or utilized in 2025. It’s among the many extra reasonably priced entries on this enviornment and manages to keep away from points (like brief battery life and a sub-par show) that impression opponents together with the Lenovo LOQ 15 and HP Victus 15.

Also hold a pointy eye on value. Though it has an MSRP of $899, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI is presently $629 on Walmart, in comparison with $799 on Amazon. The Nitro V is price an additional half-star when on sale under $700, because it’s an ideal worth at that pricing.