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It appears that 2025 is the year where all gaming laptop manufacturers will embrace the RGB lightbar gaming aesthetic more than ever. However, no brand delved into the RGB realm as extensively as Acer.
The latest Acer Predator Helios 18 boasts per-key RGB illumination in its keyboard, an RGB light bar that extends along the chassis edge from the left side port collection to the center of the keyboard area, additional RGB lighting within the keyboard area, and illumination on the Predator emblem located on the lid.
Yet, this gaming laptop delivers much more than just RGB visuals everywhere you observe. The Predator Helios 18 includes interchangeable MagKey 4.0 mechanical switches, a 6th Generation AeroBlade 3D fan designed for ultra-thin cooling fan blades, powerful new Intel and Nvidia processors, a dual-mode Mini LED display panel, and exceptionally extravagant specifications for both storage and memory.
The Helios 18 goes above and beyond; this is a gaming laptop tailored for individuals who do not grasp the idea of restraint.
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI: Specifications
| Cost: | Beginning at $2,999 |
| Processor: | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| Graphics: | Up to Nvidia RTX 5090 with 24GB VRAM |
| Memory: | Up to 192GB |
| Storage: | Up to 6TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD |
| Screen: | As much as 18-inch, 120Hz (3840 x 2400) dual-mode Mini LED |
| Battery: | 99Whr (watt-hour) |
| Dimensions: | 15.78 x 12.12 x 0.68~1.16 inches |
| Mass: | 7.05 pounds |
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI: Pricing and Availability
Although the Nvidia RTX 50-series will debut on laptops in March, RGB enthusiasts will need to hold on for a little longer to experience the Predator Helios 18 AI.
The Helios 18 AI (PH18-73) will become available in North America from May 2025. Costs will fluctuate based on configuration, but the 18 will start at $2,999 for a setup featuring the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. While this may seem costly, Nvidia’s starting point for laptops with the RTX 5080 is $2,199, making this pricing reasonable considering the Helios 18 AI has an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor.
Naturally, enhancing the GPU to the RTX 5090 will significantly increase the price of the Helios 18 AI. Pricing for RTX 5090 laptops begins at approximately $2,899, reflecting a price elevation of $700 between the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090. While Acer isn’t obligated to follow Nvidia’s pricing, it certainly indicates that opting for the Nvidia flagship GPU will result in a notable increase in expenses.
Additional configuration options for display, memory, and storage will further add to the total price. Consequently, a fully equipped Helios 18 AI with the Intel Core Ultra 9, RTX 5090, 192GB of RAM, 6TB of storage, and 18-inch Mini LED display will likely cost around the same as a custom desktop PC. Given that the
Helios 18 AI serves as a substitute for a desktop laptop, and its price is not entirely beyond expectations.
However, whether you require all that memory and storage is an entirely different matter.
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI: Design
The most significant alteration in the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI from its predecessor is the abundant RGB lighting. It features Milkyway RGB dynamic illumination located on the rear fan hub behind the display hinge, a continuous RGB lightbar extending from the left side along the base of the keyboard deck, RGB lights embedded in the palm rest, and RGB beneath the Predator logo on the top cover. Additionally, each key on the keyboard is illuminated with RGB. All this lighting is also customizable.
Moreover, the general aesthetic of the Predator Helios 18 AI does not solely introduce more RGB lighting than the 2024 variant; it is also lighter, more compact, and slightly thinner based on your configuration choices.
The dimensions of the 2024 Predator Helios 18 are 15.9 x 12.3 x 1.1 inches with a weight of 7.2 pounds. In contrast, the 2025 Predator Helios 18 has dimensions of 15.78 x 12.12 x 0.68~1.16 inches and weighs 7.05 pounds.
While it’s unlikely you will be hauling the Helios 18 AI during your daily commute, it is slightly more portable than the earlier version, which is advantageous if you need to transport it.
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI: Ports
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Acer has not disclosed the complete specifications of the port array for the Helios 18 AI, but according to the unit we observed at CES and the released images of the laptop, we believe we have deduced the available port options:
- 1x DC-in
- 1x HDMI 2.1
- 2x Thunderbolt 5
- 3x USB Type-A
- 1x RJ45 ethernet
- 1x Audio combo jack
- 1x Micro SD card reader
This should provide more than sufficient ports for the majority of gamers and streamers. The Helios 18 is designed as a desktop replacement laptop, and Acer clearly ensured that the port offerings were ample, so it is unlikely you will need any docking station or USB hub.
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI: Display
The display of the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI’s
The primary display option features a dual-mode Mini-LED panel, which operates at 120Hz (3840 x 2400) but can be adjusted to 240Hz (1920 x 1200) for demanding gaming sessions. The standard option is a 250Hz (2560 x 1600) Mini-LED panel that appears to lack dual-mode capabilities.
Both display configurations boast a brightness rating of 600 nits when engaging with SDR content and can reach up to 1000 nits in HDR mode. They also achieve a full 100% rating on the DCI-P3 color spectrum, ensuring a vibrant visual experience.
Although we had the chance to observe the Predator Helios 18 AI with its display active, it was limited to showcasing a specification screen and gameplay demonstration footage due to the Nvidia GPU announcement. Nonetheless, the Mini-LED display appeared stunning while displaying the Black State game trailer, even though we couldn’t test it with any video or gaming content ourselves.
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI: Performance and Thermal Management
Acer had the Helios 18 AI strictly locked to display only game trailers and specifications, preventing us from gaining firsthand experience with its performance. However, we can speculate based on its upgradeable specifications.
Intel has rated the Core Ultra 200HX as offering “up to 20%” superior multithreading performance compared to the 14th generation. Additionally, the 200HX is expected to provide over 5% enhancement in single-thread performance. Intel has made bold claims regarding the capabilities of the “Arrow Lake” 200HX processors, and while Acer isn’t incorporating the flagship Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, the 275HX should present a solid balance of performance and thermal regulation to accommodate the substantial power requirements of the Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs.
You can also boost your laptop’s performance by upgrading the system memory. Although I’m uncertain who would need 192GB of RAM, my inclination to future-proof my technology drives me to contemplate testing that specification just to challenge myself on how many Chrome tabs and Photoshop instances one would need to run to utilize that memory capacity significantly.
The 6TB storage option is also noteworthy but to a lesser degree. Game file sizes are incredibly large these days, with many exceeding 100GB. Hence, having several terabytes of storage is quite reasonable. While 6TB might seem somewhat excessive, it doesn’t reach the same level as the 192GB RAM configuration.
Concerning heat management, Acer has upgraded the AeroBlade technology to the 6th generation, featuring 0.05mm fan blades, akin to those in the Razer Blade 16 (2025). This redesigned fan improves airflow efficiency by up to 20%, which, in conjunction with a sturdier chassis, should provide a cooler experience even after extended gaming sessions.
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI: Gaming and Graphics
Despite the Helios 18 AI offering a 4K panel option, 2025 isn’t the year to indulge in 4K gaming at ultra settings, considering that even the desktop RTX 5090 struggles to reach 60FPS under those conditions. Achieving high framerates for 4K gaming necessitates DLSS 4.
Regarding raw silicon performance, games lacking DLSS 4 optimization have recorded a 10-30% improvement from one generation to the next. This isn’t insignificant and makes the RTX 50-series a valuable investment if you’re contemplating an upgrade from your Windows 10 GTX 1060 laptop.
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI: Future Prospects
The Acer Predator Helios 18 is a high-priced gaming laptop. As the flagship model within the Predator range, it delivers the pinnacle of power and performance for the desktop-replacement segment, thus commanding a premium price tag.
Yet, if you desire a laptop with an abundance of memory and storage beyond what you might ever truly need, as well as RGB lighting throughout, except for on the bottom panel, the Helios 18 AI understandably stands out. While we can’t guarantee performance or gaming capabilities beyond what the manufacturers themselves have disclosed, the frankly astonishing specifications of the Helios 18 make it difficult to conceive you won’t experience desktop-level performance from a laptop.
We’ll need to wait until we can thoroughly evaluate the Predator Helios 18 AI through rigorous testing, but thus far, it seems like a compelling option for a gaming rig. Provided the price doesn’t deter you, of course.
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