When you think of gaming laptops that balance price, performance, and style, the Acer Predator Helios 300 often comes to mind. For years, Acer’s Predator lineup has been praised for delivering powerful specs without reaching wallet-crushing prices. The model we’re reviewing here, the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-710B, powered by an Intel Core i7-9750H and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, represents one of Acer’s most successful formulas in the mid-range gaming laptop market.
Packed with features like a 144 Hz Full HD display, RGB backlit keyboard, 16 GB RAM, and 512 GB NVMe SSD, this machine has been a favorite for competitive gamers and multitaskers alike. But how well does it hold up today, and is it still worth buying in 2025 if you come across it? Let’s dive into a detailed review of this gaming laptop to see what makes it shine—and where it stumbles.
Design & Build Quality
At first glance, the Predator Helios 300 strikes a bold balance between aggressive gamer aesthetics and a professional edge. Its matte black chassis with angular lines, accented by turquoise Predator logos and vents, sets it apart from plain business notebooks without overdoing the “gamer look.”
The build quality is robust for a mid-range machine. The laptop weighs around 2.3 to 2.5 kg, which is not ultralight, but still portable enough for travel or LAN gaming setups. The lid and keyboard deck feel sturdy, though there’s some flex in the display if pressed hard. Acer included plenty of ventilation grills across the back and sides, highlighting its focus on thermal management.
While it won’t compete with ultra-slim notebooks in terms of portability, the Predator Helios 300 feels solid and premium enough for its category.
Display: Smooth, Fast, and Gamer-Friendly
The display is one of the strongest features of this laptop. It comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920×1080) IPS panel that runs at 144 Hz refresh rate with a 3 ms response time.
For gamers, this means buttery-smooth motion and reduced input lag—crucial for titles like CS:GO, Valorant, or Fortnite. Compared to a standard 60 Hz panel, the difference is night and day.
The screen’s matte finish helps minimize glare under strong lighting, making it practical for both gaming marathons and everyday productivity. Brightness levels average around 300 nits, which is sufficient for indoor use, though not ideal for bright outdoor environments. Color accuracy is good enough for general use and casual content creation, but professional photo and video editors may want a more color-accurate display.
Overall, the display remains one of the standout reasons to choose this model.
Performance: A Reliable Gaming Companion
At its heart, the Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-710B is powered by the Intel Core i7-9750H, a 9th-gen processor with 6 cores and 12 threads. Paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (6 GB GDDR6) and 16 GB DDR4 RAM, this configuration was a powerhouse when released—and it still holds up well for 1080p gaming in 2025.
Gaming Performance
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AAA Games (High to Ultra Settings, 1080p): Titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, The Witcher 3, and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey can hit 50–70 fps on high settings.
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E-Sports Titles: Lighter competitive games like CS:GO, Valorant, League of Legends, and Overwatch 2 easily exceed 100 fps, making full use of the 144 Hz panel.
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Newer Demanding Games (2023–2025): For cutting-edge titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Starfield, you’ll need to dial settings down to medium for consistent frame rates, but the GTX 1660 Ti still provides respectable results.
Productivity & Multitasking
The 16 GB RAM ensures smooth performance in multitasking, whether it’s running multiple Chrome tabs, streaming gameplay, or handling productivity apps. The 512 GB PCIe NVMe SSD provides quick boot times and game load speeds, though you may want to expand storage if you keep a large library of modern games.
Cooling & Thermals
One of the key aspects of any gaming laptop is its ability to handle heat. The Helios 300 comes with Acer’s dual-fan cooling system with CoolBoost technology, which can ramp up fan speeds to keep temperatures under control.
During gaming sessions, CPU temps hover in the 80–90°C range, while the GPU often sits between 70–80°C. These are safe numbers, but the fans can get loud under load—loud enough that headphones are recommended.
The keyboard area remains warm but not uncomfortably hot. The heat is mostly expelled through the rear and side vents, so external cooling pads are optional but helpful for extended sessions.
Keyboard & Trackpad
The keyboard is one of the laptop’s strong suits. It comes with a 4-zone RGB backlit layout, giving you flexibility to personalize colors through Acer’s PredatorSense software. Key travel is comfortable, with a tactile feel suitable for both gaming and typing. The highlighted WASD keys are a nice touch for gamers.
The trackpad is responsive and precise, though most gamers will naturally prefer using a dedicated mouse. Still, for productivity tasks, it works well.
Connectivity & Ports
Acer provided a generous selection of ports:
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3x USB-A 3.1
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1x USB-C
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1x HDMI
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1x Mini DisplayPort
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RJ-45 Ethernet port
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Audio combo jack
The inclusion of both HDMI and Mini DisplayPort means you can hook up external monitors for multi-display setups—great for streamers or multitaskers. The Killer WiFi and Gigabit Ethernet ensure low-latency connections during online gaming.
Battery Life
Battery life is one of the weaker areas of this laptop. With a 58 Wh battery, you can expect around:
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4–5 hours of light tasks (web browsing, streaming, writing).
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2–3 hours of heavier multitasking.
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Less than 1.5 hours of gaming unplugged.
In short, this is a laptop designed to be plugged in for full performance. Like most gaming laptops, portability means moving between outlets rather than truly all-day battery freedom.
Audio & Speakers
The built-in speakers are serviceable but not outstanding. They deliver clear mids and highs, but lack strong bass. At higher volumes, they can sound thin. For immersive gaming or movie watching, headphones or external speakers are recommended.
On the plus side, the 3.5 mm audio jack delivers clean output, and pairing with a good gaming headset makes a world of difference.
Everyday Usability
Despite being built for gaming, the Helios 300 doubles as a solid all-round laptop. Whether you’re:
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A student who wants to game after class,
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A content creator dabbling in editing, or
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A professional who needs raw power for multitasking,
this laptop can handle the workload. The only real drawbacks are its weight, noise, and battery limitations, which make it less ideal for frequent travelers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
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Strong 1080p gaming performance
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High refresh rate 144 Hz / 3 ms display
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Solid build with gamer-friendly design
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RGB backlit keyboard with good travel
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Expandable RAM and storage
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Good port selection with Ethernet and DisplayPort
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Fast SSD for quick load times
Cons
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Loud fans under load
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Gets warm during long gaming sessions
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Mediocre battery life
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Average speaker quality
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Heavier than slim gaming laptops
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Display not ideal for color-critical work
Final Verdict
The Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-52-710B remains one of the most well-rounded gaming laptops in the mid-range category. It delivers excellent 1080p performance, a smooth 144 Hz display, and a reliable build, making it an easy recommendation for gamers who want strong performance without going into high-end RTX pricing.
While it’s not perfect—the battery life is modest, the fans are loud, and the chassis isn’t the slimmest—its overall value proposition is hard to ignore.
In 2025, if you find this laptop at a reasonable price (new or refurbished), it’s still a solid investment for gamers, students, and professionals who need performance on a budget. With its upgrade options, it can continue to serve well for years, provided you manage thermals and keep it plugged in during demanding sessions.
Verdict: If you want a laptop that balances gaming power, affordability, and a feature-rich design, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is still worth it.
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