Gamer laptops continue to evolve with the goal of catching up with a desktop computer. This is what Acer intends with the Predator Helios 500 and Helios 300. Both have features that will not leave any gamer worth his salt indifferent. Of the two, the Helios 500 is the more virtuous. It has a 17.6-inch screen and an Intel Core i9 + processor, capable of taking overclocking to a higher level.

The Helios 300 is more restrained in performance than the previous one, but not for that reason, far from being ruled out. This model includes an Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor and a 6GB GeForce GTX 1060. This is a perfect setting for playing current titles at 1080p.Its screen has a size of 15.6 inches and weighs only 2.67 kilos, something that is unusual in laptops of this type. This year, in addition, the company has taken the opportunity to announce a special edition in white and gold with a slightly higher chip. Of course, when choosing one or the other you will have to first think about what you are looking for and if you are really going to need exaggerated power and performance. If you have doubts, throughout this article we will try to help you get your ideas a little clearer. Acer Predator Helios 500 or Acer Predator Helios 300, which one to choose?

Comparative sheet

Design and display

As good laptops for gamers that they are, both offer a very appropriate design, with futuristic and striking lines typical of this sector. At first glance they will not leave you indifferent, but, as is logical, they present some differences. The Acer Predator Helios 500 is somewhat bigger. It is built in plastic and has angular edges, although not as sharp as those of the Helios 300.  The ventilation grilles at the rear are particularly striking, something to be appreciated in a team of these characteristics. Unlike other occasions, the Taiwanese firm has decided to use an attractive blue color, avoiding blood red or phosphor green, something that differentiates it from other rivals.

But, as we say, one of its main disadvantages is that it is quite large. It weighs 4 kilos, four times more than the Acer Swift 5. Moving it away from home can be quite complicated, so keep this in mind if your intention is to take it from here to there regularly. Its screen is not small either. It includes a 17.6-inch IPS with Full HD or 4K UHD resolution (to be chosen by the user). Both cases boast NVIDIA G-Sync technology, which improves the synchronization of the screen with the graphics card to avoid the effects of tearing or horizontal stripes.

For its part, the Acer Predator Helios 300 wears a polycarbonate chassis that combines red and black. Unlike the Helios 500, its lid is metallic and somewhat more angular . We can say that its lines are even more futuristic. In their case, the vents are somewhat smaller, but they stretch all the way around the back. However, the two share some characteristics in this section. They have a backlit keyboard and the Predator seal looks imperious, both on the lid and inside the equipment. In turn, the anti ghosting function should be highlighted, which prevents interruptions or delays when pressing combinations of keys very quickly.

Acer Predator Helios 300

Of course, if you are looking for a little heavy gaming equipment, the Helios 300 may interest you more. It weighs exactly 2.67 kilos. Also noteworthy is its trackpad, somewhat larger than the Helios 500. However, the screen is smaller. It has an IPS panel with a Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. In any case, it promises good image quality and color rendering.

It is important to note that last May the company announced a special version of the Predator Helios 300 with a really attractive chassis in white with touches of gold. It is a color that to date we have hardly seen in gaming equipment and that makes Acer stand out from the rest of its competitors. This particular model has a more compact design with the same screen and practically the features. Now, Acer has taken the opportunity to include 8th-generation Intel Core i7 + processors and more storage. Now we have 512 GB in SSD format or up to 2 TB in hard disk format.

Processor and graphics

At the power level the two laptops are very different. If you really are looking for a beast in capital letters, go for the Helios 500. It is powered by an Intel Core i9 + 8900HK processor. This is a six-core SoC with a power of 2.9 GHz. But what is truly surprising is its ability to overclock up to 4.8 GHz in times of greatest need.

This processor combines its performance with a maximum of 64 GB of RAM, a very high figure for a laptop. Likewise, its graphic power must also be highlighted. It has an NVIDIA GTX 1070 card with 8 GB of dedicated memory. It is evident that moving last generation games, with very elaborate graphics, will not be a problem with this model.

Acer Predator Helios 500

The Acer Predator Helios 300 houses an Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor inside. It is a quad-core SoC that works at a speed of 2.8 GHz. The good thing is that in turbo mode it is capable of going up to 3.8 GHz. Accompanying this chip we come across 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, although it supports up to 32GB of RAM. Regarding the graphics card, this model includes a lower one than the previous one. It's a 6GB GeForce GTX 1060. Despite this, it will help us to play any current title without too many problems.

Regarding the storage capacity, we can say that the Helios 500 offers up to 1 TB in SSD format and 2 TB in hard disk format. The Helios 300 comes with a 128GB SSD, on the one hand, and a 1TB hard drive on the other.

Acer Predator Helios 300

Connections and highlights

As good gaming laptops, the Acer Predator Helios 500 and 300 come with a wide array of ports. The first has connections capable of transferring the image of the equipment to up to three monitors at the same time. This is possible thanks to the included Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI 2.1 ports. This model also offers two USB 3.0 ports, as well as a USB type C. The Taiwanese company has put a lot of emphasis on audio. We can enjoy a fairly good, deep and enveloping sound, due to its two speakers and a subwoofer (2.1 system).

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is also characterized by its wide selection of ports. On the left side we find an Ethernet port, USB Type-C, HDMI, USB 3.0 and a slot for SD cards. On the right we have two USB 2.0 ports and a 3.5 mm jack connector. The two computers also include WiFi and Bluetooth connection.

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Acer Predator Helios 500

The Acer Predator Helios 500 and 300 are governed by Windows 10, a system that will not give too many problems when working. It is fast and fluid. When it comes to firing the heat, something that usually worries a lot in a laptop for gamers due to long hours of games, they will respond perfectly. In fact, the Helios 500 has a system that combines two metal fans with five heat pipes. These tubes are responsible for bringing the cold to the key areas of the equipment at the same time that they expel heat.

And what approximate life does the battery provide? Acer ensures that the Predator Helios 500 has a range of approximately three and a half hours. This is actually quite a short number, especially if you travel a lot. However, the autonomy of the Helios 300 goes up to 9 hours. Take a good look at this detail if you really want a team to take out from home from time to time. In this sense and due to the issue of weight and size, the Helios 300 comes out better.

Availability and prices

Both the Acer Predator Helios 500 and the Predator Elios 300 are already available on the market. Of course, the first has not yet arrived in Spain, although we hope it will soon. Its price in the United States is around 2,000 euros at change (depending on configuration). For its part, the Helios 300 is available to buy in our country through selected establishments. Its price starts at 1,300 euros. We are talking about the black and red version. If you prefer to get the special edition, it is not available to buy at the moment. Hopefully it will be sometime this year.

If you don't want to wait for the Helios 500, the Helios 300 is an option to consider if you are a regular gamer. You will not have problems when playing current titles. If you prefer something very powerful and that yields more, in this case if we advise you that, due to the price difference, which is not much, you get the superior model.