Talking about innovative gaming notebooks, Acer’s Nitro 5 readily makes an impression, courtesy of the innovative, gamer-friendly specs sheet. Despite housing some of the best attributes in the retail space, the Nitro 5 is easily one of the most affordable notebooks, in the given segment. Furthermore, unlike other gaming behemoths launched by Acer or some of the other OEMs, the Nitro 5 doesn’t let go of the portability-quotient by staying well within the 5-pound mark.
One Line Review: A sought-after gaming laptop, flaunting an innovative cooling layout and a gamer-friendly keyboard for immersive game-playing experiences.
Acer Nitro 5: Enlisting the Specs
- Processor: 2.60 GHz Intel Core i7-9750H
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060
- Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920×1080)
- Operating System: 64-Bit Windows 10 Home
- Weight: 4.85 Pounds
- Battery-Life: Up to 8-Hours
- Port Arrangement: 1 USB Type-C, 1 HDMI 2.0. 1 Mini DC, Gig Ethernet LAN, 1 USB 2.0, and 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 2×2, Bluetooth 5.0
- Special Features: Red Backlit Keyboard with 1.6mm Key-Travel
Note: In case you are planning to purchase the Nitro 5, it is necessary to pre-select your version, based on the specs sheet, preferably the processor. While we shall be talking about the top-of-the-line review model, the Nitro 5 is also up for grabs with a toned-down feature set, including GTX 16-series GPU, i5 processor, and more.
Acer Nitro 5: Dissecting in Detail
Considering the unmatched popularity of the Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop, our experts have tested the same across a host of contrasting parameters. Most importantly, the high-end review unit was deployed by demanding 3D rendering tasks as well, in addition to a week of relentless gaming. Besides, our experts were able to test the chassis durability quotient as well, followed by the throttling effects or lack thereof.
Performance
As gadget performances are always under the scanner, it is more than appropriate to start with a small discussion on the internals, including the 9th gen H-series processor. The Intel Core i7 CPU strikes the perfect balance between cores and clock speeds, allowing you to process single and multi-threaded applications with considerable ease.
At 4.5GHz, the chipset exhibits a decent enough single-core turbo frequency, best suited for Illustrator and MS-Excel usage. The reliable SoC is readily backed up by the RTX 2060 GPU. Needless to say, the graphics card comes with AI-enhanced graphics support, Ray tracing compatibility, and a decent set of CUDA cores for managing gaming, 3D rendering, simulation, and GPU-accelerated designing and editing tasks with minimal fuss.
As far as the games are concerned, the existing GPU and the 6GB VRAM, allow you to play high-end titles like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, recently launched Cyberpunk 2077, and more at 1080p settings.
Memory Allocation
Lending assistance to the internals is the 16GB DDR4 RAM module, which is more than capable of processing data and files at 2666MHz. Although you can always opt for the 8GB variant, 16GB of system memory offers enough processing cover, in case you want to indulge in high-end professional tasks like photo and video editing.
Storage-wise, we were quite pleased with the 256GB solid-state drive. However, Acer assures upgradeability, owing to the inclusion of 2 PCIe slots and a dedicated hard disk drive bay.
Display
Contrary to popular opinion, the 15.6-inch 1080p screen exhibited by the Nitro 5 is adequately bright and color accurate. Besides, Acer introduces an IPS panel which furthers the visual clarity and allows you to make the most of the gamer-friendly screen refresh rate of 144Hz. This feature clubbed with a widescreen viewing experience, allows you to experience games at their prime, sans screen tearing and frame drops.
User-Interface
The brevity of the featured display is further enhanced by the pre-existing Windows 10 Home OS. The existing operating platform is loaded with several functional attributes and allows you to make the most of any professional scenario with maximum productivity. Besides, each of the latest 3D applications or BIM tools like Maya, Revit, and more are compatible with this 64-bit Windows-powered operating platform.
Design
While the ruggedness might give an impression that the Nitro 5 is all plastic, it certainly has quite a few metallic accents to take into consideration. Regardless, the design is gamer-friendly and is influenced quite a bit by the inclusion of impactful cooling hardware. In addition to basic structural elements, it is the twin-fan setup that makes an appearance and takes the weight of this gadget up to a respectable, 4.85 pounds.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Acer houses a class-leading keyboard that has something for almost everyone. While the gamers can make use of the WASD support and the enhanced tactile mechanism, content creators and copywriters can benefit from the 1.6mm key travel. The red backlighting is supplemented further by the NitroSense key and other one-touch tabs.
Besides, you also get access to a smooth touchpad, which sits above the CoolBoost thermal layout and keeps the associated elements cooler than usual.
Audio and Other Specs
The Nitro 5 is easily Acer’s loudest gaming laptop, courtesy of the dual stereo speakers and the Waves MaxxAudio enhancement. In addition to the mentioned acoustic setup, you also get access to Acer’s proprietary TrueHarmony enhancement, boasting richer sounds, intelligent bass, and preferential volume enhancement.
Besides, you also get access to a standard HD webcam followed by dual microphones, bolstered further by the Acer’s Voice-purified technology.
Ports and Connectivity
Acer throws in a pretty standard set of connectivity-centric specs, other than the elusive, Intel-powered Wi-Fi AX support. For data devices and legacy peripherals though, you have the USB 2.0, Type-C, HDMI, and other relevant ports to rely on. Besides, if you are more into wired connections, the Gig Ethernet support has you covered.
Battery
The Nitro 5 is quite a portable device that doesn’t cut corners when autonomy is concerned. While the existing battery is capable of lasting for up to 8 hours, it is one of the few modules to support Power-Off charging.
Customer Support
Acer is one of the few brands to offer unmatched customer support experiences, regardless of the complexity of the issue. The OEM lets you connect with the technicians over call or emails and the grievance is mostly sorted within 48 hours or less.
Price
Most importantly, the Nitro 5 from Acer is easily the best laptop under 1000 dollars, provided you are a hardcore gaming freak. Most importantly, you can also opt for a sub-$800 variant with a GTX GPU and Intel Core i5 processor to rely on, provided you are not a high-end BIM or CAD user.
Pros
Cons
Acer Nitro 5: FAQs
Q1. What is the best thing about Acer Nitro 5?
A1. While there are quite a few things to like about the Acer Nitro 5, what stands out is the value for money offered by the OEM, for the particular gadget. Getting a hexa-core processor and RTX 20-series GPU for under 1000 dollars is a rarity.
Q2. What kinds of games are supported by the Acer Nitro 5?
A2. The reviewed Acer Nitro 5 variant is capable of running almost every high-end gamer at Full HD settings. However, our personal favorite is the new and famed Cyberpunk 2077 and the insanely popular Death Stranding.
Q3. Is Nitro 5 a good notebook for the professionals?
A3. An excellent processing conglomerate clubbed with an ultrafast chunk of RAM makes it one of the best professional notebooks in 2020. Besides, even the excellent keyboard contributes towards the same, specifically by making this one of the most reliable machines for professionals to invest in.
Q4. Which cooling technology is exhibited by the Acer Nitro 5?
A4. The cooling hardware associated with the Nitro 5 is best known for the CoolBoost technology, which works on the concept of symmetrical heat pipes and the innovative dual-fan setup.
Q5. What feats can the Nitro 5 achieve with the RTX 2060 GPU at the helm?
A5. The RTX 2060 GPU allows a Nitro 5 user to indulge in high-end games, hitting close to 80fps even at the highest 1080p presets for most titles. For the more professional inclined individual, the graphics card allows you to manage complex rendering and photo editing tasks.
Verdict
Overall, the Acer Nitro 5 is easily the best gaming laptop that you can purchase for such an affordable price tag. While every specification stands out, it is the processing consortium that steals the limelight, followed by optimal typing and seamless streaming hardware.
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