(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
Acer is bringing two new gaming laptops, along with a handful of interesting companion pieces, to Computex 2026.Headlining the laptops is the Predator Helios 18 AI, packing up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and RTX 5090 mobile GPU. The smaller Acer Nitro 16 tops out lower at a mobile RTX 5070 Ti, but comes with a CPU from AMD: either the Ryzen 9 9955HX, or the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D with AMD’s coveted 3D V-Cache. Joining the two flagship devices, which are looking to earn a spot among the best gaming laptops, are a streaming-only handheld called the Nitro Blaze Link, a travel backpack with integrated USB-C laptop charging, and a TKL keyboard boasting an 8,000 Hz polling rate.The Predator Helios 18 AI is naturally Acer’s flagship device this year, packing top-level specs from Nvidia and Intel. Outside of the main compute, the laptop supports up to 256GB of DDR5 memory (no word on speeds yet), as well as 6 TB of storage, including three PCIe 5.0 NVMe slots. The platform provides Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, including support for Intel Killer DoubleShot Pro, allowing you to leverage the included RJ-45 plug and your normal Wi-Fi connection simultaneously.Acer unsurprisingly built out the connectivity of the laptop. In addition to an RJ45 plug (presumably Gigabit, but Acer hasn’t confirmed speed yet), the Predator Helios 18 AI comes with dual Thunderbolt 5 ports (Type-C), two USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, HDMI 2.1, a full-sized SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The laptop is large, coming in at 15.8 inches wide and 12.1 inches tall, with a thickness of 0.68 inches at the thinnest point and 1.2 inches at the thickest. It’s heavy, as well, clocking in at 7.7 pounds, partially due to the 99 Wh battery.Swipe to scroll horizontallyTable 1: Acer Predator Helios 18 AI specsCPUIntel Core Ultra 9 290HX PlusGPUUp to Nvidia RTX 5090 mobileMemoryUp to 256GB DDR5 (speed unknown)StorageUp to 6 TB, three PCIe 5.0 NVMe slotsBattery99 WhWirelessIntel Killer DoubleShot Pro, Intel KillerWi-Fi 7 BE 1750x, Intel Killer Ethernet E5000B, Bluetooth 5.4Ports2x Thunderbolt 5 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, SD card reader, 3.5mm audio, RJ-45Display18-inch mini-LED, 3840 x 2400, 1000 nits, 120 Hz, dual-mode to 1080p at 240 Hz, H-Sync, Advanced OptimusAudioPredator Vox six-speaker array, DTS:X UltraCameraFHD webcamSize15.8 x 12.1 x 0.68~1.2 inches (400.96 x 307.9 x 17.3~29.55 mm)Weight7.7 pounds (3.5 kg)Rounding out the laptop is an 18-inch 4K mini-LED display with a resolution of 3840 x 2400 (16:10). Acer claims the panel can reach 1,000 nits, and it allows you to switch between 4K and 1080p resolutions, either at 120 Hz for 4K or 240 Hz for 1080p. The display supports Nvidia G-Sync and Advanced Optimus to leverage the integrated GPU when you’re away from the charger. Powering audio is an array of six speakers under Acer’s Predator Vox branding, along with support for DTS:X Ultra.
