Acer Predator Helios 700: King Size Gaming Performance

Being unique isn’t easy in a crowded gaming laptop market, but the Predator Helios 700 pulls it off. Acer’s 17.3-incher has a sliding keyboard that transforms the user experience and allows for freer component cooling.

- Charles Jeffries

Larger than most notebooks at this screen size, the Predator makes the most of it, packing in an expansive, well laid-out keyboard; dedicated gaming macro keys; quiet cooling fans; and a punchy sound system. It’s backed by an Intel Core i7 CPU (a Core i9 in the top models) and an Nvidia GeForce RTX-class GPU for super-smooth gaming on its 144Hz G-Sync display. The Helios 700 is a real speedster, and despite its bulk and brief battery life, delivers an ownership experience unlike any other. It takes our top recommendation for a high-end, big-screen gaming laptop.

BIGGER THAN YOU KNOW

The “entry-level” model of the Predator Helios 700 I’m reviewing (Acer model number PH717-71-7091) is anything but. It’s well equipped, with a Core i7-9750H hexa-core CPU, an 8GB GeForce RTX 2070 GPU, and 16GB of RAM. The Helios 700 has just a single storage drive, a 512GB solid-state drive (SSD) onto which Windows 10 is installed, but an empty 2.5-inch bay allows for aftermarket expansion. The most powerful configuration of the Helios 700 ($3,999.99) has an overclockable Core i9-9980HK octa-core CPU and an 8GB GeForce RTX 2080 GPU.

The Predator Helios 700 isn’t alone in offering this caliber of hardware. Competition from the MSI GE75 Raider, the HP Omen 17t, and the Asus ROG Strix Hero line is fierce. The MSI and the Asus command about $200 less for similar specifications as our Predator review unit, but they lack Nvidia G-Sync. The HP has G-Sync and is less expensive, but the Acer has a more comprehensive feature set, such as a keyboard with perkey-programmable RGB backlighting instead of a four zone arrangement. All in all, the Acer is a fair value.