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CES 2025 | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI and Predator Helios 16 AI announced with Thunderbolt 5.0 and top-shelf hardware from Intel and Nvidia

The Acer Predator Helios 16 AI and Predator Helios 18 AI are now official (image source: Acer)
The Acer Predator Helios 16 AI and Predator Helios 18 AI are now official (image source: Acer)
Acer has shown off two high-end gaming laptops at CES 2025: Acer Predator Helios 16 AI and Predator Helios 18 AI. Both are flagship offerings that feature the very best hardware offered by Intel and Nvidia. Unfortunately, their prices and availability will be revealed at a later date.

Acer has refreshed its flagship Predator Helios laptop lineup with powerful Arrow Lake-HX chips from Intel and Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards. Like every product launched in the past year, it gets a free AI tag resulting in Acer Predator Helios 16 AI and Acer Predator Helios 18 AI.

Under the hood, both can be configured with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275 HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU. The maximum permitted memory and storage varies on a SKU-by-SKU basis. For the keyboard, Acer uses its mechanical MagKey 4.0 switches with a travel distance of 0.3 mm.

Additionally, the Acer Predator Helios 16 AI and Predator Helios 18 AI come with two Thunderbolt 5.0 ports, Wi-Fi 7, Killer Ethernet and a three-month subscription for Xbox Game Pass/EA Play. A combination of Acer's 6th-gen AeroBlade fans and liquid metal are employed to keep both laptops chilly.

Acer Predator Helios 16 AI

Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (image source: Acer)

The Acer Predator Helios 16 AI comes with a WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) OLED panel with a refresh rate of 240 Hz, Nvidia G-Sync 400 nits peak brightness. Its memory and storage maxes out at 64 GB (DDR5-6400) and 4 TB (PCIe Gen 5), respectively. Acer even goes the extra mile and writes '16' on the edges to make sure you know your screen size on the go.

If a GeForce RTX 5090 is too expensive for you, Acer also offers the Predator Helios 16 with a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. Other specs include a 1080p webcam and a 90 Wh battery.

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (image source: Acer)
Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (image source: Acer)

The Acer Predator Helios 18 AI is essentially a desktop replacement, with its gargantuan 18-inch 4K mini-LED display that refreshes at 120 Hz, has a peak HDR brightness of 1,000 nits (600 nits SDR) and covers the full DCI-P3 colour gamut.

Acer hasn't specified if other panel types are available for the laptop, but you can swap out the 4K 120 Hz panel out for a 1600p 240 Hz variant if you want the extra refresh rate.

For memory and storage, you can go as high as 128 GB and 6 TB, respectively. The only other GPU choice appears to be an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080. Lastly, the Predator Helios 18 AI is equipped with a 99 Wh battery and a 1080p webcam.

Unfortunately, Acer hasn't specified the price of any laptop and stated they will hit shelves sometime in Q2, 2025.

Source(s)

Acer

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2025 01 > Acer Predator Helios 18 AI and Predator Helios 16 AI announced with Thunderbolt 5.0 and top-shelf hardware from Intel and Nvidia
Anil Ganti, 2025-01- 7 (Update: 2025-01- 6)