Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315 51 78NP Review (Is It A Durable Gaming Laptop?)

Pros & Cons Of The Acer Predator Helios 300  

A part of Acer's Predator gaming range, the Helios 300 gaming laptop is a powerful model that packs a punch in terms of ability. It's a mid-high-end laptop that has a high refresh rate and strong GPU and CPU combo that are great for bringing the heat in first-person shooters. However, it is not best suited for everyone and has some necessary updates to make that can mitigate some of its flaws. 

Unique Features Of The Acer Predator Helios 300  

Acer is a Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronics company that has clawed its way to the top 10 PC vendors globally list. While Acer does have a range of products, its more popular tech types include laptops, PCs, and tablets. 

8th Generation Intel Core i7 

While it is a couple of generations old, the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315 51 i7 8th gen processor has six powerful cores and a frequency of up to 4.1 GHz. This processor makes the Helios 300 capable of running up to 12 threads simultaneously and makes it balanced in both multitasking and gaming. 

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 

WideScreen LED-Backlit 144Hz IPS Display  

With over double the refresh rate of most similar products, the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315 51 78 NP refresh rate is 144 hertz which is usually exclusive to high-end models. In addition, the matte finish makes this laptop perfect for viewing in even the brightest conditions and comes in 15.6 inches. 

Backlit Keyboard 

The Helios 300’s keyboard and trackpad have a lot to love. From their comfortable size and slightly curved design to their red-hued backlight highlighting the WASD keys, these quiet keys are perfect for both gaming and working. Unusually for a laptop like this, it comes with a dedicated numeric keypad which can be useful for some gamers. 

Acer TrueHarmony & Dolby Audio Premium Technology 

One of the lesser parts of the laptop can be found in its audio system. While the Acer TrueHarmony and Dolby audio premium technology can work well together, the speakers that are built into the laptop are average at best and placed under the laptop for a poor audio experience. 

PredatorSense Gaming Control Panel 

Acer's Predator Sense gaming panel lets the user customize a wide range of gaming features. Some of the features that can be tailored through this system include the system temperature, CPU fan speed, and system fan speed, helping you maintain and check the health of your model. 

Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315 51 78NP Gaming Laptop Reviewed 

Design 

The Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315 51 78NP gaming laptop looks identical in both editions. While on the larger side for a laptop, it commits to a more subtle black and red gamer theme. The brushed aluminum lid has some flex and is prone to smudges and finger oil. The plastic and metal chassis feels solid with quality construction. 

Display 

Performance Features For Gaming 

Keyboard & Touchpad 

Both the keyboard and touchpad are excellent additions to this model. The slight curve and quiet typing make them comfortable to use regardless of the task and are just the right size. The WASD keys are highlighted in red, and the backlight makes it easy to see your keys no matter how dark it is. 

Connectivity  

In terms of connectivity, the Helios 300 is a mixed bag. It has a USB 3.1 Type-C port, which is not often seen on laptops in this range. However, it does only have two 3.0 USB ports and two 2.0 ports; we would prefer to see either three or four 3.0 ports. An ethernet port is also available alongside an HDMI, headphone jack, SD card slot, and connection point for an adaptor. 

Battery Life & Energy Consumption  

In terms of battery life, the lithium polymer battery can sustain itself for seven hours, depending on the intensity of the user's activity. Admittedly, this is not the best length of time, and we would prefer a longer battery life, but it is not unexpected in a laptop used for heavy programs like games and photo editing. 

Audio  

Dual stereo speakers can be found on the bottom front of the laptop, which is not the best place to put them for quality audio. Supposedly the Acer TrueHarmony audio tech works with Dolby audio premium to bring better sound, but the placement causes the sound to be suppressed, rendering these efforts worthless. 

Maintenance  

In terms of maintenance, the Helios 300 does its best to keep itself healthy. The metal dual-fan cooling system and serious exhausts work to keep your laptop cool and quiet, and the Predator Sense system can help you stay on top of system temperatures. However, you may need to upgrade or modify certain settings as described above to prevent overheating. 

Price & Warranty 

In terms of price, the Helios 300 is a great value mid-range laptop that brings a lot of power and value for money. Typically found for between $1000 and $1300, this is a great price for the features and upgrading possibilities. It also comes with a two-year warranty, which is standard for Acer’s Predator range. 

Overall, the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315 51 78NP price is worth it for those looking to do the heavy lifting in the photo editing department or when playing first-person shooters. It is not necessarily the best for those who do simple digital tasks or play open-world single-player games. 

Compared With Other Laptops (Is The Predator Helios 300 Good?) 

Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315 51 78NP Vs. Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-54-760S 

While these Helios 300 models share many similarities, they share a few key differences that must be highlighted. The 760S has an 11th Gen i711800H processor that has 8 cores and 16 threads, making it a much more powerful option. It is also lighter and has two more internal processors. The 760S also has over double the flash memory space of the 78NP.  

Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315 51 78NP VS. Acer Nitro 5 

The Acer Nitro 5 is a better budget option overall. It has a 9th gen processor, larger dimensions, a longer battery life, and a higher overall rating on Amazon. However, it does have half the RAM, one less port, and two fewer processors.  

Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315 51 78NP VS. Lenovo Legion 5 15 Gaming Laptop 

The Helios 300 PH315 51 78NP and Lenovo Legion 5 15 are gaming laptops in similar price ranges and quality. However, the Legion has double the hard disk size, Bluetooth connectivity, four 3.0 USB ports, is lighter in weight, and has a higher overall rating on Amazon.  

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Can you upgrade RAM on the Acer Predator Helios 300? 

It is possible to upgrade the RAM on the Helios 300 thanks to its construction and build. If that is something that interests you, it is possible to find plenty of guides on how to upgrade this model to your standards online. 

Does Acer Predator Helios 300 overheat? 

It is commonly reported that the Acer Predator Helios 300 does overheat, but it is built to withstand temperature spikes over 208 degrees. If you find that your model is overheating regularly more than this, try adjusting the thermal paste, installing a new BIOS, or undervolting the laptop with Throttlestop. 

Does Acer Predator Helios 300 support 4K? 

Yes, the Helios 300 does support 4k at a maximum of 60 frames per second. This may not work for everyone but works well for first-person shooters or similar gaming experiences. 

Conclusion

To conclude this Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315 51 review, we are fans of this mid-range gaming laptop. If the Helios 300 seems a good choice for your home, we recommend picking up another SSD card or hard drive and not expecting much from the audio system.