We’ve got examined many gaming laptops under $1,000, and whereas some meet effectivity expectations and embody essential choices, others fall fast. Acer’s Nitro V 15 checks a variety of the important containers, offering an Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics for $869.99. It’s pretty well-built with good connectivity and upgradeability. Nonetheless, loud followers and a subpar show indicate that you just simply nonetheless ought to make some sacrifices.
Design of the Acer Nitro V 15
The Nitro V 15 seems to be like attention-grabbing for a funds gaming laptop computer laptop. It has an understated design other than flashy graphics on the lid and a reflective Nitro model. The rest of the all-black chassis is unassuming.
Although this Acer is made solely from plastic, which is anticipated on this worth fluctuate, it feels sturdy. The chassis and lid are extraordinarily resistant to flexing. The plastic in all equity thick and doesn’t rattle or sound low value when tapped with my fingers.
Measuring 14.3 x 9.4 x 1.06 inches, the Nitro is analogous in dimension to the MSI Cyborg 15 and the Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9. The Dell G16 7630 is barely greater attributable to its 16-inch 16:10 show. The Nitro weighs 4.66 kilos compared with the MSI’s 4.37 kilos, whereas the Lenovo at 5.12 kilos and considerably the Dell, at 6.3 kilos, are heavier.
Lots of the Nitro’s ports are located on the left edge, along with Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 video output, and one 10 Gbps USB Variety-C and two 5 Gbps USB Variety-A ports. The Variety-C port moreover helps DisplayPort out with an adapter. The AC power barrel connector moreover resides proper right here.
Within the meantime, the proper edge contains a 3.5 mm audio jack and one different 5 Gbps USB Variety-A port, along with a Kensington lock slot. Internally, a MediaTek wi-fi card provides Wi-Fi 6 (not the newer 6E commonplace) and Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity.
Acer Nitro V 15 Specs
CPU | Intel Core i7-13620H |
Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 (6GB GDDR6, 2,130 MHz enhance clock, 75W most graphics power) |
Memory | 16GB DDR5-5200 (2x 8GB) |
Storage | 512GB SSD |
Present | 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080, 16:9, IPS, 144 Hz |
Networking | MediaTek Wi-Fi 6 MT7921, Bluetooth 5.1 |
Ports | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Variety-C (with DisplayPort), 3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Variety-A, Ethernet (1 Gbps), HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm audio |
Digicam | 720p |
Battery | 57 Wh |
Vitality Adapter | 135W (barrel connector) |
Working System | Dwelling home windows 11 Home |
Dimensions (WxDxH) | 14.3 x 9.4 x 1.06 inches |
Weight | 4.66 kilos |
Value (as configured) | $869.99 |
Gaming and Graphics on the Acer Nitro V 15
Our Nitro V 15 overview model choices an Intel Core i7-13620H processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics (75W most graphics power), and 16GB of DDR5-5200 RAM. It’s entry-level, nevertheless in a position to participating in fashionable video video games.
I seen about 144 frames per second (fps) frequent whereas participating in F1 24 at Medium settings with DLSS enabled. The gameplay was fluid and on no account stuttered.
The strategies we’re using for comparability embody the Dell G16 7630 (Core i5-13650HX, RTX 4060 140W, $999.99 as examined), MSI Cyborg 15 (Core i7-13620H, RTX 4050 45W, $899.99), and Lenovo LOQ ARP9 (AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, RTX 4060 115W, $999.99). The Dell and Lenovo present far more extremely efficient RTX 4060 graphics taking part in playing cards for $100 to $150 further.
In Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest ingredient preset), the Nitro averaged 70 fps, noticeably outperforming the MSI Cyborg’s 64 fps. Nonetheless, it couldn’t match the Lenovo’s 96 fps or Dell’s 98 fps due to the RTX 4060s.
In Cyberpunk 2077 (Very Extreme preset), the Nitro was 10% faster than the MSI, attaining 22 fps compared with 20 fps, nonetheless it couldn’t catch the Dell’s 33 fps. (We don’t have data for the Lenovo on this sport.)
Subsequent, the Nitro produced 63 fps in Far Cry 6 (Extraordinarily preset), tying the MSI nevertheless falling wanting the Lenovo’s 79 fps and the Dell’s 85 fps.
In Pink Lifeless Redemption 2 (Medium preset), the Nitro averaged 48 fps, outperforming the MSI’s 44 fps. As anticipated, the Dell and Lenovo every continued performing significantly larger.
Lastly, in Borderlands 3 (on the game’s “badass” preset), the Nitro as quickly as as soon as extra outperformed the MSI, producing 62 fps to the MSI’s 56 fps. The opening between these, the Dell and Lenovo remained acute.
Common, the Nitro delivers steady 1080p gaming effectivity. Its 75W RTX 4050 outperformed the 45W mannequin inside the MSI Cyborg 15. Nonetheless, the Dell and Lenovo clearly current that the RTX 4060 with 100W or further of most graphics power is a significantly superior performer.
We stress-test gaming laptops by working the Metro Exodus benchmark 15 cases at RTX settings, simulating half an hour of gaming. All through the examine, the Nitro V averaged 53.56 fps with solely minimal variance between runs, indicating fixed cooling effectivity.
The Core i7-13620H averaged 2.34 GHz and 62 ranges C on the P-cores and 1.89 GHz and 62 C on the E-cores. The GeForce RTX 4050 averaged 2.2 GHz and 64 C.
Productiveness Effectivity on the Acer Nitro V 15
Our Nitro overview unit is equipped with a Core i7-13620H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It handles regularly apps and light-weight content material materials creation with ease.
Inside the cross-platform Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark, the Nitro was in competitors for the best spot, scoring 2,571 components compared with the MSI’s 2,580 components. It produced the most effective ranking of 13,373 components inside the multi-core examine, with the MSI coming in second at 12,427 components. The Lenovo LOQ lagged significantly in every checks.
The Acer was the second-best performer in our 25GB file change examine, attaining a median change cost of 1,456.74 MBps compared with the Dell’s 1,718.8 MBps. Every the MSI and the Lenovo had sub-1,000 MBps change costs.
In our Handbrake video transcoding examine, the Nitro outperformed the MSI, altering a 4K video to 1080pin 5 minutes and 25 seconds compared with the MSI’s 5:49. It was solely barely behind the Lenovo’s 5:17, nonetheless it couldn’t match the Dell at 4:21.
Present on the Acer Nitro V 15
The Nitro makes use of a primary 16:9 show with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Highlights embody an anti-glare ground to scale back reflections, IPS know-how for broad viewing angles, and a 144 Hz refresh cost.
The picture prime quality is frequent at most interesting, with enough brightness nevertheless washed-out colors. Watching the 2016 sci-fi Arrival, the stark distinction of the spaceship scenes lacked impression, and the additional vibrant scenes appeared uninteresting. Likewise, the colorful race autos in F1 24 moreover did not face out.
The Nitro’s subpar shade safety is obvious from our present measurements, the place it covers merely 44.9% of DCI-P3 and 63.3% of sRGB, which is even lower than the MSI Cyborg. In distinction, the Dell’s show presents markedly superior shade and higher brightness.
Keyboard and Touchpad on the Acer Nitro V 15
The Nitro’s keyboard doesn’t resemble a typical gaming laptop computer laptop keyboard, sticking with a traditional font and white-only backlighting identical to Acer’s Aspire laptops. Whereas Acer missed a possibility in order so as to add some aptitude proper right here, as a minimum it averted the cliché crimson backlighting normally found on many various funds gaming laptops.
The shallow key journey limits tactile ideas. Nonetheless, it’s easy to type quickly; I had no problem reaching my personal most interesting typing tempo of 120 phrases per minute inside the MonkeyType on-line typing examine.
Acer would have been larger off leaving out the awkward three-column amount pad, and it’ll have been preferable had all the arrow keys been the similar dimension. The Nitro key inside the prime row is the keyboard’s solely specific attribute; pressing it launches the Nitro Sense app.
Within the meantime, the Nitro’s large touchpad is a pleasure to utilize, offering an anti-glare ground and quiet, satisfying tactile clicks.
Audio on the Acer Nitro V 15
The Nitro’s built-in audio system go away rather a lot to be desired. Whereas they provide enough amount for personal leisure, the sound prime quality is tinny and nearly devoid of bass. Listening to Certain’s “Proprietor of a Lonely Coronary coronary heart,” the drum hits and guitar sounded strained, and the vocals had been gap.
The DTS:X Extraordinarily app provides a graphic equalizer and various different audio presets, along with Music (the default), Voice, and Movie, along with an Auto alternative. Music was basically probably the most well-balanced preset to my ears. The sound prime quality significantly degraded with out this app’s help.
Upgradeability of the Acer Nitro V 15
The Nitro presents good upgradeability, with two DDR5 SODIMM slots, two M.2 2280 SSD slots, an M.2 2230 wi-fi card slot, and a replaceable battery. These components are accessible beneath the underside panel, which is secured by 11 Philips-head screws. The entire screws are the similar dimension.
Popping the plastic clips that secure the panel requires a plastic trim software program; I needed to make use of some drive to create a distinct segment at certainly one of many rear corners and totally work all through the rear edge. The clips throughout the totally different edges launched as quickly as I had the rear edge loosened.
The thermal cooling reply is seen proper right here. The comparatively small dimension of the followers may be a goal why they’re so noisy.
Battery Life on the Acer Nitro V 15
Our battery life examine entails simulated web looking out, streaming video over Wi-Fi, and working OpenGL checks, all with the show brightness set to 150 nits. The Nitro V outperformed the other fashions by a significant margin, lasting for 5 hours and 41 minutes compared with the Dell G16’s 5 hours and three minutes and the Lenovo LOQ’s 3 hours and 24 minutes. Though it’s no ultraportable, the Nitro lasts a respectably very very long time off the plug.
Heat on the Acer Nitro V 15
All through our 15-loop Metro Exodus stress examine, we measured most ground temperatures on the Nitro of 68 ranges Fahrenheit on the touchpad, 93 F between the keyboard G and H keys, and 104 F on the underside. No part of the laptop computer laptop felt larger than lukewarm to the contact.
There was regrettably nothing quiet regarding the Nitro’s cooling followers, which had been plainly audible all through my entrance room. They’ve a selected whine. Using closed headphones whereas gaming is a ought to. (Consider the best gaming headsets.) The followers moreover proved overreactive for regularly use, normally spooling up each time I visited a webpage or did one thing that may briefly stress the CPU.
Webcam on the Acer Nitro V 15
Acer equips the Nitro V with a 720p webcam over its present. The picture has a clean focus and suffers from grain in low delicate, typical of a small-sensor digicam. Whereas funds gaming laptops rarely present larger, I nonetheless need for the sharper picture of a further fashionable 1080p sensor. A privateness shutter would have moreover been a welcome addition, though it is going to be a shock beneath $1,000.
The webcam lacks an infrared sensor to permit Dwelling home windows Whats up facial recognition. This laptop computer laptop doesn’t have a fingerprint reader, each, so that you just’ll should type passwords.
Software program program and Assure on the Acer Nitro V 15
Acer comprises various apps on the Nitro, with the first one being NitroSense. This app presents power profiles, system standing (along with CPU and GPU temperatures and frequencies), and fan curve administration. Totally different settings embody a battery value limiter, a bluelight defend, and a keyboard backlight timeout. Furthermore, you presumably can customise the system boot model along with your particular person image. The ability profile and fan curve may very well be saved in a profile, and the app center half helps you to bind a profile to an app so the profile is routinely activated when the app is launched.
One different included app, Acer Care Coronary heart, provides nicely being checks for a lot of components, system updates, entry to Help, restoration administration, and a tuneup attribute to delete junk data. I significantly like that the restoration administration half permits backup of LAN and wi-fi drivers, which may very well be powerful to look out for a lot much less widespread networking taking part in playing cards identical to the one on this Nitro for many who reinstall the OS.
The DTS apps talked about inside the audio half are important for the overall sound prime quality. There are a variety of undesirable trial apps on the Nitro, along with McAfee LiveSafe, Dropbox, ExpressVPN, and Forge of Empires.
Acer covers the Nitro with a one-year assure.
Acer Nitro V 15 Configurations
We reviewed the Nitro V 15 outfitted with an Intel Core i7-13620H processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 144 Hz show. It was discounted to $869.99 on Newegg on the time of this overview with a 1TB SSD.
Configurations start at $699.99 with a Core i5-13420H, an RTX 3050, and 8GB of RAM. Newegg moreover had a $999.99 model with a Core i9-13900H, an RTX 4060, and 16GB of RAM. The Nitro V may be accessible with AMD processors; a $779.99 model contains a Ryzen 5 7535HS and an RTX 4050 whereas a $929.99 model upgrades to a Ryzen 7 7735HS and an RTX 4060.
Amongst laptops with the RTX 4050, the MSI Cyborg 15 was discounted to $849.99 on Newegg with the similar basic specs as our Nitro, though as talked about, it makes use of a lower-wattage RTX 4050 and lacks a ten Gbps USB port. The Lenovo LOQ 15ARP9 was $879.99 from Lenovo with an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS and a 1TB SSD.
Though the Nitro is competitively priced, laptops with a GeForce RTX 4060 may be discovered for spherical $100 further; the Dell G16 7630 was $949.99 with a Core i5-13650HX CPU, an RTX 4060, a 1TB SSD, and a 16-inch 2560 x 1600, 240 Hz present.
Bottom Line
Acer’s Nitro V 15 is a steady different for budget-conscious avid players, albeit with just some drawbacks. On the plus aspect, its Core i7 CPU and RTX 4050 GPU produce satisfactory 1080p framerates, it presents a flashy however tasteful design, and we moreover well-known its good connectivity, upgradeability, and battery life.
The Nitro’s main holdbacks are loud cooling followers and a show with subpar shade, every of which make this laptop computer laptop a lot much less well-rounded than it should be. Although the fan noise may very well be mitigated with closed headphones, the show is beneath frequent even for a funds laptop computer laptop. We moreover need for a larger webcam and fuller-sounding audio system.
Whereas we cost this Nitro elevated than the MSI Cyborg 15 attributable to its superior effectivity, connectivity, and battery life, chances are you’ll get the Dell G16 7630 for spherical $100 further, which presents significantly larger effectivity and a rather a lot superior show. In case your funds is tight, though, the Nitro V 15 stays to be an sincere different.
MORE: How to Buy a Gaming Laptop
MORE: Best Gaming PCs
MORE: Best Ultrabooks and Premium Laptops
MORE: How to Buy a Gaming Laptop
MORE: Best Gaming PCs
MORE: Best Ultrabooks and Premium Laptops
MORE: How to Buy a Gaming Laptop
MORE: Best Gaming PCs