Acer Nitro V 16 AI evaluation: Price range gaming meets nice battery life

Finest Costs Immediately: Acer Nitro V 16 AI

Buyers seeking to purchase a laptop computer with Nvidia RTX 50-series graphics for round $800 or much less have few choices—considered one of which is the Acer Nitro V 16 AI, which retails for about $799 on-line. Though it offers acceptable efficiency for a price range machine, its day-to-day usability and battery life are what units it other than the pack.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Specs and options as-tested

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI’s specs make the laptop computer really feel like a vessel for the RTX 5050 8GB GPU. The AMD Ryzen 5 240 CPU is among the many least succesful in AMD’s line-up, and the laptop computer makes do with solely 16GB of RAM in addition to a 512GB strong state drive.

• Mannequin: ANV16-42
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 240
• Reminiscence: 16GB LPDDR5-5600
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 5050 8GB
• NPU: As much as 16 TOPS
• Show: 16-inch 1920×1200 180Hz IPS-LCD show
• Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 strong state drive
• Webcam and microphone: 720p webcam with dual-array microphone
• Connectivity: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C with DisplayPort and Energy Supply, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1, 1x microSD card reader, 1x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45), 1x 3.5mm combo audio
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 76 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14.2 x 10.9 x 0.92 inches
• Weight: 5.38 kilos
• Working System: Home windows 11 Residence
• Worth: $899 MSRP / $629 to $799 typical retail

It is a frequent technique for a price range gaming laptop computer. Most rivals, from the Asus ROG TUF line to the Lenovo LOQ 15 and Dell G15, additionally depend on entry-level CPUs and have 16GB of RAM alongside a 512GB strong state drive. You’ll often must pay about $1,000 if you would like 1TB of storage (in a laptop computer with an Nvidia RTX 50-series GPU, no less than).

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Design and construct high quality

Foundry / Matthew Smith

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI doesn’t make a lot of an impression. It’s a black laptop computer with a refined metallic luster adorned solely with a chrome “N” on the lid, which is the brand for Acer’s Nitro sub-brand. Moreover that, there’s not a lot to say in regards to the laptop computer’s fashion. It’s easy however inoffensive.

Opening the laptop computer will reveal a pair refined touches, although none are all that engaging. The Nitro brand is engraved into the palm relaxation, together with the phrase “Victory begins right here” engraved slightly below the numpad.

Construct high quality is appropriate. Shortly opening the laptop computer’s lid reveals apparent show flex, however the decrease chassis is strong when the laptop computer is picked up from a nook or edge. Keyboard flex may be discovered if you happen to strive nevertheless it’s not an issue in regular use.

As with most price range gaming laptops, the Nitro V 16 AI isn’t small. It measures over 14 inches huge, almost 11 inches deep, and virtually an inch thick at its thickest level. It additionally weighs 5.38 kilos. With that mentioned, most gaming laptops of this measurement are no less than this heavy (over six kilos is just not unusual).

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Keyboard, trackpad, mouse

Foundry / Matthew Smith

I discovered the Acer Nitro V 16 AI’s keyboard to be merely purposeful. The laptop computer’s measurement offers a superb quantity of room, which Acer makes use of to squeeze in a numpad. Nonetheless, the areas between every key are massive, which in flip means the keys are smaller than you would possibly count on. That is most noticeable for the proper facet Shift key, and left-side Tab and Management keys, that are tiny.

Annoyingly, the Microsoft Copilot key is likely one of the largest keys on the keyboard. That is odd as a result of, regardless of its title, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI doesn’t qualify as a Microsoft Copilot+ PC.

Although the important thing structure does the keyboard no favors, it’s balanced by the basic benefits of a bigger, thicker laptop computer. Keys have a superb quantity of key journey, the general measurement of the keyboard is spacious, and the palm relaxation presents a superb quantity of room. I used to be capable of hammer out a couple of thousand phrases in consolation.

The touchpad is a bonus. It measures about 5 inches huge and a bit greater than three inches deep. Alternate options just like the Lenovo LOQ 15 and Dell G15 have noticeably smaller touchpads that really feel cramped by comparability.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Show, audio

Foundry / Matthew Smith

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI ships with a 1920×1200 decision IPS-LCD show that may obtain a refresh charge as much as 180Hz.

The 16-inch 1200p show is value particular point out. Most price range gaming laptops nonetheless use a 15.6-inch 1080p show. In comparison with these, the Nitro V 16 AI offers a barely taller show with extra usable house. It’s not an enormous deal in video games nevertheless it makes the laptop computer extra satisfying for internet shopping and work.

IPS-LCD shows are likely to have lackluster distinction and colour when in comparison with OLED options. That interprets to comparatively boring, flat picture high quality. With that mentioned, the IPS show is nice sufficient in most conditions. The distinction situation solely turns into apparent when the laptop computer is utilized in a darkish room, as darker scenes seem grey and hazy.

The picture is sharp and vibrant and the show has a semi-gloss coat that resists reflections. You should still discover the show tough to see if you happen to sit close to a big sunlit window, nonetheless, and open air use isn’t snug even with the show at its most brightness. The identical is true for different price range gaming laptops.

Movement efficiency is respectable. The 180Hz refresh charge offers fluid, responsive movement when video games render at a body charge near the panel’s most refresh charge. Movement readability is respectable with good element throughout a scene, however small components like fonts or HP bars can nonetheless be tough to make out. G-Sync is absent, sadly, which suggests you’ll want to make use of a sport’s V-Sync setting or threat ugly display screen tearing.

Audio high quality is an issue. The built-in audio system aren’t loud even at most quantity. Regardless of that, I usually observed an disagreeable rattling sound brought on by vibrations within the laptop computer chassis when the audio system had been at excessive volumes.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

You’re not going to need to take video calls on the Acer Nitro V 16 AI. The laptop computer has a barebones 720p webcam with a mushy, grainy picture. It’s a fundamental expertise excused solely by the actual fact best price range gaming laptops even have a 720p webcam.

The twin-array microphone is a little more usable, however not by a lot. It picks up audio that’s crisp, clear, and loud sufficient to be usable on Zoom or Google Meet. However, as soon as once more, this can be a minimalist expertise.

Biometric login is just not supported. This, as soon as once more, is typical for a price range gaming laptop computer. Only a few supply a fingerprint reader or IR digicam for facial recognition.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Connectivity

You’ll discover loads of ports lining the Acer Nitro V 16 AI’s flanks. The left facet offers Gigabit Ethernet, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, 3.5mm audio, and a microSD card reader, whereas the proper facet presents two extra USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports. The rear consists of HDMI 2.1, USB-C with Energy Supply and DisplayPort, and a barrel plug connector for the bundled 135-watt energy brick.

The USB-C port can be utilized to cost the laptop computer, although it doesn’t present as a lot energy because the 135-watt energy brick.

Whereas the Nitro V 16 AI’s bodily connectivity is strong, it’s common for the class. Most price range gaming laptops have the same quantity and configuration of ports. The microSD card reader is the one bodily connectivity possibility that’s surprising.

Wi-fi connectivity is disappointing, because the Acer Nitro V 16 AI solely helps Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. This places it two generations behind the most recent Wi-Fi normal and a technology behind the most recent Bluetooth normal.

I wouldn’t name it an instantaneous drawback, as Wi-Fi 6 remains to be relatively fast and new requirements are backwards-compatible, however this might make the laptop computer’s Wi-Fi connectivity really feel outdated extra rapidly as new requirements emerge (Wi-Fi 8 is already introduced).

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Efficiency

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI that I acquired for evaluation had an AMD Ryzen 5 240 CPU. It’s a low-end CPU in AMD’s present line-up. It has the AMD Zen 4 structure (a step behind the most recent Zen 5) and a complete of six CPU cores with hyper-threading for a complete of 12 threads. The utmost enhance clock is 5GHz.

That’s paired with the Nvidia RTX 5050 with 8GB of VRAM and a most graphics energy of solely 95 watts—pretty low for a contemporary Nvidia cellular GPU in a devoted gaming laptop computer. 16GB of DDR5-5600 reminiscence and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 strong state drive spherical out the specs.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

First up is PCMark 10, a holistic system benchmark. Right here the Acer Nitro V 16 AI offers a superb results of 7,259. That defeats the Alienware 16 Aurora and older HP Victus 15.

Then again, there’s nonetheless an enormous distinction between the Acer Nitro V 16 AI and options with a extra power-hungry processor, such because the Lenovo Legion 5i with the Intel Core i7-14900HX.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Cinebench 2024, a closely multi-threaded CPU benchmark, reaches a modest rating of 685 on the Acer Nitro V 16 AI. That’s not an enormous shock as a result of, as talked about, the AMD Ryzen 5 240 is in direction of the decrease half of AMD’s product stack. Nonetheless, there’s important hole between the Ryzen 5 240 and different CPUs you would possibly discover in price range gaming laptops, such because the AMD Ryzen 7 250 and Intel Core 7 240H.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Handbrake is one other multi-threaded CPU benchmark, however one with an extended period. This take a look at as soon as once more places the Acer Nitro V 16 AI in direction of the underside of the pack, although the margin of its defeat is smaller than it was in Cinebench 2024.

I believe it’s clear the AMD Ryzen 5 240 is just not a performer in CPU assessments. It’s tremendous, nevertheless it’s simple to discover a gaming laptop computer with a quicker CPU even within the sub-$1,000 value bracket. The Acer Nitro V 16 AI is aimed toward gaming, nonetheless, so how does Nvidia’s RTX 5050 8GB carry out?

Foundry / Matthew Smith

3DMark locations the RTX 5050 the place I might count on it. The Acer Nitro V 16 AI is a good bit faster than the HP Victus 16 that PC World examined with an RTX 4050. Nonetheless, new laptops with an RTX 5060 show faster.

The margin of victory for the RTX 5060 is commonly slim, although, relying on the laptop computer used for comparability. The Lenovo LOQ 15 leaps forward, however the Alienware 16 Aurora with RTX 5060 is just about 10 p.c faster in 3DMark benchmarks.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is an older sport that virtually any trendy gaming laptop computer can deal with, and the Acer Nitro V 16 AI is not any exception. It achieved a mean of 120 frames per second.

Because the 3DMark take a look at outcomes steered, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI is just not as fast as RTX 5060 laptops, however has a bonus over the older RTX 4050.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Metro Exodus, although additionally an older sport, stays extraordinarily demanding if the Excessive preset is used. The Acer Nitro V 16 AI can’t even crack a mean of 40 FPS. To be honest, although, most RTX 5060 laptops additionally barely exceed 40 FPS. And the Nitro V 16 AI as soon as once more exhibits an honest lead over the HP Victus 15 with the older RTX 4050.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

We spherical out issues with Cyberpunk 2077. Whereas the Nitro V 16 AI is certainly much less succesful than RTX 5060 machines, the RTX 5050 permits Acer’s price range gaming laptop computer to hit a mean of 72 FPS at 1080p and the Extremely preset. Generally, a pleasing 1080p/60 expertise is feasible on the laptop computer even with out the usage of DLSS, which was not lively for this take a look at.

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI’s total outcomes are about what I might count on. Nvidia’s RTX 5050 8GB is an entry-level half and, predictably, it doesn’t fairly match the efficiency out there from an RTX 5060—although the 2 are sometimes shut. In the event you’re upgrading from an older RTX 3050 or RTX 4050 laptop computer you will note a noticeable enchancment.

Pricing doesn’t work to Acer or Nvidia’s favor, nonetheless. Laptops with the RTX 5060 are barely dearer than the Acer Nitro V 16 AI. Lenovo’s LOQ 15 is an efficient instance of this, as it might probably retail as little as $809.99.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Battery life and portability

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI has a 76 watt-hour battery. That’s a modest measurement for a gaming laptop computer (although typical for one priced beneath $1,000). You would possibly count on battery life to be terrible, however right here the Nitro V 16 AI is ready to pull off a shock.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Our normal battery rundown take a look at, which loops a 4K file of the quick movie Tears of Metal, ran for over 12 hours earlier than the Nitro V 16 AI needed to name it a day. Because the graph exhibits, that’s a a lot better end result than is typical for a gaming laptop computer—at any value.

A number of elements mix to assist the Nitro V 16 AI pull this off. It has help for Nvidia Optimus, which turns off the discrete GPU when it’s not wanted. This transfers work to the AMD Ryzen 5 240, which is a miserly chip for a gaming laptop computer. I think the 1200p IPS LCD additionally helps, because it ought to draw much less energy than the higher-res OLED show you’d discover on a dearer gaming laptop computer.

Whereas this result’s glorious, keep in mind that battery life will fluctuate relying on how the laptop computer is used. Gaming on the laptop computer will have interaction the Nvidia GPU, which in flip can drain the battery in below two hours if you happen to’re enjoying a demanding sport.

Actual-world use may also are usually lower than the benchmark suggests, relying on what you’re doing. Nonetheless, I skilled real-world battery lifetime of roughly eight hours in a mixture of internet shopping and writing in LibreOffice. That’s not unhealthy for a price range gaming laptop computer.

Acer Nitro V 16 AI: Conclusion

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI is a decent price range gaming laptop computer that gives respectable sport efficiency and surprisingly good battery life. I additionally just like the laptop computer’s 16-inch show with 1200p decision, which is a step up from rivals with a 15.6-inch 1080p show. Different benefits embody a variety of bodily connectivity and an honest touchpad.

Nonetheless, the AMD Ryzen 5 240 doesn’t submit nice ends in CPU assessments and the laptop computer has to make do with simply 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The built-in audio system are a miss, too.

I like to recommend the Acer Nitro V 16 AI over a lot of the price range gaming laptops I’ve examined or utilized in 2025. It’s among the many extra reasonably priced entries on this enviornment and manages to keep away from points (like quick battery life and a sub-par show) that influence rivals together with the Lenovo LOQ 15 and HP Victus 15.

Additionally hold a pointy eye on value. Although it has an MSRP of $899, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI is at the moment $629 on Walmart, in comparison with $799 on Amazon. The Nitro V is value an additional half-star when on sale beneath $700, because it’s a terrific worth at that pricing.