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We recently had the pleasure of reviewing the Predator Helios 16s AI, and now we are turning our attention to its larger and more powerful sibling, the Predator Helios 18 AI. This machine is in a class all its own, designed not just as a gaming laptop, but as a true desktop replacement.
As the name suggests, this behemoth is built to function with the power and capabilities of a high-end desktop computer, all within a portable form factor that you can take with you, even if it is a bit of a workout.
Predator Helios 18 AI Overview
Build
The Predator Helios 18 AI features a design philosophy that is a direct continuation of the Helios 16 AI, but on a grander scale. While the chassis is constructed of a solid plastic, it feels remarkably premium and robust.
The laptop has a substantial presence, measuring approximately 400.96mm in width, 307.9mm in depth, and a thickness that tapers from a chunky 29.55mm at the back to a sleeker 17.3mm at the front. It weighs in at a hefty 3.5 kg.
A signature design element of the Predator series is the protruding back, which not only gives the laptop a unique profile but also serves a functional purpose, housing both the advanced cooling system and several I/O ports.
The screen hinge allows for a wide-angle opening of about 130 degrees.
This protruding back also features an exclusive infinity mirror lighting bar at the rear, which, along with the per-key RGB keyboard and the distinctive RGB Predator logo, creates a striking and premium gaming aesthetic.
Display
The display is a monstrous 18-inch 4K WQXGA panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio. It utilizes Mini LED technology with an IPS-like panel, providing outstanding visual quality. The brightness is exceptional, reaching 600 nits in SDR mode and a dazzling peak of 1000 nits in HDR mode, earning it an HDR 1000 certification.
To cater to both high-resolution and high-refresh-rate scenarios, the display offers two distinct modes. In its native 4K resolution, it can achieve a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. For competitive gaming where speed is paramount, users can lower the resolution to Full HD to unlock a blazing-fast 250Hz refresh rate.
This is complemented by a rapid 3ms GTG response time through Overdrive technology, which ensures a fluid and responsive gaming experience.
The display also boasts impressive color reproduction, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, making it an excellent choice for both gaming and creative work.
Benchmark
Our own calibration and testing of the display confirm its premium performance. We found that it is capable of reproducing 99% of the sRGB color space, 85% of the Adobe RGB, and 99% of the DCI-P3.
These numbers are a testament to how great this display is. It offers exceptional color accuracy and a wide color gamut, providing a visually stunning experience that few other laptop displays can rival. For content creation and professional tasks, this level of color performance is a significant advantage, while for gaming, it ensures that worlds are rendered with profound and lifelike vibrancy.
Audio
For audio, the laptop is equipped with a quad-plus-dual speaker system, totaling six speakers, all enhanced with a smart amplifier. The speakers incorporate Acer TrueHarmony technology, which is designed to reduce distortion and extend the frequency range. It also supports DTS:X Ultra Audio, providing an immersive spatial sound experience.
For communication, the laptop features three built-in microphones with Acer PurifiedVoice AI noise reduction technology. While it is a common refrain that built-in laptop speakers are often underwhelming, and while the six-speaker setup here does sound a bit better than a standard set, it still cannot compete with the experience provided by a good external speaker system.
The true highlight for audio enthusiasts, however, is the headphone output, which is Hi-Res Audio certified and supports up to 24-bit/192KHz, making the wired audio experience a significant upgrade.
Keyboard
The keyboard on the Predator Helios 18 AI is a key component of its premium feel. It features per-key RGB backlighting, allowing for extensive customization of lighting effects. A unique and patented feature is the swappable MagKey 3.0 keycaps.
The MagClick option provides a satisfying mechanical bump feel, while MagSpeed blends a speedometer aesthetic with LED lighting. The experience of actually swapping the keycaps on a laptop is a novel one, and while the initial prying of the caps may not feel great, the result of having a fresh feel and look is very satisfying.
The keyboard also includes a dedicated Predator Sense key and a Copilot key, along with a Microsoft Precision Touchpad, ensuring a full feature set for both gaming and productivity.
Predator Helios 18 AI Internal
CPU
Powering this beast is the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor. This CPU features a hybrid architecture with 24 cores and 24 threads, offering a base clock speed of 2.7 GHz and a boost speed of up to 5.4 GHz. It has a base TDP of 55W and can reach a maximum turbo power (PL2) of 160W, showcasing its immense performance potential.
A key feature of this processor is its integrated Intel AI Boost Neural Processing Unit, which delivers a performance rating of up to 13 TOPS.
GPU
The graphics duties are handled by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 with 16 GB of dedicated GDDR7 VRAM. This powerful GPU is built on the new Blackwell architecture and supports 7680 NVIDIA CUDA Cores.
It has a configurable TGP ranging from 80W to 150W, allowing it to deliver immense power for gaming and creative workloads. The GPU is equipped with fourth-generation Ray Tracing Cores and fifth-generation Tensor Cores, and it supports a suite of advanced technologies including NVIDIA DLSS 4, Reflex 2, and Broadcast.
Benchmark
In our benchmark tests, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 delivered impressive results, confirming its position as a top-tier performer. In 3DMark Speed Way, it scored 5685, while in 3DMark Steel Nomad it achieved a score of 5216.
The Port Royal ray tracing benchmark showed a score of 14083, highlighting its strong ray tracing capabilities. The most significant finding came from the NVIDIA DLSS feature test, where the performance jumped from 30.97 fps with DLSS off to a remarkable 123.72 fps with DLSS on.
This clearly demonstrates how the AI-powered DLSS technology provides a massive boost in performance, making it a game-changer for high-fidelity gaming.
Cooling
The cooling system is one of the most critical components of a high-performance laptop, and the Predator Helios 18 AI excels in this area. It utilizes dual 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fans and strategically applied liquid metal thermal grease on the CPU.
This advanced cooling solution is essential for maintaining peak performance during demanding gaming sessions and creative tasks, preventing thermal throttling and ensuring stability.
Benchmark
The effectiveness of the cooling system is clearly demonstrated by our benchmark results. Under full load, the CPU temperatures were impressively managed, staying at a cool 72°C, while the GPU remained at a comfortable 70°C.
The giant 18-inch chassis, which allows for a more effective and expansive cooling system, plays a significant role in keeping both the CPU and GPU well below the thermal limits that other laptops often struggle with.
I/Os
A desktop replacement needs a full complement of ports, and the Helios 18 AI does not disappoint. On the left side of the laptop, you will find an Ethernet port, a USB-A port, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone/speaker jack.
The right side features two additional USB-A ports. The rear of the device, located within the protruding cooling module, houses the most modern and high-speed ports.
Here you will find two USB Type-C ports with full Thunderbolt 5 support, which also offer DisplayPort over USB-C and USB charging. The back also includes an HDMI 2.1 port and the power input.
Battery
The Predator Helios 18 AI is equipped with a large 99 Wh 4-cell Lithium-ion battery, and it is charged by a robust 400W power adapter. Acer’s official claims state a battery longevity of up to 5.5 hours, based on video playback tests.
Benchmark
During our own battery life benchmark, we could only manage to get 2 hours and 49 minutes of use out of this monster. The primary reason for this is the combination of the beefy internal hardware and the incredibly bright Mini LED display. However, we see nothing inherently wrong with this shorter battery life.
The Helios 18 is, by its very nature, a desktop replacement. It is designed to spend the majority of its life stationary on a desk, plugged into the wall and acting as the heart of a powerful gaming or creative setup. If you are in need of a laptop for long hours of portable use, you would be better served by a more efficient machine like the Acer Swift series.
Predator Helios 18 AI’s AI Features
This laptop is heavily marketed as an “AI gaming laptop,” a designation that it lives up to through the integration of multiple AI-capable hardware components. It leverages both the Intel AI Boost NPU within the Core Ultra 9 processor and the AI capabilities of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, which are powered by its specialized Tensor Cores.
This dual-pronged approach allows the laptop to effortlessly handle hundreds of AI applications locally. It provides significant performance advantages for AI-powered features like NVIDIA DLSS 4, which dramatically boosts gaming frame rates, and it accelerates tasks in creative workflows such as Stable Diffusion, making it a truly future-proof machine for the next generation of AI-driven computing.
Predator Helios 18 AI Gaming Experience
The Predator Helios 18 AI provides an undeniably excellent gaming experience, standing among the best available on a laptop. The combination of the Intel Ultra 9 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU ensures that this machine can handle any AAA title with ease.
Our benchmark tests on three demanding titles—Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth Wukong, and Monster Hunter Wild—produced results that are among the highest we have seen, rivaling the performance of high-end desktop PCs.
| FPS | Frame Generation FPS | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 74.44 | 231.62 |
| Black Myth Wukong | 63 | 104 |
| Monster Hunter Wild | 79 | 135 |
However, this level of performance comes at a cost; the fans, when running at full speed under load, are exceptionally loud, to the point where they can be distracting. Fortunately, the laptop’s decision to include Hi-Res audio is a welcome one, as the audio experience is significantly better when using quality external speakers or headphones.
Predator Helios 18 AI Conclusion
Priced at RM17,999, the Predator Helios 18 AI stands as the ultimate gaming laptop, a true desktop replacement in every sense.
Its strengths are numerous, from the unparalleled gaming performance delivered by the top-tier CPU and GPU, to the stunning Mini LED display that is a joy for both gaming and creative work, and the highly effective cooling system that keeps everything running smoothly under pressure. The laptop also boasts a premium build, a comprehensive port selection, and unique features like swappable keycaps and a Hi-Res audio output.
However, this power comes with trade-offs; the fan noise under heavy load is substantial, and its battery life is very short, which limits its portability.
Despite these points, we highly recommend the Predator Helios 18 AI to those who want the absolute best performance available in a laptop form factor and who have no need for future upgrades. For its uncompromising power and premium features, we are proud to award it our Gold Award.
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