Acer has a new Nitro 5 laptop designed with casual gaming in mind, targeting budget-conscious gamers who want a reliable machine without spending a fortune on it.
We'll surely see more intriguing announcements later this month once Computex kicks off on May 30, but Acer couldn't wait and made its announcements already. The company unveiled four new devices targeting different needs and preferences.
The Nitro 5 is designed for "casual gamers," arriving as an affordable notebook slated to hit the market this summer. We first got a glimpse of it last month, and Acer now offers more details.
Acer Nitro 5 Casual Gaming Laptop
As a casual gaming notebook, the new Acer Nitro 5 has enough oomph to handle some games, but don't expect it to match bulkier, top-notch laptops built specifically for heavy-duty gaming.
"First from the new Acer Nitro family, the Nitro 5 series provides a good balance of powerful features with a sharp and stylish design," says the company. "Acer is offering a variety of configurations that feature popular graphics and processors, providing consumers with a wide selection to meet different budgets and needs."
Acer Nitro 5 Specs
The Acer Nitro 5 configuration options include up to seventh-generation Intel Core processors (Kaby Lake), either i5 or i7, with Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, or up to seventh-generation AMD A-series FX, A10 or A12 with Radeon RX550 graphics. It can support up to 32 GB of RAM and users can also accelerate performance with PCI-E SSDs. Alternately, users can also go for an optional HDD of up to 2 TB.
Regardless of the CPU/ GPU combo, all Acer Nitro 5 models run Windows 10 and sport a 15.6-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, and Dolby Audio Premium for a quality audio experience. Connectivity options include one USB Type-C port, one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI 2.0, gigabit Ethernet, and Wi-Fi 802.11 ac.
When it comes to design, the Acer Nitro 5 looks like a gaming laptop all around, sporting sharp lines, bright lights and big air vents to complement the solid cooling system comprising of dual fans with Acer Coolboost technology.
The back of a notebook has a red hinge across the matte black chassis, red backlighting illuminates the keyboard, and the crucial WASD keys and touchpad have a red outline so they stand out.
That said, the new Nitro 5 is not as powerful as the Acer Aspire V Nitro, but it doesn't aim to be. As previously mentioned, the Nitro 5 is designed for casual gaming on a budget so its focus is on reliability and affordability rather than horsepower.
Acer Nitro 5 Price And Availability
The Nitro 5 casual gaming notebook will go on sale in July in North America, sporting a starting price of $799. The notebook will also launch in China in July at a starting price of 5,499 yuan and will hit the EMEA region in August starting at €1,099 ($1,233). The company has yet to release more detailed pricing, so it remains unclear for now just how much it would cost to get a top configuration.
Acer notes that exact prices, specs and availability will vary by region.
