If there is one laptop brand that goes the extra mile to offer gamers the latest technologies in processing, display and sound, you have got to hand it to Acer. With the latest Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-51M5/54W2 gaming laptop (15.6” or 17.3”), Acer just did it again. This newly launched gaming machine boasts of a 144Hz refresh rate, a fantastic screen-to-body ratio of 80% for immersive gameplay, and ninth-gen Intel Core processing. It is also equipped with a top-notch heat dissipation mechanism that makes it trudge on even when some contemporaries may have a nervous breakdown.
At the face of it, the latest Acer Nitro 5 seems very promising. Currently, it is available in two models—AN515-54-54W2 and AN515-54-51M5—both of which are temptingly priced at $729.99 and $829.99 respectively. Let us dig deeper into its features and performance to understand just how adept it is in fulfilling these expectations.
Table of Contents
Competent Processing
On the processing front, this device delivers and how. It is powered by a ninth-gen Intel Core i5-9300H CPU supported by 8GB RAM (DDR4, two memory slots) and up to 256GB SSD. The AN515-54-51M5 model adds additional storage of 1TB HDD. Interestingly, you can also choose to have an AMD Ryzen 7 3750H mobile processor. While the former comes with an NVIDIA GPU—GeForce GTX 1050/1650 graphics—the latter provides RX 560X. The GPU has ample memory to ensure smooth A/V performance: up to 3GB in the AN515-54-54W2 model and 4GB in the AN515-54-51M5.
This is a configuration that is quite capable of running the latest gaming titles at satisfactory, if not the highest, settings. You should also fare well with multitasking, such as when browsing the internet or working on more mundane, everyday pursuits. Plus, since the operating system is Windows 10 Home, you stand to reap the benefits of a secure, professional OS.
Let us talk about that exceptional cooling system—the Acer CoolBoost. It utilizes two fans and two exhaust ports to keep your device running optimally even in the thick of an adrenaline-pumping gaming night. The advanced cooling technology helps increase the fan speed (by 10 percent) which keeps both your CPU and GPU cool and comfortable. It is also helpful that this laptop enables you to customize and control a lot of settings, including the fan speed and the temperatures (using NitroSense).
A special word on the battery backup: it can last up to eight hours. That is not bad at all for gaming machines in general, and ones as powerful as this in particular. You can extract considerable unplugged usage from this laptop.
Fabulous, Responsive Display
The glory of a 144Hz screen has to be seen to be believed. The movements in your games are much quicker to be rendered; your reaction time can improve dramatically. The Acer Nitro 5 combines an excellent refresh rate with an FHD screen fitted with an IPS panel. Moreover, the response time that you experience is only 3ms which further enhances your in-game experience.
This laptop employs a narrow bezel design; the borders are only 7.18mm thick (0.28”). This helps to expand the available real estate for your content, elevating the screen-to-body ratio to almost 80%. The more you see, the greater your chances of winning! Note that the color gamut on this computer is 72% NTSC while the brightness is about 300 nits. The screen resolution is a comfortable 1920 x 1080, which is also the optimal resolution for most of the popular games of our times.
Bonus: A stellar display becomes even more so when you have the acoustics to match up. Fortunately, this laptop understands this and comes infused with the power of Waves MaxxAudio. Together with Acer TrueHarmony—the quintessential sound technology of Acer gaming laptops—it helps deliver richer bass and volume to make your game several times more exciting.
Ease of Accessibility & Mobility
The clear winner on this front is the pro-gaming keyboard that comes with an attractive red backlight, a key-travel distance of 1.6mm, and specially highlighted keys to make things easier for you while gaming.
You will find that the WASD keys, as well as the arrow keys, stand out, thereby avoiding a frantic hunt for them when foes knock at your doorstep on the arena. The backlighting 
Another feature boosting the overall accessibility as well as mobility of this laptop: a wide gamut of ports! So, you get the multifunctional and superfast USB Type-C Gen 1 port, a USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI 2.0 to connect to external displays. The computer is compatible with Killer Ethernet E25001 and Gigabit Wi-Fi 5 (with MU-MIMO). Depending upon the strength of the available signal, you should be able to enjoy consistent and speedy connectivity during online gaming.
Build-wise, this laptop is reasonably light at 5.51lbs. It has a profile measuring about 1”. So, while it is not incredibly easy to carry around with you, it is not unwieldy.
The Long & Short of It
Simply put, the most recent addition to the Nitro series—the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54-51M5/54W2 gaming laptop—is a well-made product that blends efficient processing, a superior display, and an effective cooling system for sustainable gaming. It packs in some professional-grade features too, such as a specially designed gaming keyboard, a clear and distinct sound system, and the kind of internet connectivity support that doesn’t leave you high and dry. When you get all this at a budget-friendly price point of under $1000, it is quite a charming deal.
| Acer Nitro 5 AN515-54 Specs | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-9300H (2.40 GHz) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650/1050 |
| Memory | 8GB DDR4 SDRAM |
| Storage | 1TB HDD + 128GB SSD |
| Display | 15.6-inch 144Hz 1920 x 1080 FHD |
| Weight | 5.51 lbs |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 Hours |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
We daresay this is one machine with a lot of potential. Depending on its eventual reception in the market, it should be a worthy option for casual as well as serious gamers.
