Hey there, fellow gamers! Today, we're diving deep into the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650, a gaming laptop that promises to deliver a solid gaming experience without breaking the bank. If you're on the hunt for an affordable entry into the world of PC gaming, or maybe just need a reliable laptop for both work and play, this review is for you. We'll be covering everything from its performance and design to its pros and cons, so you can make an informed decision. Let's get started!

First Impressions and Design

When you first lay your eyes on the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650, you'll notice its sleek, gamer-centric design. Acer has gone for a more understated look compared to some of its flashier competitors, which I personally appreciate. The chassis is primarily made of plastic, which helps keep the weight down, making it relatively portable for a gaming laptop. It's not the most premium feeling laptop out there, but it feels sturdy enough to withstand daily use. The black and red color scheme is classic gaming, and the subtle angles and lines give it a modern aesthetic. The Nitro series has always been about providing performance at a reasonable price, and the design reflects that philosophy – functional and appealing without going overboard. This laptop is designed to be both a workhorse and a gaming machine, so it needs to balance portability with cooling capabilities. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, with decent key travel and responsiveness, making it suitable for long gaming sessions or typing up documents. The trackpad is accurate and smooth, although serious gamers will likely want to use a dedicated gaming mouse for better precision. Overall, the design strikes a good balance between aesthetics and practicality, making it a solid choice for gamers and students alike. The build quality is decent for the price, and while it may not turn heads with its premium materials, it certainly won't look out of place in a classroom or a gaming tournament.

Performance: How Does It Handle Games?

Okay, let's get to the juicy part: performance. The Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 is equipped with an Intel Core i5-11300H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. This combination is aimed at delivering a smooth 1080p gaming experience in most modern titles. Now, don't expect to be playing everything on ultra settings, but for medium to high settings, you should be able to achieve playable frame rates in many games. In games like Fortnite, Valorant, and CS:GO, you can easily push high frame rates, making it perfect for competitive gaming. More demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Assassin's Creed Valhalla will require you to dial down the settings to achieve a playable experience, but it's still very much possible. The 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor provides a decent boost in performance compared to previous generations, offering better single-core performance, which is crucial for gaming. The GTX 1650, while not the most powerful card on the market, is still a capable performer for entry-level gaming. It's a great choice for gamers who are just starting out or those who want a budget-friendly option. In addition to gaming, this laptop also handles everyday tasks with ease. Multitasking, web browsing, and video streaming are all smooth and responsive. The 8GB of RAM is sufficient for most tasks, but if you plan on doing heavy multitasking or running demanding applications, you might want to consider upgrading to 16GB. The 256GB SSD provides fast boot times and quick loading speeds for games and applications, but you might find yourself running out of storage space quickly, so investing in an external hard drive or upgrading the internal storage is a good idea. Overall, the performance of the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 is impressive for its price range. It's a capable gaming machine that can handle most modern titles at reasonable settings, and it's also a great choice for everyday tasks.

Display and Audio

The Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate. The higher refresh rate is a huge plus for gaming, as it provides smoother and more responsive visuals, especially in fast-paced games. The IPS panel offers decent color accuracy and wide viewing angles, making it enjoyable for both gaming and content consumption. While the display isn't the brightest or most vibrant on the market, it's perfectly adequate for most users. The matte finish helps to reduce glare, making it easier to use in brightly lit environments. The bezels around the display are reasonably thin, which gives the laptop a more modern look. The 144Hz refresh rate is a standout feature, as it's not always common to find this in laptops in this price range. It makes a noticeable difference in gaming, providing a smoother and more immersive experience. As for the audio, the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 is equipped with stereo speakers that are located on the bottom of the laptop. The sound quality is decent for everyday use, but it's not particularly impressive. The speakers are loud enough to fill a small room, but the bass is lacking, and the overall sound is a bit tinny. For a better audio experience, I recommend using headphones or external speakers. The laptop also has a built-in microphone, which is adequate for video conferencing and online gaming. However, if you're serious about streaming or recording audio, you'll want to invest in a dedicated microphone. Overall, the display and audio on the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 are decent for the price. The 144Hz refresh rate is a standout feature, and the IPS panel provides decent color accuracy and viewing angles. The audio is adequate for everyday use, but it's not particularly impressive.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The keyboard and trackpad are crucial components of any laptop, and the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 doesn't disappoint. The keyboard features a standard layout with decent key travel and responsiveness. The keys are well-spaced, making it comfortable to type on for extended periods. The backlighting is a nice touch, allowing you to easily see the keys in dimly lit environments. The red backlighting adds to the gamer aesthetic, but it's not too overpowering. The keyboard also has a dedicated Nitro Sense key, which allows you to quickly access the laptop's performance settings and monitor temperatures. The trackpad is smooth and accurate, making it easy to navigate the operating system and perform basic tasks. It supports multi-finger gestures, such as scrolling and zooming, which are convenient for everyday use. The trackpad is also responsive and doesn't exhibit any noticeable lag. While serious gamers will likely want to use a dedicated gaming mouse for better precision, the trackpad is perfectly adequate for casual gaming and everyday tasks. The keyboard and trackpad are both well-built and feel durable. They're not the most premium feeling components, but they're certainly not cheap or flimsy. Overall, the keyboard and trackpad on the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 are solid and reliable, making it a comfortable and enjoyable laptop to use.

Battery Life and Connectivity

Let's talk about battery life and connectivity. The Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 is equipped with a 57.5Wh battery, which provides decent battery life for a gaming laptop. You can expect to get around 4-5 hours of battery life with moderate usage, such as web browsing, word processing, and video streaming. Gaming will drain the battery much faster, typically lasting around 1-2 hours. Of course, battery life will vary depending on your usage and settings. To extend battery life, you can lower the screen brightness, disable unnecessary background processes, and use the laptop's power-saving mode. The laptop comes with a variety of ports, including three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB-C port, one HDMI port, one Ethernet port, and one headphone/microphone combo jack. The inclusion of a USB-C port is a welcome addition, as it allows you to connect to modern devices and accessories. The Ethernet port is also useful for gamers who prefer a wired internet connection for lower latency. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6, which provides faster and more reliable wireless connectivity. Overall, the battery life and connectivity on the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 are decent for a gaming laptop. The battery life is adequate for everyday use, and the variety of ports provides plenty of connectivity options.

Pros and Cons

Alright, let's break down the pros and cons of the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 to give you a clear overview:

Pros:

• Affordable Price: One of the most attractive aspects of this laptop is its price point. It offers a great balance of performance and features for the money.
• Decent Performance: The combination of the Intel Core i5-11300H and GTX 1650 provides a solid 1080p gaming experience.
• 144Hz Display: The high refresh rate display is a huge plus for gaming, providing smoother and more responsive visuals.
• Comfortable Keyboard: The keyboard is comfortable to type on, with decent key travel and responsiveness.
• Good Connectivity: The laptop comes with a variety of ports, including USB-C and Wi-Fi 6.

Cons:

• Plastic Build: The plastic chassis doesn't feel as premium as some of its competitors.
• Average Audio: The speakers are decent for everyday use, but they're not particularly impressive.
• Limited Storage: The 256GB SSD might not be enough for some users, requiring an upgrade or external storage.
• Battery Life: Battery life is decent for a gaming laptop, but it's not exceptional.

Final Verdict

So, what's the final verdict on the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650? Overall, it's a solid gaming laptop that offers a great balance of performance, features, and affordability. It's a great choice for gamers who are just starting out or those who want a budget-friendly option. While it's not the most powerful or premium laptop on the market, it's a capable performer that can handle most modern games at reasonable settings. The 144Hz display is a standout feature, and the comfortable keyboard makes it enjoyable to use for extended periods. If you're looking for an affordable entry into the world of PC gaming, the Acer Nitro i5 11th Gen GTX 1650 is definitely worth considering. Just be aware of its limitations, such as the plastic build and average audio, and you'll be well-equipped to make an informed decision. Happy gaming, guys!