

I have generally more positive things to say about the keyboard. The all-plastic build doesn't have the premium feel of the all-metal Razer Blade 15 and isn't as sturdy as the x17. You'll notice some flex in the keyboard deck with even light pressure, and the same goes for the lid. The construction quality, as I said, is just okay, which may be why the Nitro is relatively lightweight. At 5.95 pounds, it's hardly the most portable PC, so you may not carry it often, but compared to the Alienware x17-which is slimmer but weighs a ponderous 7.05 pounds-the Acer looks ready to roll. It'll take up a fair amount of desk space, so don't count on it for a tight work area or small cafe table if you take it on the road. How wide, you ask? As you'd expect from a 17-inch gaming rig, the Nitro 5 is no shrinking violet at 0.98 by 15.9 by 11 inches (HWD). There are a couple of muscle lines on the lid to add a bit of personality, but it's otherwise a wide black slab. The styling is simple, entirely black accented only by the white edges of the keycaps.

The latest Nitro is not a major departure from previous designs. This Nitro 5 delivers the good value the line is known for, so you shouldn't overlook it, but it lacks the build quality and appeal of high-end rivals that can be similarly configured, such as the Razer Blade 15 and Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 6.

Less fortunately, the build is unremarkable, the chassis has some flex that premium competitors lack, and the screen is a little on the dull side. Fortunately, the system justifies its price with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, AMD Ryzen 7 processor, and a 360Hz display for a powerful gaming experience. Most of the Nitros we've tested have been relatively affordable, while this new 17.3-inch Nitro 5 is on the high side at $2,099 (the updated 15-inch version starts at $1,599). Best Malware Removal and Protection SoftwareĪcer's Nitro line of gaming laptops spans a range of sizes and prices.
