Acer has walked into CES 2026 with a full bag of gaming machines and accessories, making it clear that it wants to own a big piece of the gaming conversation this year. The company has launched not one, not two, but multiple devices that cover gamers who want power, gamers who want portability, and gamers who want the full setup with sound and precision tools.
Acer introduced three new gaming laptops under two of its most popular gaming lines, Predator and Nitro. The new laptops are the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI, Acer Nitro V 16 AI, and Acer Nitro V 16S AI. Alongside these laptops, Acer also launched the Predator Galea 570 gaming headset and the Predator Cestus 530 gaming mouse to complete the gaming experience.
Acer said it wants to deliver versatility and performance together. These laptops run on the newest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors and come with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs. Acer says these machines are built to handle heavy gaming, smoother graphics, and AI-assisted tasks without asking users to pay subscription fees for smarter features.
Meet the laptops
Predator Helios Neo 16S AI (Model: PHN16S-I51)
The star of Acer’s laptop lineup is the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI. It comes in a slim metal body that is just 18.9mm thick, making it one of the thinner gaming laptops in the Predator line. Even though it is thin, Acer says it is still built to last, thanks to the aluminum finish.
The laptop can run on up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 386H, paired with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. This GPU is part of NVIDIA’s new Blackwell platform, which Acer says brings big improvements in how games look and run. Acer also mentioned support for NVIDIA’s DLSS 4 tech, which is said to make games faster and visuals sharper, though this is still based on company claims, as real-world testing from independent reviewers is yet to happen.
The display is a 16-inch OLED screen with a 16:10 ratio, 2560 x 1600 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time. Acer says this screen is built to show deep contrast, bright visuals, and high-quality colors at 100% P3 range, making both games and creative tasks like editing or streaming look better.
The laptop supports up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and up to 2TB PCIe SSD storage, ensuring games load faster and multitasking feels smoother. Cooling is handled by the 5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fan and liquid metal thermal grease, which Acer says keeps internal heat in control during long gaming sessions.
For audio and video calls, Acer added an FHD IR webcam (1080p) and DTS:X Ultra speakers, along with three microphones to make communication clearer. The laptop supports Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 or above. Ports include Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-C and Type-A, HDMI 2.1, MicroSD reader, combo audio jack, RJ-45, and a Kensington lock option.
It also supports smart Windows 11 features like Live Captions through Copilot+ PC, and Acer’s own Intelligence Space, which gives AI tools for productivity, creativity, and gaming guidance.
Availability: North America (Q3 2026), EMEA (Q2 2026), Australia (Q1 2026)
Acer Nitro V 16 AI
The Acer Nitro V 16 AI is designed for gamers who want performance but also care about price. This laptop runs on up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 355 and includes the same NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, which Acer says delivers up to 798 AI TOPS performance.
The screen is a 16-inch 1920 x 1200 display, 16:10 ratio, 180Hz refresh rate, and 100% sRGB color range. It supports up to 32GB DDR5 RAM and up to 2TB PCIe SSD storage. The laptop also includes a camera shutter for privacy and 4-zone RGB keyboard lighting.
Cooling is handled by a dual fan system with dual intake and dual exhaust. Connectivity includes Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, Thunderbolt 4 Type-C (with DP 3.0), USB 3.2 Type-A with offline charging, HDMI 2.1, RJ-45, Kensington lock, 3.5mm audio jack, and DC-In.
Smart features include Copilot+ PC, Intelligence Space, PurifiedVoice, PurifiedView, and NitroSense.
Availability: North America (Q2 2026), EMEA (Q2 2026), Australia (Q2 2026)
Acer Nitro V 16S AI
The Nitro V 16S AI is the thinnest Nitro gaming laptop Acer has launched this year, measuring less than 17.9mm. It also runs on up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 355, paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU.
The display is again 16 inches, 16:10, 1920 x 1200 resolution, 180Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB colors, and supports a 4-zone RGB keyboard. RAM can go up to 32GB DDR5, and storage can go up to 2TB PCIe SSD.
Cooling uses a dual fan, dual intake, dual exhaust system. Connectivity includes Thunderbolt 4 Type-C (with power delivery), USB 3.2 Type-A with offline charging, HDMI 2.1, RJ-45, audio jack, Kensington lock, and DC-In.
Availability: North America (Q3 2026), EMEA (Q2 2026)
Meet the accessories
Predator Galea 570 Gaming Headset (Model: PHR550)
Acer says gaming audio should feel powerful and personal, and the Predator Galea 570 headset tries to do just that. The headset has 50mm drivers, built to deliver deep bass and sharp highs. The sound and microphone settings can be adjusted through the Predator QuarterMaster app.
It supports noise cancellation, meaning it tries to reduce background noise and make the user’s voice clearer. Connectivity modes include 2.4GHz (USB-A or USB-C dongle), Bluetooth 5.4, or wired mode. Battery capacity is 1000mAh and it supports up to 30 hours of use on Bluetooth mode, 23 hours on 2.4GHz mode, and takes about 2 hours to fully charge using USB Type-C.
The headset works with Windows 10, Windows 11, iOS, Android, PS4, PS5, and Switch.
Weight and size: 310.5g, 213 x 94 x 166 mm (Headset), 61 x 21 x 10 mm (Dongle)
Availability: North America (Q1 2026) at USD 149, EMEA (Q1 2026) at EUR 149
Predator Cestus 530 Gaming Mouse (Model: PMR530)
Acer also launched the Predator Cestus 530 gaming mouse, which it calls ergonomic and built for speed. The mouse comes with 7 buttons, all of which are programmable, meaning users can assign actions to each one.
The sensor inside is PixArt PAW3395, which supports up to 26,000 DPI for tracking speed and accuracy. It can track up to 650 IPS (inches per second) and supports 50G acceleration. Polling rate response is 1ms at 8000Hz for wired and 2.4GHz modes, and 1ms at 1000Hz on Bluetooth mode. The mouse is rated for 80 million clicks on the left and right buttons, meaning it is built for long use.
Connectivity modes include wired, 2.4GHz wireless, and Bluetooth, giving users flexibility to switch between devices.
Software support includes Predator QuarterMaster and Windows Dynamic Lighting.
Weight and size: 105g, 126 x 73 x 42 mm
Availability: North America (Q1 2026) starting at USD 109, EMEA (Q1 2026) starting at EUR 99
Acer says this is only the start of what it wants to do in 2026. By launching laptops that cover both performance and portability, plus accessories that complete the gaming desk setup, Acer wants gamers to feel that the brand is listening and building for real needs, not just trends.
For now, the CES crowd has definitely noticed Acer’s gaming push. Whether you want thin, powerful, portable, or fully hands-free gaming communication, Acer has put an option on the table for almost every kind of gamer.
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