The Acer Nitro 5 (2021) is the latest budget gaming laptop from the company that offers a captivating and seamless gaming experience. Notwithstanding the pandemic effect, Acer still equipped the Nitro 5 (2021) with the best features to compete in the gaming laptop market.
In the past, Acer’s Nitro 5 laptops have struggled to gain the recognition it deserves despite a lot of power to gamers who can’t afford to pay the hefty price of high-end gaming laptops. However, this doesn’t mean that Acer’s Nitro 5 laptops are overshadowed by more flashy alternatives out there.
There’s no doubt Acer has improved on every angle regarding the Nitro 5 (2021). It packs some of the latest flagship device processors from AMD and NVIDIA. However, does the Acer Nitro 5 (2021) has what it takes to compete against top gaming laptops from top brands? Read on to find out on our full review and verdict about Acer’s latest gaming laptop.
Acer Nitro 5 (2021) Key Specifications
| Features | Specs |
| Display | 15-inch – 17-inch |
| Resolution: | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Processor: | Intel Core i5-11300H – AMD Ryzen 5000 |
| Graphics: | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 |
| Camera: | 720P |
| RAM: | 16GB /32GB |
| Storage: | 512GB /2TB |
| Battery Capacity (Hrs): | 10 |
| OS: | Windows 10 |
Design and Display
The Acer Nitro 5 (2021) comes in a dual display size of 15.6-inch FHD IPS screen with 144Hz refresh rate and another 17.3-inch screen. As revealed by Acer, the AMD model with Ryzen 5000 processor screens can go up to 360Hz at 1080p with another QHD screen with 1440p that can go up to 165Hz refresh rate.
When it comes to design, the Acer Nitro 5 (2021) doesn’t seem bulky as a normal gaming laptop tends to be. The device has dimensions of AMD Ryzen 5000 and weighs 2.3kg for the 15-inch model. However, it’s not as thin and light as the Asus Zephylus lineup or its Triton series, but the Nitro 5 is quite good for a mid-range gaming laptop. It gives you a premium feel even though the outer part is a bit plasticky.
Fortunately, the 2021 model is slightly lighter and thinner than last year’s Nitro 5 model. Acer has made some significant changes to design to slim down the bezels around the screen for it to fit into the latest trending slim design structure. Also, Acer revealed the screen-to-body ratio is now 80% with the bezels being reduced to 7mm. Amazingly, Acer was able to shrink the bezels without reducing the size of the display which gives the laptop a premium design.
Among many changes made by Acer is moving the power connector to the back to pave way for better placement of the exhaust fans. The exhaust fans do a great job by ensuring everything is kept cool notwithstanding the duration of gaming.
On the connection side, the Acer Nitro 5 (2021) comes with a decent selection of ports. On the left side are an audio jack, dual USB ports, and an Ethernet connection. Meanwhile, another USB port, USB-C port, and HDMI port occupy the right side of the gaming laptop.
The keyboard structure of the Nitro 5 remains the same with red background and 4-zone RGB backlight. Fortunately, it’s very tactile, comfortable, and fast responsive. However, the touchpad had been slightly shifted to the left making it difficult to get used to. This might make you need the services of an external keyboard while playing games.
Acer Nitro 5 (2021): Performance
With the Acer Nitro 5 (2021) still being a new device, we weren’t able to test its performance yet but we’re sure Windows 10 will be as snappy as it’s meant to be. There’s no doubt that every Acer Nitro 5 configuration will deliver a very great gaming performance at an amazing speed.
However, you should note that there are a lot of AMD configurations compared to Intel one. For example, in the AMD model, you can choose between a QHD (1440p) at 165Hz and a 1080p screen with a 360Hz refresh rate. Also, it features the latest NVIDIA’s RTX 3000 GPU.
However, the Intel model only offers a lesser 1080p resolution at 144Hz with GEFORCE GTX 1650 GPU. There’s no doubt that the AMD is the best for gaming because of its extreme power level. However, if you’re on a budget, the Intel model is more preferable as it’s cheaper.
Acer Nitro 5 (2021): Price in Nigeria and Availability
The Acer Nitro 5 (2021) offers a dual choice of the latest AMD Ryzen 5000 mobile processor or 11th generation Intel core processor.
The Acer Nitro 5 (2021) with an Intel Core i5-11300H processor and the 15-inch display will start at ₦380,000 (roughly $1,000) while you’ll pay ₦435,000 (around $1,150) for the bigger 17-inch model.
Meanwhile, the AMD Ryzen 7 Mobile Processor model with Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, 512GB SSD, and the 15-inch display will cost ₦475,000 (about $1,250) whilst the 17-inch model will cost you ₦532,000 (roughly $1,400).
However, it’s good to know that the prices are due to change depending on the time of purchase or your region.
