Pros
- High-refresh-rate IPS display
- 12th-Gen Intel Core i9 processor
- Built-in fingerprint reader
- Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1 ports
Cons
- Fans run loud under heavy loads
- Lousy webcam picture quality
Making a big difference in the computer industry, Acer's Predator Triton 500 SE laptops come with the perfect combination of high-end Intel and NVIDIA hardware components to take gaming and productivity to a whole new level.
With that in mind, in this review of the Acer Predator Triton 500 SE PT516-52s-99EL, we're going to reveal the features that make this top-rated laptop an ideal solution for hardcore gamers and users, besides its unbeatable price when compared to its top competitors.
Amongst its best attributes, this model packs a powerful 12th-Gen Intel Core i9 processor along with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card with Ray-Tracing support for AAA games and a stunning 16-inch WQXGA display with a high refresh rate of 240 Hz.
Table of contents
Tech Specs of Acer Predator Triton 500 SE PT516-52s-99EL
| Tech Specs | |
| Brand/Model | Acer Predator Triton 500 SE PT516-52s-99EL |
| Dimensions | 14.1 x 10.3 x 0.78 inches |
| Weight | 5.29 pounds |
| Display | IPS | Anti-glare | 16'' | 240 Hz | 500 nits |
| Resolution | WQXGA (2560 x 1600 pixels) |
| Processor | 12th-Gen Tetradeca-Core Intel Core i9-12900H |
| RAM | 32 GB (LPDDR5) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | 16 GB (GDDR6) |
| Storage | 1 TB (SSD) |
| Battery | 4-cell | Li-Ion |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Connectivity | Killer Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.2 RJ-45 2x USB-A 3.2 2x Thunderbolt 4 | DisplayPort 1.4 | Power Delivery 3.0 1x HDMI 2.1 1x Audio jack 1x SD card reader Fingerprint reader HD Webcam |
Review Of The Acer Predator Triton 500 SE PT516-52S-99EL
Design, Display, and Keyboard
Besides its thin and eye-catching appearance, the Acer Predator Triton 500 SE PT516-52s-99EL fits fine in an office, coffee shop, or even within a classroom, thanks to its low-key design consisting of an elegant dark grey finish on both the lid and trackpad.
As expected for a 16-inch model, this laptop is pretty thick with a profile of 0.78 inches. However, it's relatively lightweight as it weighs just 5.29 pounds. And regarding its cooling features - which we won't get into today -it will be essential to use an active cooling pad since the keyboard gets a tad warm when gaming for long sessions.
Once the lid is open, we've got a thin-bezel 240 Hz IPS display with a higher resolution than the traditional Full HD screens as it comes with 2560 x 1600 pixels (WQXGA) and a pixel density of 189 PPI, offering excellent picture quality and viewing angles both horizontally and vertically.
Also, it's noticeably brighter than most gaming laptop displays as it boasts a maximum brightness of 500 nits - the same brightness level you can find on the MacBook Pro, for example -. And when it comes to colors, it covers 100% of the sRGB spectrum and 99% of DCI-P3 standards to provide vibrant, rich, and colorful images when streaming videos or gaming.
However, if you're looking for an even higher refresh rate display, then you can take a look at the Alienware M15 R6 AWM15R6-7287BLK-PUS packed with a 15.6-inch 360 Hz Full HD screen with a response time of just 1 ms.
The keyboard feels responsive to type on, although its short-travel keys take some time to get used to. For those into gaming in dark rooms, it features a three-zone RGB lighting that you can customize by choosing between 7 preset modes.
On the other hand, the generously-sized touchpad ensures a smooth user experience thanks to its glass surface - much like the MacBook Air - and multi-gesture technology fully compatible with Windows 11.
Moving onto the key components, this laptop is equipped with the top-tier 12th-Gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor powered by 14 cores (6 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores), 20 threads, and 24 MB of SmartCache memory, reaching a burst frequency of up to 5.00 GHz via Intel's Turbo Boost Max 3.0.
Furthermore, it packs a monstrous LPDDR5 RAM of 32 GB (non-expandable) which is up to 20% more power-efficient compared to LPDDR4x for increased battery life while delivering a flawless performance when working on tasks such as 3D rendering, photo/video editing, programming, and running virtual machines, amongst others.
However, if you're looking for a similar performance at a considerably cheaper price point, then you might consider the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 G533ZW-AS94 as it boasts the same Intel Core i9 processor with an upgradeable 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, and a surprising 300 Hz refresh rate.
Back to the review at hand, in the graphics department, we've got a top-of-the-line NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti with 16 GB that is capable enough to run pretty much every AAA game on the market either in Full HD or even at a 4K resolution with Ray-Tracing enabled in some of them, including Ghostwire: Tokyo (68.3 fps), Cyberpunk 2077 1.5 (49.9 fps), and Battlefield 2042 (87.3 fps).
Regarding the storage, it boasts a 1 TB PCIe storage unit (upgradeable up to 4 TB) that provides faster loading times as it can reach up to 3200 MB/s of reading/writing speed allowing you to open programs/games, transfer heavy data, rendering 3D projects, and booting Windows at lightning speed.
Connectivity and Extras
Moving onto the connectivity solutions of the PT516-52s-99EL, we've got a full-sized Ethernet port (RJ-45), two USB-A 3.2 inputs, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0 standards for connecting external monitors and charging external devices, respectively.
Moreover, it packs an HDMI 2.1 output for 4K, 8K, and even 10K displays, a 3.5 mm audio jack, an SD card reader, a fingerprint reader on the touchpad, an HD webcam on the top bezel, and Bluetooth 5.1 and Killer Wi-Fi 6E wireless protocols as well so you can benefit from a significantly speedier internet connection when compared to Wi-Fi 5 computers.
It should be noted that the webcam is not great so if you spend a significant amount of your time on videoconference you might want to purchase a decent webcam to have on hand.
Battery Life
When it comes to the battery life of the Acer Predator Triton 500 SE PT516-52s-99EL, the results couldn't be better since its big 100W battery pack surpasses the 11-hour mark when browsing the web with the brightness maxed at 120 nits, and Windows's Better Performance turned on.
Also, it can reach up to 8 hours and 30 minutes of video playback and around 4 hours of mixed usage, as seen in several customer reviews.
Unfortunately, there's no quick charge technology. A feature that most regular laptops offer these days, but it makes sense for a gaming rig of these specs to not have it.
However, there are a few exceptions to this, such as the Asus TUF Gaming F17 FX706HM-ES74, a laptop that, while offering up to 11 hours of battery life, can charge 50% of its battery in 30 minutes. Couple that with an Intel Core i7-11800H processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, a 17.3-inch Full HD display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, and a genuinely competitive price, and you've got yourself an exciting contender for the Acer Predator Triton 500 SE PT516-52s-99EL. At least in the eyes of those looking to spend a bit less.
Verdict: Is the Acer Predator Triton 500 SE PT516-52s-99EL worth buying?
The Acer Predator Triton 500 SE PT516-52s-99EL is a top-tier solution whose unbeatable performance will rejoice those hardcore users looking to bring productivity to the next level while immersing themselves in an amazing picture quality thanks to its impressive dynamic range, high brightness, and excellent viewing angles.
Also, you'll be able to enjoy the ultimate gaming experience with a fantastic refresh rate, NVIDIA's Ray-Tracing technology, and a 4K resolution for most AAA titles, as well as a full-sized customizable backlit keyboard ready for hardcore gaming, and a connectivity ports for every occasion.
Ultimately, if you can swing its hefty price point, you won't regret buying this laptop. It's got top-notch components that ensure your laptop is future-proofed for years to come, regardless of the use you give it.