While we figure out how to get our reviews back on High Performance Laptops, the latest Acer Nitro V 16 Budget Gaming Laptop review is now live over at SMBtech. Here’s the summary:
The Acer Nitro V 16 aims to be a stylish, robust and affordable gaming laptop that’s got it where it counts. Building on the success of Acer’s Nitro 5 series, the Nitro V 16 sports a sleek new design with a matte 16-inch 165Hz IPS screen, vibrant colours and HDR compatibility. The device is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics, supported by 16GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, making it capable of handling both everyday tasks and gaming.
The Nitro V 16’s build quality has improved over previous models. It also features an attractive orange-backlit keyboard with good, Scrabble Tile keys and a smooth, responsive trackpad. However, there’s a drawback: the power connector can dislodge easily, a minor but notable design flaw. The screen performs well, rendering fast-moving images smoothly, though minor issues with colour gradients are present. Above the display is a 720p webcam, which is serviceable in low light. Dual speakers that deliver loud, rounded sound but noticeably lack bass.
In terms of connectivity, the Nitro V 16 includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, two USB-A ports and HDMI, though only one USB-C (version 4.0) port is provided. The NitroSense app, redesigned to match the laptop’s style, offers easy control over performance settings. Performance benchmarks reveal respectable results for its mid-range specs, achieving smooth framerates in most gaming tests. While AAA games are playable, some settings may need adjustment for smooth performance.
Despite its gaming capabilities, portability is hindered by the 59Wh battery, lasting around five hours in testing. At 2.5kg it’s as heavy as we’d expect and the relatively small power brick adds another 505g.
The laptop is competitively priced at $1,497, making both our Best Budget Gaming Laptop and Best Value Laptop overall! Acer’s Nitro V 16 ultimately delivers solid performance and stylish design at an accessible price and has a final score of 4.9 out of 5.
Last Updated on 18 June 2026 by Nick Ross
