Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) Review – Near-Perfect Affordable Portable Gaming… But There’s One Catch

Gaming laptops have long wrestled with an identity crisis—too bulky for cafes, too flashy for boardrooms, and sometimes not quite powerful enough to justify the compromises. The Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) enters this fray with a bold promise: high performance, a 14-inch frame that won’t scream “gamer”, and reasonable price.

We spent two weeks stress-testing this machine beyond marketing claims, from its RTX 4050’s real-world gaming chops to its surprisingly upgradeable internals. For creators and gamers tired of choosing between portability and power—or anyone who’s suffered through a six-pound “ultraportable”—this review cuts through the hype to reveal what truly matters.

So – eye-friendly 120Hz screen, lightweight body, great design, good performance, affordable price….What could go wrong? And is it still worth it? Stay with us to find out.

You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/acer-nitro-v-14-anv14-61/

Contents

Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box

Drivers

All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/drivers-and-manuals

What’s in the box?

Inside the box, you’ll find exactly what you need: the laptop itself, a concise set of manuals, and a compact 135W charger that promises to keep up with your sessions without hogging outlet space.

Acer skips the confetti here, opting for a practical ‘let’s get to work’ vibe—or in this case, a ‘let’s play’ one.

Design and construction

The Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) takes a refreshing detour from the over-the-top aesthetic that plagues many gaming laptops. Instead of neon accents or angular aggression, it opts for a minimalist, almost clinical elegance. The matte white finish resists fingerprints like a seasoned bouncer—no smudges, no drama—while the mirrored Nitro logo on the lid adds just enough flair to remind you it’s not your average productivity machine.

At 1.7 kg and 21.36 mm thick, it’s shockingly portable for a gaming-capable device, slipping into backpacks without the usual shoulder strain. But don’t mistake its sleekness for fragility: while the plastic chassis flexes slightly under pressure (a trade-off for the lightweight design), it feels sturdy enough for daily commutes or LAN party marathons.

Cracking it open reveals a 14-inch screen framed by surprisingly slim bezels, a rarity in this category. The hinge opens smoothly with one hand, stopping at a practical 160-degree angle—no 180-degree yoga poses here, but enough tilt for shared screen moments. Acer hasn’t bothered with gimmicks like a lifting base for airflow, keeping the profile clean.

The keyboard steals the show: full-sized, responsive keys with a satisfying click, highlighted by a cool blue backlight that avoids RGB rave vibes. Arrow keys? Actually usable—no squinting or finger gymnastics required. And that trackpad? Massive. Gliding across its glassy surface feels like skating on fresh ice, though the lack of a fingerprint sensor might sting for security-conscious users.

Compromises? A few. The plastic build, while fingerprint-resistant, lacks the premium heft of metal rivals. Gamers craving a numpad will grumble, but let’s be real—this isn’t a spreadsheet warrior. The missing privacy shutter on the 720p camera feels like a missed opportunity in 2024, though the Turbo button’s purple glow (a cheeky nod to its performance mode) adds character. What stands out is how Acer balances gamer DNA with everyday practicality. It’s not flawless, but for those wanting power without screaming “LOOK AT MY GAMING LAPTOP” in a coffee shop, the Nitro V 14 threads the needle with surprising grace.

Ports

The Acer Nitro V 14 offers a practical selection of ports, though with some limitations. On the left side, you’ll find the DC-in power jack, a full-size HDMI 2.1 port, a USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, and a USB4 Type-C port (40 Gbps).

The right side houses a microSD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack, another USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 port with power-off charging, and a Kensington lock. The HDMI 2.1 port supports 4K @ 120Hz or 8K @ 60Hz output, along with features like VRR and HDR, making it suitable for high-refresh gaming or content creation workflows—provided your external display matches these capabilities.

The USB4 Type-C port is versatile, offering 40 Gbps data transfer, DisplayPort 2.0 alt mode, and 65W power delivery. However, Acer explicitly notes that this port prioritizes basic charging over high-performance scenarios: it’s limited to 20V/65W input, which may result in slower charging during heavy use, and it doesn’t support docking stations or high-resolution external monitors via this connection. The two USB Type-A ports are both USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), with one supporting power delivery for peripherals even when the laptop is off. The inclusion of a microSD card reader is a welcome touch for photographers or content creators, though its speed isn’t specified.

Wireless connectivity is robust, with Wi-Fi 6E supporting 6 GHz bands for reduced interference and lower latency in crowded networks, alongside Bluetooth 5.3 for reliable accessory pairing. While the Nitro V 14 covers most connectivity bases, users needing Thunderbolt 4’s PCIe tunneling or multi-monitor flexibility may find the USB4 implementation here somewhat constrained. That said, the port selection should satisfy everyday needs without unnecessary complexity.

Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles

Viewing Angles

Viewing angles are good. We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.

Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.

Color Coverage

The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.

Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) can show:

Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content

Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61): the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this monitor can display.

In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the monitor at 95% of the sRGB color gamut and 80% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

(Fig.1) Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) covers 95% of the sRGB gamut

Brightness and Contrast

The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 380 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 358 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 13%.

The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6730K.

The contrast ratio is 1210:1.

Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation

The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 184 nits (Windows slider = 67%) — a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.

DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.

Color Accuracy

Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61). We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.

Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.

For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.

Before our calibration of the Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61), the Average color accuracy was 3.5 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Office profile, it lowered to 1.6 dE (Fig. 3).

Comparison in the sRGB color space.

Here’s an illustration of what the Design and Office profile aims to deliver:

Left: No Profile | Drag the slider to see the difference | Right: Design & Office Profile

Visibility in dark scenes

Have you ever watched a movie with dark scenes where you could barely see anything? This often happens because many display panels struggle to differentiate the darkest nuances, making them appear the same.

The next figure illustrates how well the display reproduces these dark nuances. The left side of the image shows the display with stock settings, and the right side shows it with our Gaming and Movies profile activated.

On the horizontal axis are the grayscale levels, and on the vertical axis – the corresponding display brightness..

You can also check how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display and the surrounding light conditions.

Response time (Gaming capabilities)

We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa.

We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 16.6 ms. Short pixel response time is a prerequisite for a smooth picture in dynamic scenes.

After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude.

Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)

Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.

In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.

The light from the backlight of the Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) display is not pulse-width modulated, providing visual comfort in the discussed aspect.

Health Impact: Blue light emissions

Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates harmful PWM when the laptop uses it to control brightness but also reduces harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate.

If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.

Health Impact: Screen Reflectance

Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.

The reflectance of the Acer Nitro V 14’s screen is 51.0 GU.

High Gloss: >70 GU
Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
Low Gloss: <30 GU

Get our profiles

Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) configurations with AUO B145QAN01.J (AUOF3A7), 2560 х 1600, IPS panel.

*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].

Read more about the profiles HERE.

Sound

When we subjectively listen to a sound file through the built-in speakers, the sound quality offered by Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) is relatively good. However, the low, mid and high frequencies have slight deviations in clarity.

Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage

All performance and temperature tests are conducted with the Turbo Mode set in the NitroSense app, Optimus activated.

CPU and Work Performance

You have a choice between AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS and AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS. We ordered the latter. It performs 7% slower than the same CPU in Nitro 14 (AN14-41).

GPU and Gaming Performance

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050, RTX 3050, or an RTX 4050? We chose the best one. Let’s test it with some games.

You can find the performance rating of all the GPUs on the market in our Top Laptop Graphics Ranking.

On theory, the RTX 4050 is somewhat limited – it’s a 60W variant of this GPU, while there are 140W variants on the market. But guess what? It almost matches the 4060’s performance in MSI Cyborg 14!

Gaming tests

We’re starting with the action role-playing game inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong.

Black Myth: Wukong	1920 x 1200, Low (Check settings)	1920 x 1200, High (Check settings)	1920 x 1200, Cinematic (Check settings)
Average FPS	136 FPS	62 FPS	21 FPS

If you prefer playing on the native resolution, you won’t get 60 FPS on High settings but you’ll still have enough of them for a good experience.

Black Myth: Wukong	2560 x 1600, Low (Check settings)	2560 x 1600, High (Check settings)	2560 x 1600, Cinematic (Check settings)
Average FPS	114 FPS	50 FPS	17 FPS

Come up, Lara, you’re next. We tried both 1200p and 1600p resolutions here, and keep in mind that 1200p has 11% more pixels than Full HD, as the screen of V 14 has a 16:10 ratio.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider	1920 x 1200, Medium (Check settings)	2560 x 1600, Medium (Check settings)
Average FPS	113 FPS	72 FPS

Step into the friendly world of Metro Exodus!

This is the Enhanced Edition, running at 1200p resolution.

Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition	1920 x 1200, High (Check settings)
Average FPS	58 FPS

[eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) with RTX 4050

You can make your laptop Faster. LaptopMedia has tested thousands of models in the last 15 years, and we have yet to see a notebook that couldn’t be made more powerful through modifications.

That’s why we decided to bundle everything we know about how to achieve this in an Easy-to-Follow, Step-by-Step, and Laboratory-Tested, all in one project.

Read more about it here:
[eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop

This purchase includes the eBook + a special bundle to help you modify your Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) with RTX 4050. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll achieve with it:

Game	Settings	Before	After	Gain
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition	High, 1200p	58 FPS	65 FPS	12% Boost
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	Medium, 1080p	113 FPS	123 FPS	9% Boost
Black Myth: Wukong	Low, 1600p	114 FPS	123 FPS	8% Boost

Read more about the optimizations here.

Storage performance

It looks like Acer has struck a serious deal with Western Digital as the WD PC SN5000S NVMe model is widely used it all Acer laptops now. This is good news because the drive is very fast, as you can see in the test below.

Temperatures and Comfort, Noise, Stability

Despite the small form-factor, the V 14 is not loud at all, during everyday tasks like writing e-mails, surfing the Web or watching 4K@60FPS YouTube videos.

Temperatures

All measurements are taken 5 minutes after starting the test.

Test	CPU	GPU
Idle	38ºC	35ºC
Watching YouTube videos in 4K@60FPS	44ºC	42ºC
Gaming	75ºC	77ºC
CPU Rendering	89ºC	67ºC

Stability

The stability is on point even after 1 hour of stress-testing as shown in the 3DMark report below:

Our next stability test confirms that you’re not losing CPU performance over time as well:

Battery Life

Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) has a small 57Wh battery, and it runs for just 5 hours and 19 minutes on a single charge. For comparison, most 14-inch models have batteries with much bigger capacity of 70+ Wh.

Since Dynamic Refresh Rate (DRR) is not supported, the test is conducted with the screen set at 120 Hz refresh rate.

Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance

Getting into the Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) is easy—you just have to unscrew nine Phillips-head screws and remove the bottom panel.

Then you’re met with much more than expected—along with one major sacrifice.

First, many laptops smaller than 15 inches have soldered memory. Here, we have not one but two DDR5 RAM slots, both occupied by 8GB 1Rx16 PC5-5600B modules:

Just below them, we see two 2280 M.2 PCIe Gen4 16 Gb/s slots for NVMe SSDs. One of them houses the WD PC SN5000S we tested earlier.

All of that is great! But what’s the major sacrifice? Look to the left of these SSDs and you’ll find a tiny battery—small even by 14-inch standards—just 57.48Wh:

The cooling solution includes two heat pipes and one fan. And right next to it is the M.2 Wi-Fi card, made by MediaTek:

Verdict

The Acer Nitro V 14 (ANV14-61) carves out a compelling niche for gamers and creators who prioritize portability without sacrificing core performance. Its minimalist design defies gaming laptop stereotypes, offering a sleek, fingerprint-resistant chassis that’s easy to carry at 1.7 kg. The 14-inch 1600p display shines with 120 Hz refresh rate, high brightness, and PWM-free operation, and although it is not color accurate at all, that changes with our display profiles – they bring the DeltaE down to 1.6, making the screen suitable even for professional use with colors!

The biggest con here is that the 57Wh battery struggles to keep pace, delivering just over five hours of runtime—a trade-off for its small footprint.

Performance is surprisingly robust for a compact machine, with the 60W RTX 4050 punching above its weight in gaming benchmarks and the WD SN5000S SSD delivering blistering speeds. The cooling system maintains stability under load without excessive noise, a rare feat in this category. Upgradeability stands out as a highlight, featuring two DDR5 RAM slots and dual M.2 SSD bays—a rarity in 14-inch laptops—though the small battery feels like an unavoidable compromise for this level of hardware in a slim frame.

Acer’s practical approach extends to the port selection, including USB4 and HDMI 2.1. The keyboard and trackpad excel for both gaming and productivity, while the absence of a fingerprint sensor and privacy shutter feels dated. Ultimately, this laptop isn’t about luxury or maxed-out specs—it’s a thoughtfully balanced machine that proves gaming prowess doesn’t require bulk, flashy aesthetics, and most importantly high budget.

You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/acer-nitro-v-14-anv14-61/