Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) review – Budget Gaming Laptop of the Year?
When you hear “budget gaming laptop,” you might brace for compromises. But the Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) arrives ready to challenge those expectations. Sporting the familiar, aggressive Nitro design language, this machine packs a surprising punch, especially with its well-optimized NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 that performs better than we anticipated. It’s not just about frames per second, though; Acer has also managed to squeeze out over 10 hours of battery life – a figure rarely seen in gaming laptops.
So, has Acer crafted the ultimate value gaming champion? Can it sustain its impressive performance without overheating, and what corners, if any, have been cut to achieve this price point – particularly when it comes to the display? Join us as we put the Acer Nitro V 16 AI through a gauntlet of tests, from demanding gaming benchmarks and thermal analysis to scrutinizing its screen (the good and the not-so-good), battery endurance, and overall usability, to see if this is the budget beast gamers have been waiting for.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/acer-nitro-v-16-ai-anv16-61/
Contents
- Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
- Design and construction
- Display and Sound Quality, Display Profiles
- Get our profiles
- Work Performance: CPU, Storage, AI
- GPU and Gaming Performance
- [eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop
- Temperatures and Comfort, Noise, Stability
- Battery Life
- Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance
- Verdict
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) - Specs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 2000GB SSD
- RAM
- up to 32GB
- OS
- No OS, Windows 11 Home
- Dimensions
- 360.04 x 275.62 x 16.1 - 24.5 mm (14.17" x 10.85" x 0.63")
- Weight
- 2.43 kg (5.4 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 1x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- 2x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
- 1x USB Type-C
- 4.0
- HDMI
- 2.1
- Card reader
- microSD (microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC)
- Ethernet LAN
- 10, 100, 1000 Mbit/s
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- Web camera
- FHD IR
- Backlit keyboard
- Microphone
- Speakers
- 2x Stereo Speakers, DTS:X Ultra
- Security Lock slot
All Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/Nitro%20ANV16-61/downloads
What’s in the box?
Unboxing the Acer Nitro V 16 AI is focused squarely on what you need to get going.
Inside, alongside the laptop itself, you’ll find its 135W power adapter and the usual collection of mandatory booklets.
Design and construction
The Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) steps onto the scene with a design that will be instantly familiar to fans of the Nitro line. Acer hasn’t radically reinvented the wheel here, and frankly, it doesn’t really need to. The laptop boasts sharp, angular lines that project an aggressive yet appealing aesthetic that resonates well with its gaming target audience. Our unit, and indeed the only colour option we’ve encountered so far, is a classic black. One of the first things you’ll appreciate is how well the chassis resists fingerprints; even after several weeks of intensive use, our Nitro V 16 remained remarkably clean and free of smudges – a big plus for maintaining that sleek look. The entire body is constructed from plastic, which is typical for the Nitro series, but despite this, it feels surprisingly stable and well put-together.
In terms of dimensions, the Nitro V 16 AI measures 360.04 (W) x 275.62 (D) x 16.1/24.5 (H) mm (14.17 x 10.85 x 0.63/0.96 inches) and weighs in at 2.43 kg (5.36 lbs) with its 76 Wh battery. This isn’t featherlight, but for a 16-inch gaming laptop packing serious hardware, it’s a perfectly manageable weight and size. The hinge allows the screen to open to a maximum angle of about 150 degrees. Since there’s no touchscreen version, the lack of a full 180-degree lay-flat capability isn’t a significant drawback. Unlike some designs, opening the lid doesn’t cause the rear of the laptop to lift; Acer relies on its internal cooling system to manage thermals, and the laptop already sits on reasonably tall feet.
Looking at the display, the bezels are commendably slim. The side bezels measure just 6.7mm, while the top bezel comes in at 10.6mm. This slightly thicker top bezel houses an impressive “UFC” (Narrow USB FHD camera+IR camera with blue glass) setup. We’re talking a 1920 x 1080 resolution camera capable of smooth 1080p HD video at 60 fps, enhanced with Temporal Noise Reduction and Staggered High Dynamic Range (SHDR). It also features dual microphones for clear audio. However, a notable omission here is a physical privacy shutter for the webcam, which is a feature we always like to see.
Moving down to the keyboard deck, Acer has provided a full-sized keyboard that includes a NumPad, with its keys only slightly smaller than the main set, remaining perfectly usable. The keyboard features a vibrant orange backlight with four levels of brightness, adding to the gaming ambience. Typing and gaming feel comfortable, and crucially for gamers, the arrow keys are full-sized and conveniently placed. For biometric login, you’ll be relying on passwords, as there’s no fingerprint sensor included. Below the keyboard sits a generously sized multi-gesture trackpad, measuring 126 x 83 mm (approximately 4.96 x 3.27 inches). We found it to be smooth, responsive, and comfortable for navigation when a dedicated gaming mouse isn’t in use.
Ports and Connectivity
The Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) offers a well-rounded selection of ports distributed across its sides and rear, catering to both gaming and general productivity needs. On the left flank, you’ll find a Kensington lock slot for security, alongside a Killer E2600 Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) port for stable wired network connections. This side also houses one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port (operating at 5Gbps speeds), a microSD card reader for convenient file transfers from smaller memory cards, and a standard 3.5mm combination headphone/speaker jack.
The right side provides faster USB connectivity with two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, both offering speeds up to 10Gbps. One of these Gen 2 ports also features power-off USB charging, allowing you to charge peripherals even when the laptop is turned off. This thoughtful distribution places faster USB-A ports on the right, potentially for external SSDs or other high-speed devices.
Connectivity continues on the rear of the device, a common placement for less frequently accessed ports. Here, you’ll find the dedicated DC-in jack for the main AC adapter. A highly versatile USB Type-C port is also located on the rear, supporting the USB4 40Gbps standard, DisplayPort over USB-C for video output, the ability to output a modest 15W (5V/3A) for charging other devices, and importantly, it can also accept up to 65W (20V) DC power input, offering an alternative way to charge the laptop itself. Finally, an HDMI 2.1 port with HDCP support is present, capable of driving high-resolution, high-refresh-rate external displays, such as 4K at 120Hz or 8K at 60Hz.
For wireless communication, the Nitro V 16 AI is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax). This allows for connections across the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and the less congested 6 GHz bands, utilizing 2×2 MU-MIMO technology for enhanced performance and reliability on compatible networks. Bluetooth connectivity is also included for wireless peripherals, although the specific version was not detailed in the provided information.
Display and Sound Quality, Display Profiles
There are three display options. We chose the base one and as you see it is not great in terms of quality but it’s excellent in the “Eye-Safety” aspect which is often the most important factor. If you need more colors, you should choose one of the other two options.
| Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) | BOE NE160WUM-NX7 (BOE0CC2) | Option 2: 1600p, 180 Hz, 100% sRGB | Option 3: 1200p, 180 Hz, 100% sRGB |
| Diagonal | 16.0 inches (40.6 cm) | 16.0 inches (40.6 cm) | 16.0 inches (40.6 cm) |
| Panel Type | IPS | IPS | IPS |
| Resolution | 1920 × 1200 pixels | 2560 × 1600 pixels | 1920 × 1200 pixels |
| Max Refresh Rate | 165 Hz | 180 Hz | 180 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Pixel Density | 141 PPI | 189 PPI | 141 PPI |
| ‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 61 cm | Greater than or equal to 46 cm | Greater than or equal to 62 cm |
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 16 AI (ANV16-61) 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 16 AI (ANV16-61): 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 57% of the sRGB color gamut and 45% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) covers 57% of the sRGB gamut
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 301 cd/m2 in the center of the screen and 299 cd/m2 averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 6%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6460K.
The contrast ratio is 1420:1.
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 181 nits (Windows slider = 51%) — 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 16 AI (ANV16-61). 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 16 AI (ANV16-61), the Average color accuracy was 3.5 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Gaming profile, it lowered to 3.3 dE (Fig. 3).
(Fig. 2) Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) in its factory condition
(Fig. 3) Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) with our display profile
Comparison in the sRGB color space (primaries and D65 white point specified in ITU-R BT.709, sRGB encoding curve).
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 = 7.9 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 16 AI (ANV16-61) 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’s screen is 51.1 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 16 AI (ANV16-61) configurations with NE160WUM-NX7 (BOE0CC2), 1920 х 1200, IPS panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser toopen 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.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Design and Office
The Design and Office profile makes display colors as close to real as possible.Ideal not only for professionals but also for everyday users, it meets sRGB standards (D65 white point, sRGB gamma) with minimal DeltaE for precise color reproduction on your panel.
Gaming and Movies
Have you ever watched a movie where, during dark scenes, you can barely see anything? Many displays fail to distinguish dark tones properly. Our Gaming and Movies profile enhances low-light performance, like HDR tech, using a gamma curve tailored to human perception — ideal for gamers seeking faster reactions and clearer visuals.
Health-Guard
Our Health-Guard profile protects your eyes by eliminating PWM flickering, reducing strain and fatigue, and minimizing harmful Blue light exposure that can disrupt sleep and health. It uses software dimming and a gamma curve tailored to human perception for comfort and safety during screen use.
Get All The Profiles With 33% Discount!
Sound
The sound quality of the Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61), emitted by the built-in speakers, is very good. The low, mid, and high frequencies are clear.
Work Performance: CPU, Storage, AI
All performance and temperature tests are conducted with “Turbo Mode” activated in Acer NitroSense, with “Auto” set for the Fan Control:
CPU and Work Performance
There are three AMD processors to choose from for the Nitro ANV16-61 lineup – AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, Ryzen AI 7 350, and Ryzen AI 9 365. We choose the middle option.
Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)
Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.
Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Storage Performance
We ordered the notebook in its 1TB storage variant and it arrived with M.2 2280 Western Digital PC SN5000S NVMe SSD. It’s one of the best options on the market, with 6.4GB/sec sequential read, and 5.7GB/sec sequential writing speed.
AI Performance
All three CPUs have integrated NPUs with up to 50 TOPS of AI performance.
Check out our full AI Performance Rankings.
GPU and Gaming Performance
Graphics-wise, you can choose between NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, and RTX 4050. At the moment of writing, the RTX 5070 is not out yet, so we ordered the laptop with RTX 4050.
This is the best performing RTX 4050 in our comparison, even surpassing MSI Prestige 16 AI Studio and its low-power RTX 4070! Acer has greatly optimized its ANV16-61, and it performs much better than expected.
You can find the performance rating of all the GPUs on the market in our Top Laptop Graphics Ranking.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
Gaming tests
In Counter-Strike 2, RTX 4050 in Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) reached an excellent 124 FPS average at 1200p Very High settings, ensuring ultra-smooth gameplay in competitive scenarios.
| Counter Strike 2 | 1200p, Very High (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 124 FPS |
The demanding Black Myth: Wukong also ran impressively well, averaging 144 FPS at 1200p Low settings – more than enough to enjoy fluid action while preserving thermal headroom for longer sessions.
| Black Myth: Wukong | 1200p, Low (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 144 FPS |
In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the system maintained 131 FPS at 1200p Medium, showcasing its capability to handle cinematic single-player adventures with ease.
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 1200p, Medium (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 131 FPS |
Even Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, known for punishing hardware with its ray tracing and advanced lighting effects, was playable with a respectable 69 FPS at 1200p High settings.
| Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition | 1200p, High (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 69 FPS |
[eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop
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
🛠️ GPU Modifications: vBIOS, Overclocking, Undervolting
⚙️ Building Fast/Reliable RAID configuration
💻 Hardware upgrade tips for best results
🖼 Display enhancing
💾 OS Optimization for best performance
Temperatures and Comfort, Noise, Stability
At idle, the CPU package of the Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) maintains a temperature of 36ºC, and the notebook is slightly audible.
Office Work, Web Development, Design
Short periods (0:00 – 0:10 s) of 100 % CPU load
This test shows the CPU behavior during short periods of serious load. It’s important for users who are looking for laptops suitable for tasks like Web Design and Programming.
| AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 | Avg. P-Core Clock | Avg. CPU Temp. | Avg. CPU Power |
| Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) | 4024 MHz | 73 °C | 56 W |
During short 0-10 second CPU loads, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) demonstrates strong initial performance. The CPU achieved a peak clock of 4013 MHz within the first 5 seconds, maintaining an average of 4024 MHz over the 10-second period. This indicates excellent responsiveness for burst operations. CPU temperatures remained well-managed, averaging 73 °C and peaking at 84 °C. The average temperature is considered good, while the peak falls within the acceptable range, demonstrating efficient thermal handling for quick, demanding tasks. The average power draw of 56W further supports its robust short-duration capability, making it highly suitable for web design and programming.
Video editing, Scientific computing, Software compilation, 3D rendering
Long periods (0:00 – 30:00 min) of 100 % CPU load
This test shows the CPU behavior during long periods of serious load. It’s important for users who are looking for laptops suitable for tasks like Video Editing and 3D Rendering.
| AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 | Avg. P-Core Clock | Avg. CPU Temp. | Avg. CPU Power |
| Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) | 3987 MHz | 79 °C | 53 W |
Under sustained CPU loads over 30 minutes, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI maintains commendable performance stability. The CPU sustained an average clock speed of 3987 MHz, demonstrating minimal drop from its initial burst performance. A slight minimum clock of 3935 MHz was observed between 30 seconds and 5 minutes, representing only a 78 MHz decrease, which highlights excellent long-term consistency. Average CPU temperature settled at 79 °C, which is considered good, while the peak remained at an acceptable 84 °C. The consistent average power consumption of 53W further confirms its robust handling of prolonged tasks, making it well-suited for video editing and 3D rendering.
Gaming Stability
Continuous gaming (1-hour test)
This test evaluates the laptop’s performance under sustained GPU load and high CPU usage.
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 | Avg. GPU Clock | Avg. GPU Temp. | Avg. Memory Clock | Avg. GPU Mem Temp. | Avg. GPU Power |
| Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) | 2678 MHz | 78 °C | 2050 MHz | 90 °C | 94 W |
During a continuous 1-hour gaming test, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 in the Acer Nitro V 16 AI showcased strong stability. The GPU sustained an average clock of 2678 MHz over the hour, with a peak of 2820 MHz and a minimum of 2610 MHz, indicating consistent performance. GPU core temperatures were well within optimal limits, averaging 78 °C and peaking at 82 °C, both considered good. Crucially, GPU memory temperatures also remained excellent, averaging 90 °C and peaking at 94 °C, both below the 95 °C threshold. The average GPU power consumption of 94W further supports its capacity for prolonged, stable gaming sessions.
Battery Life
Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) has a 76 Wh battery unit. Acer claims up to 10 hour of video playback on a single charge, which would be great but we’ll check that.
Our test is conducted with Eco Mode set in NitroSense.
We can safely say that the numbers stated by Acer reflect the truth, and moreover, it looks like their test is very similar to hours. We got 10 hours and 7 minutes on a single charge which is an exceptional result given the hardware! Another big Win for Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61)!
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance
Opening the Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) starts with ten bottom-plate screws; once they’re out, the aluminium cover lifts away by hand—no pry tools needed if you ease the clips evenly along the front edge.
Inside, a dual-fan cooling system spans the rear: each blower feeds a shared array of flattened heat-pipes and two large black vapor chambers, with foam gaskets guiding airflow through the fin stacks instead of letting it bleed into the chassis.
Centred beneath the heat pipes sit two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots; both are user-accessible and the platform accepts up to 64 GB, so memory upgrades are as simple as popping in higher-capacity sticks later on.
Primary storage lives in a left-side M.2 2280 slot that ships populated; a second 2280 bay on the right—clearly silk-screened “SSD-2”—stands ready for another PCIe 4.0 ×4 drive, giving the Nitro room for up to 4 TB of fast NVMe storage in total.
The 76 Wh lithium-polymer battery (15.48 V, 4 930 mAh) is held by two screws and a single cable; a plastic spudger pops the connector free in seconds, making future replacements painless.
Stereo speakers flank the battery along the front edge, while the Wi-Fi card and I/O daughter-boards are modular and secured with standard Phillips screws for easy swaps.
Overall, the Nitro V 16 AI scores high on serviceability: two RAM slots, dual NVMe bays, replaceable Wi-Fi, and a screw-in battery mean most upgrades and maintenance can be done in under ten minutes with just a JIS #1 screwdriver.
Verdict
The Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) confidently carries forward the Nitro lineage with a design that is both familiar and appealingly aggressive, featuring sharp lines and a fingerprint-resistant black plastic chassis that feels surprisingly robust. While not the lightest gaming laptop, its weight and dimensions are perfectly reasonable for a 16-inch machine packing considerable hardware. It offers a comfortable full-sized keyboard with a NumPad and vibrant orange backlighting, complemented by a generously sized and responsive trackpad. The inclusion of a high-resolution 1080p 60fps webcam with advanced features is a nice touch, though the absence of a physical privacy shutter is a minor omission.
Where the Nitro V 16 AI truly excels is in delivering outstanding performance for its class, particularly with the reviewed AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 configuration. Acer has done an excellent job optimizing this hardware, allowing the RTX 4050 to punch well above its weight, even outperforming some lower-power RTX 4070 implementations in other laptops. This translates to excellent frame rates in modern games at 1200p resolution, making it a very capable gaming machine. Thermal management is also impressive; the laptop maintains good CPU and GPU temperatures under both short bursts and sustained heavy loads, including extended gaming sessions, ensuring consistent performance without excessive throttling. This is supported by a very fast Western Digital NVMe SSD and excellent internal upgradeability with dual RAM slots and dual M.2 SSD bays.
Adding to its already strong appeal is its exceptional battery life. Achieving over 10 hours on a single charge is a remarkable feat for a gaming laptop with this level of performance, making it surprisingly versatile for use away from a power outlet. The port selection is well-rounded, offering a good mix of USB-A and USB-C (including a USB4 port), HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, and a microSD card reader. Furthermore, the base 165Hz IPS display on our review unit, while having limited color coverage, boasts excellent eye-safety features, being PWM-free and having good response times, which is crucial for gaming.
However, the primary compromise with the base display option is its color reproduction, covering only 57% of the sRGB gamut. This results in visibly muted colors, making it unsuitable for content creation or users who prioritize vibrant visuals. Fortunately, Acer offers other display options with 100% sRGB coverage for those who need it. Other minor points include the lack of a fingerprint sensor for biometric login.
In conclusion, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-61) is an outstanding budget-to-mid-range gaming laptop that delivers exceptional performance, particularly from its well-optimized RTX 4050, robust thermal management, and truly excellent battery life. Its solid build, comfortable keyboard, good port selection, and impressive upgradeability further enhance its value. While the base screen’s color limitations are a significant consideration for some, its eye-friendly features and fast refresh rate are well-suited for gaming. If you’re looking for a powerful, reliable, and long-lasting gaming laptop that doesn’t break the bank, and can either live with the base screen’s color output or opt for a higher-tier panel, the Acer Nitro V 16 AI is a fantastic and highly recommended choice.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/acer-nitro-v-16-ai-anv16-61/
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance, especially from the well-optimized RTX 4050
- Strong CPU performance with good thermal management under load
- Exceptional battery life for a gaming laptop (10+ hours)
- Robust and fingerprint-resistant chassis despite plastic construction
- Comfortable full-sized keyboard with NumPad and orange backlight
- PWM-free display backlight with good response times (on reviewed base model)
- Well-rounded port selection including USB4, HDMI 2.1, and Ethernet
- Very fast NVMe SSD storage
- Excellent internal upgradeability (dual RAM, dual M.2 SSDs)
- Good sound quality
- High-resolution 1080p 60fps webcam with advanced features
Cons
- Very limited display color gamut on the base 1200p 165Hz model
- No physical webcam privacy shutter
- No fingerprint sensor for biometric login
- Plastic build, while sturdy, may not feel as premium as metal alternatives
Author: Simeon NikolovEditor-in-Chief at LaptopMedia.com with 20+ years of experience in testing and analyzing laptops and mobile devices.
Author: Kroum NikolovHead of Engineering at LaptopMedia.com, inventor and innovator with 40+ years of experience in electronics and high technology.TOP 100 GAMING LAPTOPS
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