How to open Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (PH16-73) – disassembly and upgrade options

LaptopMedia.com Guides How to open Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (PH16-73) – disassembly and upgrade options

From: Dimitar Stalev 25 September 2025 / 20:07 0

#CommissionsEarned

Acer Predator Helios 16 AI

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
VideoCard: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (Laptop)
RAM: 64GB RAM
STORAGE: 4000GB SSD

Detailed review

Acer Predator Helios 16 AI

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
VideoCard: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (Laptop)
RAM: 32GB RAM
STORAGE: 2000GB SSD

Detailed review

Acer Predator Helios 16 AI

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
VideoCard: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (Laptop)
RAM: 64GB RAM
STORAGE: 2000GB SSD

Detailed review

View all results

Step 1: Opening the Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (PH16-73)

Power off the laptop and place it on a soft surface.
Undo 10 Torx T6 screws from the bottom panel.
Use a plastic pry tool to work around the edges until the panel separates from the base.
Lift the bottom plate to reveal the internals.

Battery

The 90 Wh four-cell battery spans the front edge of the chassis.
It is secured only by its connector—once unplugged, the pack lifts straight out.

Memory Upgrades

Two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots are placed between the fans, fully visible and easy to access.
The slots support up to 64 GB of DDR5-6400 RAM in dual-channel mode (official spec).

You can buy DDR5 SO-DIMM memory here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Storage Upgrades

The main M.2 slot is located to the left of the battery, next to the Wi-Fi card. It supports PCIe Gen 5 NVMe drives.
A secondary M.2 bay is located on the right side and supports PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSDs.
Both slots come with foil EMI covers and pre-applied thermal pads. The covers can be peeled back partially to preserve pad alignment.
Officially, each slot supports SSDs up to 2 TB in size.

Hint: Don’t forget to check our Top M.2 SSDs Performance Rankings for the best storage options.
You can buy Gen 5 SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Wireless Connectivity

The laptop uses an Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 card in a standard M.2 2230 form factor.
It is secured by a single screw and two antenna leads, making upgrades or replacements easy.

Cooling System

The Helios 16 AI uses two 6th-gen AeroBlade 3D fans, designed to push ~20% more air than the previous generation.
Three thick copper heat pipes run over the CPU, GPU, and VRM plates before leading into wide fin stacks at the rear.
Dual exhaust vents at the back expel hot air, while numerous cut-outs in the bottom plate feed fresh air into the system.

Audio

The stereo speaker boxes are positioned in the front corners of the chassis.

Summary: The Predator Helios 16 AI (PH16-73) offers excellent upgradeability with socketed memory, dual NVMe slots (Gen 5 + Gen 4), and a user-replaceable Wi-Fi 7 card, while the large 90 Wh battery and advanced cooling ensure long runtimes and sustained performance.

Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (PH16-73) in-depth review

The Acer Predator Helios 16 AI (PH16-73) isn't just another gaming laptop; it's a declaration of dominance. Acer has thrown everything but the kitchen sink into this machine: a flagship NVIDIA RTX 5090, a breathtaking 240Hz OLED display, and next-generation connectivity like Thunderbolt 5. It’s a machine built to be the best, seemingly without compromise, wrapping top-of-the-line specs in a surprisingly well-managed thermal package. But does stacking the spec sheet this high translate to the ultimate, real-world gaming experience? We pushed this beast to its limits to see if it truly liv[...]

Read the full review