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Windows Central

Technology

Rebecca Spear

Value and casual PC gamers, Acer has revealed new gaming laptops designed specifically for you — great specs and a slim option, too

Acer Laptops Intel Corporation Windows Central Nvidia

A girl in a hoodie playing a game on an Acer Nitro V 16S AI gaming laptop. .

There's no denying that PC gaming is an expensive hobby, especially if you want to keep up with the latest and greatest computer games and hardware configurations. The thing is, not everyone is chasing the latest AAA titles.

MORE CES 2026

(Image credit: Windows Central (Edited with Gemini))

• Start: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
• End: Friday, January 9, 2026
• Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
• More info: CES 2026

For those who don't need flagship-level performance, entry-level gaming hardware is far more appealing. Thankfully, we'll see even more budget-conscious gaming hardware enter the market this year.

During CES 2026 this week, Acer announced a large lineup of new devices, and among them were two brand new gaming laptops that the company says are designed for "casual gamers and more value-conscious gamers" — The Acer Nitro V 16 AI & Nitro V 16S AI.

These two laptops look pretty similar upon first glance, but one of the key differences is that the Nitro V 16S AI is slimmer, at less than 17.9mm. You can take a gander at the new Acer Nitro V 16 AI Series laptop specs in the chart below.

Acer Nitro V 16S is a new gaming laptop designed for casual gamers and budget-conscious gamers. (Image credit: Windows Central / Acer)

The Nitro V 16S AI is slimmer with a design that is less than 17.9mm. (Image credit: Windows Central / Acer)

RGB lighting and a fun Nitro branding on the bottom of the Nitro V 16 AI help it stand out. (Image credit: Windows Central / Acer)

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI can have up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 355 CPU and RTX 5070 L GPU. (Image credit: Windows Central / Acer)

Acer Nitro V 16 AI & Acer Nitro V 16S AI specs
	Acer Nitro V 16 AI	Acer Nitro V 16S AI
OS	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Home
Release dates	Q2 2026 (NA, EMEA, Australia)	Q2 2026 EMEA, Q3 2026 NA
Processor	Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 355	Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 355
NPU	45 AI TOPS	45 AI TOPS
Graphics	Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 L	Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 L
Memory	Up to 32GB DDR5 RAM	Up to 32GB DDR5 RAM
Storage	Up to 2TB PCIe M.2 NVMe SSD	Up to 2TB PCIe M.2 NVMe SSD
Display	16-inch 16:10 WUXGA (1920x1200), 180Hz, 100% sRGB color gamut, MUX Switch	16-inch 16:10 WUXGA (1920x1200), 180Hz, 100% sRGB color gamut, MUX Switch
Features	Copilot+ PC, Acer Intelligence Space, 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, AcerPurifiedVoice, AcerPurifiedView, NitroSens	Copilot+ PC, Acer Intelligence Space, Slim chassis design (>17.9mm), 4-zone RGB backlit keyboard, AcerPurifiedVoice, AcerPurifiedView, NitroSense
Connectivity	Intel Killer DoubleShot Pro Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.2	Intel Killer DoubleShot Pro Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.2
Ports	1x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 2z USB-A 3.2, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x audio jack, 1x RJ45	1x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 2z USB-A 3.2, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x audio jack, 1x RJ45
Webcam	FHD 1920 x 1080 IR, with camera shutter	FHD 1920 x 1080 IR, with camera shutter
Audio	DTSX: Ultra, 2 speakers, triple-mic array	DTSX: Ultra, 2 speakers, triple-mic array

In case you aren't aware, Acer is already known as a PC brand that offers many value products for everything from office computers to gaming PCs. Its Predator subbrand serves as the high-end gaming tier, while the Nitro subbrand is more focused on offering lower-priced gaming products that still offer good performance.

According to Acer, these new laptops offer a range of performance and portability options." As you saw in the previous chart, we have yet to know for sure what all of the configuration options will be for these laptops, but it seems they will at least utilize the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and mid-tier NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-Series GPUs (graphics processing units). Additionally, since the Intel Core Ultra chips are AI processors that reach up to 45 AI TOPS, these gaming laptops are not only AI PCs, but also Copilot+ PCs.

AI CPUs feature an NPU (neural processing unit), which is designed to take some of the load off the CPU and GPU while undertaking certain AI tasks. This allows a system to work more efficiently. When it comes to gaming, AI chips tend to allow hardware to trade off power for portability and a smaller form factor; thus, the reason the more budget or value-level Nitro brand utilizes these chips.

Some argue that AI chips aren't good for flagship gaming hardware, and this can be the case depending on the device in question. Still, each year, AI chips and their NPUs grow more powerful, so it seems many companies are investing in placing these AI processors in their higher-tier hardware, potentially as a sort of future-proofing.

The Acer Nitro V 16 AI will be available Q2 2026 in North America, as well as Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA), and also Australia. Meanwhile, the Acer Nitro V 16S AI will be available in EMEA in Q2 2026 and North America in Q3 2026. Prices for either laptop model have yet to be announced.

Are you interested in seeing more casual and entry-level PC gaming hardware in 2026? Are you more interested in budget desktops, laptops, or handhelds? Tell us about it in the comments.