Acer often revamps popular entries in their Predator Triton line and re-releases them as Special Edition models. The most recent model to get the Special Edition treatment was the Acer Triton 300 SE—which came out about six months ago. Now, Acer has revealed it is releasing a Special Edition version of its Triton 500 (which happens to be our favorite laptop for editors who also love to game): the Acer Triton 500 SE.
Special Edition models typically offer performance upgrades and a more refined body. The Triton 500 SE has that and more. Not only does the new model pack more power, but it’s also got a few more quality of life upgrades that will make many pro video editors happy.
Let’s look at what the Triton 500 SE has to offer over the original model.
The Triton 500 SE line houses new 11th-generation core chips
Expect to see a boost in performance when using the Triton 500 SE. Acer is adding an 11th-generation Core i9, improving on the original Triton’s 10th Gen Core i7 processor. Additionally, the laptop leverages an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU and 64GB of memory. That’s an improvement over the original’s GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Max-Q. After these updates, we can expect the SE to run smoother and quicker during activities like video editing and gaming.
Acer increased the Triton 500 SE’s screen size
Larger screen sizes are always great, and the Triton 500 SE features more vertical space. Compared to the original’s 15.6-inch 16:9 display, the SE comes with a new, 16-inch 16:10 display. According to Acer, the display has an 87 percent screen-to-body ratio—compared to the original Triton 500’s ratio of 81%. You also have an option between three panel options: a 165Hz LCD panel, a 165Hz Mini LED panel or a 240Hz IPS PolarBlack panel. It’s good to see laptops with a wider working area, since it makes for a much more comfortable user experience.
The design is more professional
Acer decided to reimagine the Triton 500 SE’s aesthetic design to be more professional and subtle. For instance, the company decided to move the Triton logo from the center to the top-right corner. Also, the Predator logo that ran across the bottom bezels is no longer there. Instead, the bottom bezel displays a smaller Triton logo. Overall, the laptop looks a lot more professional and will likely draw less unwanted attention to the design.
You have access to more storage
Acer has doubled the storage space on the Triton 500 SE. The new model offers 4 TB of storage space, whereas the original model offered just 2 TB of storage. This update further solidifies it as a laptop for video editing. Video editors need as much storage space as they can get and 4 TB is a standard capacity for professional videographers.
The Triton 500 SE has a more effective cooling system
According to Acer, the Triton 500 SE has a new cooling system. It has a 5th-Gen Aeroblade 3D fan within a triple-fan system with five heat pipes. This new system should deliver up to 10 percent more cooling than the original. Video editing generates a lot of heat, and if the laptop can’t properly cool itself, the whole system slows down. The Triton 500 SE’s new cooling system should improve its performance during highly demanding tasks, like video editing or gaming.
Other notable specs
The Triton 500 SE features two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and one HDMI 2.1 port. There’s also one 3.5mm audio jack, one SD card reader, an ethernet port, and a DC-in for power. You can also use one of the USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports for USB charging.
Pricing and availability
The Triton 500 SE will launch this June with a base price of $1,749.99. Overall, it does seem like Acer’s newest model has some notable upgrades. Acer also announced it’s updating its Predator Helios 500 with the new 11th-Gen processors. This model will release later this year in August.
