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A New Look at the Acer Iconia X12 Tablet
The Acer Iconia X12 tablet offers an outstanding blend of entertainment and productivity. This article will introduce the benefits of a tablet and the features and specifications of the Acer Iconia X12. Tablets are portable, all-in-one devices with a sensitive touchscreen. They are typically used for playing games, taking pictures, browsing the web, and reading electronic books. They are built for mobility, offering a happy medium between a smartphone and a laptop.
What are the benefits of an Android tablet?
With so many devices on the market, it can be tough to know which is right for your needs. There are significant differences between tablets, smartphones, and laptops, with unique advantages to each. Laptops tend to be bigger and offer more robust computing abilities with more memory storage, making them ideal for multitasking, whereas tablets are smaller and less suitable for intense work sessions. Here are some benefits of a tablet and why they may be a top choice for your needs.
1. Android vs. Windows and Chrome tablets
Android tablets like the Acer Iconia X12 are known for their simplicity, ease of use, and affordability. They also provide access to a huge range of apps via the Google Play Store, which are optimized to run directly on Android devices. While Windows and Chrome tablets are compatible with Android apps, they may not run as smoothly as they are scaled down for their respective operating systems. Chrome tablets are designed for web-based use and therefore tend to rely on using apps in the browser. As such, Android tablets offer a superior choice and quality for entertainment, games, and other apps than Windows and Chrome devices.
2. Lightweight and portable
Tablets are lightweight and portable, with most tablet devices weighing under two lbs (0.90 kg), so you can comfortably carry them in a handbag or purse without noticing much extra weight. This makes them an excellent travel companion, allowing you to take photos and videos to document your trip. Moreover, playing games or watching movies on a tablet is a great way to beat boredom on long journeys or commutes.
3. Long battery life
One major advantage of a tablet device is its long battery life. This is because the hardware components within a tablet consume less power than a laptop, which have a smaller sized battery and more components. Some tablets can last over 12 hours on a single charge, depending on usage, which is enough to get you through a long flight or day of classes.
4. Designed for games and videos
If you enjoy playing games, watching videos, and listening to music, then a tablet might be for you. Tablets are less capable of multitasking and flicking between apps than a laptop but still offer good performance for light tasks like playing games. Moreover, tablets are ideal for note taking during classes and are lightweight enough to carry around in a backpack or school bag. They also support electronic books, helping you save space while still being able to read your favorite novel.
5. Affordability
Tablets are typically more affordable than laptops. Some budget models may cost USD $100 or less, whereas middle tier tablets with a better performance could be in between USD $200 and USD $400. Premium tablets are priced from USD $500, delivering a higher performance for their price tag.
Introducing the Acer Iconia X12 tablet
The Acer Iconia X12 tablet is the perfect blend of entertainment and productivity. It includes stunning AMOLED visuals and quadspeakers sound, as well as up to 400 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. The tablet also features in-cell touch technology for precise responsiveness and unbeatable clarity.
It comes with an optional stylus and keyboard, so you can unleash your creativity as you stay productive with up to 16 hours of battery life on a single charge. The Acer Iconia X12 also delivers lightning-fast performance with a MediaTek Helio G99 OctaCore processor and up to 8GB RAM for smooth multitasking. You can also expand its 256 GB storage up to 1 TB using a MicroSD card.
The 13MP rear camera features a flash for taking photos in low-light situations, while the 5MP front camera is perfect for video calls and taking selfies. The handy magnetic kickstand lets you free your hands and show your best side with the perfect viewing angle.
Specifications
* Operating System: Android
* Processor Model: Helio G99, 2 GHz, Octa-core (8 Core™)
* Maximum Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X
* Flash Memory Capacity: 256 GB
* Display Screen Type: Active Matrix TFT Color LCD, CineCrystal, WQXGA
* Screen Resolution: 2560 x 1600
* Number of Speakers: 4
* Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5
* Webcam Resolution: 4224 x 3166
* Ports: USB, headphone jack
* Battery Run Time: 16 hours
* Input Devices: Stylus, keyboard
* Height: 0.3” (0.76 cm)
* Width: 11.2” (28.44 cm)
* Depth: 7.3” (18.54 cm)
* Weight: 1.21 lbs (0.54 kg)
So, should you buy a tablet device?
Tablets are the sweet spot between a smartphone and a full laptop. They are portable and budget-friendly, offering a nifty travel companion that fits in your handbag. The Acer Iconia X12 is a lightweight but powerful tablet with 8GB of RAM and 16-hour battery life. Get yours for just USD $549 in the Acer online store today, or USD $466.65 with a 15% student discount.
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Introducing the Predator Helios 18 AI (5080 GPU): The 2nd Most Powerful Acer Laptop
If you joined us a few weeks back when we unveiled the most powerful Acer gaming laptop, the Predator Helios 18 AI (RTX 5090), you’ll be glad to know that our season of powerhouse gaming laptops continues today with the introduction of its formidable runner-up, the Acer Predator Helios 18 (5080 GPU).
Acer gaming computers come in many shapes and sizes. And if you don’t look carefully, the names and numbers of the different models can get slightly confusing. The key here is in the 8, or the 9! The Predator Helios 18 AI 5080 version looks and tastes very similar to the 5090, but is less than half the price of its almighty cousin. So, we’re taking a slight step down from the lofty heights of the 5090 GPU to the still very lofty (h)eights of the 5080, let’s take a closer look at the Predator Helios 18 AI 5080 and see if we can’t conquer the gameverse while we’re at it.
Death or glory
The Predator Helios 18 AI 5080 is a ridiculously portable gaming fortress ready to take you to new realms of gaming success. As we mentioned earlier the Predator Helios 18 AI 5080 currently sells for less than half of the $6,999.99 that the 5090 goes for. If you’re looking to dominate the games you play, but don’t want to destroy your finances or remortgage your house, then the 5080 is a wiser choice.
But let’s be clear: this is not a budget laptop! In fact, there are two different models available, the Predator Helios 18 AI Gaming Laptop - PH18-73-98GC for $3,549.99, and the Predator Helios 18 AI Gaming Laptop - PH18-73-974G yours for $3,099.99.
The difference between these two apex beauties? A matter of RAM and SSD, of course. The slightly more expensive model packs a ceiling cracking 64 GB, DDR5 SDRAM and 2 TB SSD, while the other model kicks down the door with 32 GB, DDR5 SDRAM 1 TB SSD.
Now that we’ve got the price tags and RAM out of the way, let’s get amongst it take a sip of the tasty tech-specs of the Predator Helios 18 AI Gaming Laptop (5080):
* OS: Windows 11 Home
* Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 275HX processor Tetracosa-core (24 Core™) 2.70 GHz
* GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 with 16 GB dedicated memory
* Memory: 64 GB, DDR5 SDRAM/32 GB, DDR5 SDRAM (see above)
* Storage: 2 TB SSD/1 TB SSD (see above)
* Display: 18" WQXGA (2560 x 1600) 16:10 IPS 250 Hz
* Display Screen Technology: ComfyView (Matte); In-plane Switching (IPS) Technology
* Speakers: 6
* Network: Wireless LAN Killer 1750x IEEE 802.11be
* Bluetooth: 5.4 or above
* Built in Devices: Webcam, microphone
* Interfaces: HDMI, 5 x USB, Network (RJ-45), audio in/out
* Color: Abyssal Black
* Dimensions: 15.8” x 12.1” x 1.16”
* Weight (Approx): 7.72 lb
The people’s choice
As you can see from these block rocking tech specs, the Predator Helios 18 AI Gaming Laptop (5080) shares many of the flagship features of the 5090. Similarly, this is a gargantuan of gaming that lights up any room lucky enough to be graced with its RGB illuminated, abyssal black presence. At the heart of this beast we have the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, a smashing 18-inch WQXGA IPS display, all infused with era-defining AI capabilities. This is the Predator Helios 18 AI for those who recognize exactly where performance meets precision.
Number of the beast: 24 core mind
For tactical excellence the Predator Helios 18 AI Gaming Laptop (5080) is built out from the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU. 24 cores represent the pinnacle of the core mind: 8 cores for heavy lifting, while the other 16 cores ensure that everything in the background is covered. A clock speed of 2.70 GHz can be overclocked to a maximum of 5.4 GHz giving you a massive speed boost when it’s needed.
This CPU has a built-in Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for you to offload tasks like background removal and audio optimization for seamless streaming. What’s more, Intel Application Optimization (APO) continually tweaks and tinkers with your PCs performance letting you get the most out of the latest games as well as older titles.
Intelligent savagery: RTX 5080
This is where the Predator Helios 18 AI (5080) earns its name. Let’s make no bones about it: the GeForce RTX 5080 isn’t a compromise, it’s NVIDIA’s latest generation of GPU technology, balancing sheer graphics horsepower with thermal efficiency.
Built on dedicated GDDR7 video memory, the 5080 handles high-res textures and lighting with ease, pushing the 2560 × 1600 WQXGA display to its limits. Whether you’re playing AAA titles at max settings, creating in 3D, editing 8K footage, or simply streaming your favorite show, the 5080’s dedicated graphics memory ensures zero slowdown and ever- consistent frame pacing.
On top of all this, AI-enhanced rendering (using NVIDIA’s own machine-learning optimizations) sharpens detail and maximizes performance, so visuals stay crisp and clean under the heaviest of loads. If you’re a gamer or creator who requires laptop portability with desktop-level output, the 5080 is your ticket to rarefied freedom. What you see is what you get: AI-infused computing with ray tracing, ultra high-speed rendering, and real-time visual computation, all fine tuned for efficiency and cool running.
Speaking of running temps, a beast like the Predator Helios 18 AI kitted out with such monstrous CPU and GPUs is bound to run slightly on the warmer side of toasty. Naturally, this laptop is also equipped with 6th gen aeroblade 3D fan technology. The Predator Helios 18 AI features the world’s thinnest 0.05mm fan blades that rise and adapt at high speeds, increasing airflow efficiency by 20%!
Choose wisely
As we mentioned above, there are currently two configurations of the Predator Helios 18 AI Gaming Laptop (5080). So, how to choose between the two?
* Firstly, the 64 GB DDR5 RAM and dual PCIe 5.0 SSD (2 TB total) model. This slightly pricier version delivers instant loadouts with zero lag, and is built for creators with vast libraries.
* Meanwhile, the 32 GB DDR5, 1 TB SSD model is still a full-blooded Predator, just leaner and every bit as fast. Slightly smaller capacity trims cost and heat, while delivering Predator performance, as expected.
Both of these fantastic devices run the same Ultra 9 engine and RTX 5080 GPU, so choice comes down to how much space and multitasking headroom you demand!
A solid second
That’s about all we’ve got time for today, gamers of the universe. For more info about the display, and other bits of the Predator Helios 18 AI, we recommend you peruse this article, and check out the flagship Predator Helios 18 AI (RTX 5090) while you’re at it. Balance is the new benchmark for on-the-go gaming, and the Predator Helios 18 AI (5080) can walk the tightrope like no other!
With its 24-core Intel processor, GDDR7 RTX 5080 graphics card, and the choice of two ultra-intelligent configurations, it’s engineered for those who require power and precision. Gaming is power, and the Predator Helios 18 AI (5080) certainly delivers in the smartest way possible.
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Still Using Windows 10? Here’s Why It’s Time to Switch to Windows 11
The end of support for Windows 10 is no longer a future concern, as of October 14, 2025, Microsoft has officially stopped providing free security updates and feature support for Windows 10. If you're still using a Windows 10 PC today, your system is now unprotected unless you've taken specific steps to stay secure.
Some regions, such as the European Union, receive one additional year of free critical security updates through October 2026. In most other areas, including the United States, you must either upgrade to Windows 11 or sign up for Extended Security Updates (ESU) to continue receiving protection. These updates only cover important security fixes and do not include new features or quality-of-life improvements.
For organizations and businesses, ESU can be purchased through the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program at $61 USD per device for Year One. This cost doubles each year, for a maximum of three years. ESU is also available at no cost for Windows 10 virtual machines running in specific Microsoft cloud services.
If you haven’t enrolled in ESU, upgraded your system, or bought a Windows 11 device, now is the time to act. Below, we explain why.
Why you should upgrade to Windows 11 now
If you are still using Windows 10 without extended protection, you’re exposing your system to increasing risk. Even with ESU, you are missing out on key improvements. Here are four major reasons why upgrading to Windows 11 is the better choice:
1. No more security patches
Windows 10 no longer receives free security updates. This means newly discovered vulnerabilities will go unpatched for most users. Over time, this creates significant risk as hackers begin to target unprotected systems. Even if you pay for ESU, it only covers critical security fixes and nothing else.
2. Decreasing software support
Developers are already shifting their focus to Windows 11. While your apps won’t stop working overnight, software companies will gradually drop Windows 10 compatibility. This means fewer updates, reduced features, and eventually, no support at all.
3. No access to new features like Copilot
Microsoft’s latest tools, such as Windows Copilot, AI enhancements, and modern accessibility features are only available on Windows 11. If you want to use the newest functionality, you’ll need to upgrade your operating system.
4. Loss of technical support
Microsoft and many third-party providers are phasing out assistance for Windows 10 users. Whether it’s help from official support teams or compatibility with newer hardware, Windows 10 users will be increasingly left behind.
To learn more about the benefits, read our guide on why you should update to Windows 11.
What to do if you can't upgrade yet
Not everyone can upgrade immediately. Maybe your hardware isn’t supported, or you’re waiting to buy a new PC. If you plan to stay on Windows 10 a little longer, here are some ways to protect yourself in the meantime.
1. Use Extended Security Updates (ESU)
Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates to help Windows 10 users stay protected after support ended on October 14, 2025. There are two general pathways: free extensions (if eligible) and paid access.
Free options for home users
If you're using Windows 10 Home or Pro, you may be eligible for one year of free ESU by completing one of the following actions:
* Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points
* Turn on Windows Backup and sync it with Microsoft OneDrive
These options are aimed at consumers and are available through Microsoft's official ESU extension page. They may only apply to certain regions or be available for a limited time. In the European Union, all users automatically receive one additional year of critical security updates through October 2026.
Paid options for ESU access
If you're not eligible for the free extension, or you prefer not to use Microsoft Rewards or OneDrive, you can purchase ESU in the following ways:
* Windows 10 Home and Pro users can pay a one-time fee of $30 USD for one year of ESU coverage. This is a consumer-level offering and does not require volume licensing.
* Windows 10 Business and Education editions must go through the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program. Pricing starts at $61 USD per device for the first year, and it doubles each year for up to three years.
Each of these options ensures continued access to critical and important security updates only, with no new features or quality-of-life improvements.
Note: Virtual machines running Windows 10 in Microsoft cloud services such as Azure receive ESU at no additional cost.
2. Disconnect your PC from the internet
If your Windows 10 PC is being used for offline tasks, like editing documents or running legacy software, you can reduce your risk by keeping it disconnected from the internet. This minimizes exposure to remote attacks, but it's not a long-term solution.
3. Switch to Linux
If your computer can’t run Windows 11 and you don’t want to pay for ESU, installing a Linux distribution is an option. Linux is free, secure, and supported by an active developer community. It's not a direct replacement for all Windows applications, but it can be a solid alternative for basic tasks like web browsing, email, and document editing.
Final thoughts: Upgrade while you still have options
Windows 10 support officially ended on October 14, 2025. If you are still using it and have not taken any action, your system is now at risk. Extended Security Updates can buy you some time, but they are limited, may cost money, and do not include new features or full support.
Upgrading to Windows 11 is the most secure and future-proof choice. If your current device is eligible, you can upgrade through Windows Update. If not, there are many Acer laptops that run Windows 11 available at a range of price points and if you have a valid university/college email you can sign up at Student Beans for a 15% discount on your next purchase from the Acer Store.
To learn more about the benefits, read our guide on why you should update to Windows 11. If you have already made the switch, here is how to set up your new Windows 11 computer/laptop.
Now is the time to act. The longer you wait, the fewer options you will have.
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