The Acer Aspire V 15 Nitro (VN7-591G-70JY) ($1,799.99 as tested) is a midrange gaming laptop that updates the less expensive Acer Aspire V 15 Nitro (VN7-591G-75S2) with a new high-resolution 4K display, more storage, and extra RAM. The price has increased accordingly, putting it in the same range as the Editors' Choice MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K. But how does it stack up with the new hardware and price tag? Not as well as we'd hope.

Design
V 15 Nitro may carry a midrange price, but from the outside, it looks a whole lot like the entry-level Acer VN7-591G-75S2. The chassis is identical, measuring 0.94 by 15.3 by 10.1 inches (HWD) and weighing 5.3 pounds. It's not as slim and light as the MSI Ghost Pro (0.8-inch thick and 4.4 pounds) or th`e HP Omen 15 (0.8-inch thick and 4.7 pounds), but it is slimmer than the MSI GE62 Apache (1.14 inches thick and 5.16 pounds). The laptop has an internal metal frame, with a plastic chassis and lid. The lid has the same matte-black color as the chassis, but also has a ridged texture across the lid. The hinge is bare metal, with "Aspire V Nitro" stamped into it.

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The 15.6-inch display is an impressive 4K panel with 3,840-by-2,160 resolution. There's no touch capability, but it's a step up from even the 2,880-by-1,620 screen on the MSI Ghost Pro. The screen features In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology to provided bright colors and wide viewing angles, and it has a matte finish that reduces glare and reflection. The audio is equally impressive, with four built-in speakers and Dolby Digital Plus Home Theater surround sound offering plenty of volume and bass with minimal distortion.

The keyboard is the same backlit, chiclet-style model we saw on the Acer VN7-591G-75S2, with red glowing letters and a matte-black finish. There's no adjustment for the intensity or the color of the backlight, but it's still an excellent keyboard, with generous vertical travel, and a pleasantly springy feel. The extra-large touchpad offers great gesture-control support for Windows, but for gaming you'll want a separate gaming mouse.

Features
This premium version of the Aspire V15 Nitro has the same set of ports and connections as the less expensive model. On the right you'll find three USB 3.0 ports, a full-size HDMI-out port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a headset jack. The left side has a Kensington lock slot, while an SD card slot can be found on the front edge of the system. Wireless connections include Bluetooth 4.0 and dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, though at this price I'd expect to see the faster and more reliable 802.11ac offered.