These days, the choices in PC gaming handhelds are as varied as they come, but Acer is making a bold move to grab attention with its new offerings: the Nitro Blaze 8, sporting an 8.8-inch display, and the Nitro Blaze 11, boasting a larger 10.95-inch screen. Both of these devices feature some of the most sizable screens seen in this category so far. They each flaunt a 2560 x 1600 resolution, with the Blaze 8 running at 144 Hz and the Blaze 11 at 120 Hz, delivering a pixel-rich experience that sets a high standard.
Of course, these gorgeous high-resolution, high-refresh rate IPS displays are sure to test the limits of current technology when tackling many AAA games. Acer hasn’t introduced new powerhouses under the hood, though—they’ve opted for AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU, the same chip utilized in the Z1 Extreme found in Asus’ ROG Ally. With this setup, expect to rely heavily on AMD’s upscaling tech for many gaming titles.
When it comes to battery specs, Acer has equipped both devices with a 55 Whr battery. This is an improvement over the original Ally’s 40 Whr and the Steam Deck OLED’s 50 Whr but falls short of the Ally X’s massive 80 Whr. The handhelds are packed with 16GB of RAM and can offer up to 2TB of storage alongside their Ryzen 7 chips. Additionally, their touchscreens can hit 500 nits of brightness. Acer has also highlighted the CPUs’ 39 total AI TOPS, though what this specifically translates to in real-world terms might not equate to a lead in frame rates or battery longevity. Still, these devices do boast significantly larger builds than many rivals.
For those eyeing the Blaze 11, you’ll find it offers detachable controllers, bearing a resemblance to Lenovo’s Legion Go, albeit likely without an integrated mouse sensor. Interestingly, the controllers appear not to have dedicated cursor controls, which means you’ll be doing quite a bit of tapping and swiping on the Windows 11 Home OS, outside of Acer’s Game Space interface.
Now, let’s talk heft. The larger screens naturally result in a bulkier handheld. The Nitro Blaze weighs in at a manageable 1.59 pounds, while the Nitro 11 comes in at a heftier 2.31 pounds.
After a brief hands-on experience with these devices, the Blaze 11 wasn’t as gargantuan as some press images suggested. Nevertheless, it’s not exactly the most portable gadget for on-the-go gaming. Similar to heftier gaming laptops, you’ll likely find it best suited for use at home. My primary concern for the Blaze 11 is its battery life, as that expansive, high-res screen will undoubtedly be power-hungry. Thankfully, lounging near an outlet for your USB-C charger might be where this device finds its home most often.
In terms of availability, Acer plans to roll out the Nitro Blaze 8 and Blaze 11 in the second quarter, with prices aligning with the display sizes. The 8-inch model is set to start at $899, and the 11-inch model will kick off at $1,099.
