Choosing a handheld gaming device for your PC games has become a bit like browsing a candy store—there’s so much to pick from! Acer, however, is hoping to grab your attention with its new Nitro Blaze series, featuring two standout models: the Nitro Blaze 8, with an impressive 8.8-inch screen, and the Nitro Blaze 11, which stretches out to 10.95 inches. Both models come with stunning displays that are hard to miss. They boast a resolution of 2560 x 1600, with the Blaze 8 supporting a 144 Hz refresh rate and the Blaze 11 offering 120 Hz. Gamers, get ready to enjoy a vivid viewing experience!
One thing to note is that such high-resolution screens demand quite a bit from the hardware, especially for today’s top-tier games. Under the hood, both models feature AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU. This is the same tech you’ll find in Asus’ ROG Ally, so while there’s no groundbreaking new hardware here, you can expect to lean on AMD’s upscaling technology to maintain smooth gameplay across demanding titles.
Battery capacity can often make or break handheld devices, and Acer has packed a 55 Whr battery into both models. While this is a step up from the original Ally’s 40 Whr and comparable to the Steam Deck OLED’s 50 Whr, it falls short of the Ally X’s 80 Whr. Alongside this, they’re both equipped with 16GB RAM and can offer up to 2TB of storage, ensuring you’ve got space to store plenty of your favorite games. The displays also shine brightly at 500 nits. Interestingly, Acer highlights the CPUs’ 39 AI TOPS, though it’s unlikely this will make or break your decision on which handheld to buy. Given these specs, the Nitro series might not lead the pack in frame rates or battery endurance, but they definitely make an impression with their size.
Now, looking at features specific to the larger Nitro Blaze 11, it boasts removable controllers, turning it into something of a larger version of Lenovo’s Legion Go. Unfortunately, it seems to lack a built-in mouse sensor and dedicated cursor controls, which means you’ll likely find yourself doing quite a bit of swiping and tapping to navigate the Windows 11 Home OS—unless, of course, you’re nestled in the Game Space software.
The trade-off for these larger screens? Additional weight. The Nitro 8 stays manageable at around 1.59 pounds, while the Blaze 11 weighs in at a heftier 2.31 pounds. Though I had only a quick hands-on with the Blaze 11, it didn’t seem as unwieldy as photos suggest, but it’s definitely not the kind of device you’ll toss in a bag for on-the-go gaming. Its substantial size means you’re likely to use it within arm’s reach of your charger at home. The thought of draining its battery with that high-res display has me a bit concerned, though.
Looking ahead, Acer plans to launch these handheld beauties in the second quarter of the year, pricing them in line with their display sizes. The Nitro Blaze 8 kicks off at $899, while the larger Blaze 11 starts at $1,099. Stay tuned, as these screens could be lighting up your gaming sessions soon!
