These days, handheld PC gaming has become quite the trend with plenty of options to choose from, but Acer aims to make a splash with their latest releases: the Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11. These devices boast some of the largest screens in the handheld market today, featuring 8.8-inch and 10.95-inch displays respectively. Not only are they big, but they also offer a visual treat with a resolution of 2560 x 1600. What’s more, the Blaze 8 offers a refresh rate of 144 Hz, while the Blaze 11 comes in at 120 Hz, meaning these devices are packing a lot of pixels ready to perform.
These brilliantly detailed screens, though, will push the capabilities of current hardware, especially with visually demanding AAA games. But don’t get your hopes up for any groundbreaking advancements in processing power, as both devices are equipped with AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU — the same chip that powers the Z1 Extreme in Asus’ ROG Ally. So, you might find yourself leaning heavily on AMD’s upscaling technology for many games.
When it comes to battery life, Acer claims both models come with a 55 Whr battery. That’s more juice than the original Ally’s 40 Whr and slightly more than the Steam Deck OLED’s 50 Whr, yet it falls short compared to the Ally X’s 80 Whr offering. Both handhelds also include 16GB of RAM and offer up to 2TB of storage, paired with the Ryzen 7 8840HS chips. Additionally, the touchscreens of these models promise a brightness of up to 500 nits. Acer seems particularly eager to highlight the CPUs’ 39 total AI TOPS as well. Given all this, while the new Nitros might not break records for frame rates or battery endurance, their size is certainly notable.
Speaking of size, the Nitro Blaze 11’s removable controllers give it a modular look that’s somewhat reminiscent of Lenovo’s Legion Go, although it likely doesn’t feature the built-in mouse sensor. The controllers will require you to tap and swipe your way through the Windows 11 Home OS when you’re venturing outside Acer’s Game Space software.
As one might expect, those larger screens do make these devices heavier. The Nitro Blaze 8 weighs in at a bearable 1.59 pounds, while the Blaze 11 comes with a heftier build at 2.31 pounds.
During a quick hands-on session with the devices, the Blaze 11 seemed less bulky compared to what some press images might suggest, although it’s not the easiest thing to tote around. But if you’ve ever lugged around a larger gaming laptop, you know the drill. The real challenge with the Blaze 11, in my view, will be its battery life. That expansive, high-resolution screen will inevitably demand more power than its portable counterparts. Though if you plan to enjoy it from the comfort of your home, chances are you won’t stray too far from a USB-C outlet.
Acer plans to release the Nitro Blaze 8 and Blaze 11 in the second quarter, with pricing that’s as impressive as the screens. The 8-inch variant will start at $899, while its bigger sibling, the 11-inch model, will start at $1,099.
