With the plethora of PC gaming handhelds out there today, Acer is looking to make a splash with its latest offerings: the Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11. These devices boast some of the largest screens in the category, with the Blaze 8 offering an 8.8-inch display and the Blaze 11 stretching out to 10.95 inches. Both feature impressive 2560 x 1600 resolutions. For those who crave smooth visuals, the Blaze 8 dazzles with a 144 Hz refresh rate, while the Blaze 11 offers a slightly lower but still slick 120 Hz.
Now, while those crisp, high-refresh-rate IPS screens will undoubtedly put heavy demands on the current technology, don’t expect any groundbreaking internal hardware. Both models are equipped with AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU—the same one paired with a 780M in Asus’ ROG Ally. So, be prepared to lean on AMD’s upscaling tech to get the most out of many AAA titles.
When it comes to battery life, Acer’s specs reveal a 55 Whr battery for both devices. It’s an improvement over the original Ally’s 40 Whr and close to the Steam Deck OLED’s 50 Whr, yet it falls short when compared to the Ally X’s heftier 80 Whr option. The new devices carry 16GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage, with a touchscreen reaching up to 500 nits of brightness. Acer seems quite keen on highlighting the CPUs’ 39 total AI TOPS—a feature that, while interesting, likely won’t set the Nitros apart if you’re judging by pure performance or longevity. But size-wise, they definitely stand out.
The Nitro Blaze 11, in particular, presents an interesting feature with its removable controllers, resembling a larger version of Lenovo’s Legion Go, minus the integrated mouse sensor. However, don’t expect any dedicated cursor controls. You’ll find yourself navigating quite a bit by tapping and swiping across the Windows 11 Home interface, unless you’re in Acer’s custom Game Space environment.
As you’d expect, those generous screens contribute to a bit of heft. The Nitro Blaze 8 is fairly manageable at just 1.59 pounds, yet the Blaze 11 weighs in at a more robust 2.31 pounds.
During a brief hands-on session, the Blaze 11 appeared less bulky than some promotional images might suggest. Nonetheless, it’s clear this is not a device you’ll want to lug around without reason—much like larger gaming laptops. If there’s one concern hanging over the Blaze 11, it’s the battery life. The combination of a supersized, high-resolution screen will likely drain power swiftly. But let’s face it, most of its use will probably be while you’re comfortably stationed at home with a USB-C charger close by.
Looking towards availability, Acer plans to release the Nitro Blaze 8 and 11 in the second quarter. Pricing reflects the screen real estate, starting at $899 for the 8-inch variant and $1,099 for the 11-inch model.
