These days, the market for PC gaming handhelds is brimming with options, but Acer is aiming to make a memorable entrance with its latest offerings—the Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11. These models feature some of the largest screens yet in this category, with the Blaze 8 boasting an 8.8-inch screen and the Blaze 11 topping the charts at nearly 11 inches. Not only are these displays impressively large, but they also come packed with a robust resolution of 2560 x 1600. Gamers benefit from a smooth experience with the Blaze 8’s 144 Hz refresh rate and a still respectable 120 Hz on the Blaze 11.
Given their high-resolution, fast-refresh IPS screens, these devices might push current gaming processors to their limits, especially with demanding AAA games. If you were holding out for groundbreaking internal tech from Acer, you might be slightly disappointed; both handhelds come with AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU, the same processor as in Asus’ ROG Ally that relies on the 780M chip. As a result, many will find themselves leaning heavily on AMD’s upscaling capabilities for optimal performance.
When it comes to battery life, Acer indicates both models house a 55 Whr battery. That’s a bit more juice than the original Ally’s 40 Whr and the Steam Deck OLED’s 50 Whr, but it doesn’t surpass the Ally X’s robust 80 Whr. On the storage and memory front, both versions support 16GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage, paired with bright 500-nit touchscreens. Acer is also highlighting the 39 AI TOPS of their CPUs, though it’s not entirely clear why. In summary, don’t expect these models to break new records in battery life or performance—but do expect massive screens compared to many rivals.
The Nitro Blaze 11 steps it up with detachable controllers, echoing a larger Lenovo Legion Go, though seemingly minus the built-in mouse sensor. These controllers don’t appear to offer dedicated cursor controls, meaning you’ll likely resort to plenty of tapping and swiping around the Windows 11 Home interface when you’re not immersed in Acer’s Game Space environment.
With their expanded screens, these handhelds also bring some additional heft. The Nitro Blaze 8 weighs a respectable 1.59 pounds, while the larger Nitro 11 comes in at 2.31 pounds. Upon testing the Blaze 11, it wasn’t as cumbersome as promotional images suggested, though it’s not exactly what you’d casually lug around. This, however, is a familiar refrain with larger gaming laptops. A potential concern might be battery life given the Blaze 11’s spacious, high-resolution display—though, considering its size, you’re likely not straying far from a USB-C charger in the living room.
Acer has slated the Nitro Blaze 8 and Blaze 11 for release sometime in the second quarter, with prices to match their screen real estate. Expect the 8-inch model to start at $899 and the larger 11-incher to begin at $1,099.
