Choosing a portable gaming device for your PC gaming needs has become quite a task with so many options out there. Acer, however, is making a bold move to stand out from the crowd with their latest offerings: the Nitro Blaze 8, featuring an 8.8-inch display, and the Nitro Blaze 11, boasting a larger 10.95-inch screen. These new devices come with some of the largest screens we’ve seen in handhelds to date. Both models provide impressive display resolutions of 2560 x 1600, and you’ll enjoy smooth visuals with refresh rates of 144 Hz on the smaller model and 120 Hz on the larger one.
The high-resolution, high-refresh-rate IPS screens are bound to put a strain on current technology, especially with demanding AAA titles. Enthusiasts might hope for innovative power solutions, but under the hood, these handles are equipped with AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU. The graphics prowess matches what’s found in the Z1 Extreme chip in Asus’ ROG Ally. This means you’ll likely depend heavily on AMD’s upscaling technology when pushing visuals in many games.
According to Acer’s specifications, both devices are powered by a 55 Whr battery. This offers more juice than the original Ally’s 40 Whr and the Steam Deck OLED’s 50 Whr, though it still falls short of the Ally X’s 80 Whr. Each device is also outfitted with 16GB of RAM and can accommodate up to 2TB of storage. The screens are quite vibrant, offering up to 500 nits of brightness. Acer seems keen on highlighting the CPUs’ 39 total AI TOPS, although that might not mean much in practical terms for your gaming experience. So, while the new Nitros might not dominate in frame rate or battery longevity, their screen size does give them a competitive edge.
One feature that sets the Blaze 11 apart is its detachable controllers, which make it feel like an upsized variant of Lenovo’s Legion Go. However, it seemingly lacks the built-in mouse sensor found in some alternatives. These controllers also don’t seem to have dedicated cursor controls, which suggests you’ll likely be interacting directly with the Windows 11 Home OS via touch rather than through Acer’s Game Space software for navigation.
Naturally, a bigger screen equals a heavier device. The Nitro Blaze weighs in at a manageable 1.59 pounds, whereas the Blaze 11 comes in at a bulkier 2.31 pounds. In some initial hands-on time with these gadgets, the Blaze 11 didn’t feel as massive as it looks in Acer’s promotional images, but carrying it around casually might be impractical. For the most part, it parallels large gaming laptops in terms of portability. Battery life seems to be a significant concern for the Blaze 11, given the power demands of its expansive, high-resolution screen. But if it’s primarily used at home, keeping it tethered to a USB-C charger shouldn’t be too inconvenient.
Acer plans to launch the Nitro Blaze 8 and 11 in the second quarter, with prices reflecting their display sizes. The smaller 8-inch model will start at $899, while the larger 11-inch option will have a starting price of $1,099.
