These days, gamers looking for handheld PC options have quite a selection, but Acer is making waves with their latest models—the Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11. Each of these devices comes equipped with an impressively large display, measuring 8.8 inches for the Blaze 8 and almost 11 inches for the Blaze 11. The high-resolution screens, boasting 2560 x 1600 pixels, promise a visual treat with 144 Hz refresh rates on the Blaze 8 and 120 Hz on its larger sibling.
With these stunning IPS screens, however, comes the challenge of stretching current processing power, especially when running graphically demanding AAA games. While it would be great if Acer had introduced a brand new powerhouse chip for these handhelds, both devices are packing AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU—the same 780M graphics component found in the Asus ROG Ally’s Z1 Extreme chip. As such, don’t be surprised if you find yourself frequently leaning on AMD’s upscaling technology for optimal gameplay performance.
On the power side, Acer notes both models feature a 55 Whr battery, a step up from the original Ally at 40 Whr and Steam Deck OLED at 50 Whr, though still trailing behind the beefier 80 Whr battery in the Ally X. Sweetening the deal, both handhelds are packed with 16GB of RAM and can house up to 2TB of storage. Their touchscreens offer up to 500 nits of brightness, promising a bright experience even in well-lit settings. Oddly, Acer highlights the 39 AI TOPS of the CPUs, though this may not significantly impact frame rates or overall battery endurance. But it’s hard to ignore their larger size compared to other options out there.
For those after a bigger control experience, the Blaze 11 features controllers that can be detached, somewhat mimicking Lenovo’s Legion Go, albeit without a built-in mouse sensor. It seems Acer didn’t prioritize dedicated cursor controls either, so navigating through Windows 11 Home or Acer’s own Game Space software might involve plenty of tapping and swiping.
The downside to those larger screens is additional weight—although the Blaze 8 weighs a reasonable 1.59 pounds, the Blaze 11 comes in heftier at 2.31 pounds. In a brief hands-on session, the Blaze 11 didn’t appear as cumbersome as promotional images suggested. However, like most large gaming laptops, it’s not the kind of device you’d want to lug around frequently. The main concern is battery consumption, given the power-hungry nature of the larger, high-resolution display. But realistically, you’re likely to be within reach of a USB-C charger while using it at home.
Acer plans to release the Nitro Blaze 8 and Blaze 11 in the second quarter of the year. As anticipated, the pricing reflects their generous display sizes, with the smaller Blaze 8 set to start at $899 and the Blaze 11 at $1,099.
