At CES 2025, Acer unveiled its lineup of portable gaming devices, including a new Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller priced at $69.99 and the specifications for two upcoming AI-powered PC gaming handhelds – the Acer Nitro Blaze 8 and the Acer Nitro Blaze 11. The concern with most PC gaming handhelds is that they are often expensive and have limited battery life. Will these issues be addressed by Acer’s handheld devices?
Since Acer hinted at a Nitro Blaze 7 last summer (apparently not showcased at CES), I’ve been pondering if Acer might unveil an affordable alternative for consumers, but it seems that’s not the direction they’re heading with these new devices. Instead, they appear to be focusing on premium models, pricier than their predecessors. Without dismissing a potential budget option in the future, let me share the specifications of these latest Nitro Blaze handheld devices.
From my observations, it appears that both the Windows 11 devices under scrutiny are equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, a unique CPU boasting an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of 39 Tera Operations per Second (TOPS). This AI-enhancing feature is what sets these innovative handhelds apart, positioning them as advanced AI PC devices in the same league as the MSI Claw A1M and the forthcoming MSI Claw 7 AI+ and 8 AI+ models.
Besides sporting powerful processors, the Acer Nitro Blaze handhelds boast AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics, a generous 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, and storage options that can reach up to 2TB using M.2 PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD technology. These devices are equipped with a variety of ports including Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, and USB-A to accommodate accessory and charging needs more effectively than other handhelds available today. Furthermore, they come with the same Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Hall Effect joysticks, and buttons; however, the controls have slight differences in their locations. As claimed by Acer, users can anticipate swift gameplay and short loading times on these handheld devices.
Big handhelds means a big price tag
The primary distinctions between these portable devices revolve around their dimensions, screens, and energy requirements. Most of the current market’s PC gaming handhelds feature a 7-inch screen, but the Nitro Blaze 8 stands out with its expansive 8.8-inch IPS touchscreen, capable of reaching up to 2560 x 1600 resolution and an impressive refresh rate of up to 144Hz. To put it into perspective, the largest PC gaming handheld available now is the Legion Go, also boasting an 8.8-inch 144Hz screen, making the Acer Blaze 8 quite a substantial size. As with many high-end gaming gadgets, the bigger and more advanced the display, the higher the price tag tends to be.
This device has approximately dimensions of 12.0 inches width, 5.27 inches height, and 0.62 inches depth, and it weighs around 1.59 pounds. Compared to the Legion Go’s 1.88-pound weight, this is a lighter portable device. Included with this larger handheld is a 65W USB-C AC adapter, which is a typical power supply for many Windows 11 gaming handhelds available today in the market.
The Nitro Blaze 11 boasts a massive 10.95-inch IPS touchscreen, maintaining the same high resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, albeit with a slightly lower refresh rate of 120Hz. The device measures approximately 14.33 inches in width, 6.73 inches in height, and 0.62 inches in thickness, tipping the scales at 2.31 pounds. This makes it significantly heavier than most handheld devices available today, giving it a rather imposing appearance in Acer’s official images.
Based on the design of its ergonomics and internal balance, the Nitro Blaze 11 might become uncomfortable and cause strain on your wrist after prolonged use. It seems they’ve addressed this issue by incorporating a built-in kickstand and detachable controllers, features that are absent in the Nitro Blaze 8. Unlike its smaller counterpart, this large handheld device comes equipped with a more powerful 100W USB-C AC adapter to meet the energy requirements of its larger display.
It’s worth mentioning that the Nitro Blaze 11 shares a feature with the Legion Go – both have front-facing cameras. Given its large screen size, connecting a keyboard would be quite straightforward, allowing you to utilize it similar to a laptop for attending virtual meetings.
Don’t expect amazing battery life or budget prices
It’s unlikely that the battery life of either Nitro Blaze handheld will be impressive, considering they both come with only 55Whr batteries. To put this into perspective, the original ASUS ROG Ally, which has a 40Whr battery, can barely run for an hour in turbo mode before it runs out of power. The ROG Ally X, on the other hand, with its 80WHr battery, typically lasts just 2 hours in turbo mode. Since graphically demanding games consume a lot of battery power, it’s safe to assume that the Blaze 11, with its large, power-consuming screen, will have particularly poor battery life.
These portable devices are expected to be released in the second quarter of 2025. In North America, the Nitro Blaze 8 is priced at an impressive $899.99, and the larger model, the Nitro Blaze 11, retails for a substantial $1,099.99.
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2025-01-06 23:25