You won’t see Acer Nitro Blaze handheld gaming PCs at CES 2026 — I asked why, and this is what a PR representative told me

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Acer, similar to other major tech companies, unveiled a range of new devices at CES 2026 in Las Vegas this week.

I was looking at the latest gaming monitors, laptops, and other equipment, and I realized something is missing – an entire type of device isn’t being shown.

As expected, Acer didn’t say anything about the Nitro Blaze handheld gaming PCs they’d announced before.

Acer announced its entry into the handheld gaming PC market with the Nitro Blaze 7 prototype at IFA 2024. Then, at CES 2025, they unveiled two new handheld devices, the Nitro Blaze 8 and the larger Nitro Blaze 11, along with details about what’s inside.

I got to try out the Nitro Blaze 11 myself, and it was surprisingly large! I was so impressed by its size that I made a chart comparing it to other handheld devices like the Steam Deck, to show just how much bigger it is.

Since I didn’t see any mention of these handheld devices at CES 2026, I began to worry that the Nitro Blaze 7, 8, and 11 might be cancelled and never released.

To get answers, I reached out to Acer, and a PR representative told me what’s going on.

Are the Acer Nitro Blaze gaming handhelds still coming out?

I reached out to Acer for comment on why their Nitro Blaze handheld wasn’t at CES 2026, and a representative responded with:

We’re still planning to bring this new type of product to the U.S., but we don’t have a firm launch date yet. Right now, we’re prioritizing our main products while we deal with tariffs. We’ll be sure to announce availability in the U.S. as soon as it’s confirmed.

Good news for gamers – the Acer Nitro Blaze handheld PCs haven’t been cancelled, though there’s no firm release date yet. Acer still plans to launch them eventually, but things could change, so we’ll have to wait and see.

It’s not surprising these handheld devices won’t be at CES 2026, as companies have repeatedly blamed tariffs for recent delays, product cancellations, and higher prices.

Honestly, thinking back on the US tariffs in 2025, ‘volatile’ is the perfect word. It felt like the Trump administration was constantly announcing new changes, then hitting the pause button before they even kicked in. It was a really confusing time to keep up with!

It was difficult for shoppers to predict prices, as costs rose significantly, even for holiday gifts, as reported by NBC.

It’s challenging for companies to predict profits when the costs of making and importing goods are constantly changing. As Acer mentioned, it’s a reasonable risk to keep making popular, consistently-in-demand products, but handheld gaming PCs appeal to a much smaller, more specialized audience.

But that’s not the only reason Acer probably shouldn’t release its handhelds right now.

Tariffs aren’t going to be the only hurdle Nitro Blaze handhelds face in 2026

Steam Deck is currently the leading handheld gaming PC, but it faces strong competition from devices like the Xbox Ally X and Legion Go 2. These rivals are also becoming major players in the portable gaming market.

For Acer to make its handheld devices successful, it needs to offer a unique feature that sets them apart. This is likely the reason they chose to create a handheld with a large, 11-inch screen.

Beyond just competing with other handhelds, rising costs for components like RAM and a shortage of GPUs are making it risky for companies to manufacture these devices in 2026. With Acer still not yet a player in this market, it’s a particularly challenging time to attract customers when established alternatives are already popular.

I’m not holding my breath for Acer Nitro Blaze handhelds

I’m not happy about it, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Acer decides to stop production of all three Nitro Blaze handheld gaming PCs, meaning they never actually go on sale.

The computer industry is facing challenges right now, and handheld devices are a particularly tough market with strong competition. Unless Acer can create a truly standout product, entering this area doesn’t seem like a smart move.

To be honest, I don’t think the Nitro Blaze 11 – it’s really big – is a practical choice. It’ll likely be quite pricey and too bulky to easily carry around.

There are already a number of powerful, portable gaming PCs available, and they’re quite expensive. So, the high-end market is already well-served.

It’s understandable why companies are so eager to excel in handheld device manufacturing. Having top-quality products attracts customers and increases profits for the original equipment manufacturers. You can almost see how much CEOs are focused on maximizing their return on investment in this area.

We really need more reasonably priced, basic handheld gaming devices, particularly now that Valve has discontinued the LCD version of the Steam Deck, which was their more affordable option.

Tech products have become pricier due to tariffs and shortages of components like RAM and GPUs. Now, what will truly make a handheld gaming device successful isn’t powerful features or a big screen – it’s offering dependable performance at a more affordable price than other options.

Acer is still planning to release handheld devices in the future. We’ll need to monitor how the gaming hardware market evolves this year, especially regarding handheld gaming PCs, to see what happens.

What are your thoughts on the Acer Nitro Blaze handheld gaming PCs? Are you interested in buying one? Also, are you disappointed they weren’t shown at CES 2026, or do you think there are already enough handheld gaming devices available? Share your opinions in the comments below.

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2026-01-06 20:10