Scorching off the heels of Lenovo’s announcement that it’s miniaturizing its Legion Go gaming handheld with the Legion Go S, fellow PC producer Acer goes in the exact opposite route with the most important handheld gaming PC I’ve ever seen. The seven-inch Acer Nitro Blaze handheld the corporate showed off in September isn’t even out there for buy but, and already it’s getting a a lot greater sibling.
As a part of its CES bulletins for 2025, Acer has introduced new 11-inch and eight-inch variations of the Nitro Blaze. They’ll have the identical internals because the beforehand introduced seven-inch model, which means an AMD Ryzen 8840HS laptop computer chip, 16GB of RAM, as much as 2TB of storage, and Corridor Impact sticks/triggers, however what units them aside is their screens and sheer measurement.
Whereas the seven-inch and eight-inch variations don’t look too dissimilar to a Steam Deck, I can’t have a look at that 11-inch mannequin and assume something aside from “beeg boy.”
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
All three Nitro Blazes have a 2560 x 1600 IPS show, with the smaller fashions working at 144Hz as properly, however that 11-inch mannequin simply has a lot display actual property. Weirdly, its refresh fee is a barely smaller 120Hz, however that doesn’t preserve it from feeling like essentially the most luxurious model out there.
Frankly, it’s the most important gaming handheld I’ve ever held, stretching the definition of “handheld.” I noticed some of us on Reddit calling it the “ultimate boss of handhelds,” which I believe is fairly acceptable.
However whereas it’s not technically the primary PC gaming handheld with an 11-inch display, it undoubtedly looks as if essentially the most put-together, going by what the competition is offering. Once I picked it up, I used to be instantly shocked by how light-weight it felt—it’s simply 2.3 kilos, which is a pound heavier than my Steam Deck, however about on par with Asus’ new category-leading lightweight Copilot+ laptop. This instantly made it really feel surprisingly usable, regardless of how intimidating it regarded in its stand.
I used to be simply capable of decide it up one-handed in addition to almost toss it round with Acer staff, and whereas I’m undecided it’s one thing I’d wish to pack in an on a regular basis carry bag, it undoubtedly nonetheless works as a extra moveable different to a gaming laptop computer.
Additionally making it extra usable is one addition distinctive to the 11-inch mannequin, though it’s been seen earlier than. Like on the present, first-gen Lenovo Legion Go, the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 has removable controllers.
Credit score: Michelle Ehrhardt
These can be utilized paired along with a kickstand for a tabletop play expertise, or in a transfer that really offers it an edge on the Legion Go, you may flip them on their aspect and use them as separate controllers for two-player play. It’s a no brainer, one thing Nintendo made synonymous with removable controllers when it launched the Pleasure-Con with the Nintendo Swap, so it’s good to see another person lastly get their palms on that ball.
Talking frankly, I’m undecided there’s area (actually) for the Nitro Blaze 11 in my life, and with the Legion Go S about to carry my beloved SteamOS to the smaller third-party PC gaming handheld area, I don’t assume I’d go for one among its youthful cousins.
However a distinct, youthful, extra explicitly gamer-y me would have been throughout this. There’s some maximalist pleasure to be taken in a gaming handheld with a display that reaches into the double digits, and whereas that’s at all times going to return with some compromises, the Nitro Blaze 11 is wanting to try this idea about essentially the most justice attainable. In a time once I was fortunately lugging a five-pound gaming laptop computer from class-to-class, I’d have had no difficulty throwing this in with it.
That stated, you’ll have to pay 4 figures for the privilege of discovering a option to tote this absolute unit round. The Nitro Blaze 11 will price $1,099 when it launches in Q2 of this yr, though the Nitro Blaze 8 will probably be a extra inexpensive (by comparability) $899. Acer representatives advised me the Nitro Blaze 7 will launch across the similar time as properly, coming in at $799.
Trending Merchandise
