Acer Nitro Blaze 11 Hands-On: A Giant Premium Gaming Handheld

Acer brought big PC range updates to CES 2025, but the clear attention-getters are its Nitro Blaze 8 and 11 gaming handhelds.

They not only offer speedier hardware than you sometimes get in the category but arrive in a giant size (the Nitro Blaze 11) that pushes the boundaries of what you expect in this field.

Techopedia spent time with both devices at the Consumer Electronics Show, and they seem promising. Join us to learn the specs, features, and first impressions.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Acer Nitro Blaze 8 vs. Acer Nitro Blaze 11: Quick Specs Guide
3. Acer Nitro Blaze Gameplay & Features
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Acer Nitro Blaze 8 vs. Acer Nitro Blaze 11: Quick Specs Guide
3. Acer Nitro Blaze Gameplay & Features
Show Full Guide
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs

Both the Nitro Blaze 8 and 11 have the same 3.3GHz, eight-core Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, 16GB of RAM, and at least 512GB of SSD storage.

While that’s comparable to the existing Nitro Blaze 7, it still puts them well ahead of the Z1- and Z2-powered Lenovo Legion Go S, not to mention Valve’s Steam Deck and ASUS’ ROG Ally X.

The differences mainly come from the screen sizes and how Acer treats each. The Nitro Blaze 11 can be handheld, but you definitely feel that 11-inch screen (thankfully 120Hz and 1600p) and accompanying weight (about 2.4 lbs) — you are probably going to prop it on your knee if you use it that way.

Thankfully, you can detach the Nintendo Switch-style controllers and use an integrated kickstand to prop up the device for extended play sessions.

The input itself is comfortable and satisfying, at least for my average adult male hands.

The 8.8-inch, 144Hz (and still 1600p) Blaze 8, in turn, is much lighter and easier to hold in your hands for long stints. You can’t remove its controllers, but you are in no rush to do so.

And since there’s no compromise in processing power or battery, it might hit the sweet spot if you’re more interested in portability than replacing a gaming laptop.

Acer Nitro Blaze 8 vs. Acer Nitro Blaze 11: Quick Specs Guide

Acer Nitro Blaze Gameplay & Features

After some initial cutscene hitching, I could smoothly play Forza Horizon 5. The handhelds will not rival a good gaming laptop (such as Acer’s own RTX 50-series equipped Predator Helios updates), but you won’t worry quite so much about decent frame rates.

Acer helps streamline the gaming experience with a dedicated Game Space portal for your library and assistance features, such as adding crosshairs to games that don’t already have them.

However, unlike the Lenovo or Valve devices, there is no trackpad to navigate interfaces that don’t work well with gamepads or touchscreens.

You can pair your own mouse, of course, but you may have some challenges without that peripheral.

If there’s a reason for pause, it might be the pricing. Acer will ship the Nitro Blaze 8 and 11 in the second quarter (between April and June 2025) for respective prices of $900 and $1,100.

That’s fair for what you’re getting, but it does make even the higher-spec $730 Legion Go S seem more palatable if you’re not concerned about frame rates or visual fidelity. Real-world battery life is unknown, too.

The Bottom Line

Having more options in this segment is very good, especially for players who are prepared to pay for the best. At the moment, it’s hard to find a truly powerful handheld PC, no matter your budget.

If you have wanted a device like this but felt they were always hamstrung in size or speed, you might have found what you’re looking for.

FAQs