Acer's got a couple of fancy new handheld gaming PCs coming to market, but they aren't cheap.
The tech giant announced on Monday that it is expanding upon the Nitro Blaze handheld gaming PC device it launched last year. There will be two new models in 2025: The Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11. Starting at $899 and $1,099 USD respectively, these two handheld machines promise high quality displays and powerful performance at greater financial expense than something like a Steam Deck.
Here are the basic specs:
8.8-inch or 10.95-inch display depending on model
2560x1600 resolution
144Hz refresh rate on Nitro Blaze 8
120Hz refresh rate on Nitro Blaze 11
16GB LPDDR5X RAM
Up to 2TB storage
AMD Ryzen 8840HS processor
AMD Radeon 780M GPU
Aside from display size and refresh rate, the two models mostly have parity with one another. It should be noted, though, that the bigger Nitro Blaze 11 model has detachable controllers, a built-in stand, and a front-facing video camera.
Acer promises high performance thanks to the processor and built-in AI technology, though how much better it runs games than a Steam Deck remains to be seen without detailed testing. However, both models have higher refresh rates and resolutions than the Steam Deck, which is nice. And, crucially, it comes with Hall Effect triggers and analog sticks. Without getting too in-the-weeds technically, that means stick drift won't be nearly as big a problem here as it is on something like a Nintendo Switch.
Handheld gaming PCs have generated a pretty crowded market, but more options can't hurt.
