Acer has announced two new handheld gaming devices at CES 2025, the Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11, expanding its portable gaming portfolio while doubling down on its mobile PC gaming ambitions. And, along with the Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11, Acer is also launching its new foldable Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller.
The new Nitro Blaze duo is powered by AMD’s latest mobile processors, the Ryzen 8040 Series, with both devices featuring 16GB of RAM as standard as well as the option to be configured with up to 2TB of internal storage.
Specifically, the Nitro Blaze 8 and the Nitro Blaze 11 feature AMD’s Ryzen 7 8840HS – a flagship processor that promises a huge performance step up when compared to the the AMD Z1 Extreme processors found in most of the top Windows-based devices of the current generation of handheld PCs. The upgraded processors feature up to 39 total AI TOPS that will significantly built on the already impressive performance potential seen in devices with the older processor, with Acer confidently stating that its new devices will “support smooth AAA gaming.”
The Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11 have 8.8-inch or 10.95-inch WQXGA touch displays respectively, and while these aren’t OLED displays – which would have driven the retail price up significntly – they feature a 144 Hz refresh rate. Acer has pair these displays with AMD’s Radeon 780M graphics card, a GPU which can take advantage of AMD’s Radeon and FidelityFX Super Resolution technologies to deliver responsive, upscaled gaming.
The larger of the two models, the Nitro Blaze 11, features detachable controllers – a style made popular by the Nintendo Switch which until now was only replicated by Lenovo in the handheld PC space – and a built-in stand, allowing it to be used as a handheld as well as a desktop of sorts. While the Nitro Blaze 8 controllers aren’t removable, both models have Hall Effect triggers and sticks, making them immune to the common problem of “stick drift” that can develop over time with non-Hall Effect controllers.
Both devices support fast wireless connectivity options in the form of Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. They also have dual USB-C options, with a USB 4 port for a rapid wired connection that supports data transfer at 40 Gbps and a USB 3.2 for charging and attaching accessories.
Meanwhile, Acer’s new Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller features a handy foldable design that gives it major additional portability points. It is compatible with both iOS and Android devices and connects directly via USB-C, giving mobile gamers an advantage over controllers that use Bluetooth by all but eliminating any input lag. It also features pass-through charging at 18W, so gamers can plug and play without interruptions if their battery is low.
But, perhaps best of all, the Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller can accommodate devices with displays up to 8.3-inches – this means it is compatible with smaller tablets, like the iPad Mini. This is worth noting because there haven’t been many options available before now when it comes to mobile controllers that can accommodate tablets – at least, none from any reputable brands. GameSir’s recently launched G8+ controller is one, but it uses Bluetooth – whilst this is fine for most people, Bluetooth inherently risks some level of input lag. Acer’s new controller, on the other hand, has a hard-wired USB-C connection which should be music to the ears of competitive gamers or anyone who wants the best advantage possible when it comes to games that where split second reactions are important.
Acer only recently threw its hat into the handheld gaming ring when it unveiled its very first device, the Nitro Blaze 7, in September – this trio of announcements so quickly since then says something about the brand’s ambitions in the mobile gaming space.
The Acer Nitro Blaze 8 will cost $899 USD / €999 EUR and the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 will cost $1,099 USD / €1,199 EUR. Both are scheduled to drop some time in Q2 this year.
The Acer Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller will cost $70 USD / €90 EUR and is set to drop slightly earlier, sometime during Q1 this year. Stay tuned for updates.
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