Acer announced two new handheld gaming devices at CES 2025, the Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11, which will expand their portable gaming portfolio while boosting their mobile PC gaming ambitions. Along with Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11, Acer also launched their new foldable Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller.
The new Nitro Blaze duo are powered by AMD's latest mobile processors, the Ryzen 8040 Series, and both come with 16GB of RAM as standard, as well as the option to configure up to 2TB of internal storage.
Specifically, the Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11 use the Ryzen 7 8840HS, a flagship processor that promises a significant increase in performance compared to the AMD Z1 Extreme processors typically found in top Windows-based handheld PC devices of the current generation. The upgraded processors have up to 39 total AI TOPS, which will provide a significant increase in the performance of the devices compared to previous processors, and Acer is confident that their new devices will provide "smooth AAA gaming."
The Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11 have 8.8-inch or 10.95-inch WQXGA touch displays, and while they're not OLED displays – which would have increased the retail price – they have a 144 Hz refresh rate. Acer has paired these displays with the AMD Radeon 780M graphics card, a GPU capable of utilizing Radeon and FidelityFX Super Resolution technologies to provide a responsive and upscaled gaming experience.
The larger model, the Nitro Blaze 11, has detachable controllers – a style popularized with the Nintendo Switch and so far only Lenovo has replicated in the handheld PC space – and a built-in stand, which allows it to be used as a handheld or as a desktop. While the Nitro Blaze 8 controllers are non-removable, both models have Hall Effect triggers and sticks, providing protection against the common "stick drift" problem that can occur with non-Hall Effect controllers.
Both devices have fast wireless connectivity options through Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. They also have dual USB-C options, including a USB 4 port for fast wired connection that supports data transfer of 40 Gbps and a USB 3.2 for charging and attaching accessories.
Meanwhile, Acer's new Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller has a foldable design that provides extra portability points. It's compatible with both iOS and Android devices and connects directly using USB-C, giving mobile gamers an advantage over controllers that use Bluetooth by eliminating input lag. It also has pass-through charging of 18W, so you can play games and charge at the same time without interruption if the battery is low.
But perhaps best of all, the Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller can accommodate devices with displays up to 8.3 inches – meaning it's compatible with smaller tablets, like the iPad Mini. This is important because there aren't many options right now when it comes to mobile controllers that can accommodate tablets – none from well-known brands yet. GameSir's new G8+ controller is one, but it uses Bluetooth – and while that's okay for most people, there's an inherent risk of input lag with Bluetooth. Acer's new controller, on the other hand, has a hard-wired USB-C connection that will surely appeal to competitive gamers or anyone who wants the best advantage in games where split-second reactions are important.
Acer recently stepped into the handheld gaming ring when they released their first device, the Nitro Blaze 7, in September – and this trio of announcements shows their ambitions in the mobile gaming space.
The Acer Nitro Blaze 8 is priced at $899 USD / €999 EUR and the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 is priced at $1,099 USD / €1,199 EUR. Both are slated for release in Q2 of this year.
The Acer Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller is priced at $70 USD / €90 EUR and is scheduled to be released earlier, in Q1 of the year. Wait for updates.
