Acer Unveils Giant 11-Inch Nitro Blaze Gaming Handheld at CES 2025
Acer has redefined "portable" gaming with the Nitro Blaze 11, a behemoth 10.95-inch handheld showcased at CES 2025 alongside its smaller sibling, the Nitro Blaze 8, and a new Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller.
Both Blaze models boast impressive specs: WQXGA touch displays (up to 144Hz), AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, AMD Radeon 780M GPU, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, and a 2TB SSD. Acer promises "cutting-edge performance" and "immersive visuals" in a foldable, portable design. Buyers receive a three-month PC Game Pass subscription. The key difference? Screen size – the Blaze 8 features an 8.8-inch display.
Portability comes at a cost: the Blaze 11 weighs a hefty 1050g, significantly more than competitors like the Steam Deck (approx. 640g) and Nintendo Switch (approx. 297g). The Blaze 8, at 720g, is heavier but comparable to other PC handhelds such as the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally.
All three devices launch in Q2 2025, priced at $1099 (Blaze 11), $899 (Blaze 8), and $69.99 (controller).
No Z2 Steam Deck 2, Says Valve
While the Nitro Blaze series utilizes the powerful AMD Ryzen 7 chipset, it missed out on AMD's latest Ryzen Z2 processors, designed for high-performance handhelds. AMD's promotional materials initially suggested future iterations of devices like the Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, and Asus ROG Ally would incorporate this new technology.
However, Valve clarified that a Z2 Steam Deck is not in development. Valve coder Pierre-Loup Griffais stated on Bluesky that the promotional slide was likely a general representation of the Z2's target market, not a specific product announcement.
This doesn't rule out a Steam Deck 2, but Valve emphasizes that it requires a significant, next-generation upgrade before a sequel is released.
