Acer's Colossal Device Debuts at CES: A Handheld Goliath

Acer Unveils Giant 11-Inch Nitro Blaze Gaming Handheld at CES 2025

Acer redefined "portable gaming" at CES 2025 with the Nitro Blaze 11, a colossal 10.95-inch handheld gaming device. Joining it is the slightly smaller Nitro Blaze 8, and a new Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller.

Both Blaze models boast impressive specs: a WQXGA touchscreen display (up to 144Hz), AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, AMD Radeon 780M GPU, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, and a 2TB SSD. This powerful combination promises exceptional performance and immersive visuals in a foldable, portable form factor. A three-month PC Game Pass subscription is included with purchase. The key difference? The Blaze 8 features an 8.8-inch screen.

However, the Blaze 11's substantial 1050g weight is a notable consideration. This contrasts sharply with lighter competitors like the Steam Deck (approx. 640g) and Nintendo Switch (approx. 297g). The Blaze 8, at 720g, is more comparable to other portable PC gaming handhelds such as the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally.

All three devices (Blaze 11, Blaze 8, and Controller) launch in Q2 2025, priced at $1099, $899, and $69.99 respectively.

No Z2 Steam Deck 2, Confirms 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 handheld gaming devices. AMD's promotional materials initially suggested future iterations of popular handhelds, including the Steam Deck, would incorporate this new technology.

However, Valve directly refuted these claims. Valve coder Pierre-Loup Griffais clarified on Bluesky that a "Z2 Steam Deck" is not in development. The earlier slide, now removed, was likely intended to showcase the Ryzen Z2's broader applicability to the handheld gaming market.

This doesn't rule out a future Steam Deck 2, though. Valve confirmed their intention to release a successor, but only when a significant, next-generation upgrade justifies it.