Summary
- Acer Nitro Blaze 11 features a 10.95-inch touchscreen with impressive specs, detachable controllers, and Windows 11.
- Due to its enormous size, the device may be too large and heavy for some, but its massive display might win you over.
- The Acer Nitro Blaze 11 is a unique device that bridges the gap between laptop and handheld, and Acer even refers to its abilities as a work machine in the marketing.
CES 2025 turned out to be a monumental showcase for handheld gaming, as several new devices in the segment have been announced. While most attention is focused on the Nintendo Switch 2 leaks, a completely different type of handheld caught my eye—the Acer Nitro Blaze 11.
The Nitro Blaze 11 Is the Handheld I Never Knew I Needed
CES was packed this year, so I wouldn’t blame anyone for missing a few announcements here and there. If you didn’t pay close attention to the numerous handhelds that were showcased, you might have overlooked the massive new Acer Nitro Blaze 11.
The standout feature is its notebook-sized 10.95-inch touchscreen, boasting a WQXGA (2560×1600) resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and 500 nits of peak brightness. It’s an impressive device that weighs around 2.3lbs (~1kg). Fortunately, it has a kickstand and detachable controllers with Hall Effect triggers and joysticks, so you don’t have to hold it in your hands if you don’t want to.
As someone who isn’t into handhelds, this could finally be the device that’ll win me over.
I’ve tried the Nintendo Switch, and it didn’t impress me at all. I have rather large hands, so the tiny 6.2-inch screen felt cramped to use, and it’s smaller than my phone. Yet, it’s way bulkier and thicker because of the Joy-Cons and extra hardware, so it’s not exactly pocket-friendly. I’d rather have a good smartphone and just play games on that instead of dealing with a separate device I’d have to buy and remember to bring with me.
I know that larger and more powerful handhelds exist, like the ASUS ROG Ally X and Steam Deck, but those are still too expensive for what’s ultimately a supplementary gaming device. I’d rather play games at my desk or plug a cable into my TV and grab a controller. Even though I travel frequently, I don’t consider myself the target audience for handhelds as we know them.
It’s Not Just a Gaming Toy
If I spend around $1,000 on a device, I need it to do more than just play games. Fortunately, the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 isn’t just a gaming-focused device; it’s a proper Windows PC. In fact, this might be the first handheld that outright mentions work and web browsing right on the launch page. And since this is a relatively large device, it also provides some extra USB ports that you can use to connect peripherals and external displays.
All you need is a wireless keyboard and mouse, and the device effectively transforms into a small AIO computer. My work is almost exclusively browser-based, and I’m no stranger to plugging keyboards and mice into laptops for more comfortable remote work. Plus, a keyboard and mouse are so much better for certain game genres than controllers.
Moreover, I’m a massive fan of 2-in-1 laptops. To me, the Blaze 11 just looks like a gaming-centered tablet that also happens to be a handheld. I don’t know what Acer was thinking by not selling a detachable keyboard for it too. Acer, if you’re reading this, feel free to steal my idea for the second-generation Blaze 11.
Now, is this handheld worth getting over a gaming-oriented laptop? If you were planning to get a handheld in the first place, you don’t mind the huge size, and aren’t willing to buy two separate devices, then my answer is yes.
Big Screen, Big Flaws (But I Don’t Care)
The Blaze 11 isn’t perfect. Since it’s so large and heavy, you’ll have a hard time holding it in your hands for more than 30–40 minutes at a time, which is far from ideal if you want to game on your office couch, in a recliner, or on a plane. It’s not the type of handheld you can slip into a small backpack or large jacket pocket. Remember, it’s about the size of a small notebook, so you need to carry it in a backpack or laptop bag.
Not that you could game much longer even if you wanted to, though, as the battery only lasts around 1–2 hours due to that huge, sharp screen. Moreover, instead of the newly-announced Ryzen Z2 Extreme, it uses the older Ryzen 7 8840HS, and the display is IPS rather than OLED, meaning there’s some performance and efficiency left on the table. Room for improvement in the follow-up model, perhaps?
Even so, that huge, beautiful screen makes the drawbacks worth it. I want my gaming sessions to be time well spent, so what if I can only play for shorter periods before needing to prop the handheld up and use the joystick separately? It’s a proper gaming machine, and it deserves a large display that shows off the details that make the experience more enjoyable.
Could This Handheld Redefine Mobile Gaming?
The Acer Nitro Blaze 11 couldn’t be further removed from traditional handhelds. Many gamers love handhelds for their portability, while laptop users prefer a regular laptop with a keyboard. The Blaze 11 bridges the gap between the two in an interesting way. If you want to use it as a laptop, you essentially have to bring your own keyboard and mouse, which means you really have to want to carry it with you, considering the extra bulk.
While I’m glad that it exists and I’m tempted to buy it, I understand that the Blaze 11 isn’t for everyone. You need to have large hands to even hold it and be okay with the fact that it’s not a traditional handheld. If you’re willing to live with the bulk, you’ll be rewarded with the biggest screen that any handheld has to offer.
The Acer Nitro Blaze 11 will be priced at $1,099.99 and available in North America in the second quarter of 2025.
