Acer's Massive 11-Inch Handheld Exposed at CES 2025

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

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

Both Blaze models boast impressive specs: WQXGA touch displays (up to 144Hz), an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, AMD Radeon 780M graphics, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, and a 2TB SSD. Acer promises "cutting-edge performance" and "immersive visuals" in a foldable, portable package. Buyers also receive a three-month PC Game Pass subscription. The key difference? Screen size – the Blaze 8 features an 8.8-inch display.

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

Pricing and Availability: The Nitro Blaze 11 will retail for $1099 USD, the Blaze 8 for $899 USD, and the Nitro Mobile Gaming Controller for $69.99 USD. All three devices are slated for release in Q2 2025.

No Steam Deck 2 with AMD Ryzen Z2, Says Valve

While the Nitro Blaze series utilizes the powerful AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS, it missed the opportunity to incorporate AMD's newer 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 feature the Z2.

However, Valve swiftly clarified that a "Z2 Steam Deck is not, and will not be, happening," according to a Bluesky post by Valve coder Pierre-Loup Griffais. He suggested the promotional slide was a general representation of the Z2's target market, not a specific product announcement.

This doesn't rule out a future Steam Deck 2, but Valve indicates it requires a significant, next-generation upgrade before such a release.