Acer has officially unveiled its latest handheld gaming PC, the Nitro Blaze 7, at IFA 2024. This device stands out in the crowded handheld gaming market with its compact design and powerful hardware.
The Nitro Blaze 7 makes a bold move by using the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, a chip not previously seen in mainstream handhelds. This eight-core chip with integrated Radeon 780M GPU is a departure from the Intel Lunar Lake CPUs commonly found in competitors like the Asus ROG Ally X, which uses the Ryzen Z1 Extreme. While the Ryzen 7 8840HS is essentially a more powerful version of the Z1 Extreme, it’s expected to deliver around 8% better performance across various benchmarks, including gaming.
This extra power comes at a cost, however. Despite having a 50Wh battery, which is smaller than the 80Wh batteries found in devices like the ROG Ally X, the Nitro Blaze 7 might struggle with battery life due to the higher power draw of the Ryzen 7 8840HS.
Despite the focus on power, Acer has not made bold performance claims. Instead, the company has highlighted the device’s features, such as the 7-inch 1080p screen with a 144Hz refresh rate and FreeSync Premium certification. The Nitro Blaze 7 also packs 16GB of LPDDR5x-7500 memory and up to 2TB of storage.
The Nitro Blaze 7 features a flexible design with dual USB 4 ports, both supporting 40Gbps speeds and capable of charging the device. Additionally, the device includes a microSD card reader and supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity.
In terms of software, Acer has opted for Windows 11, relying on its new Game Space app to provide an intuitive handheld experience. While other handheld gaming devices have embraced SteamOS, the lack of widespread adoption of this operating system outside of the Steam Deck has led Acer to stick with Windows 11.
Although Acer has not revealed any performance numbers or showcased the Nitro Blaze 7 in action yet, we will be keeping a close eye on this device at IFA 2024. The company has also not shared details about specific configurations or pricing, which are crucial factors for potential buyers.
With the Nitro Blaze 7, Acer is aiming to deliver a powerful and feature-rich handheld gaming experience. Its performance potential and unique design make it an intriguing contender in the increasingly competitive handheld gaming market. We eagerly await further information and the opportunity to test the device ourselves.
