Acer has finally launched its own handheld gaming machine, known as the Nitro Blaze 7. Naturally, it became one of the biggest highlights of the company’s global press conference at IFA 2024 in Berlin, with many attendees rushing to get their hands on the device once the experience zones opened. Thankfully, I managed to try out the handheld and see what it has to offer.
On hand, the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 feels similar to other devices like it, with the ASUS ROG Ally being the closest comparison that comes to mind in terms of size. Of course, there are several design choices that sets it apart from its counterparts, apart from its decals as well as its striking red and black colour scheme.
Most notable is the lack of trigger buttons on its back, which an Acer representative said is based on tester feedback received by the design team. Other extras featured on the device include dedicated buttons for Acer quick menu, Acer Game Space and a virtual keyboard, while a fingerprint scanner and power button combo is present as well.
The Nitro Blaze 7 isn’t heavy, but it does have a nice heft and is also very comfortable to hold. The volume buttons, face buttons, D-pad and thumbsticks are easy to reach and are responsive, while the 7-inch touch display provides bright, crisp and vivid visuals with high refresh rates. Unfortunately, the packed hall was too loud for me to evaluate its stereo speakers.
On the software side of things, the Nitro Blaze 7 uses the company’s own game launcher known as Acer Game Space, which runs on top of Windows 11. Its interface is easy to navigate, while supported platforms include Xbox, Steam, Ubisoft Connect, GOG, EA’s Origin, and Epic Games. As mentioned earlier, you can quickly jump back to the launcher’s menu by tapping its dedicated button, which will then minimise the game that you’re currently playing to the background.
Speaking of games, I managed to briefly test two titles with the handheld: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Horizon: Forbidden West – both of which were set on recommended graphics settings for the hands-on session. Performance-wise, the former ran smoothly at 90fps and above, while the latter was averaging around 30 to 40 fps. In Horizon’s case, you could technically tone down its graphics and disable some settings if you desire higher frames.
The Nitro Blaze 7’s heat management did pretty well as I barely felt any throughout my session, though I should note that the hall was properly air conditioned. And since I only spent a short amount of time with the device, I can’t really tell you how it performs in terms of battery life.
By now, you’re probably wondering why the Nitro Blaze 7 wasn’t released under Acer’s other gaming sub-brand, Predator. During a Q&A session, company senior director Marc Ho explained that debuting the device under the Nitro brand would allow it reach a wider, general audience rather than hardcore gamers. This then begs the question: Will we be seeing a high-performance Predator version of the handheld in the future? According to Acer COO Jerry Kao, for such a product to exist is a bit too early for the company to decide.
While it may not be breaking new ground, Acer’s first ever handheld still feels promising nonetheless, especially as an alternative to the other similar devices that are already available in the market. The company also noted that the Nitro Blaze 7’s hardware and software are still in the final stages of tuning, so expect some differences in the retail version when it is released.
On that note, the company said exact specifications, prices, and availability of the handheld will vary by region. However, these details have yet to be confirmed for the Malaysian market.
