Acer introduced the Nitro Blaze 7 handheld PC gaming device, along with other new gadgets, at the company’s event ahead of the IFA 2024 tech expo in Berlin.
Since the release of the Steam Deck in 2021, the handheld PC gaming market has seen rapid growth, with various PC manufacturers launching their own models.
Unlike gaming phones or consoles like the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation Portal, these handheld devices are essentially full-fledged PCs capable of running graphics-intensive games that demand high-performance processors and graphics cards.
Acer announced that its Nitro Blaze 7 is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor, featuring Ryzen AI, which enhances performance and responsiveness across a broad spectrum of games and applications.
“It utilizes AMD Radeon 780M graphics, along with Radeon Super Resolution technology for real-time graphical upscaling and smooth, lag-free gaming experiences,” the company stated.
The Nitro Blaze 7 boasts a 7-inch Full HD IPS display with a 144 Hz refresh rate and a touch interface. It runs on Windows 11 and features the new Acer Game Space application, which allows users to add games from various platforms, Acer said.
The device can be configured with up to 2 TB of M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD storage and 16 GB LPDDR5x memory, offering data transfer rates of 7500 MT/s for enhanced bandwidth, according to Acer.
Additionally, it includes two USB4 Type-C ports, an audio jack, two 1-watt speakers, and a Micro SD Card slot. For serious gamers, the Nitro Blaze 7 also comes equipped with Hall effect triggers.
“It is fully compatible with mainstream gaming platforms and comes with 3 months of PC Game Pass, giving users access to hundreds of high-quality PC games,” the Taiwanese tech giant added.
In addition to Acer, gaming brand MSI revealed its Claw handheld gaming PC, which it claims is the first to feature Intel’s newly announced Core Ultra Series 2 processors.
Earlier this year, other PC makers like Asus and Lenovo also released their own handheld gaming PCs. A retailer in the Philippines lists the most affordable, lower-spec handheld PC at P21,795, while the highest-end model is priced at P56,995.
Acer has not yet announced the availability or pricing of the Nitro Blaze 7 in the Philippines, but it is expected to compete with similar devices in terms of price.
