HardwareHandheldsTurns out the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 already exists, but I’m not mad about itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareHandheldsTurns out the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 already exists, but I’m not mad about itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Acer / Terrans)
I don’t want to play a handheld nerd version of Spot the Difference, but it’s clear that Acer and Terrans are at least using the same shell. Extra decals and color choices aside (like the red home button on the right), we’re looking at identical button geometry, d-pad design, and speaker grill placement. Yes, both theAsus ROG Allyand MSI Claw also have fairly similar layouts, but unlike those rivals, the Blaze 7 and Force Handle feel less like uncanny twins and more like identical devices.
Teaching an old handheld new price tricks
The New ACER Nitro Blaze 7 Is Just A Rebranded Handheld!? - YouTubeWatch On
The New ACER Nitro Blaze 7 Is Just A Rebranded Handheld!? - YouTube
The New ACER Nitro Blaze 7 Is Just A Rebranded Handheld!? - YouTube
Price means everything on the handheld battlefield and I firmly believe Acer has to nail its pricing to take on theSteam Deck OLEDor the beefierAsus ROG Ally X. Otherwise, it risks making the same mistakes as theLenovo Legion Go– a device that arguably tries to do too much without tightening its core gaming experience.
The Acer Nitro Blaze 7 specs slot nicely in between the Steam Deck and premium models like theAyaneo Flip DS. The handheld’s main challenge will be choosing an appropriate MSRP, one that’s got enough distance between bothValve’s portable and boutique offerings on the market. The fact it’s using an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS chipset might indicate that it’ll cost closer to the latter, but we’ve already witnessed how rebranding an expensive device can benefit pricing this year.
(Image credit: Future)
Antec recently released its own version of the Ayaneo Slide for just $499, bringing it down from its creator’s $899 MSRP. That’s a phenomenal price for a Windows 11 handheld with a Ryzen 7 7840U APU, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD, especially since it can boost fps slightly beyond the ROG Ally’s Z1 Extreme chip. ConsideringAsuslikes to discount its portable regularly, I’d say $500 and under is what Acer should be aiming for to make an impact.
The existing Terrans Force Handheld is pretty pricey at $999.99, so Acer would have to pull off a bigger MSRP magic trick to get things down to Steam Deck levels. I don’t think it’s an impossible task, but it’s one I genuinely believe will impact the handheld’s success. Sure, it’ll have a speedy 144Hz screen and a newer APU at its disposal. However, in a scene full of premium PC options, I and many others are patiently waiting for a powerhouse portable that takes things to the next level.
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Today’s best handheld gaming PC dealsASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesAsus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesMSI Claw$699ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best handheld gaming PC dealsASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesAsus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesMSI Claw$699ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best handheld gaming PC dealsASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesAsus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesMSI Claw$699ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best handheld gaming PC deals
ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all pricesAsus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all pricesLenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all pricesMSI Claw$699ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all pricesValve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all prices
ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all prices
ASUS ROG Ally$550$490ViewSee all prices
ASUS ROG Ally
ASUS ROG Ally
$550$490View
$550$490
$490
See all prices
Asus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all prices
Asus ROG Ally X$559ViewSee all prices
Asus ROG Ally X
Asus ROG Ally X
$559View
$559
$559
See all prices
Lenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all prices
Lenovo Legion Go$699.99$549ViewSee all prices
Lenovo Legion Go
Lenovo Legion Go
$699.99$549View
$699.99$549
$549
See all prices
MSI Claw$699ViewSee all prices
MSI Claw$699ViewSee all prices
MSI Claw
MSI Claw
$699View
$699
$699
See all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB$717ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB
Valve Steam Deck OLED 512GB
$717View
$717
$717
See all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB$739.99ViewSee all prices
Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB
Valve Steam Deck OLED 1TB
$739.99View
$739.99
$739.99
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
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1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”