The PC handheld space continues to grow, and the biggest of all isAcer’s new Nitro Blaze 11. As soon as I saw it announced at CES I knew I had to try and get it in my hands, at least for the sheer curiosity of “Will this thing even fit my hands?” The answer is yes — though, kinda just barely.
I brought a Steam Deck OLED with me for a quick size and feel comparison.One of the first things I noticed is that it’s much more precarious to pick up the the Blaze 11 the way I’m used to grabbing the Steam Deck: by gripping it on the top and bottom edges. My fingers just barely stretch far enough for this position. Once in hand, the 2.3-pound Blaze 11 actually feels lighter than you’d expect, making it not too unwieldy if you do most of your “portable” gaming at home on the couch like I do. (Playing it in bed may be a hazardto your face.)
While the Blaze 11 isn’t as heavy as I feared, the Steam Deck OLED’s 1.41 pounds feels like a featherweight in comparison. The Deck also feels a little more solidly built. Acer’s handheld isn’t flimsy, but it did feel cheaper.
But, credit where credit’s due: playing games on such a big screen in your hands is a treat, and the kickstand felt solid for propping it up in tablet mode with detached controllers, which the Steam Deck can’t do. Acer also gets points for using Hall effect sticks and triggers.
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