The report highlights that at the time I noted that the previous Acer handhelds were dropped under the Nitro sub-brand… but budget handhelds aren’t really a thing in 2026. There is, in fact, a fresh Nitro handheld coming. But it’s basically a PC version of the PlayStation Portal. Yesterday Acer unveiled the Predator Atlas 8, one of the very first handheld tech industry PCs with Intel’s fresh Arc G3 chip at its heart.
According to the latest update, so, yeah, essentially the PlayStation Portal without the Sony branding, or something like the Logitech G Cloud without Android. Or is it? I don’t know what programs the Nitro Blaze Link is running — Acer isn’t saying — but it’s “built for flexible play around your space.”. The Nitro Blaze Link is a gadget that looks almost identical to the original Asus ROG Ally, but it’s exclusively for streaming platform releases from a nearby PC.
According to the latest update, it’s packing a 7-inch, 1920×1200 touchscreen, standard Xbox-style controls (no rear paddles), and a headphone jack if you don’t want to use the 2-watt speakers. You’ll need to connect to a tech industry PC over Wi-Fi 6 for “low-latency play.”. The gadget is about half the weight of other PC tech industry handhelds at 464 grams (just a hair over one pound), about the same weight as the original Nintendo Switch.
According to the latest update, will the streaming programs be proprietary, and limited to Acer-branded laptops and desktops? Or will you get access to Steam streaming, GeForce Now, Xbox Platform release Pass, et cetera? Will the device run Android like the aforesaid Logitech, so you can load it up with some local mobile platform releases or emulators? Yo no se. The early promotional material calls this a “a streaming-first handheld and companion device that extends the capabilities and reach of an existing PC tech industry setup, without the devices overhead of local processing.”. There’s a lot we don’t know about the Nitro Blaze Link.
The report highlights that if it lacks any of those options, I’d have very little reason to pick this up over any number of Android-powered handhelds that can do all of the above. A quick search shows that you can get a 7-inch Android tech industry handheld for around $250, so Acer will have to offer the Nitro Blaze Link for considerably less, or bump up its capabilities to match. But the most crucial element for me is the price.
According to the latest update, which is $250. Hmm. We’ll find out in “Q4 2026.”. Maybe that low devices overhead means it can be cheap — no need for ruinously expensive RAM or storage, the culprits behind insane PC handheld prices — but that’s also the point of the PlayStation Portal.
The report highlights that on PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a fresh one for a review and building a fresh mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile Worldwide scene Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip. Michael is a 15-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE.