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The Xbox Ally X faces off against the Acer Nitro Blaze 8 and 11: Find out which one is the better premium handheld.
The Ally X and Nitro Blaze handhelds have very unique differences. The Xbox Ally X is an ASUS-Microsoft hybrid with incredible software optimization. The Nitro Blaze 8 is a mid-size handheld with the Ryzen 7 8840Hs chip and has a larger 8.8-inch screen size. The Nitro Blaze 11 has the same specs, but the display is around 11 inches.
All of these are Windows-based handhelds and are incredibly capable for gaming. Some have incredible software tweaking, while others have larger displays. The guide below will help you pick the right one for your needs.
Also Read: What Makes the ROG Xbox Ally Different From the Original ROG Ally?
Xbox Ally X vs Acer Nitro Blaze 8/11: Detailed Comparison
Specs Comparison
Here are the specs of the Xbox Ally X, Acer Nitro Blaze 8, and Acer Nitro Blaze 11:
| Specifications | Xbox Ally X | Acer Nitro Blaze 8 | Acer Nitro Blaze 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (8C/16T, Zen 5, 16CU RDNA 3.5, NPU 50 TOPS) | AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS (8C/16T, up to 5.1GHz, Radeon 780M 12CU RDNA 3, NPU 39 TOPS) | AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS (8C/16T, up to 5.1GHz, Radeon 780M 12CU RDNA 3, NPU 39 TOPS) |
| RAM | 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 | 16GB LPDDR5X-7500 | 16GB LPDDR5X-7500 |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe SSD (upgradable) | Up to 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD | Up to 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD |
| Display | 7-inch FHD (1920×1080) 120Hz IPS, 500 nits, FreeSync Premium, Gorilla Glass Victus | 8.8-inch WQXGA (2560×1600) 144Hz IPS Touch, 500 nits | 10.95-inch WQXGA (2560×1600) 120Hz IPS Touch, 500 nits |
| Battery | 80Wh | 55Wh, 65W charging | 55Wh, 100W charging |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (2×2), Bluetooth 5.4, 1x USB4 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C, UHS-II microSD | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 2x USB4 Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-A, microSD | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, 2x USB4 Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-A, microSD |
| Dimensions | 290.8 x 121.5 x 50.7 mm, 715g (1.58 lbs) | Approx. 300 x 130 x 25 mm, ~800g | Approx. 300 x 200 x 25 mm, ~1.1 kg (with controllers) |
| OS | Windows 11 Home with Xbox UI | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| TGP | 15-35W | 15-30W | 15-30W |
| Other Features | Xbox buttons, impulse triggers, HD haptics, 6-axis IMU, Armory Crate | Hall effect sticks/triggers, Acer Game Space, fingerprint sensor, dual speakers | Detachable controllers, kickstand, Hall effect sticks/triggers, front camera, Acer Game Space |
Spec-wise, the Xbox Ally X edges out both of the Acer options. It has a Radeon 890M IGPU, whereas the rest have a 780M. The Ally X also has a better NPU than the other two. That said, battery life will also be higher on the Ally, but the Acer option supports fast charging.
Synthetic Performance Comparison
The Z2 Extreme easily outperforms the older 8840Hs, due to newer architecture and a hybrid core architecture that relies on Zen 5 and Zen 5C cores. The numbers below are approximations; your results will vary.
| Benchmark | Xbox Ally X | Acer Nitro Blaze 8 | Acer Nitro Blaze 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 Single-Core | 1964 | 1900 | 1920 |
| Cinebench R23 Multi-Core | 13281 | 10670 | 10760 |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core | 2800 | 2525 | 2544 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core | 12500 | 11599 | 11700 |
Gaming Performance Comparison
These FPS numbers are sourced from publicly available information across the internet. Most of the settings were low, and implemented upscaling, meaning. Games were running at 900p internally and then were outputting a 1080p image.
| Game | Xbox Ally X | Acer Nitro Blaze 8 | Acer Nitro Blaze 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 42 FPS | 38 FPS | 40 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 71 FPS | 68 FPS | 70 FPS |
| Elden Ring | 58 FPS | 55 FPS | 56 FPS |
| Starfield | 35 FPS | 32 FPS | 34 FPS |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | 55 FPS | 52 FPS | 53 FPS |
Price Comparison
The Xbox Ally X retails for around $1000. The Acer Nitro Blaze 8 starts at $899 for 16GB/1TB, with 2TB at $999. The Nitro Blaze 11 begins at $1,099 for 16GB/1TB, up to $1,199 for 2TB.
Final Verdict on Xbox Ally X vs Acer Nitro Blaze 8/11
The Xbox Ally X is the clear winner because of its superior efficiency, better software, and higher battery backup. It serves as a better handheld device that fulfills the game’s purpose. It’s lightweight, easy to carry, and has newer tech within. If you are looking for a premium handheld that will give good battery backup, the Ally X is your answer.
That said, if you are looking for a larger screen size and plan to do hybrid usage, then both the Blaze 8 and 11 make sense. In fact, the Blaze 11 will appeal more like a tablet hybrid, fulfilling the media consumption use cases. However, the old hardware within can be a turn-off for many.
Also Read: Xbox Ally vs. Steam Deck OLED: Which Handheld Should You Wait For?
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