Acer Atlas 8 gaming handheld could be price-performance sweet spot if priced correctly
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Acer officially unveiled the Atlas 8 gaming handheld at this year’s Computex, and while price is still unknown, we think it could be the sweet spot for price to performance amongst rival models.
It’s been another massive year for Acer at this year’s Computex as they unveiled a plethora of exciting new tech geared towards gamers and professionals. While there’s plenty to mull over at this year’s showcase, Acer’s new Atlas 8 gaming handheld is certainly on the list of highlights – and if priced correctly, could be the perfect sweet spot in a market which continues to see prices rise.
Acer Atlas 8 – face on
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Acer Atlas 8 – rear
Acer Atlas 8 – front buttons
Acer Atlas 8 – Dpad
Acer Atlas 8 – angled front left
Acer Atlas 8
Acer Atlas 8 – cooling vents
Acer Atlas 8 – trigger toggle
Acer Atlas 8 – Banners
What is the Acer Atlas 8?
The Acer Atlas 8 is the brand’s latest crack at a gaming handheld device. It’s built around Intel’s new Arc G3 processor lineup, delivering excellent efficiency, power, and graphical fidelity. Its 8-inch WUXGA 1920 x 1200 IPS-level display will be powered by “up to” B390 onboard graphics (depending on what configuration you choose), with AeroBlade cooling deployed for efficient running.
As mentioned, the Atlas 8 looks set to hit shelves in two main configurations – an Intel Arc G3 Extreme model and an Intel Arc G3 model. That means one will benefit from Intel Arc B390 graphics while the other uses Intel B370 graphics.
That said, both models look to feature a 120Hz display with VRR and up to 24 GB LPDDR5x memory. They will also feature; up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD slot, two thunderbolt 4 connections, a UHS-II micro SD card reader, and a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Acer Atlas 8 review: first impressions
Upon arrival, we wasted no time in sniffing out the Intel Arc G3-powered gaming handheld – positioned centrally in Acer’s Computex showcase. Like many of the handhelds on display at Computex this year, Forza Horizon 6 was loaded up on the Atlas 8 and we dove straight into the action.
Immediately, the first thing I noticed was how solid the shell of the device felt. Comparing this to the brand’s original handheld models (specifically the Blaze lineup), it was clear that some work had gone into both the quality of the materials used and the ergonomic feel of the grips. It not only felt comfortable, it also felt pretty sturdy, too. In fact, the handheld offered very little flex when pressured – which was a bit of a suprise when factoring in the lightweight design.
Sturdyness aside, I played Forza for about 10 minutes to get a taste of how the screen responded to fast-paced gaming, how mushy the buttons and D-pad were, and how warm the device got when under load. It seemed to perform pretty well on most fronts, bar the quality of the D-pad (which we’ll circle back to shortly).
The WUXGA display was both vibrant and crisp (what you’d expect from a 120Hz display), making Forza look absolutely fantastic. There were no signs of screen tear during our time with the device, nor was there any awkward color shifts or ghosting. While the booth was quite loud, the Atlas 8 didn’t produce a great deal of noise during play. However, we’ll save that judgement till we get fully hands on with it. What was noticeable though, was the distinct lack of heat generated from the device. As mentioned, I played with the Atlas 8 for about 10-15 minutes and I didnt really feel any increase in temps during – most likely due to the usage of Predator AeroBlade cooling.
One feature that was quite handy and unique was the adjustable trigger actuation toggle – a switch at the rear of the device that enabled you to effectively change the responsiveness of the triggers. While not for everyone, more competitive gamers will certainly appreciate the feature when playing shooters or racing titles. The toggle probably changes the actuation from around 20-25mm to around 10mm – but don’t quote me on those figures.
Overall, the Atlas 8 gaming handheld felt like a well put together, powerful piece of kit. However, the real question is, how will it stack up to the market’s current crop of gaming handhelds, and the new arrivals from both ASUS and MSI.
Acer Atlas 8 pricing could be crucial to its success
The Atlas 8 wasn’t the only gaming handheld launched at this year’s showcase, both MSI and ASUS launched new models as well (MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and ASUS ROG Ally X20). When comparing the Atlas 8 to its rivals, you’d have to say that, despite it being a well-built unit, it is the least premium of the bunch. And while that might sound like a bad thing, it could be a great opportunity to launch the Atlas 8 at a more palatable price point.
It’s no secret that the handheld marketplace has seen continued price hikes over the last 12 months, with most gamers not willing to pay upwards of a $1,000 for a device. If Acer can launch the Atlas 8 at a more reasonable price point then it could draw the attention of a large demographic that simply wants value over flamboyance.
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