Acer debuts Predator Atlas 8 with Intel Arc G3 Extreme SoC
Acer has opened pre-orders for its new Predator Atlas 8 handheld system. Priced at $1,299, the device uses the same Intel Arc G3 Extreme SoC as the more expensive MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, though it differs in memory and storage configurations.
Hardware and Comparison
Both devices are powered by the Intel Arc G3 Extreme SoC (Panther Lake architecture), featuring 14 CPU cores and 12 Xe3 GPU cores. However, the $500 price gap between the two handhelds is driven by hardware differences. While MSI provides 32GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory and a 1TB SSD, the Predator Atlas 8 comes with 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD.
These reductions in memory and storage capacity likely account for the lower price point. Both systems allow for expansion via microSD cards, and the Predator Atlas 8 also supports direct SSD replacement. In terms of performance, the devices are expected to be nearly identical, except in memory-intensive titles where the extra 8GB in the MSI model might provide an advantage.
Display and Features
The Predator Atlas 8 features an 8-inch 1920×1200 IPS touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support. Other key specifications include an 80Whr battery, Hall-effect triggers, TMR analogue sticks, Wi-Fi 7, and Thunderbolt 4.
Gaming Performance
According to benchmarks from ETA PRIME, the Predator Atlas 8 delivers up to 80fps in Forza Horizon 6 at FHD+ (1200p) on medium settings without upscaling. In Spider-Man, it reaches up to 70fps at 1200p using XeSS in Quality mode.
The system is currently available for pre-order through Best Buy.
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