Acer unveiled Project DualPlay Mini – a hybrid laptop and handheld console
Acer unveiled the Project DualPlay Mini concept at IFA 2026, combining a portable gaming console with a mini laptop.
The device features an 8-inch display, a built-in gamepad, and a physical keyboard hidden inside the chassis. Users can switch between the two modes without connecting any additional accessories.
From a portable console to a mini laptop
In its normal configuration, Project DualPlay Mini resembles modern handheld gaming devices such as the Steam Deck. Analog sticks, a D-pad, ABXY buttons, and triggers are located on either side of the screen.
The key feature of the design becomes apparent when the device is opened. The screen lifts up and can then be rotated 180 degrees, revealing a compact backlit physical keyboard underneath. In this configuration, Project DualPlay Mini turns into a miniature laptop.
Acer calls the design Flip-and-Swivel. Users can quickly switch between the two control methods depending on the game. A gamepad is better suited to racing games, action titles, and platformers, while a keyboard is useful for shooters, strategy games, and other PC titles that rely on numerous commands.
A portable device for work
The display measures only 8 inches diagonally, so Acer does not position the device as a full replacement for a conventional laptop. Instead, the company sees it as a versatile mobile computer that can also be used for work while traveling.
Project DualPlay Mini supports external monitors. In this mode, the built-in keyboard allows the device to function almost like a compact desktop PC without requiring users to carry a separate keyboard.
Two USB-C ports are located on the top edge of the prototype. According to journalists who examined the device at IFA 2026, at least one of them supports Thunderbolt. A 3.5 mm headphone jack is also included.
Performance and cooling
Acer has not yet disclosed the full technical specifications. It is known that Project DualPlay Mini is based on an Intel platform.
The cooling system consists of two fans and largely mirrors the design used in the Predator Atlas 8 handheld console. One of the fans is a metal Predator AeroBlade model with thin blades, while the other is made of plastic.
The processor model, amount of RAM, storage specifications, display resolution and refresh rate, and battery capacity have not yet been announced.
Price and release date
Project DualPlay Mini currently exists only as a concept. Acer explicitly states that it has no specific plans to put the device into mass production.
As a result, the price, release date, and final specifications remain unknown. It is also unclear whether this unusual design will eventually appear in future commercial Predator devices.
Alongside Project DualPlay Mini, Acer also introduced the production-ready Predator Atlas 7 handheld console. Unlike the concept, it is scheduled to go on sale. The model features a 7-inch display with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels and a 120 Hz refresh rate, Intel Arc G3 or G3 Extreme processors, graphics up to the Arc B390, up to 24 GB of RAM, and a battery capacity of up to 80 Wh.
