It’s thick, it’s heavy but I couldn't stop flipping and swivelling it. Mat Smith for Engadget Acer's most interesting announcements this week were its repairable laptop and the DualPlay Mini concept. These were two very different reveals for IFA: one focused on sustainability for the laptop upgrade cycle, the other a hybrid handheld gaming PC and mini-laptop using an eight-inch display.
The DualPlay Mini concept aims to allow fluid movement between gaming and productivity, though it is primarily a gaming machine. Users can connect external displays, but an eight-inch screen makes navigating Windows 11 conventional tasks challenging. The prototypes at Acer’s stand shared game accounts, limiting simultaneous play.
The flip-and-swivel mechanism was highly praised for its satisfying design, though the device’s weight and lack of a trackpad were drawbacks. The controller design resembles Xbox, with familiar thumbsticks and a metallic D-pad. While comfortable for quick gaming sessions like Forza, the weight and cooling system hint at performance akin to Acer’s existing gaming handhelds.
A spokesperson mentioned the device runs on a market-available GPU, adding to its mystery. Despite these drawbacks, the innovative display-flipping mechanism and nostalgic resemblance to older mini laptops like the Kohjinsha from the 2010s make it intriguing.
Source: Engadget
