Acer has unveiled Project DualPlay Mini at IFA 2026, an 8in Windows handheld that can transform into a mini laptop. That’s all thanks to a swivel mechanism, which allows the screen to turn 180° and expose a hidden keyboard. Not to be confused with Acer’s Project DualPlay laptop and its integrated controller and pop-out speakers, Project DualPlay Mini aims to hide a laptop inside a handheld body without impacting its gaming abilities.
The Project DualPlay Mini is somewhat reminiscent of old flip-phones, such as the Nokia E90. It features a flip-around display that lets you easily switch between handheld or laptop mode. In handheld mode, you get all the standard controls you would find on any modern gaming handheld, such as the MSI Claw 8 AI, including analogue sticks, a D-pad, triggers, and so on.
To transform it into a laptop, you need to open the handheld like a flip-phone, which reveals the keyboard, then swivel the display 180° to face the right direction. Note, however, that while the 60% format keyboard has all the essential keys you would need, there is no built-in trackpad.
You may well be able to use the joysticks as a mouse, of course, but a nipple-style pointing stick like the one on Lenovo’s ThinkPads would have been welcome. Since the Project DualPlay Mini is still in development, the design can still change.
Since this product is only at the concept stage right now, Acer hasn’t shared any specs or performance targets. That said, the company indicated that the machine is powered by an Intel chip, perhaps the new Panther Lake-based Arc G3.
Either way, by splitting the handheld in half and adding a keyboard in the middle, Acer reduces the amount of space it can use to install hardware, a cooling system, and a battery, which may mean making some compromises. Speaking of which, for cooling, the prototype already houses two fans, one of which uses metal blades said to improve airflow.
Lastly, based on the shared renders, the Project DualPlay Mini seems to have just two USB-C ports – one of which is Thunderbolt – plus a 3.5mm audio jack on the top edge between the fan exhaust grills. Acer has stressed that the Project DualPlay Mini is a concept device, stating that “there are no concrete plans for a market launch,” meaning there are no release date or price targets for it.
