(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
I miss netbooks. There, I said it.In the late 2000s, Asus Eee PCs and Acer Aspire Ones took over the world. They were ultra-portable and fundamentally awful to use — sluggish Intel Atom chips and zero hope of running 3D games. But damn, I loved them.Then I walked up to Project DualPlay Mini on the IFA 2026 show floor, and it felt like stepping into an alternate timeline where the netbook grew up and went to the gym.Because while everyone is racing to copy the Steam Deck, Acer’s 8-inch concept is reviving the lost art of the netbook. It’s a dedicated handheld console when you want to lounge on the train, and an actual clamshell laptop when you need to type an email or play a classic shooter.Put simply, I’ve seen a lot of prototypes come and go where I thought, “this is cool, but nothing people will actually buy.” This is the first time I’ve looked at something and openly begged a company to release it.
(Image credit: Future)Flip, swivel and play
(Image credit: Future)So let’s get into it, shall we? In its traditional handheld form, it looks weird with its protruding sides. But it's still comfortable to play games on.But the central focal point is that flip-and-swivel display. The central hinge feels fundamentally stable, and the display flips with a smooth, gracious ease to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard — not big enough to rewrite War and Peace, but definitely enough for the daily essentials and expanding your game collection beyond just controller-preferred titles on the go.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
