I attempted Acer’s loopy laptop computer with a built-in controller and… I did not hate it

Intel and Qualcomm made some massive bulletins at IFA 2024, and PC makers like Lenovo, ASUS, and Acer have adopted swimsuit with laptop computer fashions constructed across the new chips. Most of those are fairly iterative to place it mildly, although it’s at all times good to see new know-how make its approach all the way down to decrease value tiers.

Fortunately, it wasn’t all simply boring, secure iteration. Acer got here up with a wild idea referred to as Mission DualPlay, and whereas I used to be initially skeptical, I did come round to it after checking it out. 

First, let’s get the disclaimer out of the best way — that is only a idea proper now, as Acer representatives on the bottom shortly clarified. In reality the corporate wouldn’t even let media deal with the DualPlay with out a chaperone. Nonetheless, I received a product tour and was even in a position to play with the controller for slightly bit. 

Right here’s how this kooky contraption works — Acer basically constructed the controller into the laptop computer’s touchpad and made it removable. The controller attaches magnetically right into a slot into the laptop computer’s chassis. I preferred the nifty little trick that releases the touchpad-controller combo from the slot: touching an space simply above the keyboard with two fingers concurrently unlocks the controller and lets you pry it out. It looks like one thing Q would construct for James Bond, to be sincere.

Only for kicks, eradicating the controller additionally makes a few 5W audio system come out from the edges of the laptop computer. Was that flourish crucial? Completely not. However it’s nonetheless fairly enjoyable.

Decide up the touchpad, flip it round, and increase, you’ve gotten a controller. It appears to be like like a Nintendo Change that traded the show for a questionable tribal tattoo or any of the opposite gaming handhelds which have proliferated in recent times (Acer has a type of, too, however extra about that on the finish of this text).

The controller options a few joysticks (LED-illuminated, naturally), a D-pad, motion buttons, shoulder triggers, and a pogo pin connector for charging. In different phrases, every thing it is advisable ditch the keyboard if you play.

This controller-touchpad hybrid didn’t really feel notably premium, but it surely’s not dangerous both. In my brief play time, it was responsive and straightforward to make use of.

Acer went a step additional and turned the 2 sides of the controller into Pleasure-Cons of kinds. After detaching them, you get a pair of mini-controllers for you and a buddy to make use of in your favourite recreation. It’s not unique, but it surely does add slightly further performance, which I really like. Talking of video games, Acer highlighted Capcom’s Avenue Fighter 6 in its demo.

The economic design is exactly what you’d count on from a Predator-branded idea — sharp traces in all places, a flood of multicolored LEDs, and an total look you’ll both love or hate. 

The idea may have been extra polished too. For instance, the massive hole between the controller and its slot would absolutely gather tons of particles in any real-world use. I may additionally spot seen contact marks on the areas the controller rested in its slot, whereas urgent on the touchpad resulted in seen flex. 

All these points thought of, I did like the thought of hiding the controller contained in the laptop computer. It simply provides slightly extra versatility and removes the necessity to carry a separate controller round. And the removable mini-controllers are a enjoyable little further for the correct person. Positive, it’s a gimmick, but it surely’s not the worst gimmick I’ve seen at these exhibits.

In order for you one thing extra standard, Acer additionally got here up with its reply to the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and MSI Claw. Known as the Nitro Blaze 7, it encompasses a 7-inch Full HD IPS LCD show, an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU, a Radeon 780M GPU, and 16GB of RAM. I do have some questions concerning the battery life (nominally, it’s a 50.04Wh unit) as a result of power-hungry processor, however I’ll reserve judgment till I see the primary opinions.

On the finish of the day, I’ll give Acer kudos for not being afraid to attempt new issues, even when it dangers trying slightly foolish within the course of. We have now sufficient risk-averse producers already.