Acer’s next@acer 2026 showcase in Berlin stretched far beyond its usual notebook and monitor portfolio, pairing a 1,000Hz Predator gaming display and local-AI desktop hardware with medical technology and the return of the Packard Bell brand under Acer Group.
Among the most unusual products was Project DualPlay Mini, a gaming handheld concept that can shift into a mini-laptop-style form factor with a keyboard. Acer has not said whether the concept will become a commercial product, but it points to an increasingly PC-like direction for Windows handhelds, where an integrated keyboard could reduce the need for separate accessories.
Acer also showed the Predator Atlas 7, a 7-inch Windows handheld with a 120Hz Full HD display, Intel Arc graphics and a battery rated at up to 80Wh. For desktop competitive gaming, the Predator XB253Q U1 combines a 24.5-inch Full HD panel with a 1,000Hz refresh rate and a claimed 0.3ms response time through VRB Pro.
On the notebook side, the Acer Swift Blade 14 stands out for its 799g weight and 12.9mm chassis. It is offered with Intel Core Series 3 processors and an optional 3K OLED display. The Acer Vero 16 takes a different approach, with a tool-free removable bottom cover providing access to the battery and SSD. Acer says its I/O areas and hinge are designed for easier servicing, while the platform is intended to support processor upgrades for at least two generations.
The company’s local AI push includes the Acer SFF RTX Spark, a compact desktop based on NVIDIA’s RTX Spark platform. Acer rates the system for up to 1 petaflop of AI compute and 128GB of unified memory, positioning it for running AI models and agents locally. The Veriton RI110 AI Mini Workstation is another compact option, weighing about 630g while supporting up to 96GB of RAM, 10GbE networking and OCuLink expansion.
Acer Medical appeared alongside the consumer and enterprise hardware with products for medical examinations, portable X-ray, bone-density and gait analysis, plus an AI-based medical voice assistant. Other launches on display included color ePaper screens, a portable triple-screen extender, Iconia tablets, 5G products and the Predator ES Thunder Pro electric scooter, rated for 1,600W peak power.
Acer also confirmed the revival of Packard Bell, the brand founded in 1926 and now returning under Acer Group. Its initial range includes the 14.5-inch DotBook laptop, the suitcase-shaped DotLoop turntable, speakers, headphones, audio glasses and a 4G phone. The brand is being positioned separately from Acer with a more colorful, lifestyle-oriented product identity.
Acer did not provide commercial timing for Project DualPlay Mini, leaving the convertible handheld as one of the event’s biggest open questions. Its presence alongside the company’s ultralight PCs, repair-focused Vero hardware and AI workstations nevertheless shows how broadly Acer is now extending its PC business.
