Dell's Alienware is building a portable Windows gaming PC with almost all the best features of the Nintendo Switch

Alienware Concept UFO

Alienware's Concept UFO is a handheld gaming PC inspired by the Nintendo Switch.
Concept UFO runs Windows 10 and would allow gamers to access their library of PC games on the go.
Like the Switch, Concept UFO features detachable controllers, a built-in stand, and a high definition screen. Concept UFO's PC features could give it some added versatility, but there's no guarantee it will be released in its current form.
Alienware has promised to show more of the Concept UFO and its other upcoming projects during Dell's keynote address at CES 2020.
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Alienware, the high-end gaming PC brand owned by Dell, just unveiled Concept UFO — an 8-inch handheld gaming PC inspired by the best-selling Nintendo Switch video game console.

As the name suggests, it's a conceptual prototype, and may or may not make it to market in this (or any other form). To that point, Alienware announced neither a price nor a release date for the Concept UFO.

Alienware announced Concept UFO during CES 2020, the massive annual tech conference held in Las Vegas, and a few early models of the new gaming computer were available for members of the press to try.

We're always pushing what's possible in the realm of gaming. Introducing our newest gaming innovation, #ConceptUFO. Watch the official unveiling on Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. PST. #CES2020 https://t.co/lNV4TM1eXe pic.twitter.com/6TwCI9nfc1
— ALIENWARE (@Alienware) January 6, 2020

Concept UFO's 8-inch screen has a 1200p resolution, which is a big step up compared to the Switch's 6.2-inch, 720p screen. It also includes detachable controllers that open up new possibilities. Players can use Concept UFO as a handheld, or use its built-in stand to steady it upright and play with a controller in each hand.

Alienware will provide an extra controller grip to use the pair as a single controller too, but it doesn't seem like you can use the left and right sides of the Concept UFO for different players, as you can with the Switch's Joy-Con controllers.

While there's no guarantee the Concept UFO will become an official product, Alienware's test run could entice PC gamers who want a portable console without needing to invest in a whole new library of games. The Concept UFO also runs Windows 10, giving it added versatility.

Alienware Concept UFO 5

According to Alienware, the Concept UFO uses a 10th generation Intel processor and will have access to WiFi, Bluetooth, and Thunderbolt. The device has two USB-C ports and can be controlled using a keyboard and mouse like a normal PC computer. Alienware hasn't said anything about how long the battery life lasts, though the newest version of the Switch lasts about 9.5 hours at the outside.

While the Switch has a dock that gives it the ability to output to TVs, the Concept UFO should be able to connect using Windows 10's screen sharing options or the Thunderbolt port.

Alienware has promised to show more of the Concept UFO and its other upcoming projects during Dell's keynote address at CES 2020. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on January 7.

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