LIVE FROM IFA 2015: Acer unveiled a broad set of smartphones, including two devices powered by Microsoft’s Windows 10, but stealing the limelight was a demo of a “working, Windows 10, Continuum-ready smartphone”.

Continuum is Microsoft’s path to achieving an integrated experience for users across PCs, tablets and smartphones. Acer’s demo showed a “PC” setup, with keyboard and monitor, powered by a handset, describing it as “the world’s first PC phone”.

The device, Jade Primo, also features a 21MP rear camera with dual flash, 8MP front camera and 5.5-inch screen. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor.

It ships with a “whole suite of accessories to make your experience completely seamless”, including docking station, keyboard and wireless mouse.

What was not revealed was firm launch plans.

Smartphone update
The two Windows 10 Mobile devices – Liquid M330 and Liquid M320 – will also be available in Android versions – Liquid Z330 and Liquid Z320. And rather than being high-spec devices, they are being targeted at first-time buyers.

Described as “those looking for a great first smartphone or a feature-packed second phone”, Liquid Z320/M320 is powered by a Qualcomm MSM8209 processor, with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage and 3G connectivity. It also has a 4.5-inch FWVGA screen, 2MP front and 5MP rear cameras.

Moving further up the range, Liquid Z330/M330 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 chip, and again includes 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. With 5MP front and rear cameras, the spec sheet also includes 4G (LTE) connectivity.

Liquid Z530 is an Android 5.1-powered device branded as “an intelligent device for those serious about their selfies”, featuring an 8MP front-facing camera. It is powered by a 1.3GHz quadcore MediaTek processor, and has a 5-inch screen.

Depending on market, it will have 1GB or 2GB of RAM and 8GB or 16GB of storage. A Z530S model will also be available, with octacore processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

Topping today’s line is the Android 5.1-based Liquid Z630, which is powered by a quadcore 1.3GHz MediaTek processor and has 5.5-inch screen. It features 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. A Z630S variant will also be available, with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

Gaming tablet
Also unveiled was Acer’s “first dedicated gaming tablet”, called Predator 8 (GT-810).

It has a brushed aluminium finish, and runs Android 5.1 on an Intel Atom x7 processor. The company also noted 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi capabilities, which it said “supports fast connection speeds, processing data at up to twice the speed of traditional 1×1 solutions”.

Predator 8 has a full-HD (1920×1200 pixel) display with touch sensors that are “smaller and more densely arranged than the industry standard”, and four front-facing speakers, to offer “virtual surround sound”. It supports a technology called TacSense, to provide tactile feedback to gamers.

It is available with “up to 64GB of onboard storage” and microSD expansion slot.

Acer said it has worked with games developer Gameloft since the design stage of Predator 8, to “fine-tune the gaming experience”. It will be preloaded with Asphalt 8 and 320,000 game credits (approximately $50 in value).

Predator 8 GT-810 will be available in North America for $299 from early in November. EMEA availability is slated for this month at €349, and it will be available in China for CNY2499.