Acer keeps the product announcements coming here at
Computex, adding a new (and big) Android phone to its new Ultrabooks and
Windows tablets. The Liquid S1 arrives with a 720p 5.7-inch display,
matching ZTE's Grand Memo
in screen size, and marking Acer's first contribution to the
five-inches-and-over smartphone club. The phone is bound for Asia and
Europe (no US release is planned for now), and it comes appropriately
equipped with twin SIM-card slots. There is, however, no LTE radios,
something that Acer admits will be arriving in its smaller Android
devices first.
Other notable specs include a Mediatek quad-core 1.5GHz
processor and 1GB of memory to aid Android 4.2. It's worth noting that
the UI here, like we've seen from Acer in recent years, is largely a stock one, both in functionality (the two-finger drag-down menu for settings toggles is here, take that HTC One!)
and looks, although there's some additions to the software that we'll
outline later. We've managed to get some playtime with the device ahead
of its big reveal at Acer's press event, so check out our (literally)
earth-shaking first impressions and hands-on video after the break.
Sure, an earthquake might have distracted us mid-way through our time with the smartphone, but the Liquid S1 has plenty of notable points that are worth elaborating on. As we mentioned earlier, the software experience is very similar to the Nexus 4. In fact, the offscreen soft buttons (one of the visible differences from Google's stock offering) are even assigned the same way: back, home and multitask. However, hold down on that multitask button and a pop-up window offers several shortcuts to app windows -- floating widgets that can offer functionality while running on top of any app. It all falls somewhere between Sony's mini apps and Samsung's Multi Window feature. At the moment, Acer's "Float UI" focuses on built-in apps like the clock and calculator, but the inclusion of note, map, email and camera software could prove useful under more extensive use.
Otherwise, according to our brief spell with the Liquid S1, it appears to follow Google's own design ideas pretty closely, with largely the same logos and menu layouts as stock. It's something that separates Acer from many rival mobile manufacturers looking to make their their smartphone offering stand out through software tweaks and aesthetic changes.
The Liquid S1's TFT display was serviceable enough during our hands-on time, although we'd have appreciated a little more brightness. Viewing angles are merely okay, and perhaps predictably do not compare to the smartphone world's current champions. Acer promises that the phone will last through a day of use on its 2,400mAh battery, and the pack is at least replaceable if you're looking for a phone that can handle extended (or heavier) use.
There's also 8GB of storage that can be expanded up to 32GB through microSD, while the whole device felt relatively light in our hand -- it weighs 195g, making it just 15 grams heavier than the smaller-screen Galaxy Note II. Like many big phones of the Liquid S1's ilk, 5.7 inches of display is a stretch for single-handed use and our thumb was unable to get to the outer reaches of the phone. The back of the phone is covered in a pleasant matte finish black plastic which means it's relatively easy to keep hold of despite its size. Likewise, contoured aluminum grips along the sides also help in that regard.
But if you like your smartphones big, you can expect the Liquid S1 to launch (in both white and black options) in Q3 this year across France, Belgium, Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia, UK and Germany, priced at 329 euros (around $427).
Source - engadget
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