As far as Android devices go, some might consider them a dime a dozen. But, that doesn’t mean they don’t stand out just on their own merits. For example, when you’re technically the first company out there to put a 1GHz Snapdragon processor in an Android device, that should count for something. Even if Android is all over the place. For Acer, their Liquid handsets are not the most attractive out there, but they do have their shining moments. And thanks to our friends at SlashGear, we get a full-blown review of the device. So, is it worth it? Or has Acer just made another one to pass up?
Software wise, the only alteration to the original Acer Liquid that you’ll find is the Android 2.1 mobile Operating System (OS) that’s been installed. This is a favorable step, pushing away from the (now) much-maligned Android 1.6 and going into the world of “current.” (If you don’t count the upcoming availability of Android 2.2, that is.)What makes it all the better, though, is the fact that Acer didn’t put any customizations to the User Interface (UI) this time around, so that when Acer (and Rogers) go ahead and announce a Froyo update, it shouldn’t take long to get that in gear and downloaded to owners handsets. As for that 1GHz Snapdragon processor we mentioned earlier, sadly that’s still underclocked to 768MHz, so don’t expect to go flying through all your apps, homescreens, and web pages. Yes, there is a definite speed improvement versus other Android devices, but nowhere near comparable to the high-end devices like the Nexus One, Droid Incredible, or recently released EVO 4G.
The hardware, while obviously plastic both in aesthetics and feel, is quite solid. It doesn’t feel like a fake phone, more or less. Otherwise, features like the touch-sensitive keys under the screen are welcomed, even if hardware keys would have been perfect. In the end, the Acer Liquid E isn’t a high-end device going up against the likes of the Incredible or EVO 4G. It’s just another Android device, and for the $49.99 price tag (with a new, three-year contract from Rogers Wireless up in Canada), and with features like Android 2.1 and a 768MHz processor, it won’t take much to sell well. If you’re up in Canada and pick one of these bad boys up, let us know what you think of it.
[via SlashGear]
