Acer Liquid Glow Hands-On: Very Pocketable Android with 4.0 Power

Like many of the mobile manufacturers here at MWC 2012, Acer is getting in on the Android 4.0 action with the announcement of the Acer Liquid Glow. While the trend of bigger = better continues to be tested and challenged with devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note, Acer offers a beautifully compact device running the most recent version of Android atop a modest list of specs. That’s a combination that should attract its fair share of the mass market.

It’s a bit hard to make a determination on the size and build of the Liquid Glow. I was pleasantly surprised with it’s compact nature (only 11.5mm thick), it’s curved sides felt great in the hand, and most of all it was a comfortable size that both fit in my hand (and imaginary pocket) without feeling cumbersome or looking suspicious.

“So then, Rob,” I imagine you’re asking, “where does the difficult determination come into play?”

I’m not quite sure if the Acer Liquid Glow actually felt smaller than it’s 3.7-inch screen because of Acer’s engineering and design prowess, or if instead I’ve become use to devices well beyond the 4-inch framework. I’ve tested and owned a ton of devices over the past few years, but my primary devices have gone in this order:

• T-Mobile G1 (3.2-inch screen)
• Motorola Droid (3.7-inch screen)
• Nexus One (3.7-inch screen)
• Motorola Droid X (4.3-inch screen)
• Galaxy Nexus (4.65-inch screen)

After first owning the Droid X, I felt it was too large. The 4-inch screens of the first Galaxy S devices seemed most appropriate. But now, after using the Galaxy Nexus for awhile, I love it. And so one can see how my fondness of the 3.7-inch Liquid Glow may be a little misplaced… it’s not as cut and dry as the numbers may suggest.

Other notable specs include:

• 1GHz processor
• 5MP camera
• LED Flash
• 3.5mm headset jack
• 1GB RAM
• 512MB ROM

Regardless of how you view the topic, Acer does seem to have a good thing going with the Liquid Glow. It’s not trying to hit any homeruns, but their target combination of a pocketable, affordable android phone with the latest and greatest software offers a promising product proposition.

The Acer Liquid Glow should be launching in a variety of colors this June for about 250 Euro.