Lia diversifies its range “liquid” with “mini” version and offers a small low-end Android smartphone. Good business or mini-déception that this Acer Liquid Mini? Response in this test.
ERUs thinning for the Liquid Metal of Acer. His little brother, the Mini Liquid, resumed the General design of the smartphone in a smaller version. Components follow the same trend, the processor fitted the new smartphone of Acer being less powerful than its predecessor (600 Mhz from 800 Mhz). Presented by the Taiwanese manufacturer as a smartphone “design compact and tendency”, Mini Liquid is available in several colours. Either way, the advertising campaign of Acer could remind pubs Apple for the iPod nano-chromatic…
Design and taken in hand : for the littles
The design of the Acer Liquid Mini is therefore identical to that of the Liquid Metal. Only the size and materials differ. Thus, the Mini version is smaller than 5 mm in length and in width but remains almost as thick (110.4 x 57.5 x 13 mm). The chrome back leaves its place to a back plastic, available in several colors, while the lower tranches and superior chrome very easily take traces of fingers. Which is also the case for the front in black glossy plastic. Aesthetic changes are therefore not frankly advantageous.
The top of the smartphone has the power/lock button and a classic jack (3.5 mm) plug. Lower leaves show a mini-USB port and the micro. The right side of the Mini Liquid contains three buttons. The two top control the volume of the ring, while the lower raises the camera. Pressing this button causes no action when the camera application is not in the foreground. It is a pity, it would have liked to be able customize the action of this button or at least directly launch the photo with a top pressure mode.
Screen 3.2-inch 320 x 480 pixels resolution, makes it a bit complicated text for those with large fingers. The brightness of the screen is correct, but no more.
All breathes not a sensation of high strength plastics crisp a little when firmly taking the smartphone.
User interface : Refreshing Breeze
Taken by Android 2.2 Froyo, Mini Liquid has the Breeze of Acer interface. Pleasant, this wrapper offers some benefits such as a more complete lock screen (number of new messages and missed calls) and a shortcut to access the smartphone wireless connections (a tap on the notifications bar opens a window pops – up to enable/disable the Wi – Fi)(, the GPS…).
However for those who do not like the wrapper House, it is possible to return to the classic interface of Android. Furthermore, Acer announced that Gingerbread (Android 2.3) will be offered for download later. The Android Market is of course available.
Acer has developed Social Jogger, an app that allows to aggregate its Twitter stream and its Facebook timeline within an application. The interface is original, it comes in the form of a demi-roue that allows to scroll through all the messages. But this wheel which takes part on the right side of the interface reduces de facto place messages, truncating most tweets and Facebook posts. Social Jogger does therefore not really convinced us, because its not really suited to the reading interface.
Features and performance : the Union minimum
If at the time the SnapDragon 1 GHz of the original Liquid was his strong point, the processor is the main attraction of the Mini Liquid. It is an ARM processor at 600 MHz, mean not a lightning war. Good point to report even on Ram that rises to 512 MB.
Fluency takes a beating, especially when navigating in the photos and videos. The processor is subdued.
The Web browser does not include the flash technology, but in view of the performance of the processor, the choice makes sense. Mini Liquid would have been difficult anyway to read this type of content without saccades and slowdowns. Navigation on the Web is fluid as long as it only zooms in on the page. The magnification of the page is jerky, that we do so with two fingers or passing through the keys at the bottom of the screen.
The 5 megapixel camera is correct any fair photos. The absence of flash seriously handicaps the picture is taken in dark places, where it is then difficult to achieve non-blurry photos. It is possible to change common settings like white balance or the ISO (which is not necessarily advisable in view of the important noise from ISO 200).
Concerning the camera part, the Acer Liquid Mini is capable of filming in 480 p. Here again, the result is very average. A few predefined effects are possible to be applied during filming (negative, sepia, aquatique…).
The battery is low. In classical use (telephone communication, surfing, emails, photos, music, GPS), the smartphone of Acer does not take the day. When Wi – Fi is activated it is even worse, the longevity of the battery takes a serious beating.
Part phone it works as it should. The sound quality is adequate.
Price
9.90 Euro with a package, the price of the Acer Liquid Mini is its main asset. The only mobile cost him 239 euros. Available at a somewhat higher price that the Samsung Galaxy Mini “bare” version (30 euros more expensive), the Mini Liquid has a slightly larger battery (1300 mAh against 1200), which is not of luxury. In addition, the screen of the smartphone of Acer is a great hair, and the resolutions of the screen and the camera are higher. The two competitors are currently available for 9.90 euro with a subscription. A less preferred the wrapper of Samsung TouchWiz, the Acer Liquid Mini seems to be slightly higher than its direct competitor.
Entry-level Smartphone, the Acer Liquid Mini suffers usual defects of the terminals of this segment. Cagey processor, quality of the camera very average autonomy décevante… Liquid Mini is is immune.
But for who seek a smartphone under Android not too expensive, it cannot not discourage this Mini Liquid. Indeed, if they Excel in any field, far from it, Liquid Mini performs his duties. In short, a correct smartphone without added value.
More : price, simple to use, wrapper Breeze, choice between classical House or Android interface
Less : cagey processor, lack of fluidity, limited autonomy
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