Not to be outdone by Asus’ announcement, Acer has come up with its very own super-sized phone, albeit with a screen 0.3-inches smaller.
The 5.7-inch Liquid S1 comes with a 1280×720 resolution screen, which unfortunately isn’t Full HD, a quad-core 1.5GHz processor and 1GB of RAM. It will be available in two versions, with your choice of either a single or dual SIM slot.
Unlike most other manufacturers, Acer continues to opt for stock Android, although there are a few changes such as the inclusion of off-screen buttons. Opting for stock means the Liquid S1 will launch with Android 4.2 — the latest version of Google’s operating system.
Acer has added their own flair to stock Android, unveiling its brand new “Float User Interface”, which enables you to bring up a translucent app in the foreground, without switching from the one you’re currently using. Apps currently compatible with Float are camera, maps, calculator and notes — so you can’t play Angry Birds whilst watching a movie just yet.
The Liquid S1 will come with an 8MP rear camera, which is capable of shooting 1080p video, as well as a 2MP front-facing camera capable of 720p.
If you’re looking for some extra features, then Acer has you covered, including many exclusive services such as “Live Share”, which enables you to invite friends for group sessions so you can share photos and videos in real-time and “Voice Unlock”, which will allow you to skip the lockscreen and directly launch an app with the power of your voice.
The phone should launch in the UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia, and Germany in Q3 2013, with Spain and Italy soon after. The starting price tag is currently set at â¬349 (about £300, US $455, AUS $475.)