The Liquid is a solid device

Another addition to the crowded mid-range segment is here. The Acer Liquid Jade draws attention with its good looks and crisp display. Most of those who saw this handset had good things to say about its sleek body and light weight. But that is not all that a consumer wants. Can the device live up to the never-ending expectations such as battery life, powerful processor, sound quality and cost? Let's find out.

• Design and display
  The device measures 140.5x69x7.5mm and weighs about 110g. In simple words, the Acer Liquid Jade nails it on most fronts in terms of minimalist design. With a five-inch screen, single-hand use is no problem. You will find the dual-sim and microSD card slots on the right, while the volume rocker sits on the left. The rear camera is a large protruding one, but it does not hinder normal use. The power button is placed at the top right corner and at the bottom is the slot for the USB port. The only thing that you might not like about the unibody Liquid Jade's design is the plasticky back. It is slippery and is prone to fingerprints. Our review unit was white in colour and it kept getting smudged.
  

The 720x1,280 display is neat. With a resolution of 294 pixels an inch, watching videos on this one is a pleasant experience.
 

Camera

The Acer Liquid Jade houses a 13-megapixel (MP) rear camera that managed to take crisp pictures in good light conditions. It lets you record 1,080-pixel videos that are sharp. Also, there is the time-lapse feature, which is interesting. The 2MP front camera, however, is a let-down. If you are a selfie lover, you might be disappointed with the grainy images it produces.
 

Performance
This one runs on the Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) operating system. A 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor and 2GB of RAM make sure that the device runs smoothly. However, we noticed occasional lags while playing games such as Asphalt 8 on the device - though not major enough to be a deal-breaker. The fully charged 2,100 mAh battery got through the day on average use. With the single rear speaker and the DTS-HD Premium Sound enhancement, the audio quality is impressive. The device also boasts 16GB internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32GB with the help of a microSD card.

 

Verdict
The smartphone does well on most fronts - performance, display, design, camera and battery life, among others. With the much-talked about 4G around the corner, a buyer would look for that dimension in his smartphone. Sadly, its missing here. Will I buy it at Rs 16,999? I am tempted to say yes, but then look at the competitors. You will find almost similar specifications and performance levels in devices priced below Rs 15,000. It is not going to be easy for the Acer to hit aces in the mid-segment court.

ACER LIQUID JADE
Screen: 5 inch
Processor: 1.3GHz
Camera: 13MP (rear), 2 MP (front)
RAM:2GB
OS : Android 4.4.2
Battery: 2,100 mAH
Price: Rs 16,999