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Review Acer Liquid E1 Duo Smartphone

Liquid and good? Acer's Liquid E1 Duo is a dual SIM smartphone with a 4.5-inch IPS display, a Mediatek MT 6577 SoC including a PowerVR SGX531, and 1 GB of RAM, that is positioned in the fiercely contested budget class below 200 Euros (~$263). In addition there are 4 GB of storage space that can be expanded via a microSD card and Android 4.1, Jelly Bean. Our detailed review shows whether this mix rocks.

For the original German review, see here.

The Liquid E series is not Acer's first smartphone generation - the manufacturing giant from Taipei has already gained some experience in the field. Nonetheless, the core business is still computer manufacturing. In addition to the E series, Acer also has the phablet Liquid S1 with the gigantic 5.7-inch display with 720x1280 pixels in its portfolio. Below the Liquid E devices is the entry-level Liquid Z series. 

The Liquid E1 Duo comes with the interesting dual SIM capability that can simultaneously handle two different SIM cards. However, the user must do without the NFC technology. The phone is powered by a Mediatek MT 6577 dual-core SoC with a core frequency of 1 GHz, 1 GB RAM and an integrated PowerVR SGX531 graphics card. The small internal memory of 4 GB (about 2 GB available) can be expanded via a microSD card on the 4.5-inch phone. The operating system is Android 4.1, Jelly Bean.

The competition in the 200 Euros (~$263) class is fierce and even devices with dual SIM function are growing in number. Therefore, the Liquid E1 Duo must take on the Sony Xperia E dual, the Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS and the Chinese Amoi N828 and Jiayu G3. So what can our test device offer in order to distinguish itself from and even prevail over the competition? Our detailed review should clarify this.

Case

The case is made of polycarbonate.
The case is made of polycarbonate.
The sides and removable back cover are pleasantly rubberized.
The sides and removable back cover are pleasantly rubberized.

In view of the lower price class, we naturally expect less than ideal quality of materials and workmanship. The polycarbonate that is used feels of surprisingly high quality, due to the pleasant rubberized surface. We also like the design of the wine red accents on the power button and the two covers of the earpiece and the microphone. Not as good is the IPS display that is protected by a glass panel, which yields even under slight pressure and this is followed by color changes on the screen. Overall, the rigidity of the case is only medium. The corresponding creaking noises are within acceptable limits. The removable back cover is firmly attached and does not have a uniform gap throughout. Beneath it, we find the 6.5 Wh battery and the SIM and microSD slots. With a weight of 140 g, dimensions measuring 68.5 x 132 mm, and a height of 9.9 mm the Acer Liquid E1 Duo is not a small and light device, but it is relatively compact, despite the 4.5-inch display.

Connectivity

The dual-core processor and the 4 GB of flash storage (about 2 GB available) are the usual size for this class. The 1 GB of RAM is also the usual equipment used by the competition, while only the Sony Xperia E dual offers just 512 MB.

There are no surprises with the ports on the Liquid E1 Duo either. In addition to the obligatory duo of 3.5 mm audio jack and micro-USB 2.0 port, there are no other connection options on the matte black case. Beneath the back cover, there is also a microSD slot for memory cards of up to 32 GB. Unfortunately, the battery must be removed in order to access the slot. This makes Hot Swap, meaning the replacement of the card with the phone turned on, impossible. Next to the microSD slot, we have two slots for standard size SIM cards.

Left side: micro-USB 2.0
Left side: micro-USB 2.0
Right side: volume rocker
Right side: volume rocker
Top side: power button, 3.5mm audio jack
Top side: power button, 3.5mm audio jack
Android Jelly Bean
Android Jelly Bean

Software

The Android operating system of the Acer Liquid E1 Duo is the version 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. The pure Android has been slightly changed by the manufacturer. For example, the lock screen has been beefed up a bit. The user can lay out four apps on the lock screen, which are then readily available without unlocking. The unlocking itself is done by a well-animated swipe.

There are lots of useful software goodies. For example, Acer has preinstalled the Polaris Office in its current version 4.0, which is compatible with Microsoft Office and significantly increases productivity on the go. Dropbox is also available, as well as Facebook and the YouTube HD ChannelGoogle Maps Navigation and an app for wireless input devices round up the appealing portfolio.

A true highlight is the DLNA compatibility for media playback. A small drawback is that local media, stored on the smartphone, cannot be streamed. Once registered in the AcerCloud, the media completely disappeared from the list and could be played only via preinstalled applications like the Google Player for as long as the smartphone and AcerCloud were linked. The music directory in the AcerCloud can be filled only using a connected PC. Then we have a photo stream available as well, similar to the rivals from Apple. Finally, documents can be transferred via the Cloud or to other devices on the local network.

GPS Test indoors
GPS Test indoors

Communication & GPS 

The integrated communications modules work well. The Acer Liquid E1 Duo supports HSPA, while a quicker HSPA+ modem is installed only in the Acer Liquid E2. Wireless connectivity is provided by a Wireless-N module, whose reception quality is in no way inferior to that of the Apple iPhone 5.

On the other hand, the built-in GPS module does not have quite as good reception, as our test with application GPS Test shows. Eleven satellites were detected indoors, while a transition into the open only increased the accuracy of the location.

SIM management
SIM management

Telephone function

The telephone app is the standard Android one. The dual SIM functionality is very well implemented. Every important function of the individual SIM cards can be accessed. Different colors can be allocated to the two SIM cards in order to distinguish them better. This will also affect the network strength indicator in the status bar on the screen.

The app SIM Tools allows the users with prepaid cards to see their current balance and to top-up the card.

Cameras & Multimedia

The front camera is indisputably bad and is only sufficient for video chats, provided there is enough light. The Acer Liquid E1 Duo features a main camera that can take pictures with 5 megapixels, has auto-focus and an LED flash. There are also extras such as various photo filters, scene modes, smile detection as well as the options of HDR and panoramic images. Yet, sharp images with low noise are not always possible. In optimally lit rooms and outdoors, images still look good, but with decreasing ambient light, loss of sharpness and image noise increase considerably. Compared to the Google Nexus 4 or our reference camera Sony Alpha 57 we clearly see the lack of focus and the slightly distorted colors.

Acer Liquid E1 5MP
Acer Liquid E1 5MP
Acer Liquid E1 5MP
Acer Liquid E1 5MP
Acer Liquid E1 5MP
Acer Liquid E1 5MP
Google Nexus 4 8MP
Google Nexus 4 8MP
Google Nexus 4 8MP
Google Nexus 4 8MP
Google Nexus 4 8MP
Google Nexus 4 8MP
Apple iPhone 5 8MP
Apple iPhone 5 8MP
Apple iPhone 5 8MP
Apple iPhone 5 8MP
Apple iPhone 5 8MP
Apple iPhone 5 8MP
Sony Alpha 57 16MP
Sony Alpha 57 16MP
Sony Alpha 57 16MP
Sony Alpha 57 16MP
Sony Alpha 57 16MP
Sony Alpha 57 16MP

Accessories

In addition to the smartphone itself and the 1760 mAh battery, Acer has packed the Liquid E1 Duo with various short instructions, a standard stereo headset and a compact 5V/1A AC adapter with a 75 cm USB cable. So far, there are no optional accessories on the manufacturer's website. 

Warranty

The Liquid E1 Duo comes with a 2-year warranty, while the accessories and the battery are only covered for 1 year. Software support is provided by Acer for only 180 days from the date of purchase. The manufacturer does not offer optional renewals or extensions.

Input Devices & Controls

The virtual keyboard is the same, in terms of size and button layout, as the standard Android one. The touchscreen responds quickly and accurately to any input. The automatic screen content rotation works reliably and is not too sensitive. Overall, there is nothing to complain about in this discipline.

Vertical Android keyboard
Vertical Android keyboard
Horizontal Android keyboard
Horizontal Android keyboard

Display

The 4.5-inch IPS display has a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels (qHD).
The 4.5-inch IPS display has a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels (qHD).

The IPS display of the Acer Liquid E1 Duo has a resolution of 960x540 pixels (qHD), a 4.5-inch diagonal, and 245 PPI pixel density. Screen content is clearly visible on the touchscreen and even fine characters do not clump and stay sharp, even in direct comparison to the brilliant picture of the Apple iPhone 5. Colors are very vivid, but are slightly distorted. Very impressive is the high brightness, which can counteract the highly reflective surface of the display. 

We measured the technical values of the display with the X-Rite i1pro 2 sensor. The result is an average brightness of 450 cd/m². This is a really good value, compared to top smartphones such as the Google Nexus 4 and the Apple iPhone 5. Only the Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS with 451 cd/m² and the impressively bright Amoi N828 with 501 cd/m² have higher values in this class. The Sony Xperia E Dual with 315 cd/m² and the Jiayu G3 with about 326 cd/m² cannot compete here.

As for the illumination the Acer Liquid E1 Duo is less impressive with 88%, the great brightness sharply decreases towards the edges of the display. However, this is not noticeable in everyday use, which can be confirmed by displaying a white image.

409
cd/m²
413
cd/m²
398
cd/m²
407
cd/m²
450
cd/m²
403
cd/m²
396
cd/m²
436
cd/m²
420
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 450 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 414.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 450 cd/m²
Contrast: 918:1 (Black: 0.49 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 9.74 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 9.13 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 3.6

The black level of 0.49 cd/m² is mediocre, but it is positioned in the middle of the competition. The subjectively rich black is still impressive. The contrast ratio of 918:1 can be matched only by the Amoi N828 and the Jiayu G3, the rest of the competitors fare worse than our test device.

We measured further technical values of the display with the help of the CalMAN software and the corresponding colorimeter. 

The color accuracy and saturation showed some deviations from the standard, but these are not noticeable in practice. Even a white image does not show any color casts. The color accuracy is not exactly outstanding. The grayscale and the color saturation could have been better and here we also see slight distortions.

CalMan Color Management
CalMan Color Management
CalMan ColorChecker
CalMan ColorChecker
CalMan Grayscale
CalMan Grayscale
CalMan Color Saturation
CalMan Color Saturation
Outdoors, in the sun
Outdoors, in the sun
Outdoors, in the shade
Outdoors, in the shade

Outdoors the Acer Liquid E1 Duo remains highly usable thanks to its high brightness of 450 cd/m². Screen content is still legible even under direct sunlight, although at certain angles some sections of the display become unreadable due to the strong reflections.

The viewing angle stability of the IPS display is naturally very good. There are no color inversions and only at extreme, practically irrelevant, angles is there a slight drop in brightness.

Viewing angles
Viewing angles
Extreme viewing angles
Extreme viewing angles

Performance

CPU Info
CPU Info

The Acer Liquid E1 Duo is equipped with popular for this class Mediatek MT6577 dual-core SoC (System-on-Chip) with 1 GHz core frequency. It is backed up by 1 GB of RAM. The integrated PowerVR SGX 531 graphics card takes care of the graphics tasks. This equipment is good for proper performance, but is in the middle ranks of smartphones. Nevertheless, the direct competition does not perform much better despite their powerful hardware. Only the Amoi N828 with its MT6589 SoC beats our test device in almost all the synthetic benchmarks. 

The Acer Liquid E1 Duo must compete against smartphones with dual SIM slots and dual-core SoC in the benchmarks: Sony Xperia E dual and Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS, as well as the Jiayu G3 enter the battle for the dual SIM crown.

Next, we compare the results of the synthetic benchmarks. The Acer Liquid E1 Duo performs well in this discipline. In the AnTuTu Benchmark v3, the SmartBench 2012 and the Linpack multithread test, our test device beats almost all of the rivals, some by more than 30%. Only the Amoi N828 has a slight edge. In the NenaMark2, the Sony Xperia E dual and the Amoi N828 are ahead, while the rest are behind the Liquid E1 Duo. In the Geekbench 2, only the Jiayu G3 manages to get ahead; the Sony Xperia E dual and the Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS are clearly losing. Overall, a great performance.

A short side note: despite the 1 GB of RAM, the most demanding benchmarks like the 3DMark, GLBenchmark 2.5.1 and GFX Bench 2.7.0 refused to load or constantly crashed.

Smartbench 2012 - Productivity Index (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
2203 points
Amoi N828
3610 points +64%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
1184 points -46%
Jiayu G3
1986 points -10%
Sony Xperia E dual
1192 points -46%
Linpack Android / IOS
Single Thread (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
37.9 MFLOPS
Amoi N828
36.37 MFLOPS -4%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
39.16 MFLOPS +3%
Jiayu G3
35.03 MFLOPS -8%
Sony Xperia E dual
38.62 MFLOPS +2%
Multi Thread (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
58.5 MFLOPS
Amoi N828
88.2 MFLOPS +51%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
37.47 MFLOPS -36%
Jiayu G3
57.6 MFLOPS -2%
Sony Xperia E dual
37.11 MFLOPS -37%
AnTuTu v3 - Total Score (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
5911 Points
Amoi N828
12855 Points +117%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
4294 Points -27%
Jiayu G3
5405 Points -9%
Sony Xperia E dual
5517 Points -7%
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Total Score (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
811 Points
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
346 Points -57%
Jiayu G3
840 Points +4%
Sony Xperia E dual
498 Points -39%
NenaMark2 - --- (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
24.8 fps
Amoi N828
54 fps +118%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
16.2 fps -35%
Jiayu G3
17 fps -31%
Sony Xperia E dual
27.4 fps +10%

Legend

 
Acer Liquid E1 Duo MediaTek MT6577, PowerVR SGX531, 4 GB Flash
 
Amoi N828 Mediatek MT6589, PowerVR SGX544, 4 GB Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312 Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 MSM7227A, Qualcomm Adreno 200, 4 GB Flash
 
Jiayu G3 MediaTek MT6577, PowerVR SGX531,
 
Sony Xperia E dual Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 MSM7227A, Qualcomm Adreno 200, 4 GB Flash

The Acer Liquid E1 Duo has surprisingly good results in the browser base benchmarks, tested with the preinstalled Android browser. With the alternatives, such as the Google Chrome from the Play Store, the performance can be tuned to an even higher level.

The advantage is particularly clear in the Mozilla Kraken V1 and the Sunspider 0.9.1. The Liquid E1 shows over 100% better results than the competition, excluding the Amoi N828. Our test device completed the latter benchmark in less than 1000 ms; even the Amoi N828 is about 50% slower. The Liquid E1 also performs great in the Peacekeeper, Google V8 and Google Octane V1. The Browsermark 2.0 has some rather mixed results.

Google V8 Ver. 7 - Google V8 Ver. 7 Score (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
1333 Points
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
1333 Points 0%
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
1333 Points 0%
Jiayu G3
988 Points -26%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
767 Points -42%
Sony Xperia E dual
705 Points -47%
Amoi N828
1012 Points -24%
Sunspider
1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
1497 ms *
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
1497 ms * -0%
0.9.1 Total Score (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
990 ms *
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
990 ms * -0%
Jiayu G3
2266 ms * -129%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
2552 ms * -158%
Sony Xperia E dual
2831 ms * -186%
Amoi N828
1563 ms * -58%
Browsermark - --- (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
1769 points
Jiayu G3
3287 points +86%
Sony Xperia E dual
811 points -54%
Mozilla Kraken 1.0 - Total (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
23944 ms *
Jiayu G3
49757 ms * -108%
Sony Xperia E dual
53945 ms * -125%
Amoi N828
18886 ms * +21%
Octane V1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
1328 Points
Jiayu G3
930 Points -30%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
824 Points -38%
Amoi N828
1161 Points -13%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
504 Points
Jiayu G3
415 Points -18%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
325 Points -36%
Sony Xperia E dual
325 Points -36%
Amoi N828
531 Points +5%

* ... smaller is better

Epic Citadel
High Performance (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
38.2 fps
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
38.2 fps 0%
Jiayu G3
24.1 fps -37%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
19.1 fps -50%
Sony Xperia E dual
29.5 fps -23%
High Quality (sort by value)
Acer Liquid E1 Duo
30.4 fps
Jiayu G3
20.6 fps -32%
Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS GT-S6312
17.3 fps -43%
Sony Xperia E dual
29.2 fps -4%

Games

The Acer Liquid E1 mastered the two graphics benchmarks in Epic Citadel with flying colors, although it is powered only by a PowerVR SGX531 graphics card.

Our test device turned in good game performance as well. Whether it is Zen Pinball HDAngry Birds Star Wars or demanding 3D titles such as Shadowgun Deadzone and Iron Man 3, the games run smoothly and without issues. The gyroscope and the touchscreen respond well to any input.

Angry Birds Star Wars
Angry Birds Star Wars
Iron Man 3
Iron Man 3
Shadowgun Deadzone
Shadowgun Deadzone
Zen Pinball HD
Zen Pinball HD

Voice Quality

The dual SIM functionality is clearly the focus of interest in the Acer Liquid E1. The voice and speaker quality during calls are very good. The maximum volume is more than adequate and the speakers do not distort the sound too much when the handsfree function is on. During test calls, our partner confirmed that we were easily understood and there was little noise. The supplied standard stereo headset should be replaced as soon as possible, because its sound and voice quality are inadequate.

Emissions

DTS certified stereo speakers.
DTS certified stereo speakers.

Speakers

Acer boasts that the two stereo speakers of the Liquid E1 have particularly strong sound and has even equipped them with the famous movie audio format DTS. In reality, the DTS label is just a loudness switch with an equalizer, which offers ten presets, such as Hip Hop and Pop. In addition, the user can separately adjust the bass and the treble. Unfortunately, this does not really help, because the small speakers are quickly overwhelmed and the bass and mids are inadequate. Especially at high volume, the sound is bad and overblown. There is also no true stereo sound. If you put the device on a table, the sound becomes acceptable, since the reflection benefit the bass reproduction the most. In comparison to other devices of the same class, the sound is on par. The maximum volume with DTS activated is more than adequate. 

The sound over the 3.5 mm audio jack and the connected standard headphones is rather good, but high-impedance headphones will naturally have a lower maximum volume.

Temperature

The generated surface temperatures in everyday use are acceptable, but rivals offer significantly cooler cases.

At idle, the Acer Liquid E1 reaches an average of 32 °C (89.6 °F) at the bottom. Under load, the surface temperature rises to an average of 36 to 38 °C (96.8 to 100.4 °F). The maximum temperatures of exactly 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) were reached in a one-hour test with the App Stability Test. Subjectively, we did not consider the device to be uncomfortably warm at any point.

Max. Load
 37.9 °C
100 F
36.1 °C
97 F
35.7 °C
96 F
 
 39.7 °C
103 F
38.5 °C
101 F
37.7 °C
100 F
 
 40.6 °C
105 F
37 °C
99 F
36.4 °C
98 F
 
Maximum: 40.6 °C = 105 F
Average: 37.7 °C = 100 F
34.1 °C
93 F
37 °C
99 F
38.5 °C
101 F
33.8 °C
93 F
35.4 °C
96 F
39.2 °C
103 F
33.8 °C
93 F
36.4 °C
98 F
39.5 °C
103 F
Maximum: 39.5 °C = 103 F
Average: 36.4 °C = 98 F
Power Supply (max.)  41 °C = 106 F | Room Temperature 22.5 °C = 73 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 37.7 °C / 100 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40.6 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 39.5 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 33.5 °C / 92 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The power consumption of the Acer Liquid E1 when turned off and in standby is exemplary at zero and 0.1 W. At idle, the test device needed between 0.4 and 1.5 W, which is on par with the Sony Xperia E dual and the Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS. The Amoi N828 and the Jiayu G3 consume considerably more power.

Under load, the test device was unusually power hungry, consuming 2.8 to 3.2 W. Although the Chinese Jiayu G3 consumed even more, the rest of the competition were far more frugal. The Sony Xperia E consumed a maximum of 2.1 W, the Samsung and Amoi needed 2.7 and 2.6 W respectively.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.4 / 1.1 / 1.5 Watt
Load midlight 2.8 / 3.2 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Life

The removable Li-Polymer battery offers 6.5 Wh and 1760 mAh.
The removable Li-Polymer battery offers 6.5 Wh and 1760 mAh.

Despite the big 6.5 Wh battery with 1760 mAh, the Acer Liquid E1 managed only a mediocre battery life, due to its power consumption. In addition to the 8 hours of talk time and 400 hours standby promised by Acer, we test more runtimes.

In the idle test, which uses minimum display brightness and a wireless script, the Liquid E1 reached the ordinary 12 hours and 19 minutes. This is worse than the competition. The Sony Xperia E dual with 5.6 Wh battery managed a whopping 19 hours, then we have the Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS with its 4.81 Wh battery and about 16 hours, the Jiayu G3 (10.18 Wh, 14:31 hours) and the Amoi N828 (7.6 Wh, 12:11 hours).

The more practical browsing test over WLAN utilizes adjusted brightness and loads a mix of websites by a script. The Acer Liquid E1 lasted 7 hours and 20 minutes. In this discipline, it is just behind the Jiayu G3 and the Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS with about 8 hours. The Sony Xperia E dual is far ahead with 10 hours, the Amoi N828 is in last place with only 5.5 hours.

Under load, simulated by the app Stability Test and maximum brightness, the test device turned off after 2 hours and 22 minutes. The Samsung is on par, followed by the Jiayu and the Sony. The Amoi can last up to 4 hours with its powerful battery.

The phone lasts about one day in everyday use. If expecting higher usage, you should pack the 5V AC adapter with you. Overall, a good performance.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
12h 19min
WiFi Surfing
7h 20min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 22min

Verdict

Acer Liquid E1 Duo Smartphone
Acer Liquid E1 Duo Smartphone

There are not many dual SIM devices on the market so far, but does this indicate a purchase recommendation for the Acer Liquid E1? Well, first off we have the bright, high-contrast IPS display, which offers a sharp and colorful image. The good application performance and the decent battery life are definitely on the plus side. We liked the clever dual SIM integration the most, which also offers a variety of customization options.

The stereo sound and the not so stable display glass are neither bad nor outstanding. We did not like the mediocre workmanship, in particular the back cover and the gaps. The average camera module was also not impressive. All of this has lowered our impression rating a bit.

The Acer Liquid E1 is a good choice for those seeking dual SIM functionality and a reasonably priced, yet good all-round device in the entry segment below 200 Euros (~$263). We advise those interested to have a look at the other devices in the review as well.

 

 

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Specifications

Acer Liquid E1 Duo (Liquid Series)
Processor
MediaTek MT6577 2 x 1 GHz, Cortex-A9, Dual-Core ARM Cortex A9
Graphics adapter
Memory
1024 MB 
Display
4.50 inch 16:9, 960 x 540 pixel, Multi-touchscreen, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
4 GB Flash, 4 GB 
, 2 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm audio jack, Card Reader: microSD (up to 32 GB, SDHC), Sensors: Ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, G-Sensor, GPS
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 3.0, Quadband GSM, HSPA, UMTS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 132 x 9.9 x 68.5 ( = 5.2 x 0.39 x 2.7 in)
Battery
7 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 1.760 mAh, Talk time 3G (according to manufacturer): 8 h, Standby 3G (according to manufacturer): 400 h
Operating System
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Camera
Webcam: Hauptkamera: 5 MP, AF, LED-Blitz
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo speakers, Keyboard: Virtual Android keyboard, Keyboard Light: yes, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
140 g ( = 4.94 oz / 0.31 pounds), Power Supply: 52 g ( = 1.83 oz / 0.11 pounds)
Price
199 Euro

 

We are reviewing the Acer Liquid E1 with dual SIM.
We are reviewing the Acer Liquid E1 with dual SIM.
In addition to the usual accessories in the package...
In addition to the usual accessories in the package...
...we also have a 5V/1A AC adapter with USB.
...we also have a 5V/1A AC adapter with USB.
GPS test outdoors
GPS test outdoors
The display measures 4.5 inches and utilizes ISP technology.
The display measures 4.5 inches and utilizes ISP technology.
The white image shows no visible color deviations.
The white image shows no visible color deviations.
The back cover is removable and rubberized.
The back cover is removable and rubberized.
If you seep to the right, the lock screen folds to the side.
If you seep to the right, the lock screen folds to the side.
The lock screen manager allows up to 4 apps to be selected.
The lock screen manager allows up to 4 apps to be selected.
The control elements have a good pressure point and give good feedback.
The control elements have a good pressure point and give good feedback.
The front camera is no good even for snapshots.
The front camera is no good even for snapshots.
The main camera features 5 megapixels and LED flash.
The main camera features 5 megapixels and LED flash.
The camera is somewhat protected, because it sits slightly recessed.
The camera is somewhat protected, because it sits slightly recessed.
The two stereo speakers are behind a metal cover. The sound is not great, despite the DTS certification.
The two stereo speakers are behind a metal cover. The sound is not great, despite the DTS certification.
Better sound quality can be obtained via the 3.5 mm jack and good headphones.
Better sound quality can be obtained via the 3.5 mm jack and good headphones.
The DTS equalizer offers many presets...
The DTS equalizer offers many presets...
...and also allows fine tuning.
...and also allows fine tuning.
The earpiece for calls and...
The earpiece for calls and...
...the microphone are behind a red protective mesh.
...the microphone are behind a red protective mesh.
Even small fonts are easy to read.
Even small fonts are easy to read.
The rubberized surface of the back cover is decorated with a stylish pattern.
The rubberized surface of the back cover is decorated with a stylish pattern.
The back cover can be opened with the help of the small gap. But this takes some strength, because it is tightly fitted.
The back cover can be opened with the help of the small gap. But this takes some strength, because it is tightly fitted.
Behind it there are...
Behind it there are...
...the 6.5 Wh battery and other interfaces.
...the 6.5 Wh battery and other interfaces.
The battery must be removed before...
The battery must be removed before...
...the two SIM and microSD card slots can be accessed. Hot Swap is therefore not possible.
...the two SIM and microSD card slots can be accessed. Hot Swap is therefore not possible.

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Links

  • Manufacturer's information

Price Comparison

Pros

+Birght, high-contrast display
+IPS technology with great viewing angles
+Elaborate dual SIM function
+Good application performance
+Decent battery life
 

Cons

-Workmanship could be better
-Sound of the stereo speakers
-Tightly fitting back cover
-Somewhat unstable display surface

Shortcut

What we like

The bright, high-contrast display and the good everyday practicality.

What we'd like to see

Better camera module and better workmanship.

What surprises us

Dual SIM devices can be found only in the lower price segment. We want more diversity in this interesting sub-category!

The competition

The Samsung Galaxy Young DUOS, the Sony Xperia E Dual, the Jiayu G3 and the Amoi N828 in the dual SIM segment.

Rating

Acer Liquid E1 Duo - 08/05/2013 v3(old)
Michael Moser

Chassis
70%
Keyboard
51%
Pointing Device
83%
Connectivity
40%
Weight
100%
Battery
93%
Display
85%
Games Performance
26%
Application Performance
42%
Temperature
85%
Noise
100%
Add Points
71%
Average
71%
83%
Smartphone - Weighted Average
Michael Moser, 2013-07-16 (Update: 2018-05-15)