Acer's first Android running on Intel.
After leaving the mobile processor scene previously, Intel is back with its Atom processor crammed into an Android Smartphone. The Acer Liquid C1 is the phone bestowed with this honour. How does this single core stack up? Let's have a look see.
A BIT OF THE HISTORY
Back in the late nineties ans early 2000's Intel owned ARM, the Mobile processor company that today makes processors of the majority of Android phones, and which were in then seen in Compaq's Ipaq series of PDAs were a hallmark of geekiness then bur as interest waned, Intel saw it befitting to see sell off its ARM business.
On to 202, after much has happend in the smartphone space, Intel announced that it was getting back into the smartphone segement. At CES 2013, Intel finally showed the world the new low powered Atom processor as promised.
Today, we have with us the Acer liquid C1, aimed at the value for money Android powered Android device has been much awaited - it is a very intresting proposition if a single core processor can hold its own against the matured quad - cores and dual - cores seen in the majority of newer Android Devices.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
In terms of first impressions, the Acer Liquid C1 looks decent enough befitting the value market or entry level segment it is targeted for. The patterned back cover does tend to feel rather plasticky but the overall build is quite good. Acer is being honest and unpretentious with the design of the C1.
even in terms of the Android version used, there is no wow-factor: the C1 uses pretty much the stock version of the older Android 4.0.4 Ice cream Sandwich operating system. It should have used the newer Jelly Bean Version so that we can find out if the newer operating system.
The C1 weighs a hefty 140 grams; which is somewhat surprising aluminium uni-body models out there weighing less. As mentioned before, the C1 does not give off a premium to feel it. However that doesn't mean that it is an inferior quality product. The back cover is textured and I personally like it as it helps reduce slips-ups especially when one has the case of sweaty palms.
On the back, there is of course the 8 megapixel lens (there is also a O.3 megapixel front camera) and LED flash. the back cover opened up to reveal something which gives a bit of hope: the 2,000 mAh rated battery.
The C1 does have decent connectivity options like, GPS, Bluetooth 2.1, and microUSB. In terms pf phone usage, there's nothing really spectacular to mention about C1, save that it performs and is clear enough for normal phone calls.
SCREEN TIME
In all phones that I review, I always put the screen as first priority - then the processing speed. For the most part, a mobile device will be used to access information, to read article on-the-go and maybe do a bit of casual gaming - all that rewuires a good screen, pleasing to the eyes.
I must personally say that even if this is not an AMOLED based screen, it is certainly still a good one. An IPS screen for that matter, is comparable to the iPhone's Retina Display - of which version, I am not sure.
Battery life however is significantly shortened if you put the brightness on high - which is a pity because you need to keep its shadow lower to stretch the battery life. This of course downplays the screen true capability.
SNAPPY
The C1 responds quite well and shows promise that the Atom processor can indeed come into the market and compete with the multi-cored models out there. It is able it to run highly intensive games with the same prowess of game-optimized processors with built-in graphics processor. Safe to say Angry Birds Space would run great and so will most great games out there. In most cases, there wasn't noticeable lagging.
MUSIC TIME
Music plays decently well but personally, I did not like the preset equaliser settings. In some cases they seemed too flat or did not bring out the detail in the instruments played on the tracks. The audio capabilities are not the strongest point for the C1, which is expected.
CAMERA TIME
The camera software is again rather stock and doesn't offer anything new. It has he same panoramic view option for still shots as most Android 4 devices out there. Pictures came out decent but needed good lighting. As in most cases, outdoor shots in daylight were the best. Shots taken indoors did not seem to produce the right colour - in some cases they looked too blue in hue. The pictures are still printalbe of courses and the 8 megapixel shooter's performance was decent. Videos came out quite similarly and playback is pretty smooth.
POWER PLAY
With a bigger battery than some others in the same range, one would expect better battery life. Gicen the Single core as well, there was hope that C1 might actually be outstanding in at least one department. As it turns out however, the C1 does not stack up with some other nodels out there which are equipped with a lesser rated battery, but with more cores. It all boils down to power management.
Even when the C1 did last on average,, more than a working day, it is far from impressive. It could definitely be better with some power management built into the stock Android operating system it shipped out with.
ALL IN ALL
The C1 is actually a decent entry level device with an alternative processor from a major manufacturer. For less than RM 1,000 it is defiantly worthy considering
On the back, there is of course the 8 megapixel lens (there is also a O.3 megapixel front camera) and LED flash. the back cover opened up to reveal something which gives a bit of hope: the 2,000 mAh rated battery.
The C1 does have decent connectivity options like, GPS, Bluetooth 2.1, and microUSB. In terms pf phone usage, there's nothing really spectacular to mention about C1, save that it performs and is clear enough for normal phone calls.
SCREEN TIME
In all phones that I review, I always put the screen as first priority - then the processing speed. For the most part, a mobile device will be used to access information, to read article on-the-go and maybe do a bit of casual gaming - all that rewuires a good screen, pleasing to the eyes.
I must personally say that even if this is not an AMOLED based screen, it is certainly still a good one. An IPS screen for that matter, is comparable to the iPhone's Retina Display - of which version, I am not sure.
Battery life however is significantly shortened if you put the brightness on high - which is a pity because you need to keep its shadow lower to stretch the battery life. This of course downplays the screen true capability.
SNAPPY
The C1 responds quite well and shows promise that the Atom processor can indeed come into the market and compete with the multi-cored models out there. It is able it to run highly intensive games with the same prowess of game-optimized processors with built-in graphics processor. Safe to say Angry Birds Space would run great and so will most great games out there. In most cases, there wasn't noticeable lagging.
MUSIC TIME
Music plays decently well but personally, I did not like the preset equaliser settings. In some cases they seemed too flat or did not bring out the detail in the instruments played on the tracks. The audio capabilities are not the strongest point for the C1, which is expected.
CAMERA TIME
The camera software is again rather stock and doesn't offer anything new. It has he same panoramic view option for still shots as most Android 4 devices out there. Pictures came out decent but needed good lighting. As in most cases, outdoor shots in daylight were the best. Shots taken indoors did not seem to produce the right colour - in some cases they looked too blue in hue. The pictures are still printalbe of courses and the 8 megapixel shooter's performance was decent. Videos came out quite similarly and playback is pretty smooth.
POWER PLAY
With a bigger battery than some others in the same range, one would expect better battery life. Gicen the Single core as well, there was hope that C1 might actually be outstanding in at least one department. As it turns out however, the C1 does not stack up with some other nodels out there which are equipped with a lesser rated battery, but with more cores. It all boils down to power management.
Even when the C1 did last on average,, more than a working day, it is far from impressive. It could definitely be better with some power management built into the stock Android operating system it shipped out with.
ALL IN ALL
The C1 is actually a decent entry level device with an alternative processor from a major manufacturer. For less than RM 1,000 it is defiantly worthy considering
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