Introduction
It’s a rare occurrence that in this day and age where people are obsessed over the latest and greatest devices a manufacturer has to offer that we would be as enthralled with an entry level Android Smartphone such as the Acer Liquid Z3s. The Z3s doesn’t have the huge Super Ultra AMOLED Plus HD screens or even the crazy high MP cameras of the modern flagship, but what it does have is the humility and foresight to know its place and do its job exceptionally well.
Key Specs
| Display | 3.5inch, HVGA (320 x 480) |
| OS | Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean |
| User Interface | Acer Quick Mode |
| Processor | Dual Core 1 GHz |
| Storage | 4GB |
| Memory | 512MB |
| Battery | 1500mAh, Replaceable Li-ion battery Talk time : up to 9 hours Standby time : up to 550 hours |
| Main camera | 5MP fixed focus |
| Front camera | N/A |
| Network | 900. 2100 MHz GSM / GPRS / EDGE : 850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz 3G download speed up to 21Mbps |
| Connectivity | WiFi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth : Class 3.0+EDR GPS / AGPS Micro SD Slot, Micro USB, 3.5mm audio jack |
| Sensor | G-Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor, Hall Sensor |
| SIM | Dual SIM |
| Dimension | 109.9 x 60 x 10.5mm |
| Weight | 115g (with battery) |
| Entertainment | FM Radio YouTube |
| Productivity | File manager |
| Utility | Data Traffic Manager Screen Flash (Light App) |
| Special Features | Acer Float Caller Acer Float Camera / Calculator Acer Quick Mode Quick Brightness |
First Impressions
User Experience
Out of the box, the big selling point for the Z3s aside from price is definitely the quick modes. While it does have something useful in terms of its remove all button in the task manager, purging all the current open apps from memory, the quick modes really do make the Z3s a versatile little entry level smartphone.
Here’s an overview of what the modes are:
Basic mode – Fixed Photo Dialling x 6, Messaging & Send Quick Message with a long press. Essentially what Basic mode is, is something you give to your kid when they are going on a school trip outstation or something. If you are a parent who is ok with bestowing your child with a phone at a young age for the purpose of communication, this is the best way to do so!
Senior Mode – Scrollable Photo Dialing, Messaging, Send Quick Message, FM Radio, Clock, Weather and Magnifier (camera with zoom). If you’re one to convert one of your relatives who are not so technologically savvy to the Android smartphone side, why not use this mode? Then again the argument would be, if we are limiting them to this mode, why not just get a feature phone? If they get tired of the limited functionality, you can switch to…
Classic Mode – Categorized Apps, Essential Communication Functionality. This is for the entry level touch phone user. There is the functionality of apps yet its organized in a simpler, more user friendly way. This is a great way to introduce people to smartphones as well.
Keypad Mode – This one is a strange mode for me. I don’t believe that there is any good reason to use this over the other modes at all!
Of course, you could also just use it as a regular phone, so that’s pretty cool as well! This could be a progression of someone just starting the smartphone experience, without having to buy new phones!
All in all, the phone performs exactly how a phone of those specs would. Bear in mind it’s a dual-core 1GHz Cortex A7 processor and has a tiny 512MB RAM. Images from the camera are decent and usable and one of the great features is the dual-sim functionality which is a big plus point for the older generation (and this one if you are using this phone as an “extracurricular phone” if you know what I mean. The 1,500mAh battery is more than enough when it comes to day to day use on such a tiny screen.
Conclusion
The Acer Liquid Z3s retails for a very reasonable RM299. This is a good reason to get the phone and why the yardstick has been set with this device for all other entry level phones out there. Granted there will be competition in the form of the new Nokia X devices rumoured to retail around RM400, But if every sen counts, the Z3s is still a very good deal.
If you are looking to get one of your own or even get it as a gift, head on over to Storekini.com!
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