Acer Liquid S1 Review and Specifications: Value for Money, Everyday Performance and the Verdict

This Acer Liquid S1 review looks at a large-screen phone from 2013 that tried to give buyers a big display, dual SIM flexibility and a fair price in one package. The Acer Liquid S1 review and full specifications 2013 story starts with a simple idea: a phablet for reading, video, maps and messaging, without the flagship price of that year. The Acer Liquid S1 price in Europe at launch was around €349, a figure that placed it below many large rivals while still offering a 5.7 inch screen and a quad-core chipset. For readers who want a smaller Acer option from the same period, Acer Liquid Z3 vs the Rest: Review and Specifications Compared gives a useful contrast in size, price and everyday handling. This article keeps the focus on the S1 itself, its strengths, its limits and the kind of buyer it suited best.

The Acer Liquid S1 for everyday use as a classic phablet makes sense when you judge it by 2013 standards rather than by later phones. It was not built to lead benchmark charts. It was built to be practical: a readable screen, a removable battery, room for a memory card and two SIM slots for work and personal use. The Acer Liquid S1 value for money in 2013 phablet market terms came from that mix, not from one standout feature. The Acer Liquid S1 release followed an announcement in June 2013, and the phone reached buyers in August 2013, at a time when 5.7 inch phones were still unusual and often costly.

Acer Liquid S1 at a Glance: A 2013 Phablet Built for Everyday Use

The Acer Liquid S1 phablet arrived as Acer moved into larger phones with confidence. Its headline Acer Liquid S1 features were a 5.7 inch TFT display with 720 by 1280 pixels, a MediaTek quad-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal memory, an 8 MP rear camera and a 2400 mAh removable battery. Those numbers tell a clear story: this was a mid-range device with a large screen, aimed at people who watched video, read long articles, used maps on the move or wanted larger text and buttons.

The Acer Liquid S1 dimensions are 168 x 83 x 9.6 mm, and the Acer Liquid S1 weight is 195 g. The Acer Liquid S1 weight and dimensions for daily use meant it felt substantial in the hand and in a jacket pocket, yet it remained usable for two-handed reading and typing. A balanced everyday package is the best short summary: large screen, modest price and dual SIM support, with compromises in RAM, screen technology and camera speed that buyers needed to accept. The Acer Liquid S1 release date August 2013 and availability placed it in shops during a busy autumn season for Android phones, when buyers compared screen size, battery life and price more than brand alone.

Design and Build

The Acer Liquid S1 design follows the familiar slab style of its year, with a wide front, a large display, slim side bezels for the period and a plain rear panel. The Acer Liquid S1 build uses plastic for the body and rear cover, which keeps the phone lighter than a metal body of the same size would have been and makes the removable rear cover easy to take off. The Acer Liquid S1 design and build quality in hand is solid rather than luxurious: the phone feels firm, the buttons sit in sensible places, and the rear cover fits without obvious flex.

How the Size Feels in Daily Use

A 5.7 inch phone asks for two hands for most tasks, and the S1 is no exception. Typing with both thumbs works well, reading in landscape is comfortable, and video fills the display in a way that a 4.5 inch phone of the same year could not match. One-handed use is possible for short actions, such as answering a call or checking a message, but reaching the far corner of the screen takes a shift in grip. That trade-off was the point of a phablet: you gave up pocket ease for screen space.

Grip and Pocket Fit

The rounded edges and 9.6 mm thickness help the wide body sit in the palm without sharp corners. In a trouser pocket it is noticeable, and in a small jacket pocket it can feel tight, so many owners carried it in a bag or a larger coat pocket. A simple case adds grip and protects the plastic rear, and it does not add much bulk to a phone that was already wide.

Materials and Finish

The rear panel has a smooth, understated finish that resists fingerprints better than a glossy panel, while the front is dominated by glass over the display. The earpiece, front camera and sensors sit above the screen, and three touch keys sit below it. For a tablet-sized contrast in build and handling, Breaking Down the Acer Iconia Tab A1-811: Review, Build Quality and Full Specs shows how Acer approached larger devices in the same period, with a different balance between size, weight and portability.

Display

The Acer Liquid S1 display is a 5.7 inch TFT panel with a resolution of 720 by 1280 pixels, giving about 258 pixels per inch. The Acer Liquid S1 screen is large enough for comfortable web reading, e-books, maps and video, and text at normal sizes stays readable without constant zooming. The Acer Liquid S1 display quality on 5.7 inch screen terms is good for its class: colours look natural rather than oversaturated, brightness is adequate indoors, and the large canvas makes split attention tasks, such as reading while checking a message, easier than on a smaller phone.

Screen Size, Resolution and Sharpness

The Acer Liquid S1 screen resolution 720 by 1280 pixels is not as sharp as later 1080p panels, and close inspection can show slight softness in small text and fine icons. In normal use at arm’s length, that softness fades into the background, and the size advantage remains clear. The Acer Liquid S1 TFT display viewing angles in sunlight are a weak point: the TFT panel loses contrast and colour accuracy at steep angles, and bright daylight can wash out the image, so shading the screen or raising brightness helps outdoors. Indoors, viewing angles are acceptable for sharing a photo or a video clip with a person sitting beside you. Readers who care most about screen quality in everyday use will also find Acer Liquid Z5 Review: Screen Quality in Everyday Use and the Full Specs a helpful point of comparison, because it shows how a smaller Acer phone handled the same priorities.

Performance and Software

The Acer Liquid S1 performance with MediaTek MT6589 chipset hardware is best described as steady for ordinary tasks. The Acer Liquid S1 chipset is the MediaTek MT6589, a quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A7 design, paired with a PowerVR SGX544 GPU. The Acer Liquid S1 GPU handles casual games, video playback and the interface without drama, while demanding 3D games of the period needed lower settings to stay smooth. The Acer Liquid S1 performance in web browsing, email, social apps, music and maps is generally smooth, with short waits when opening a heavy page or switching between several apps.

A big screen for reading and video needs enough memory behind it, and here the limits show. The Acer Liquid S1 RAM and internal memory for apps are 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory, and the Acer Liquid S1 1GB RAM multitasking limits in practice mean that keeping many apps open at once can lead to reloads. The Acer Liquid S1 RAM is enough for the core apps of 2013, but it is the main reason the phone feels dated when several browser tabs, a map and a music app run together. The Acer Liquid S1 gaming performance on PowerVR SGX544 GPU terms is fair for light and mid-level titles, with simple games running well and heavier titles showing frame drops.

Chipset, RAM and Everyday Speed

Day-to-day speed depends on how you use the phone. A single task at a time, such as reading, calling, messaging or watching a saved video, runs without fuss. Switching quickly between a browser, a camera and a map can bring a pause while the system frees memory. Keeping the home screen tidy, closing apps you no longer need and avoiding live wallpapers help the phone stay responsive. The quad-core CPU spreads light work well, and the phone rarely feels slow for the tasks it was designed to do.

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and Acer Float UI

The Acer Liquid S1 Android version at launch was Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, with Acer Float UI on top. The Acer Liquid S1 Android 4.2 Jelly Bean software experience includes the familiar Jelly Bean notifications, widgets and settings of that year, plus Acer additions for quick access and floating apps. The Acer Liquid S1 Acer Float UI features and multitasking include small floating windows for notes, calculator, maps and other tools, so you can check a detail without leaving the app you are using. That idea suited the large screen well. The Acer Liquid S1 software update history and Android version story is modest: buyers should treat Android 4.2 as the software the phone shipped with, not as a platform that would keep pace with later Android releases, and app support for such an old version is now very limited.

For a direct step up in the same family, Acer Liquid S2: Full Review and Specifications explains what changed in the next model, including a sharper screen and a stronger camera, and why some buyers preferred to pay more for those gains.

Camera

The Acer Liquid S1 camera is an 8 MP rear unit with autofocus and an LED flash, plus a VGA front camera. The Acer Liquid S1 camera quality with 8MP rear camera hardware is best in good daylight, where photos show decent detail, natural colours and enough sharpness for sharing online or printing at small sizes. Autofocus is helpful for close subjects, and the LED flash helps in dark rooms, though flash photos can look harsh and lose background detail.

Rear Camera in Daylight and Low Light

In daylight, the rear camera produces usable shots of streets, people, food and landscapes, with acceptable dynamic range for a phone of its year. In low light, noise rises, shutter speed falls and moving subjects can blur, so holding the phone steady and using the flash or a bright light source improves results. The Acer Liquid S1 front VGA camera for video calls is basic: it is fine for a short video call in good light, but it lacks the detail for quality selfies. The Acer Liquid S1 video recording with rear camera support covers everyday clips for family and travel, and the large screen makes framing and reviewing those clips easy. The Acer Liquid S1 video quality is adequate for casual sharing, rather than for careful filming.

Battery, Storage and Connectivity

The Acer Liquid S1 battery is a 2400 mAh removable Li-Po unit. The Acer Liquid S1 battery life with 2400mAh battery capacity in normal 2013 use covered a full day of calls, messages, some browsing and a little video, with heavier screen use bringing the phone to the charger in the evening. The Acer Liquid S1 charging time and battery endurance test picture is typical for the period: charging from empty takes a few hours with the supplied charger, and the removable design is a real advantage, because a spare battery or a replacement can extend the phone’s useful life.

The Acer Liquid S1 removable battery replacement options for users are simple: take off the rear cover, swap the battery and restart, with no tools and no service visit. That practical detail mattered to travellers and to owners who kept a phone for several years. The Acer Liquid S1 speaker quality and call sound clarity are adequate for calls and for short video clips, with the earpiece clear in quiet rooms and the loudspeaker loud enough for alerts and hands-free calls, though it lacks bass and can sound thin at full volume. The Acer Liquid S1 audio is functional rather than rich, and headphones give a much better result for music.

Battery Life in Practice

Screen brightness, 3G data and video have the biggest effect on battery life. Lowering brightness, using Wi-Fi where possible and closing unused apps stretch the day, while long navigation sessions and video streaming drain the battery faster. For a large-screen phone, a full day of moderate use was a fair result in 2013, and the removable battery gave owners a safety net that sealed phones did not offer.

Storage, SIM and Connections

The Acer Liquid S1 expandable storage with microSD card slot design pairs 8 GB of internal memory with a microSD slot. The Acer Liquid S1 8GB internal storage space for files is tight once the system and a few apps take their share, so a card is almost essential for photos, music and video. The Acer Liquid S1 microSD card support up to 32GB gives room for a useful media library, and moving photos and music to the card keeps the internal memory free for apps. The Acer Liquid S1 memory picture is therefore two-part: modest internal space, plus flexible expansion.

The Acer Liquid S1 dual SIM support and 3G connectivity suit travellers and people who separate work and personal numbers. The Acer Liquid S1 SIM slots accept two SIM cards, and the phone supports 3G HSPA data, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. The Acer Liquid S1 Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity features explained in plain terms are: Wi-Fi for fast data at home and in the office, Bluetooth for headsets, speakers and file sharing, and GPS for maps and navigation. The Acer Liquid S1 connectivity does not include 4G, so data speeds depend on 3G coverage. For a wider look at how Acer balanced usability and storage in a larger device, Our Acer Iconia Tab A3 Review: Usability, Storage and Detailed Specs offers a useful tablet comparison.

Full Specifications

The table below gathers the core Acer Liquid S1 specs in one place, so you can check the display, chipset, memory, camera and battery without searching through the review.

Pros and Cons

The Acer Liquid S1 pros start with the large screen, the fair launch price, dual SIM support, a removable battery and microSD expansion. The Acer Liquid S1 cons centre on 1 GB of RAM, a TFT panel with limited viewing angles, a basic VGA front camera and the absence of 4G. Weighing those points together gives a clear picture of a practical mid-range phablet with clear limits.

Pros

• Large 5.7 inch display that suits reading, maps and video
• Fair price at launch for a phablet of this size
• Dual SIM support for work and personal numbers
• Removable 2400 mAh battery and microSD expansion up to 32 GB
• 8 MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash for daylight photos
• Acer Float UI adds useful floating tools on the large screen

Cons

• 1 GB of RAM limits multitasking and heavier apps
• TFT display loses contrast at wide angles and in bright sunlight
• VGA front camera is basic for video calls and selfies
• No 4G, so mobile data relies on 3G HSPA
• 195 g weight and 168 mm height make one-handed use awkward
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is now an old software base with limited app support

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Acer Liquid S1 still usable today?

As a classic device, it can still handle calls, messages, offline music and basic tasks, but modern apps, secure browsing and current services will not run well on Android 4.2 with 1 GB of RAM. Treat it as a collector item, a backup phone or a simple media device, not as a daily phone for current apps.

What is the Acer Liquid S1 battery capacity and is it removable?

The battery is 2400 mAh and removable. You can take off the rear cover and swap the battery without tools, which helps if the original battery has aged or if you want a spare for travel.

Does the Acer Liquid S1 support dual SIM and microSD expansion?

Yes. It has dual SIM slots and a microSD slot that supports cards up to 32 GB. That combination lets you use two numbers and add room for photos, music and video beyond the 8 GB of internal memory.

How good is the Acer Liquid S1 camera for everyday photos?

The 8 MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash takes decent daylight photos for sharing and small prints. Low-light shots show noise and blur more easily, and the VGA front camera is best kept to short video calls in good light.

Verdict: Who Should Buy the Acer Liquid S1?

The Acer Liquid S1 verdict for 2013 buyers was positive for the right audience: people who wanted a large screen, dual SIM and a removable battery at a mid-range price. The Acer Liquid S1 comparison with smaller phones favoured the S1 for reading and video, while the Acer Liquid S1 vs Acer Liquid S2 comparison for buyers who wanted a sharper screen and a stronger camera favoured the S2 at a higher price. A simple, practical choice for 2013 buyers is how this phone is best remembered: not a flagship, but a sensible phablet for everyday tasks.

Today, the Acer Liquid S1 availability is limited to used and collector markets, and its value lies in its place in Acer history rather than in daily use. If you find one in good condition with a healthy battery, it works as a classic example of the early phablet era, a large-screen Android phone that put size and price ahead of raw speed. For everyone else, the lesson remains useful: judge a large phone by screen comfort, battery flexibility and real everyday speed, not by headline numbers alone.