Acer Liquid E2 in Depth: Review, Build Quality and Full Specifications

This Acer Liquid E2 review looks back at a mid-range Android phone from the spring of 2013, a device that tried to give buyers a large screen, a quad-core chip and an 8 megapixel camera at a price well below the flagship phones of its year. The Acer Liquid E2 full specifications and review 2013 picture is clear once the numbers are placed in context: a 4.5 inch display, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of internal memory and a removable 2000 mAh battery, all running Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean. It was not a flagship, and it was never meant to be one. It was a practical phone for people who wanted a bigger screen and dual SIM flexibility without paying flagship money, and that simple brief explains most of its strengths and most of its limits. Acer Liquid E2 release came in May 2013, after an April announcement, with availability in Europe and the UK from the middle of that month. The Acer Liquid E2 price in Europe at launch 2013 was around €229, a figure that placed it firmly in the affordable mid-range of its time. Seen as an Acer Liquid E2 2013 phone, it is now a classic phone, useful to collectors and to anyone who wants to understand how quickly Android hardware changed in the early 2010s.

Any honest look at this handset has to start with what it was for. In 2013 a 4.5 inch screen still felt large, quad-core processors were still a selling point in this price class, and a removable battery was a normal expectation rather than a rarity. The phone offered those things together, with a clean, rounded plastic body and a straightforward version of Android. It did not offer 4G, it did not offer a high-resolution display by later standards, and it did not offer the large internal memory that later phones made normal. Those limits matter more today than they did at launch, because the apps and web pages of today are far heavier than the ones this phone was designed for. This review therefore judges the phone twice: once against the market it entered in 2013, and once against what a buyer or collector can reasonably expect from it now.

Acer Liquid E2 Overview: A 2013 Mid-Range Phone

The Acer Liquid E2 specs tell a coherent mid-range story. The MediaTek MT6589 chipset pairs four Cortex-A7 cores running at 1.2 GHz with a PowerVR SGX544 graphics processor, while 1 GB of RAM keeps the system moving through the light apps of its era. Acer Liquid E2 performance was respectable for everyday use in 2013: menus, messaging, email, web browsing and casual games ran without the long pauses that cheaper single-core and dual-core phones of the time often showed. Acer Liquid E2 features include an 8 megapixel rear camera with autofocus and an LED flash, a 2 megapixel front camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and 3G HSPA data. Acer Liquid E2 connectivity is therefore complete for a 2013 phone, even though it stops at 3G and has no faster mobile data option. The Acer Liquid E2 dual SIM version, sold as the E2 Duo, added a second SIM slot for people who wanted to separate work and personal numbers or to use a local SIM while travelling, and the Acer Liquid E2 dual SIM version E2 Duo features were a genuine selling point in markets where two numbers on one phone were common.

Acer Liquid E2 comparison with the other Acer phones of 2013 shows where this model sat in the range. It was larger and more powerful than the entry-level Liquid Z2, while the tablet models in the same family served a different purpose altogether. Readers who want that wider Acer context can compare the smaller phone in the Acer Liquid Z2 Review and Specifications: Form Factor, Storage and the Verdict and the compact sibling in the Acer Liquid C1: A Full Review With Detailed Specifications, both of which show how Acer spread similar ideas across different sizes and prices in the same year. The Acer Liquid E2 vs other Acer phones 2013 comparison is not about finding a single winner; it is about seeing that Acer aimed this phone at buyers who wanted a larger screen and a quad-core chip, while keeping the price near €229.

Design and Build Quality

Acer Liquid E2 design follows the rounded, friendly style Acer used for the Liquid range in 2013. The front is dominated by the 4.5 inch screen, with a slim earpiece above it, the 2 megapixel front camera, and three capacitive touch keys below the display. The back is a smooth plastic cover that curves gently toward the edges, with the 8 megapixel camera and LED flash near the top and a small speaker grille lower down. There is nothing flashy about the shape, and that is part of its appeal: it looks like a phone meant to be used every day, carried in a pocket, and picked up without thinking about it. The Acer Liquid E2 design and build quality review has to note that the materials are plain, yet the assembly is tidy, with no obvious creaks in the back cover and no sharp edges where the front glass meets the frame.

Materials and Handling

In short, Acer Liquid E2 build materials plastic body durability is a fair description of what buyers got: a light plastic shell that resists the small knocks of daily use, even though it can pick up fine scratches on the back cover over time. Acer Liquid E2 durability in normal use was good for its class, because the light weight and the slightly curved back helped it survive drops that might have cracked a heavier glass-backed phone, even if the plastic itself showed the marks. Acer Liquid E2 dimensions are 131 x 68 x 9.9 mm, and the Acer Liquid E2 dimensions and weight 140 grams figure makes it easy to hold for long calls and long reading sessions. The Acer Liquid E2 weight of 140 g is light enough that the phone does not drag in a jacket pocket, and the 68 mm width keeps the screen within reach of most thumbs. Acer Liquid E2 4.5 inch phone for one hand use is a realistic claim: most people can reach the top of the screen with a small shift of grip, and the capacitive keys sit where the thumb naturally rests.

Grip and Daily Handling

In the hand the phone feels balanced, with the battery and the main board spread evenly enough that it does not feel top-heavy. The curved back helps the fingers find a secure hold, and the smooth finish is comfortable even though it can feel a little slippery when hands are dry. A simple case would have solved that, and many owners used one, because the back cover was easy to remove and replace. The power key and volume rocker sit on the sides where they can be found without looking, and the micro-USB port and headphone jack are placed at the top and bottom edges in the usual 2013 layout.

Buttons and Ports

The three capacitive keys below the screen light up when touched and give a small vibration as confirmation, which helps in the dark. The power key is firm and easy to press, and the volume rocker has a clear travel that makes it easy to adjust call volume without looking at the screen. The removable back cover gives access to the battery, the SIM slot or slots, and the microSD card slot, so changing a card or swapping a flat battery for a charged spare was a quick job with no tools. That practical layout is one of the reasons the phone still appeals to collectors who like phones that can be opened and serviced.

Display

Acer Liquid E2 display quality is defined by its 4.5 inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels, which works out to about 245 pixels per inch. Acer Liquid E2 display quality 4.5 inch IPS LCD means colours look natural rather than oversaturated, viewing angles are wide enough to share a photo with someone sitting beside you, and text is clear enough for reading articles and messages without constant zooming. Acer Liquid E2 screen resolution 960×540 qHD display was a sensible choice for a mid-range phone in 2013: it was sharper than the 800 x 480 screens still common on cheaper phones, yet it did not demand as much from the processor and battery as a full HD panel would have done. Acer Liquid E2 screen size also helps video and games feel more spacious than they did on the 4 inch phones that were still common at launch, and the 16:9 shape suits video well.

In bright sunlight the screen can wash out, as most LCD panels of its era did, and the maximum brightness is modest by later standards. Indoors, however, the display is pleasant, with good contrast for its class and a white balance that stays close to neutral. There is no mention of toughened glass in the published material for this model, so a screen protector was a sensible addition for owners who carried keys in the same pocket. For reading, maps and social apps of its time the panel was more than adequate, and the touch response is accurate enough for typing on the on-screen keyboard without frequent missed taps.

Performance and Software

For everyday use, Acer Liquid E2 performance with MediaTek MT6589 processor is best understood as smooth for light and medium use, and limited when several heavy apps are open at once. Acer Liquid E2 processor is a quad-core Cortex-A7 design at 1.2 GHz, and the Acer Liquid E2 quad core Cortex A7 processor speed is enough for the system interface, the browser, messaging, music and the casual games that were popular in 2013. Acer Liquid E2 chipset is the MediaTek MT6589, and Acer Liquid E2 GPU is the PowerVR SGX544, a combination that handled 3D games of its day at modest settings. Acer Liquid E2 gaming performance PowerVR SGX544 GPU was acceptable for titles of the period, with smooth play in simpler games and lower frame rates in the most demanding 3D titles, especially when the phone was warm after a long session.

Everyday Speed and Gaming

In daily use, Acer Liquid E2 1GB RAM multitasking limitations today are much clearer than they were at launch, because modern apps use far more memory than the apps of 2013. At launch 1 GB was a normal mid-range amount, and the phone could keep a browser, a messaging app and a music player in memory without constant reloading. Today that same 1 GB means apps close in the background sooner, web pages reload more often, and switching between several apps feels slower. Acer Liquid E2 RAM is therefore the main limit on how the phone feels now, even though the processor itself can still handle simple tasks. The Acer Liquid E2 user experience after long term use, as reported by owners who kept the phone for years, was that it stayed reliable for calls, texts and light browsing, while heavier use exposed the memory ceiling sooner.

Acer Liquid E2 software is Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, with Acer adding its own light touches to the interface rather than a heavy skin. Acer Liquid E2 Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean software includes the lock-screen widgets, quick settings and expandable notifications that Jelly Bean introduced, and the interface is easy to learn for anyone who has used Android before. Acer Liquid E2 software updates and Android version limits are important to state plainly: this phone stayed on its Jelly Bean release, with no path to the later Android versions that brought newer security fixes and newer app support. That means many current apps will not install or run on it, and web browsing on an old browser carries risks that did not exist in 2013. As a classic phone for calls, music, photos and offline use it can still work, but it is not a safe or practical daily phone for modern banking, shopping or work apps.

Camera

Acer Liquid E2 camera is built around an 8 megapixel rear sensor with autofocus and an LED flash, plus a 2 megapixel front camera. Acer Liquid E2 camera quality with 8MP rear camera is best in good daylight, where photos show natural colours, reasonable detail and a usable level of sharpness for sharing online and for small prints. Acer Liquid E2 8MP autofocus camera with LED flash focuses quickly on still subjects in bright light, and the flash helps with close subjects indoors, even though it cannot rescue a dark scene on its own. Acer Liquid E2 front camera 2MP video calls was adequate for video calls and selfies of its time, with soft detail that was normal for a 2 megapixel front sensor in 2013. The camera app is simple, with a shutter button, a switch between photo and video, and a small set of scene modes, so taking a photo is quick and does not require learning a complex menu.

Rear Camera in Daylight and Low Light

In daylight the rear camera rewards steady hands: hold the phone still, tap to focus, and the result is a clean, well-exposed photo. In low light the limits appear quickly, with more noise, softer detail and slower shutter speeds that make moving subjects blur. Video recording is usable for short clips of family moments and holidays, though it does not match the stabilisation and low-light quality of later phones. For a collector or a casual user who wants to record what a 2013 mid-range camera could do, the results are honest and easy to understand, and the photos still carry the look of that era, with slightly muted colours and a gentle softness at the edges of the frame.

Battery Life

Acer Liquid E2 battery is a 2000 mAh removable Li-Ion unit, and Acer Liquid E2 battery life with 2000mAh battery was one of the more practical parts of the package. In 2013 a full charge could carry most users through a normal day of calls, messages, some browsing and a little music, with heavier use, especially long gaming or video sessions, bringing the charge down sooner. Acer Liquid E2 battery drain and charging time follow the pattern of its era: the screen is the largest drain, mobile data and GPS add to the load, and charging from empty with the supplied charger takes a few hours rather than the fast charging times that later phones made normal. Because the battery is removable, owners could carry a spare and swap it in seconds, which was a real advantage on long days away from a charger.

The Acer Liquid E2 removable battery replacement guide idea is simple in practice, and it is one of the reasons this phone is easier to keep alive as a classic than many sealed phones that followed it. To change the battery, the back cover lifts off, the old battery lifts out, and a fresh battery drops into the same shaped compartment, with the contacts lining up without force. A replacement battery for a phone of this age should be bought with care, because old stock can lose capacity even when unused, and a worn battery will show its age as shorter life and sudden drops in the charge indicator. Keeping the phone charged between about a fifth and four fifths full, and avoiding long periods left flat, helps a replacement last longer.

Storage and Connectivity

For files, Acer Liquid E2 storage is 4 GB in total, and the Acer Liquid E2 RAM and storage with microSD expansion picture needs a clear warning: only about 1.6 GB of that 4 GB is available to the user for apps and files, because the system and the preinstalled software take the rest. That was tight even in 2013, and it is the second major limit on the phone today after the 1 GB of RAM. Acer Liquid E2 microSD card support up to 32GB helps a great deal, because photos, music and some files can live on a card, even though apps themselves were limited in how much they could move to the card on Jelly Bean. A 16 GB or 32 GB card is therefore a sensible companion for anyone who still uses the phone for media, and it keeps the small internal memory free for the system and for essential apps.

Acer Liquid E2 connectivity options 3G HSPA WiFi Bluetooth cover the wireless needs of its time: 3G HSPA for mobile data, Wi-Fi for home and office networks, Bluetooth for headsets and file sharing, GPS for maps, and a micro-USB port for charging and for moving files to a computer. There is no 4G, no NFC in the published details for this model, and no dual-band Wi-Fi claim to rely on, so the phone is best used on Wi-Fi where possible and on 3G where mobile data is still available. The dual SIM model adds flexibility for travellers and for people with two numbers, and the card slots are easy to reach under the back cover. Readers who want to see how Acer handled larger screens in the same period can look at the tablet side of the range in the Acer Iconia Tab A1-810 Specifications, Review and Verdict: Is It Worth It?, while the larger tablet in the same family is covered in the Breaking Down the Acer Iconia Tab A1-811: Review, Build Quality and Full Specs.

Acer Liquid E2 speakers sit behind the small grille on the back, and Acer Liquid E2 speaker quality and call sound is adequate for a phone of this class. The speaker is loud enough for hands-free calls in a quiet room and for notification tones, though it sounds thin at full volume and is easy to muffle when the phone lies face up on a soft surface. Call sound through the earpiece is clearer, with voices that are easy to follow and a microphone that picks up speech without the caller having to raise their voice. A wired headset improves music listening a great deal, and the headphone jack keeps that option simple.

Full Specifications

The table below gathers the Acer Liquid E2 full specifications and review 2013 details in one place, using the verified facts for this model. It is the reference to check before buying a used example, because a seller may confuse this phone with a later Liquid model or with the single SIM and dual SIM versions.

That table is the heart of the Acer Liquid E2 specs, and it explains why the phone felt balanced in 2013: no single part was outstanding, yet no single part was far behind the rest of the package. The screen, the chip, the camera and the battery all sit at the same mid-range level, so the phone does not feel held back by one weak link in normal use. The two exceptions are the small usable internal memory and the 1 GB of RAM, which were acceptable in 2013 and are now the clearest signs of the phone’s age.

Pros and Cons

A balanced Acer Liquid E2 pros and cons honest verdict starts with what the phone did well for its price, and it is fair to list the limits beside them so a buyer can judge the trade-offs without surprise. The May 2013 launch price of €229 made a quad-core phone with a 4.5 inch screen available to buyers who could not stretch to a flagship, and the removable battery, microSD slot and dual SIM option added practical value that many more expensive phones did not offer.

Pros

On the plus side, Acer Liquid E2 pros include a large 4.5 inch IPS screen for its price, a quad-core processor that kept everyday use smooth in 2013, an 8 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, a removable 2000 mAh battery, microSD expansion up to 32 GB, and a dual SIM version for people who needed two numbers. The light 140 grams body and the comfortable curved back also made it easy to carry and to hold for long calls, and the straightforward Jelly Bean software was easy to learn.

Cons

On the other side, Acer Liquid E2 cons centre on the small usable memory, the 1 GB of RAM, the lack of 4G, and the old Android version with no later update path. Only about 1.6 GB of the 4 GB internal memory is available to the user, the plastic body can scratch, the screen is hard to read in strong sunlight, and the camera struggles in low light. Modern apps are too heavy for the memory and the old software, so the phone cannot serve as a modern daily handset.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Acer Liquid E2 released?

Acer Liquid E2 release date May 2013 availability was mid-May 2013 in Europe and the UK, after an announcement in April 2013. That timing placed it in the spring wave of 2013 Android phones, when quad-core chips and larger screens were moving from flagships into the mid-range.

What is the Acer Liquid E2 battery life like?

Acer Liquid E2 battery life with 2000mAh battery was enough for a normal day of calls, messages and light browsing in 2013, with heavier gaming and video use shortening that time. The removable battery helped, because a spare could be swapped in seconds, and a fresh replacement battery can still give the phone useful life as a classic device today.

Does the Acer Liquid E2 have dual SIM?

Yes, there is a dual SIM version sold as the E2 Duo, while the standard version is single SIM. The dual SIM model keeps the same screen, chip, camera and battery, and it is the version to look for if two numbers on one phone matter to you.

Is the Acer Liquid E2 worth buying as classic phone collector?

Acer Liquid E2 worth buying as classic phone collector is a fair question, and the answer depends on the price and the condition. At a low price, with a working battery and a clean screen, an Acer Liquid E2 classic phone is a good example of a 2013 mid-range Android phone, with a removable battery and a microSD slot that make it easy to keep running. It is not a good choice as a modern daily phone, because of the old Android version and the small memory. For a wider view of Acer tablets from the same era, readers can also see the Our Acer Iconia Tab A3 Review: Usability, Storage and Detailed Specs, which shows how Acer applied similar ideas to a larger screen.

Verdict: Who Should Buy It

In the end, Acer Liquid E2 verdict is that it was a good mid-range phone in 2013 and a likeable classic phone now. It suited buyers who wanted a larger screen, a quad-core chip, a decent camera and a removable battery for about €229, without paying flagship money. Today it suits collectors, fans of early Android phones, and anyone who wants a simple spare phone for calls, music and photos on Wi-Fi. It does not suit anyone who needs modern apps, fast mobile data, or current security updates. If you find a clean example at a collector price, with a working battery and a microSD card, it is a pleasant piece of 2013 Android history to own and to use within its limits.