Getting to Know the Acer Iconia Smart: Review and Detailed Specs

The Acer Iconia Smart is a phone that looks unusual even by the standards of its own era. Announced in February 2011 and released in August 2011, this Acer smartphone arrived with a tall, narrow 4.8-inch screen, a single-core Snapdragon processor and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It was sold under the model name Acer Iconia Smart S300, and it remains a memorable part of the early Android story because Acer chose a screen shape that almost no other maker was using at the time. This Acer Iconia Smart full specifications and review brings the whole picture together: the design, the screen, the hardware, the cameras, the battery, the software and the complete specification table, so readers can judge the handset as a classic device rather than as a modern phone.

An Acer Iconia Smart review has to start with honest framing. This is a discontinued handset from 2011, and it cannot match a current phone for speed, app support, security or camera quality. Its value now sits in a different place: as a collector piece, as a study in early Android design, and as a reminder of how quickly phone screens, chips and software changed in the years that followed. The Acer Iconia Smart price in 2011 and value today tells that story in one line. It was listed at about 220 EUR when new, which placed it in the upper mid-range of its day, while today it changes hands mainly among collectors and enthusiasts who want an Acer Iconia Smart old Android phone for nostalgia. Anyone reading this Acer Iconia Smart discontinued phone collector guide should treat condition, battery health and a working charger as more important than any headline specification.

Across the sections below, the Iconia Smart review covers the tall display in detail, the Snapdragon S2 hardware, the 8 megapixel camera, the removable battery and the Gingerbread software, followed by the full specification table, a balanced list of strengths and limits, and answers to the questions buyers and collectors ask most often. The Iconia Smart specs are quoted from the published specification record for the S300, including the 480 by 1024 resolution, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of built-in memory and the 1500 mAh battery, so the numbers in this article can be checked against the original listing.

Design and the Tall 4.8-Inch Display

The Acer Iconia Smart design is defined by one decision: a screen that is much taller than it is wide. The handset measures 141.7 x 64.5 x 13.6 mm and weighs 185 g, so it is long, fairly narrow and noticeably thick by later standards, yet it fits in one hand more easily than its 4.8-inch size might suggest. Acer Iconia Smart dimensions like these explain why the phone feels different from the 4.3-inch rivals of 2011. It is longer, which suits reading and scrolling, and the narrow width keeps the thumb within reach of most of the screen. The Acer Iconia Smart weight of 185 g gives it a solid, planted feel, and the 13.6 mm thickness leaves room for the removable battery and the HDMI port on the body.

Acer Iconia Smart design build quality and dimensions were a talking point when the phone appeared, because the tall body was not a gimmick on its own. Acer paired it with a metal-look frame, a silver finish and Corning Gorilla Glass over the display, which was a welcome touch on a phone of this price. The Acer Iconia Smart silver colour and finish details are simple to sum up: silver was the listed finish, with a clean front, a centred earpiece, a front camera above the screen and a rear camera with an LED flash on the back. The Mini-SIM tray, the microSD slot, the microUSB port and the 3.5 mm headphone jack all sit in familiar places for the period, and the phone uses physical keys below the screen in the style of early Android handsets.

A Wide 21:9 Screen in a 2011 Phone

The Acer Iconia Smart display is the reason most people remember this model. It is a 4.8-inch TFT panel with a resolution of 480 x 1024 pixels, which works out at about 236 pixels per inch and an aspect ratio close to 21:9. That is the Acer Iconia Smart 21 by 9 aspect ratio screen in plain terms: a very tall rectangle that shows more of a web page, a document or a message thread at once, and that suits video in the wide cinema ratio it was named after. The Acer Iconia Smart 480 by 1024 screen resolution is unusual enough that it is worth stating twice, because it is the single specification that sets this phone apart from every other 2011 Android handset in the same price band.

An Acer Iconia Smart 4.8 inch display review has to balance that novelty against the limits of TFT technology of the period. Colours are clear and text is sharp enough for reading, and the Acer Iconia Smart screen is bright enough for indoor use, but viewing angles and contrast are narrower than on the Super AMOLED panels that some rivals offered. Acer Iconia Smart Gorilla Glass screen protection details add some reassurance here, since the glass layer helps the tall panel resist scratches in a pocket or bag. The Acer Iconia Smart screen also carries the Acer UI 4.2 layer, which changes the look of the home screens and adds Acer widgets and shortcuts on top of Gingerbread. For a collector, the screen is the main attraction; for everyday use in 2026, it is a readable but dated panel that shows its age outdoors and beside a modern display.

Build, Dimensions and Weight

Looked at as a whole, the Acer Iconia Smart dimensions and the 185 g weight make a phone that is honest about its size. It is not a slim handset, and the 13.6 mm depth is easy to feel, but the narrow 64.5 mm width and the flat back keep it steady in the hand. The Acer Iconia Smart weight and thickness in hand are part of its character: this is a solid block of a phone rather than a thin slab, and the removable back cover gives access to the battery and the memory card slot. The build uses a mix of plastic and metal-look trim, and surviving examples often show wear on the edges and the back cover first, which is worth checking before buying a used unit.

How the Silver Finish and Gorilla Glass Hold Up

When buyers ask about Acer Iconia Smart colours, the answer is simple: silver was the finish listed for this model, and it suits the tall, business-like shape. The silver tone hides light scuffs better than a dark finish would, though the coating on the back can show marks after years of use. The Gorilla Glass front is the more durable part of the package, and a clean, scratch-free screen is one of the best signs that an example has been looked after. A used phone with a cracked or heavily scratched panel loses much of its appeal as a collector piece, because the tall screen is the feature that gives this model its identity.

Performance and Snapdragon S2 Hardware

Acer Iconia Smart performance comes from a single-core chip that was respectable in 2011 and modest by any later measure. The Acer Iconia Smart chipset is the Qualcomm MSM8255-1 Snapdragon S2, built on a 45 nm process, with a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU and an Adreno 205 GPU. That detail matters, because some early listings gave the related MSM8255T name; the published specification record for the S300 lists the MSM8255-1, and this article uses that verified name. Acer Iconia Smart Snapdragon S2 processor performance was good enough for Gingerbread, for web browsing, for music and for the games of its day, and the Adreno 205 handled 720p video playback and the 3D titles available in 2011 without fuss.

Measured against a modern phone, the same hardware is slow, and that is the point of framing this handset as a classic. Apps take longer to open, web pages with heavy scripts can stutter, and multitasking is limited by memory rather than by the processor alone. An Acer Iconia Smart battery life and performance test from the period would have judged it as a capable mid-range performer, and that judgement still holds if the test is read in its 2011 context. The Acer Iconia Smart performance story is therefore a story about context: strong for its launch year, limited today, and best enjoyed on the software it was built for rather than on anything newer.

Processor, RAM and Everyday Speed

The Acer Iconia Smart RAM is 512MB, paired with 8GB of built-in memory, and that pairing shaped how the phone felt in daily use. Acer Iconia Smart RAM and internal storage explained in one paragraph looks like this: 512MB of memory holds the system and a small number of apps at once, while 8GB of built-in memory holds the system, preloaded apps and the user files that remain after the system takes its share. On Gingerbread, with the apps of 2011, that was a workable balance. With heavier modern expectations, it is a tight limit, and switching between several apps will force some of them to reload.

The single-core Scorpion CPU and the Adreno 205 GPU still handle the basics that suit this phone today: calls, messages, the clock, the calendar, music, FM radio and simple games. The Acer Iconia Smart chipset was never meant for heavy multitasking, and it shows when a browser holds several tabs or when a large file is copied while music plays. For a collector who wants to see Gingerbread running as it ran in 2011, the speed is part of the experience rather than a flaw to be fixed, and the phone is best judged on the tasks it was designed for.

Storage and microSD Expansion

Acer Iconia Smart storage is 8GB built in, and the dedicated microSDHC card slot is one of the most useful features on the phone. Acer Iconia Smart microSD card slot expansion options let the owner add music, photos and video without relying on the small built-in pool, and the dedicated slot means the card does not share space with the SIM. That matters for a media handset with an HDMI port and a wide screen, because video files and music libraries fill 8GB quickly. A card of the period, in the sizes that were common in 2011, is the right match for the phone, and collectors often keep a small card in the slot with a few period songs and clips on it.

What 512MB of RAM Means Today

Put simply, 512MB of RAM means this phone can run its original software well and almost nothing modern. A browser with one or two light pages, a music player and a messaging app can sit together, but a modern social app or a heavy web page will struggle or fail to install at all. That is not a surprise for a 2011 handset, and it is why the Acer Iconia Smart software section below matters: the phone is a window into Gingerbread, not a replacement for a current daily phone. Buyers who accept that limit will enjoy it; buyers who need a daily phone should look at a newer model instead.

Cameras, Video and Multimedia

The Acer Iconia Smart camera setup is straightforward for 2011: an 8 megapixel rear camera with autofocus and an LED flash, plus a 2 megapixel front camera. Acer Iconia Smart video recording reaches 720p at 30 frames per second from the rear camera, which was a solid result for a phone of this price in 2011. The Acer Iconia Smart video recording and multimedia features go further than the camera alone, with an HDMI port for TV playback, a music player that handles MP3, WAV, WMA and eAAC+, and video playback for XviD, MP4 and H.264 files. That combination fits the tall screen: a phone built to watch things on, as well as to photograph them.

An Acer Iconia Smart 8 megapixel camera review should set expectations in period terms. In good daylight, the rear camera records detailed stills with natural colours for 2011, and the autofocus and flash help with closer subjects and indoor shots. In low light, noise rises quickly and the small sensor shows its limits, which was normal for phones of this year. Searches for Acer Iconia Smart camera quality and photo samples usually come from collectors who want to know what the sensor could do at its best, and the honest answer is that it was a capable mid-range camera for its launch year, not a camera that rivals a modern phone. The front camera is a 2 megapixel unit for video calls, and the Acer Iconia Smart front camera video calling quality is basic but usable on the 3G networks the phone was built for.

8MP Rear Camera and 720p Video

The rear camera uses a single 8 MP module with autofocus and an LED flash, and it records 720p video at 30 frames per second. The Acer Iconia Smart camera benefits from a simple interface, with the usual scene and exposure controls of Gingerbread-era camera apps, and the tall screen gives a large viewfinder for framing a shot. The Acer Iconia Smart video side is helped by the HDMI port, which lets a recorded clip play on a television, and by the microSD slot, which gives room for video files that would soon fill the built-in memory. For a collector, the camera is worth testing with a charged battery and a memory card in place, since a working autofocus motor and flash are good signs of a healthy example.

Front Camera, Audio and FM Radio

The 2 MP front camera sits above the tall display and handles video calls over 3G, while the Acer Iconia Smart audio setup covers a loudspeaker, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a stereo FM radio with RDS. Acer Iconia Smart FM radio and audio playback is a useful period feature: the radio works with wired headphones as an antenna, and the music player covers the common formats of the day. The Acer Iconia Smart audio quality through headphones is clear enough for music and podcasts of the period, and the loudspeaker is loud enough for ringtones and short clips, though it cannot match the stereo speakers of later phones. Voice memo, voice dial and predictive text input round out the practical tools on the handset.

Battery Life and Connectivity

The Acer Iconia Smart battery is a removable Li-Po unit rated at 1500 mAh, and that single fact shapes both the daily experience and the collector appeal of the phone. Acer Iconia Smart 1500 mAh battery capacity explained in context means a battery that was sized for a 4.8-inch TFT screen and a single-core chip in 2011, with published standby of up to 450 hours on 2G and up to 500 hours on 3G, and talk time of up to 11 hours on 2G and up to 8 hours on 3G. An Acer Iconia Smart battery life and performance test in 2011 would have found a full day of moderate use within reach, with heavier browsing and video cutting that figure down. Today, any original battery will be aged, so real-world life depends on the health of the cell in the individual handset.

The removable design is a genuine advantage now, because a tired battery can be swapped rather than condemning the phone. The Acer Iconia Smart removable battery replacement guide in brief is to use the correct Li-Po cell for the S300, fit it with the phone switched off, and charge it fully before first use, checking that the back cover sits flat afterwards. Collectors should also check the battery contacts and the cover latch, since a loose cover or a swollen cell is a sign to stop using that battery. The Acer Iconia Smart standby time and talk time figures above are the published numbers for a new cell, and they are a useful benchmark rather than a promise for a fifteen-year-old battery.

Removable 1500 mAh Battery

A removable battery was normal in 2011, and on this phone it is one of the most practical features. The 1500 mAh cell is reached by removing the back cover, and the phone can be restarted with a fresh cell in seconds, which was a real benefit on long days away from a charger. The Acer Iconia Smart battery is also easier to preserve in a collection because it can be taken out for long-term keeping, which reduces the risk of a swollen cell damaging the handset. Anyone buying a used example should ask whether the battery holds a charge, whether the phone runs without shutting down under load, and whether a spare cell is included.

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and HDMI

Acer Iconia Smart connectivity covers Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot support, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR, GPS with A-GPS, a stereo FM radio, and microUSB 2.0. Acer Iconia Smart connectivity WiFi Bluetooth GPS features like these were a full set for 2011, and they still describe what the phone can do on a home network or with a period Bluetooth headset. The Acer Iconia Smart HDMI port and TV connection is the standout extra: the HDMI port lets photos and 720p video play on a television, which suited the wide screen and the media player. The Acer Iconia Smart Mini SIM card and network bands are GSM 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 for 2G, with HSDPA 900, 1900 and 2100 for 3G, plus an American variant on HSDPA 850, 1900 and 2100, and HSPA speeds of 14.4 Mbps down and 5.76 Mbps up. There is no 4G on this handset, and its 3G bands limit which networks it can still use, so buyers should check local network support before expecting mobile data to work.

Software: Android 2.3 Gingerbread and Acer UI 4.2

The Acer Iconia Smart Android experience is Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Acer UI 4.2 on top, and that pairing defines how the phone feels. Acer Iconia Smart Android Gingerbread software experience in practice means the familiar Gingerbread menus, the early Android notification shade, the stock browser with HTML and Adobe Flash support, and Acer additions such as widgets, shortcuts and media apps. The Acer Iconia Smart software includes an organiser, a document viewer, voice memo, voice dial and voice commands, and predictive text input, which together made the phone a capable pocket organiser in 2011. The Acer Iconia Smart sensors are an accelerometer, a gyro and a proximity sensor, which support screen rotation, games and call handling in the usual way for the period.

An Acer Iconia Smart user guide and setup tips section is useful even now, because setting up a Gingerbread phone follows a different rhythm from a modern one. Charge the battery fully, fit the Mini-SIM and a microSD card, connect to Wi-Fi, set the date and time, and then add only the small set of apps that suit the hardware and the old Android version. Modern app shops and accounts will not work as they do on a current phone, and many current services have ended support for Android 2.3, so the sensible approach is to enjoy the built-in tools, the media player, the radio and the camera, and to treat the phone as a classic device rather than a connected daily handset. That approach also keeps expectations fair: the software is a period piece, and it is most enjoyable when it is used as one.

Full Specifications

The table below gathers the Acer Iconia Smart specs in one place, using the published specification record for the S300. It covers the network, the launch dates, the body, the display, the platform, the memory, the cameras, the sound, the connections, the extra features and the battery, so readers can check any single figure without searching through the review text.

Pros and Cons

A fair Acer Iconia Smart review needs both sides of the picture. The phone has real strengths that explain why it is still talked about, and it has clear limits that explain why it belongs in a collection rather than in daily use. The lists below weigh the tall screen, the removable battery and the media features against the small memory, the old software and the lack of modern network support.

What Works Well

• Tall 4.8-inch 21:9 display with 480 x 1024 resolution and Gorilla Glass, which is still the most distinctive feature of the phone.
• Removable 1500 mAh battery, so a tired cell can be swapped and the phone can be kept safely with the battery removed.
• 8 MP rear camera with autofocus, LED flash and 720p video at 30fps, plus a 2 MP front camera for video calls.
• HDMI port for TV playback, microSDHC slot for media, FM radio with RDS, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS with A-GPS, and HSPA data, which were a full connectivity set for 2011.
• Solid 185 g build with a narrow 64.5 mm width that keeps the tall body comfortable to hold.

Where It Shows Its Age

• 512MB of RAM and 8GB of built-in memory limit multitasking and app choice, even by 2011 standards for heavy users.
• Android 2.3 Gingerbread is no longer supported by most current apps and services, so the phone works best as a classic device.
• TFT panel with narrower viewing angles and contrast than the AMOLED screens on some 2011 rivals.
• Thick 13.6 mm body and 185 g weight feel heavy beside later phones.
• No 4G, and 3G bands that may not match every current network, so mobile data may not work in all regions.
• Discontinued status means no official updates, no warranty support and parts that are hard to find.

Verdict for Collectors and Curious Readers

The Acer Iconia Smart vs Samsung Galaxy S2 comparison is a useful way to place this phone. The Galaxy S II offered a faster dual-core chip and a Super AMOLED Plus screen, while the Iconia Smart answered with a taller 21:9 display, an HDMI port and a distinctive shape that no rival copied. The Acer Iconia Smart price in 2011 and value today also fits that picture: about 220 EUR at launch for a bold mid-range phone, and today a modest collector price that depends on condition, a working battery and a clean screen. For a collector, a student of phone design, or a reader who wants to understand how Android looked in 2011, the Iconia Smart phone is worth knowing. For anyone who needs a daily phone in 2026, a newer handset is the sensible choice, and the Iconia Smart is better kept as a working piece of history.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Acer Iconia Smart released?

The Acer Iconia Smart release was in August 2011, after the phone was announced in February 2011. The Acer Iconia Smart S300 model number and variants record lists the S300 as the main model name, with the same handset also shown as the Acer S300 in some listings. Its status is discontinued, and it was listed at about 220 EUR when new.

Is the Acer Iconia Smart still usable in 2026?

It can still be used for calls, messages, music, FM radio, photos and video on its original software, where networks and a working SIM allow it, but it is not a practical daily phone in 2026. Android 2.3 Gingerbread no longer runs most current apps, there is no 4G, and the 512MB of RAM limits what can run at once. It is best enjoyed as a collector piece and as an Acer Iconia Smart old Android phone for nostalgia, with a charged battery and realistic expectations.

How good is the Acer Iconia Smart camera?

The Acer Iconia Smart camera is an 8 megapixel rear unit with autofocus, an LED flash and 720p video at 30fps, plus a 2 megapixel front camera. In good daylight it records clear stills for a 2011 phone, and in low light it shows the noise and soft detail that were normal for small sensors of the period. The front camera handles basic video calls, and the HDMI port lets recorded video play on a television.

Does the Acer Iconia Smart support a microSD card?

Yes. The phone has a dedicated microSDHC card slot beside the 8GB of built-in memory, so a card can be added without removing the SIM. That slot is one of the most useful features for a media phone with a wide screen and an HDMI port, because music, photos and video fill the built-in memory quickly.

What chipset does the Acer Iconia Smart use?

The Acer Iconia Smart chipset is the Qualcomm MSM8255-1 Snapdragon S2, with a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU and an Adreno 205 GPU. Some early listings gave the related MSM8255T name, but the published specification record for the S300 lists the MSM8255-1, and the 1.0 GHz clock and Adreno 205 graphics match that chip. It was a capable single-core platform for Gingerbread in 2011.

Related Acer Reviews

Readers who want to place the Iconia Smart beside other Acer devices from the same era can continue with the related reviews below, which cover Acer tablets and the Liquid Express phone in the same detailed style.

• Breaking Down the Acer Iconia Tab A500: Review, Features and Full Specs
• Acer Iconia Tab A101 Review: Value for Money and Battery Life Put to the Test
• Acer Iconia Tab A501 Specifications and Detailed Overview: Build Quality Explained
• Acer Iconia Tab A100: Full Review and Specifications
• Acer Liquid Express E320 Complete Specifications: Every Detail, From Battery Life to Audio

The Iconia Smart remains a striking example of early Android ambition: a phone that chose a tall 21:9 screen when almost every rival chose a shorter one, and that paired it with a removable battery, an HDMI port and a capable 8 megapixel camera. Its limits are the limits of its year, and its appeal now is the appeal of a well-kept classic. For collectors, the advice is simple: check the screen, check the battery, check the camera and the ports, and keep the phone with its battery cared for. That way, this unusual Acer smartphone can still show, more than a decade after its August 2011 release, why its tall screen earned it a place in Android history.