Acer Liquid M220 – Hardware Review
Nearly all of us are familiar with the operating systems Android and iOS, but we often forget there are a few mobile devices that work with Windows. Acer did an effort to present a section of their users with a phone that runs Windows and we were able to try it out. This brings us the Liquid M220, a budget phone, that offers you Windows 8.1 and some other nice specs as well, for its price range. Perhaps Windows might open some windows after all.
Design
If you’ve have already seen Acer smartphones, you will definitely know that they try to maintain high standards and a sleek but elegant design. Some of these features can be found with the Liquid M220, although we can argue about the materials used for the final product. For example, the cover looks like a sort of “cheap” economical plastic and the front of the phone might seem a bit different than we’re used to. Whilst many of the other models in the Liquid series hardly show any of the frame on the front of the device, the M220 still has a lot of visible ‘framework’.Whilst this might seem ‘dated’ to some, it actually has a few advantages, especially for those who haven’t had a smartphone before (more on that later).
This device is available in in two colours, namely black and white. We had the chance to test the dark version, and in the long run this might be the best option. This due to the fact that the backside of the phone has a gritty texture, which will be harder to clean and thus it will attract more visible stains. At any rate, it is a great thing that Acer tries to innovate and although we had some minor points, the visual aspect is quite stunning, for its price, and it gives you the opportunity to have an original looking smartphone. For example, the Liquid M220 has a silver-coloured frame at the side which also has a distinct pattern and is something you might not see every day.
Comfort
The Liquid M220 has some features that will give you more grip and “padding” at the front of the phone. The frame at the sides of the device and the black framework around the screen are the most important extras, together with the gritty case. Due to these additions, you will be able to manipulate this device with one hand, without the trouble that you might accidentally press something at the side of your screen. The round curves are also something that helps you manipulating the phone and that makes it possible to use it in one hand.
The Liquid M220 has two exterior buttons at the right side of the screen. The first one serves as a power button with unlock/lock features while the other one arranges the volume settings. Those buttons tend to be quite fragile but this isn’t the case for this device as both buttons are actually quite rigid.
Taking a look at the weight of the mobile phone, it is clear that you will have a lightweight in your pockets. With only 120 grams, you won’t have any trouble playing games for longer periods of time for example.
Specs
- 4” display (480 x 800)
- 4 GB ROM / 8 GB (M220 / M220 Plus)
- 521 RAM / 1 GB (M220 / M220 Plus)
- MicroSD (up to 32 GB)
- 5 MP camera (back)
- 2 MP camera (front)
- Dual SIM
- Windows 8.1 (and Windows 10 will be available)
Overview
As you’ve might have seen in the specs, the Liquid M220 has Windows as its operating system, an OS that is still quite uncommon for mobile devices. To state it in a simple way, it means that you will get the same interface as your Windows computer and it will be easier to navigate through the several menus if you’re new with smartphones. Your ‘main’ screen will consist out of several small icons that resemble your apps that you will be able to use. If you slide to the right, you will get an alphabetical overview of all the available programs so it is really easy to find one, if it isn’t set on your main screen. The rest is just like any other smartphone would work, although you will need to slide upwards if you want to get a menu for returning to the previous display or going back to the main screen.
The size of the screen might not be that big as it is only a 4” monitor. If you take a look at other devices on the market, it might be seen as ‘small’ but it is sufficient for both work as pleasure needs.
If you’re looking for a smartphone that has fast processing speed, the Liquid M220 might not be sufficient. It has a 1.2 GHz Dual-core processor which will do fine when browsing the menu or playing small games but it might get a tad slow when processing bigger games. For the price range the Liquid M220 is in, it is surely ok.
We’ve already mentioned gaming and although the bigger games might be a problem, the smaller ones tend to run well and the phone doesn’t have any heating problems. You will notice a small temperature change at the top of the smartphone and around the camera but it is not like you’ll be holding a little stove. This will be different when playing bigger games of course. Another bonus is that the battery of the Liquid M220 doesn’t seem to deteriorate a lot, although gaming sessions are very consuming just like you would notice on any other device.
If you want to use the Liquid M220 intensively for gaming, music or photos, it might be a good idea to get a MicroSD card as the RAM and ROM is almost completely used by the phone for its necessities. This means that you can install just a few games and then you’re out of memory. It would be nice if there was more space to begin with though. Another remark is that both cameras aren’t that great and a real selfie-lover might not be satisfied by the quality the Liquid M220 has to offer. When you’re going to use the phone just for work, it will be enough and even more, you can insert two SIM-cards so work and private can be separated.
Conclusion
We had the chance to test the Liquid M220, a phone with Windows 8.1 as its operating system, and overall we can say that you get a lot for your money. That being said this device feels as if it’s directed towards new smartphone users, an older audience or those who aren’t sure of what a Windows phone has up its sleeve. You will be able to play games and pictures, although the quality of the last mentioned might be a bit dodgy. If you’re looking for a Windows operating system and you don’t have a big budget, this is the one for you.
Acer Liquid M220 - Hardware Review,
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