The Liquid M220, the first Acer Windows Phone 8.1 device, launches at MWC

Published by at

Today at MWC, Acer joined the modern (8.1) Windows Phone fray, with the 4"-screened Liquid M220, a strictly budget model expected to retail at 79 Euros. Acer says "It is the right moment for Acer to join the Windows Phone eco-system with its growing popularity and consistency across phone and PC devices.” Quotes and some details below.

Acer M220

From the press release:

For those who are looking for a perfectly balanced Windows mobile experience, Acer developed the Liquid M220; putting simplicity and essential features for people on the move at the center. With a 4-inch 233 pixels per inch (PPI) display, the compact Liquid M220 enables a vivid multimedia experience and its dual cameras are perfect for taking photos and recording videos on-the-go. Featuring Windows Phone 8.1, the Liquid M220 is easy to use and customize and fully supports Microsoft applications and services such as OneDrive, Skype, Office and of course Cortana . “With the addition of a Windows-based smartphone, Acer now offers the broadest Windows portfolio in the industry,” Liew added. 

Aesthetics of Living Style

The Liquid M220 features a design that is as functional as it is beautiful. The sophisticated surface texture design on the cover sports a Thai Silk inspired pattern, while the silver middle frame features a distinct square pyramid design, adding grip and elegance. The volume and power keys are positioned along the path of the silver middle frame making them easy to find and providing a comfortable single hand experience.

Great cameras

While the voice and video calling features allow users to always stay connected, the 5MP auto-focus main and 2MP front cameras will capture beautiful moments. The main camera sports an 89-degree wide-angle lens, which lets users fit more of the scene into their photos. With the Liquid M220, every owner can easily save and share their memories!

Easy operation

Windows Phone 8.1 offers a productive alternative to other operating systems; it is extremely intuitive and easy to personalize, because Windows powers most of the PCs and laptops in the world, the phone has a familiarity and provides seamless integration across devices. A clean interface and a host of customization options means, you can customize the live tiles, colours and layout of the screen to really make the device your own.  Plus, staying in touch with friends and family is easier than ever.    

Accessories and connected devices for more fun

Both the Liquid Leap and Liquid Leap+ smart activebands are compatible with Windows Phone 8.1, becoming the ideal companions of the Liquid M220 for health conscious users with fitness tracking or anyone looking for a smarter way to stay in touch with deported notifications and music-control. The Liquid M220 will also have optional accessories ranging from matching colour flip covers to matching colour protective cases.

Availability and Pricing

The Liquid M220 will become available in April through selected EMEA retailers in Mystic Black & Pure White with a starting price of €79.

Nothing special in terms of specs or pricing then, though the styling and wide angle main camera might be an attraction. The equivalent in the Microsoft Lumia world is probably the 435. In each case, the target market are pay-as-you-go consumers, where the initial outlay is often as low as £40, with no commitment, other than keeping the SIM topped up as needed.

The M220 is claimed to be Windows 10 ready, but the low, low specs mean that it's not going to present the OS that well.

Essential specs:

  • Dual SIM
  • 4" WVGA display
  • 1.2GHz Snapdragon 200 (to be confirmed), 512MB RAM
  • 5MP main camera, 2MP front camera
  • 4GB internal storage plus microSD (to be confirmed)
  • 1300mAh battery

More from MWC as it gets announced.