The big IFA 2013 show in Berlin may not officially kick off for a few more days, but apparently Acer just couldn't wait any longer to share the news about its upcoming hardware. The company today revealed a full slate of new products that its got in the pipeline, including a trio of Android-powered devices. There's quite a bit of information to sift through in today's announcements, so let's break it down in an easily-digestible bulleted list:
- Acer Liquid S2: The smallest device of the Android group (though not necessarily small itself), the Liquid S2 is smartphone with a 6-inch 1920x1080 IPS display. One of the highlight features of the Liquid S2 is its 13-megapixel camera, which is capable of recording 4K Ultra HD video and also includes an LED flash, panorama support and a host of other software add-ons. Also included with the Liquid S2 is a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor, 2-megapixel front camera, 16GB storage, 2GB RAM, 3,300mAh non-removable battery and Android 4.2.2.
- Acer Iconia A3: Moving up in size brings us to the Iconia A3, a 10.1-inch tablet that runs Android 4.2. Touted as a tablet for "music and movie lovers," the Iconia A3 sports Dolby Digital Plus support for virtual 5.1 surround sound. Acer has also included a 1280x800 resolution display, quad-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A7 processor, 5-megapixel camera, 16GB or 32GB storage and a microSD slot.
- Along with the Iconia A3, Acer says that it plans to offer its Iconia A1 in new white, smoky gray and white gold colors, while the Iconia B1 is now available in oceanic blue and vermillion red.
- Acer DA241HL: This creatively-named piece of hardware is a new all-in-one desktop machine that's got a 24-inch touchscreen. The unit is powered by a combination of Android 4.2 and a quad-core Tegra 3 processor. The DA241HL has full Google Play access, giving smartphone owners access to their usual assortment of apps, and there's also an MHL port that enables users to hook their handset up to the DA241HL's display. It can also connect to a Windows 8 PC over HDMI or USB.
When it comes to the all-important availability details, Acer says that the Liquid S2, Wi-Fi-only Iconia A3 and DA241HL will all begin rolling out in October, with the latter two carrying price tags of €249 ($329 USD) and €429 ($567 USD), respectively. A 3G-enabled version of Iconia A3 is expected to hit in early November for €299 ($395).
Overall it looks like Acer's got a wide range of hardware headed for store shelves. The Liquid S2 could be an interesting option for consumers that are hunting for a powerful Android smartphone thanks to its large, high-res display, 4K video capture and other high-end specs. The bad news is that while Acer has made travel arrangements for the Liquid S2 in Europe, it's made no similar plans for the U.S. quite yet. Stay tuned and I'll give you a shout if that changes.
