Stefan Mileschin

Introducing the first two handsets of Acer's 2013 line-up: the Liquid E1 and the Liquid Z2. The company formally announced the Liquid E1 last month, but with Mobile World Congress around the corner, the mid-range phone just got official for the European market. The E1 packs a dual-core 1GHz processor and runs Jelly Bean on a 4.5-inch qHD display -- and, notably, it will be available in both dual- and single-SIM configurations. Acer is marketing the E1 as a multimedia-friendly handset, and accordingly it includes two speakers with DTS Sound, plus "Float" software that prevents notifications from popping up when you're watching videos.

The Liquid Z2, on the other hand, is an entry-level handset with a dual-core 1GHz CPU and a 3.5-inch HVGA screen. It runs Jelly Bean with an optional interface that mimics a feature phone's home screen. Like the E1, it's available with one or two SIM cards, and you have your choice of a 3-megapixel or 5-MP camera.

Pricing isn't set in stone, but Acer told us the Liquid E1 will be in the €199 to €229 range, while the Z2 should cost between €99 and €129. Both phones will first go on sale in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Ukraine, with availability in Italy, Russia and the UK coming later. We'll deliver the hands-on goods in Barcelona, but for now you can peruse the press info after the break.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/20/a...2-smartphones/