Windows 10 Mobile may face an uphill battle against Android and iOS, but at least Acer is willing to join Microsoft in the brutally competitive smartphone market.
During this week’s CES 2016 in Las Vegas, Acer is showing off its new Liquid Jade Primo handset (pictured). Running Windows 10 Mobile, the premium smartphone will support the mode-switching Continuum feature that provides a Windows desktop experience when it’s connected to a dock, a monitor with USB Type-C support or wireless display accessories.
For a self-contained Windows Mobile experience, Liquid Jade Primo features a 5.5-inch OLED display. The 32GB handset is powered by a six-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor and 3GB of RAM. A 21-megapixel rear camera supports 4K video recording while the 8-megapixel front-facing camera can record footage in full HD (1080p).
To help slim down the Liquid Jade Primo, Acer is using laser direct structuring (LDS) technology as a means of integrating the antenna into the smartphone’s back cover. Acer was also able to remove the display’s touch substrate layer by incorporating touch functionality into the touch-screen’s outer layer.
Liquid Jade Primo, which will launch in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for 569 euros in February, joins Microsoft’s own flagship Windows 10 smartphones, the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, in the modest market for Windows handsets.
Meanwhile, Alcatel OneTouch is readying an entry-level tablet that runs Windows 10 Mobile, the Android smartphone maker announced.
Details are scarce, but the upcoming Pixi 3 will sport an 8-inch touch-screen and a version of the OS optimized for tablets. Features include front- and rear-facing cameras, TV remote control functionality, built-in GPS, voice call capabilities and optional flip stand covers.
Later this year, E Fun plans to launch a trio of affordable two-in-one notebooks that run the full Windows 10 OS.
The new Nextbook Flexx 9A, 10A and 11A are powered by Quad-core Intel Atom x5-Z8300 processors and feature 8.9-, 10.1- and 11.6-inch In-Plane Switching (IPS) touch-screens, respectively. Both the Flexx 9A and 10A boast screen resolutions of 1,280 pixels by 800 pixels while the Flexx 11A offers 1,366 pixels by 768 pixels.
The budget two-in-ones will ship with 32GB of internal storage on the Nextbook Flexx 9A and 10A and 64GB of storage on the Flexx 11A. Buyers can expand the devices’ storage capacity with a microSD card (up to 64GB). All models include 2GB of RAM. Other highlights include front and rear cameras, Bluetooth 4.0 support, 802.11n WiFi connectivity and a micro-HDMI port for external displays.
“E FUN’s new Windows 10 Nextbook devices are further proof that you can do great things on any budget,” said Jordan Chrysafidis, vice president of Microsoft’s U.S. OEM division. “These value-priced devices are great for education or entertainment, and with Windows 10 features, customers can have fun and get more done.”
E Fun’s Nextbook Flexx 9A, 10A and 11A will ship in the second quarter of 2016 with price tags of $149, $199 and $249, respectively.
