Acer Liquid Z630S hands-on

We already got a chance to handle the Acer Liquid Z630S briefly at last year's IFA in September, but we're not ones to shy away from an opportunity to examine a phone at headquarters. So when one presented itself, we grabbed it. That said, we didn't do our full battery of tests - instead, we'll just share a few impressions gathered in a setting way calmer than a venue floor.

Acer Liquid Z630S at a glance:

Body: Polycarbonate all around, removable back,
Screen: 5.5" IPS LCD, 720p resolution (267ppi)
OS: Android 5.1 Lollipop
Chipset: Mediatek MT6753, octa-core Cortex-A53 at 1.3GHz, Mali-T720MP3, 3GB of RAM
Camera: 8MP with f/2.0 lens; 1080p video recording
Selfie camera: 8MP with f/2.4 lens; 1080p video recording
Storage: 32GB built-in, dedicated microSD slot
Connectivity: LTE, dual-SIM; Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, FM-Radio;
Battery: 4,000mAh, removable

Pretty run-of-the-mill specsheet there, though credit has to be given to Acer for the generous amount of RAM and large battery capacity. The display pixel density is a throwback to simpler times, and the primary camera's resolution is also unimpressive.

You do get plenty of storage for the money, with an option for expansion, and that path isn't obstructed by pesky hybrid slots - two for microSIMs and one dedicated for microSD. The sizeable battery capacity, plus the fact that it's removable are a couple of Acer choices we can get behind too.

And since we did mention money, it's worth pointing out that the Acer Liquid Z630S' price varies widely depending on region. For example, in India the phone goes for a very affordable INR 9,999 ($150), while in Europe you'd need to shell out something like €230 ($260) - not really the best value for money.

Anyway, back to the Liquid itself. The first thing that comes to mind is that it's big. Ample bezels all-around (but especially the chin) make it more than a handful, even when factoring in its 5.5-inch display. It's marginally smaller than an iPhone 6s Plus, and that's not a company you want to be in, when talking about screen to body ratio.

There's a lip around the front glass to protect its edges, so those used to a 2.5D curve won't be impressed, but it serves its purpose, and luxury is not to be expected in this price range. Around the back, you're treated to a pseudo brushed metal finish, which looks the part.