Acer CloudMobile Review
Share:
Out of the box, the Acer CloudMobile runs a slightly customized version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Many visual elements have retained their stock form, such as the icons, the virtual Android buttons, and the way applications and widgets are organized in the app drawer.
 |  |  |  |
The Acer CloudMobile runs a slightly customized version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich | |||
The lock screen, however, has been replaced with a more sophisticated one that can host four shortcuts to applications of the user's choice. The drop-down notification bar is where toggle buttons for various connectivity features can be found, in addition to quick access to your alarm clock and the Play Music player. Some users might find this solution convenient, although we think that putting so much stuff up there is overkill. All in all, the interface on the Acer CloudMobile is okay as it mostly sticks to the stock Android experience, and the changes that have been introduced are likely to be of use to most consumers.
 |  |
The lock screen | Drop-down notification bar |
We have no complaints about the stock Android on-screen keyboard as it is comfortable to use in both portrait and landscape modes. Furthermore, it can correct typos and add punctuation marks automatically. Those of you who prefer alternative input methods will be happy to know that New Swype comes pre-loaded, with intelligent next word prediction that keeps on adding new words to its dictionary as it is being used.
 |  |
On-screen keyboard | |
AcerCloud:
The Acer CloudMobile differentiates itself with the cloud features tightly integrated within the system. AcerCloud, as the service is called, synchronizes certain types of files across a master computer called the “Cloud PC” and up to 32 additional devices, such as computers of any make running Windows 7 and up, or any smartphone or tablet running Android 2.2 or later. Naturally, a client needs to be installed on the main computer in order for AcerCloud to work – a process takes just a few minutes while the download is free of charge. Once that is done, photos, videos, and music stored on the Cloud PC will be accessible from every other connected device, yet we have to highlight some restrictions that apply.
For example, music and video files are not physically in the cloud (unlike the case is with iCloud or Dropbox), meaning that accessing such content is only possible when the Cloud PC is turned on and connected to the web. In other words, audio and movies are streamed or copied directly from the PC they are stored on, not from Acer's servers. Therefore, one needs a very reliable internet connection not only for their smartphone, but also for their Cloud PC in order to enjoy the service at its fullest. Alternatively, content can be downloaded and stored on the smartphone itself for listening or watching offline.
Photos and documents, on the other hand, remain cached in the cloud for 30 days, (no storage limitations are present), so users can access them from any of their devices connected to AcerCloud. Photos taken with the Acer CloudMobile are automatically synchronized with the Cloud PC's gallery, which we find very convenient.
 |  |
Long story short, AcerCloud is a more integrated, yet in many ways, less versatile than Dropbox, Box, SugarSync, and the likes. Rather, one can think of it as a less exciting version of Apple iCloud. Still, despite its limited functionality, the service has its advantages, such as the unlimited cloud storage it provides for photos and documents while letting one access their home multimedia library remotely. However, we can't really say that AcerCloud is truly the best option available since HTC is offering its latest Androids with 25GB of free Dropbox storage for 2 years, while Samsung and Sony offer a whopping 50GB with their high-end smartphones, via Dropbox and Box respectively.
Processor and memory:
We encountered no performance issues while testing out the Acer CloudMobile. The very capable Snapdragon S4 chip – MSM8260A running at 1.5GHz alongside 1GB of RAM, handled whatever we threw at it with ease, including the latest 3D games. Transitioning between screens is silky smooth and switching between applications happens in an instant. In case benchmark results matter to you, the scores that we got were above par.
| Quadrant Standard | AnTuTu | NenaMark 2 | |
| Acer CloudMobile | 5312 | 6807 | 57,1 |
| HTC One S | 4867 | 7012 | 60,7 |
| Sony Xperia SL | 3218 | 7229 | 37,4 |
| Samsung Galaxy Nexus | 2000 | 5503 | 24 |
Out of the 8GB of on-board storage offered by the CloudMobile, only 5.2GB are available to the user. That isn't a whole lot, so those who feel like they need extra storage are free to use a microSD card of up to 32GB.
Web browser and connectivity:
Google Chrome and the stock ICS web browser run great as well, just like all the other apps we tested on the Acer CloudMobile. Even heavy web pages are loaded and rendered quickly, with minimal delays while zooming in and out. Adobe Flash does not come installed, yet embedded YouTube videos are still playable.
 |  |  |  |
Web surfing with the Acer CloudMobile | |||
All connectivity features one might expect are present on the Acer CloudMobile, including 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and an FM radio with RDS. In addition, NFC is also on board, which could potentially allow one to use their handset for mobile payments. Connecting the smartphone to a computer is done via its microUSB port.
Share:
Sony Xperia SL Review 
Camera comparison: Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S III vs HTC One X 
Related phones
Acer CloudMobile
- Specifications
- News (3)
- Review 7.5/10
- User Reviews
23 Comments
1. kshell1 posted on 04 Oct 2012, 08:03 2 2
Could been a wonderful phone if it would have been released earlier and had more memory
2. brock8687 posted on 04 Oct 2012, 08:20 4 1
a lot of drawbacks for my liking and no real USP .... only plus i find is the design.... yet nothing u can't get at that price.... with the more established sony's and the sammy's and the htc's knocking at the door.....
5. dil2abu posted on 04 Oct 2012, 09:06 4 7
I agree with you.. Even in Design wise Xperia T/TX looks awesome than this.. iPhonearena Ratings sucks..
Sony deserves more than they get from iPhonearena..
iPhone 5 got 9.5.. :O
15. -box- posted on 05 Oct 2012, 14:29 3 0
...and deserved an 8-8.5 at best
18. robcar posted on 15 Oct 2012, 10:49 0 0
This site is not in the center of its assessments. Therefore I always will discard this site.
GSMarena is much more central in their assessments and fair, and thy can
But this phone seems very good.
22. alvanyap posted on 23 Jan 2013, 10:46 0 0
bear in mind that this phone is a lot cheaper compare with xperia T, so why wouldn't it get a better score when it have same performance & lower price tag?
8. toondewachter posted on 04 Oct 2012, 12:18 3 0
May I remind you of the fact that the Sony Xperia T actually got 8? Which is not that bad at all, is it?
And secondly: this phone will be for sale for €289.99 here in Belgium, while the Xperia T goes for €519... Now I like Sony, but this is an enormous price difference. So there might be a few drawbacks, but none of them are deal breakers to me.
The camera's quality seems to be ok, not wow, but ok.
The music player is replaceable: who is going to listen to music from the cloud anyway?
Sony's call quality was given very bad reviews by numerous reviewers on the web. I suppose that a loud earpiece and some artificial voices is at least evenly good.
Considering the price point, I think this phone is a winner!
12. rusticguy posted on 04 Oct 2012, 18:59 3 0
If Xperia Arc /Arc S was produced by Apple i am sure Acer cloud would be in trouble for "Tarde Dress" theft.
For a fair review of a phone i always look at gsmarena as they are less biased in my opinion.
4. Raymond_htc posted on 04 Oct 2012, 09:04 6 1
And months ago when phonearena came out with a preview news of this phone, a lot said its ugly.. well looky here! its sexy...
6. Nathan_ingx posted on 04 Oct 2012, 09:34 3 0
Oh man...i was expecting much better. As i went from page 1-4, my interest for the phone went 'Wow-good-ok-ouch'!
7. SleepingOz posted on 04 Oct 2012, 10:30 4 0
Same for me, I was planning to get this as my secondary phone but not anymore. Still a sexy device though.
9. wolstenbeast posted on 04 Oct 2012, 12:42 1 0
For a new move into phones not bad at all!
7.5 seemed kind of harsh given Acer Cloud is an additional free function, not one you have to use, say like none expandable memory, lemming maps, purple pictures, dents and scratches or none removable battery. Points to the above mentioned 9.5.
11. flexile posted on 04 Oct 2012, 17:28 0 0
Is this phone cheap? If so, a 7.5 is pretty harsh. I'll have to consider this phone for my next buy...it will be either Xperia V or Acer CM. I honestly love the design of this one. I'll never use cloud services and I can download a music player from the Play Store.
23. alvanyap posted on 23 Jan 2013, 10:47 0 0
it is cheap compare to it's competitive like what acer phone used to be :)
13. pankajgupta posted on 05 Oct 2012, 02:45 0 0
looks like Xperia Neo??
an year behind Sony ? :)
17. jbn23 posted on 08 Oct 2012, 23:30 0 0
i also noticed that when it was first announced..neo is sexy and acer adapts that design..i guess:)
20. f.begbie posted on 19 Oct 2012, 16:27 0 0
dont be stupid! Look at the acer A1 Liquid with this very same design a lot before even sony started to get interested in android business.
14. Plaisir009 posted on 05 Oct 2012, 03:18 0 0
Please tell me there is a YouTube review of this phone?
16. flexile posted on 06 Oct 2012, 10:13 0 0
Yes, it should be on the review or look on their channel.
21. f.begbie posted on 19 Oct 2012, 16:37 1 0
im not sure what is your problem with the phone, but best screen for 4,3 size, best available 2 core chipset on board, nice looking and ergonomic.
The camer could have been better but the new sony T with the 13Mpx camera cannot make a real difference.
An i really don't understand why should anyone care about the preinstalled apps. And why does it important in a review that the music app is not the best since almost noone use stock apps. Its like reviewin a car by it's color...
-
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Samsung Galaxy Note II
-
Samsung Galaxy S4 Review
-
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One
-
Camera comparison: Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One, Sony Xperia Z, iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia 920 and Galaxy S III
-
Screen Comparison: Galaxy S4 vs iPhone 5 vs Xperia Z vs One vs Galaxy S III vs Lumia 920
