Discover Acer beTouch E100 Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of Acer beTouch E100

The Acer beTouch E100 is a smartphone that was announced and released in October 2009. Though it has been discontinued, it remains a device of interest due to its historical significance in the evolution of smartphones. The beTouch E100 is a reflection of the technological achievements of its time, featuring specifications and capabilities that were quite significant during the late 2000s.

Network and Connectivity

The device supports GSM and HSPA technology, with 2G bands including GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900, and 3G bands covering HSDPA 850, 1900, and 2100. This ensures reasonable connectivity for mobile communication and internet browsing, although limited by today's 4G and 5G standards. It can reach speeds of HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps, which was relatively fast for its time but is considered slow by today's standards.

Design and Build

Physically, the Acer beTouch E100 has compact dimensions of 113 x 56 x 12.8 mm and weighs 118 grams, making it lightweight and portable. It utilizes a mini-SIM card and is designed to be user-friendly and easy to carry, fitting easily in most pockets.

Display

The smartphone features a 3.2-inch TFT resistive touchscreen which displays 65K colors. With a screen resolution of 240 x 400 pixels and a pixel density of approximately 146 ppi, it provides clear and vivid images, although it may not compete with the high-definition displays of current smartphones. The screen-to-body ratio is approximately 46.1%, meaning the screen occupies nearly half of the front surface of the phone.

Platform and Performance

Powered by Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, the beTouch E100 runs on a Qualcomm MSM7225 Snapdragon S1 chipset with a 528 MHz ARM 11 CPU. It lacks a dedicated GPU, which limits its capacity for graphics-intensive applications. Despite these limitations, it was suitable for basic smartphone operations and applications available at the time.

Memory and Storage

The device comes equipped with 256MB of RAM and 512MB of ROM for internal storage, which can be expanded via a dedicated microSD slot. The memory specifications reflect the standard for smartphones of its generation, which means it’s capable of handling basic tasks and applications without much access to multitasking capabilities.

Camera Capabilities

Featuring a single 2 MP main camera, the Acer beTouch E100 was designed for basic photography. The camera can record videos at 320p, but it lacks a selfie camera, which significantly limits its appeal for versatile photography needs prevalent today.

Sound and Audio

For audio, the device includes a loudspeaker but does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack, which was an unusual choice for the time. This means users would need to rely on Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for wireless audio, although the use of Bluetooth headsets was not as common then.

Battery Life

The removable Li-Ion 1140 mAh battery provides up to 400 hours of standby time and up to 5 hours of talk time, which is adequate for light daily use. The battery capacity was a standard for the period and offers users the convenience of easily replacing the battery if needed.

Communication and Connectivity Features

Though lacking WLAN capability, the Acer beTouch E100 includes GPS and A-GPS for location services but lacks FM radio. For data transfers, it has miniUSB connectivity, which serves simpler purposes of charging and data synchronization compared to modern USB-C connections.

Browser and Additional Features

The phone comes with an HTML browser that allows basic internet browsing. It's designed to display web pages but with limited functionality compared to contemporary smartphones. The absence of advanced sensors like accelerometers or proximity sensors reflects its position as an early smartphone.

Market Position and Pricing

Released at about 180 EUR, the Acer beTouch E100 was positioned in the market as an affordable option for users looking for basic smartphone capabilities without the high price tag associated with flagship devices of the time. It was available in a classic black color, providing a professional and sleek appearance.

Conclusion

The Acer beTouch E100 offers a snapshot of smartphone technology as it stood in the late 2000s, emphasizing functionality and affordability. While it cannot compete with modern devices in terms of performance or features, it remains a significant part of the historical evolution of mobile phones, serving its role as a predecessor to more sophisticated and feature-rich smartphones.