MWC: Acer introduces smartphone with 21:9 screen

Acer has unveiled a new Android smartphone at Mobile World Congress at Mobile World Congress, which features a 4.8″ screen with an aspect ratio of 21:9. The device is called the Iconia Smart, runs on Android 2.3 and contains a Snapdragon soc.

The Iconia Smart’s 4.8″ screen has a resolution of 1024×480 and features an edge-lit LED backlight. Acer says the large screen also gives the device many of the benefits of a tablet or PC. would no longer have to zoom in to read web pages properly; just like on a tablet and a PC screen, you would only have to scroll vertically. In addition to browsing, the device is also suitable for watching movies, according to Acer. can display movies in the original cinema aspect ratio without black bars thanks to the 21:9 ratio, and the sound system bears the Dolby Mobile stamp.To play media on a television, the device is equipped with an HDMI output and Acers clear.fi dlna software is available for content exchange within a home network.

The smartphone is built around a 1GHz Snapdragon soc from Qualcomm, which is assisted by 512MB of RAM and 8GB for data storage. The device runs on Android 2.3, and based on the photos, Acer has put its own shell over the operating system. Furthermore, the device has bluetooth 2.1 and wifi b/g/n on board, as well as an 8-megapixel camera for photo and video, and a 2-megapixel model for video calling. The Iconia Smart will be available in the UK from May 1. Acer has not yet announced anything about the availability in other countries, and the sales price.