Acer’s Liquid Jade Primo Wants To Be The Only Device You Use

Acer has announced the first non-Lumia Windows 10 phone to hit the market in the Liquid Jade Primo. Using Windows 10’s Continuum technology, Acer is touting this as a phone that could very well replace your computer — or at least your laptop.

Continuum senses when your Windows 10 phone is connected to a secondary display, allowing the Windows 10 universal apps to display on the screen in a desktop-like experience. The Primo is built with this functionality in mind, encouraging the connection of USB Type-C monitors or wireless display accessories to use it on the go like a miniature computer. When connected this way, the phone itself can be used as a touchpad or a virtual keypad, or you can connect a keyboard and mouse for true PC-style functionality. Acer cites a number of different uses this technology is capable of, such as:

• Connecting the smartphone to a TV or monitor at hotels or anywhere on the go for productivity-intensive applications, so that the heavier laptop can be left at home.
• Projecting presentation decks to a projector or large screen, while displaying the “Presenter View” on the smartphone.
• Playing videos on the TV while using other apps on the smartphone simultaneously.

In order to support such resource-intensive multitasking, the Liquid Jade Primo features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal memory, along with an advanced cooling system to dissipate the heat from the processor. Even being used as a regular phone, the Primo has some impressive features. The 21MP rear camera supports up to 4K video recording, with a not-too-shabby capability for Full HD 1080p video recording on the 8MP front-facing camera as well.

The Liquid Jade Primo currently only has a release announced for Europe, the Middle East and and Africa, where it will be available from February. Acer says it will be gradually rolled out to other regions after that. Prices start at €569, or $855 at current exchange rates.

Jump to 20:45 in the video below to see Acer first preview the Jade Primo on stage late last year ahead of CES.


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