Acer first with 4K-shooting smartphone at IFA

We all know Ultra High Definition content is coming, but it just isn’t here fast enough, and just like how 3D cameras hit the scene before 3D Blu-rays, 4K cameras are coming shortly inside smartphones.

This tidbit comes from Acer, which is launching a few new products ahead of IFA 2013 in Germany, including a new Android tablet with virtual 5.1 surround (Iconia A3) and a new edition of the Acer R7 hybrid laptop with an active stylus.

Also included in that batch of product announcements is the Liquid S2, a smartphone that borders on tablet size thanks to a 6 inch Full HD IPS screen.

While aspects of this phablet seem relatively standard for a high-end and aside for packing in 4G LTE and support for WiFi 802.11ac, the camera is new, supporting 13 megapixel stills, 27 megapixel panoramas, and 4K videos.

That last feature is especially new, and Acer is the first to officially announce capture support for the Ultra High Definition video format, even though rumours are currently suggesting both Samsung and Sony will be announcing similar products of their own at IFA shortly.

Outside of the 4K video camera functionality, the Liquid S2 will measure 8.9mm thin, and boast Corning’s scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 3 protecting its 6 inch screen. Storage inside the phablet will sit at 16GB, but a microSD will let customers expand this.

Release overseas is expected in October, but while pricing is absent, so does information for when Acer plans to release this locally in Australia.

We’ve contacted the local arm of Acer for more information, but as far as we remember, Acer hasn’t been in the phone market in this country since, oh, 2010. Maybe this new phone will spark a change.