Design and Build Quality
Aesthetic and Physical Attributes
The Acer M900 has a kind of utilitarian look, so it leans more toward function than pure beauty. It feels fairly bulky, with dimensions of 119.6 x 62.8 x 17.1 mm ,and it tips the scale at 188 grams. This chunkiness mostly comes from the slide-out QWERTY keyboard, plus that overall sturdy build that was pretty common in smartphones aimed at business users back then. The frame is plastic, sure but it still feels solid, and like it could handle the little rigors of everyday carry, without much drama.
Up front the main attention goes to a 3.8-inch resistive touchscreen, resolution 480 x 800 pixels. Under the display, you get physical buttons for call answer, call end, and a central navigation key . The slide-out keyboard is honestly the most distinctive part, it includes five rows of keys, and there’s a dedicated row for numerals. That tiny choice makes sense, especially for people who regularly type numbers or work with lots of data.
On the back you’ll find a 5-megapixel camera ,paired with an LED flash. There’s also a fingerprint scanner for extra security, which is a nice add-on in daily life. The right side holds the camera button along with the volume rocker ,while the left side includes a micro-USB port for charging and data transfer. At the top sits a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a helpful touch for anyone who prefers wired earbuds, or just doesn’t want to rely on adapters.
Build Quality
In terms of build quality , the Acer M900 feels solid and kind of well-constructed, like you can tell it was made to last. The sliding keyboard mechanism is smooth and sturdy, there’s no noticeable wobble or looseness, which is a relief. The plastic casing , though it isn’t exactly premium, doesn’t feel cheap either, and it seems to help with the overall durability of the device. The weight and thickness are downsides for some people especially if they want a slim and light smartphone, but for others those same attributes give the M900 a sense of reliability , a bit of robustness too.
The M900 was one of Acer’s earlier handsets that showed up in Barcelona. It has a 3.8-inch widescreen WVGA display, plus a sliding QWERTY keyboard , and yes, it’s a slider phone. It runs Windows Mobile. In essence , the M900 was developed under the E-brand—after Acer acquired the brand the phone ended up being fresh , like it was basically brand new.
The first impression of this handset is that it looks great. It measures 119 x 62 x 17.1 mm and weighs 188 grams. The M900 includes a QWERTY keyboard, and honestly it looks a little cumbersome. When you compare it to its predecessor, the HTC Touch Pro 2, the device dimensions are almost the same, but the weight is higher (HTC’s handset is 178.5 grams).
The M900’s wide, high-rise surface is highly unstable, especially when compared to its predecessor, the Touch Pro 2. It just slides out without pulling up like the recent slider trend.
The M900 has a very large QWERTY keyboard, and the buttons are large and flat, which is quite similar to a laptop. With 4 rows of keys, the number keys are interwoven with the number keys. When writing dots, commas, users need to press the Fn key. Despite the wide keys, but the keys of the machine a bit hard, the bottom line is quite close, hard to put up the hand to edit.
One of the reasons the M900 is the large size is the wide-screen touch screen, up to 3.8 inches. The handset is large and has a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels equivalent to the HTC Touch HD, the screen quality is very good, the image and the characters are sharp and colorful.
Below the screen are four keys and a fingerprint sensor. The buttons include call and disconnect calls, Home movies and GPS shortcuts. The fingerprint sensor is located in the middle, allowing the user to slide the finger across, allowing the cursor to be moved on the screen for control.
The buttons on the right side of the machine include photography, reset holes, customizing the volume and turning on the power button. It’s easy to start the M900 because of its large and easy-to-click power key. Next to the left of this model is the wheel-drive wheel, miniUSB port and microSD card slot. In it, the miniUSB port is a three-way charger, computer connection and headphones.
The Acer M900 is exceptionally powerful in terms of connectivity. The handset allows users to download data via HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Global Positioning GPS. With its integrated SiRFstar III chip, the M900 supports multiple satellite connection solutions, locating well.
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Acer equips its PDA phones with a dedicated interface called Acer Shell 2.0. The program will automatically turn on when the user starts the machine and allows the option to use or not. Shell 2.0 simulates a 3-pound, left-right table on the screen. In particular, icons such as calendars, contacts, photos … are arranged by the image, when clicking on any icon, the application will be opened. Users can drag icons and put them back to their liking. Acer’s interface looks much like HTC’s TouchFLO or SPB Mobile Shell.
The fingerprint sensor below the “owner” recognition screen by swiping the finger over the password. Enabling and customizing this feature is quite simple.
Despite the real keyboard, the touch screen is also very responsive. The handset allows editing with the QWERTY keyboard, which automatically switches the screen to the left, right with the built-in accelerometer.
Other features of the M900 include an FM radio, a backup application that lets you turn on and off the chapters, and zoom in on the corner of the screen. This is also a software-enabled mobile that disconnects programs running in fast RAM.
5 Megapixel camera on the back of the machine with autofocus and LED light. The interface is simple, easy to shoot, but the photos are average.
Equipped with Samsung’s processor, 533 MHz, M900 runs well applications. This model has only 128 MB of RAM, but runs pretty well with memory-hungry applications, smoother when surfing the Web using Opera Mobile or downloading Google Maps.
The battery has a capacity of 1,530 mAh, with a usage time of just over a day. Call quality of the machine is stable.
Software and Features
Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
The Acer M900 runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional , which is an operating system that was made with business users in mind. It includes a bunch of productivity things , like Microsoft Office Mobile, so people can create and edit documents while they are on the move. There’s also a tight integration with Microsoft Exchange Server, and that gives pretty seamless access to corporate email, contacts, and calendars.
Windows Mobile 6.1 meanwhile has a whole pack of communication tools, email, text messaging, and instant messaging too. The email client can work with multiple accounts, and it supports both POP3 and IMAP protocols, so it should fit with most email providers. On top of that, BlackBerry Connect is there as well, which helps a lot if you rely on BlackBerry’s push email style and want that kind of responsiveness.
Still , Windows Mobile 6.1 has some drawbacks. The user interface feels dated today, it leans on text-based menus and tiny icons that can be kind of hard to steer around with a resistive touchscreen. And the OS doesn’t really have the smoothness or the nice touch that newer mobile operating systems bring, so overall it can feel a bit clunky, even unintuitive at times.
Pre-Installed Applications
The Acer M900 comes pre-loaded with a selection of applications meant to boost productivity and communication, you know, the usual stuff. Along with Microsoft Office Mobile and the standard Windows Mobile apps, the device also includes:
Acer Shell: this is a custom user interface made to help with the day to day use of Windows Mobile. It has a 3D carousel for moving between separate home screens, and each one can be tailored with widgets and shortcuts. Visually it looks quite nice, though it doesn’t really make the overall usability much better. It’s kind of like… pleasant, but not a huge difference.
Acer Easy Keyboard: a virtual keyboard with bigger keys and predictive text input. It’s a good add-on especially since the touchscreen is resistive, but most people will still probably want the physical QWERTY keyboard when typing longer messages. The real deal always wins, in practice.
Acer Easy Launcher: a custom launcher for quick access to often-used applications and settings. It’s fairly straightforward but it works well for simplifying navigation on the M900, no drama.
Other pre-installed apps include a basic web browser, a media player, and a file manager. They do the job, but they miss out on the more advanced options and smoother, user-friendly interfaces that you expect from newer modern apps, today.
Fingerprint scanner and security features
One of the standout bits on the Acer M900 is the fingerprint scanner, it sits on the back of the device and yeah it’s there for a reason. You can use it to unlock the phone and open secure applications, giving business users an extra wall of protection. In practice it makes everyday access feel a little more guarded, even when you’re moving around.
The fingerprint scanner is kind of uneven. It isn’t as quick or dependable as the newer biometric sensors you see in more recent smartphones. The scanner may not read your print on the first try, so you end up doing a few more attempts just to get in. Still, it’s pretty helpful for people who prefer securing sensitive information without leaning only on passwords or PIN codes.
Beyond fingerprints, the M900 also brings along other security basics. There’s support for encrypting files and folders, plus remote device management capabilities. Taken together, these tools make the M900 a workable choice for companies that need a mobile unit with security in mind for their employees, not only for IT teams.
Overall value and conclusion
Value proposition
At launch, the Acer M900 was framed as a high-end business smartphone. The idea was simple: offer a bundle of features for professionals who want efficiency and communication in one place. You get a physical QWERTY keyboard, a Windows Mobile operating system, and integration with Microsoft Office, so it lands as a credible option for business users who care about productivity first, and everything else second.
However , the device’s bulk, sluggish performance , and outdated software kinda limits its appeal in today’s market. While the M900 still brings a decent set of features for its time, it is kinda overshadowed by more modern smartphones that deliver stronger performance, a more intuitive interface, and a broader app ecosystem. As technology moves forward , the gap between the M900 and current devices has grown wider , which makes it less competitive in today’s landscape.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Physical QWERTY Keyboard: One of the M900’s most distinctive features is its full QWERTY keyboard, giving a comfortable, precise typing experience. This comes in especially handy for people who often draft emails or write long messages.
Windows Mobile Integration: The M900’s ties to Windows Mobile and Microsoft Office Mobile makes it a capable option for business users who need productivity software while on the move.
Customizable Interface: Users can tailor the Windows Mobile interface, and the addition of the Acer Shell interface helps them personalize their experience, which is a plus for those who like tweaking and polishing their devices.
Weaknesses:
Bulky Design: The M900’s size, and weight make it kinda less portable than a lot of other smartphones. The physical keyboard, while still useful, really adds to the overall bulk. Like it’s not exactly “pocket friendly” anymore.
Resistive Touchscreen: The resistive touchscreen feels less responsive than newer capacitive screens so you end up pressing harder than you’d expect, and that slightly dents the whole user experience. It’s like tapping is more of a job.
Outdated Software: With Windows Mobile 6.1 under the hood, the M900 is held back by an older software ecosystem. That means fewer apps and services to choose from. Also the lack of updates , and long-term support makes it even harder to rely on day to day.
Average Camera Performance: The 5-megapixel camera is fine for basic photos but the image quality doesn’t really impress, particularly when the light drops low. In those scenes it tends to look a bit washed, or just not as sharp.
Limited Battery Life: Battery life is okay, but not amazing . If you’re a heavy user you may end up needing a recharge before the day is fully done, which can be annoying if you’re out a lot.
Final Thoughts
When the Acer M900 first came out, it was still a pretty serious option in the business smartphone space. It offered practical features that actually fit professionals who wanted a mobile office, sort of anywhere they go. The physical QWERTY keyboard plus the Windows Mobile platform , and the productivity software integration made it feel appealing to people who cared more about function than looks.
However, as time has moved on and technology has changed around it, the M900 seems less relevant now. its bulk, resistive touch screen, and kind of outdated software environment put it behind compared to newer smartphones with cleaner-looking frames, quick, more responsive interfaces and access to a wider collection of apps services.
For collectors or people who really enjoy vintage mobile gadgets, the Acer M900 is kind of an interesting slice of history. it shows the style and the practical abilities of early smartphones. it feels like a snapshot of that era, with priorities that lean toward productivity and message sharing, all packed into a form factor that used to be seen as pretty groundbreaking.
For people using one today, though , it’s probably going to feel slow and awkward, especially next to the more streamlined devices that bring richer features. Still , it has some nice points, like the hardware keyboard and the connection with Windows Mobile, but those benefits get outweighed by its limitations. so it becomes a weaker pick for modern smartphone users who expect speed and convenience.
To wrap it up, the Acer M900 had its moment in view, but now it’s been overtaken by fresher and more capable technology. It’s a phone that will stay in memory for its unusual features and for how it helped shape mobile evolution, yet if someone wants a useful, up-to-date smartphone experience, there are better choices sitting in today’s market.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.