The release of the top-end Galaxy S became a landmark for Samsung. The Koreans showed their best side, as sales speak eloquently - 10 million pieces of this model alone in 7 months. Galaxy S was definitely successful, despite all the reservations and quibbles (for example, cheap plastic case), for which he deservedly received from us the honorary “Recommended Site” award and is listed in several nominations at once. But other Android smartphones of the brand are not so successful.
The main problem of mid-range and lower Samsung Android smartphones is the high price compared to competitors, primarily LG. Here we rely on a well-known brand and on the promoted Galaxy S brand of Galaxy smartphones. And new products do not change this state of affairs much. There are four in total: Samsung Galaxy Ace (model S5830), Samsung Galaxy Fit (S5670), Samsung Galaxy Gio (S5660) and Samsung Galaxy mini (S5570). But there is no clarity about Gio (S5660) in Russia yet; the model is still being discussed - whether there will be deliveries to our market.
Let's compare all the new Galaxy with the old Galaxy S, as well as with the Nokia N8. Apple iPhone 4, Blackberry 9800 Torch, Highscreen cosmo and LG Optimus 2X:
How to get inexpensive Galaxy version S and how did Samsung manage to reduce the price? The first is the screen. If the flagship has a chic Super Amoled, then all our heroes have ordinary TFT matrices of low resolution and not of the highest quality (brightness, contrast, viewing angles), plus a smaller diagonal. But what is noteworthy is still the capacitive technology (unlike the same LG Optimus). Second - processor. If the flagship has a powerful 1 GHz chip with an accelerator, then there are only 800 MHz and even 600 MHz, the latter do not even support flash. Third - memory and multimedia. If the flagship has 8 or even 16 GB, can play, record and even edit 720p, then the available Galaxy do not have this, and there are no codecs. Fourth - software. If the flagship has an excellent implementation of TouchWiz, then it lacks many effects and animations, and the applications are greatly changed. And finally, fifth - materials. Although the flagship is not far off here, the materials are the weak point of the Galaxy S. But the inexpensive Galaxy have gone even “further” - even above the screen is plastic.
These are not all the differences, but the most important ones. As you can see, the Galaxy S is radically better and in almost everything - the difference with Samsung's flagship is very large. This is the key to its popularity and the unpopularity of other Android smartphones of the brand. For example, HTC's Wildfire differs much less from Desire. Besides Korean phones and smartphones are becoming more and more similar to each other, with an eye on Apple one way or another (the same thing now with Korean laptops) - it’s very easy to get confused in the assortment.
The most important and interesting thing is, of course, Russian prices for new products Samsung lines Galaxy. So, all devices will appear on our market in February. Galaxy Ace will cost 14,990 rubles, Galaxy Fit - 12,990 rubles, and Galaxy mini - 8,990 rubles. Compared to analogues from LG and even HTC, this is quite expensive. But let's see what we get for this money.
Samsung Galaxy Ace
This is the most expensive and most advanced smartphone among the new Galaxy. Unlike younger models, the screen resolution is higher and the processor is more powerful, and the design is more expensive, reminiscent of the iPhone 4. The manufacturer itself positions Ace this way: “for fashionable and sociable business young people.”
Specifications Samsung GALAXY Ace
Display: capacitive, TFT, 3.5” 320x480 HVGA
Processor: 800MHz
Camera: 5.0MP with autofocus and LED flash, QVGA/15 video
Memory: 158MB + 2GB (included) + microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimensions: 112.4 x 59.9 x 11.5 mm
Battery: 1350mAh
External resemblance to the iPhone 4 - in my opinion, this is a definite plus of the Galaxy Ace, the design is successful. Everything in this world has already been invented, and spying a good find from a competitor is not at all bad. The Apple product costs almost twice as much and is a desirable purchase for many. In our “Best Gadget 2010” project, the iPhone 4 is now the leader. But don't expect an Apple copy. The new Samsung product is completely plastic, and there is also plastic above the screen (the Galaxy S had glass). The performance is not bad, the body almost does not creak, there are no gaps. There is only one color solution - the classic combination of gray and black, it looks great.
What I didn’t like about the exterior of the Galaxy Ace was how dirty the model was. The body is completely glossy, which is especially critical for the back panel - it gets scratched quickly, leaving fingerprints on everything. In addition, the surface will quickly wipe off.
In terms of controls, the Galaxy Ace is pretty standard. On the right is the power button and microSD slot, on top is the microUSB connector and 3.5 mm jack, on the left is the volume rocker. What’s good is that the memory card slot is fully hot-swappable. What's bad is that there is no camera button. On the front panel there is a central button to return to the main screen and on the sides there are two sensors - context menu and return. Absolutely the same as in Galaxy S.
The hardware of the Galaxy Ace is rather simple for a price of 15 thousand rubles. Here the usual TFT screen with HVGA resolution is not of the highest quality and the processor is not the fastest at 800 MHz. But the camera is 5 MP and even with a flash (the Galaxy S does not have it), but the video is only QVGA and only with 15 fps. All basic camera functionality is available - panorama, smile detection, etc. Here are examples of shooting in maximum quality:
The rest is standard. There is Wi-Fi and GPS, there is a 3.5 mm audio jack, Bluetooth and FM radio are still there, as well as a motion sensor. The software platform is Android 2.2, but unlike the LG Optimus One, there is honest support for Flash up to 10.1, which is important. In addition, customization is at a good level. There is TochWiz (though simplified - without effects and animations like the Galaxy S), there is SWYPE and a program for viewing and editing ThinkFree documents. The standard ones haven't gone anywhere Google apps and the Google Market application directory.
What I didn’t like was the lack of localized applications (for example, Mail.Ru Agent with ICQ, Odnoklassniki widgets, VKontakte, etc.) that LG has. In addition, for some reason there are no DivX/XviD codecs, although they were still in Spica. Finally, TouchWiz itself is still inferior in terms of convenience and functionality to HTC Sense.
Samsung Galaxy Fit
This is the middle of the series with a simple QVGA screen, but an interesting design in the HTC style. Samsung itself positions the Fit this way: “for consumers who need a reliable assistant in their professional activities and busy social life.”
Technical Samsung specifications GALAXY Fit
Network: HSDPA 7.2 Mbit/s 900/2100, EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
Operating system: Android 2.2 (Froyo), TouchWiz UI, keyboard with SWYPE
Display: capacitive, TFT, 3.31” 240x320 QVGA
Processo: 600MHz
Camera: 5.0MP with autofocus, QVGA/15 video
3.5mm headphone jack, stereo FM radio with RDS, voice recorder, accelerometer
Communications: Bluetooth 2.1, USB 2.0, WiFi 802.11 (b/g/n)
Dimensions: 110.2 x 61.2 x 12.6 mm
Battery: 1350mAh
Galaxy Fit is the closest competitor to HTC Wildfire with a similar design, price, and functionality. The model is interesting in appearance. There is a minimal edge between the screen and the edge of the case, and there is a ribbed cover at the back. What's important is that the Fit is not as easily soiled as the Ace. But the body materials are less expensive, the plastic is of average quality. The back cover has a slight gap. I didn't like the assembly, but this could all be the cost of the test sample.
The elements of the Fit are exactly the same as those of the Ace with the only difference being that the expansion slot has moved to the left side. The screen is capacitive, but with a low resolution of just QVGA. The picture is noticeably grainy, just like Wildfire. This is one of the main disadvantages of the Fit. The processor is also not encouraging - it is only 600 MHz, which is felt even when activating the “live” wallpaper. It was because of the processor that I had to sacrifice flash - the situation is similar to the LG Optimus One.
The camera is exactly the same as the Ace, but without the flash. There is autofocus and QVGA video recording at 15 fps. The shooting quality is no different from Ace - you can see examples in the description of the older model.
The rest is again the standard set of an inexpensive Android smartphone. There is Wi-Fi and GPS, there is a 3.5 mm audio jack, Bluetooth and FM radio are still there, as well as a motion sensor. Android 2.2 software platform with TouchWiz and SWYPE. For QuickOffice documents. What’s interesting is that it has its own built-in navigation in parallel Google Maps. Other Google applications are available, the Market has not gone away. But DivX/XviD codecs are again missing. However, HTC Wildfire does not have them either (although it does have support for flash 10.1).
Samsung Galaxy mini
This is the most inexpensive Samsung smartphone on our market. Accordingly, minimal functionality and a cheerful youthful look. Samsung positions the mini this way: “for those who need a smart youth device with rich functionality.”
Technical characteristics of Samsung GALAXY mini
Network: HSDPA 7.2 Mbit/s 900/2100, EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
Operating system: Android 2.2 (Froyo), TouchWiz UI, keyboard with SWYPE
Display: capacitive, TFT, 3.14” 320x240 QVGA
Processor: 600MHz
Camera: 3.0MP without autofocus and without flash, QVGA/15 video
3.5mm headphone jack, stereo FM radio with RDS, voice recorder, accelerometer
Communications: Bluetooth 2.1, USB 2.0, WiFi 802.11 (b/g/n)
Memory: 160MB + 2GB (included) + microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimensions: 110.4 x 60.8 x 12.1 mm
Battery: 1200mA
Externally, Galaxy Fit looks great - a cheerful, sporty look that accurately reflects youth style. Black plastic, green edging and an element in the central key - I like it. The plastic is matte and does not scratch. Of course, at this price it would be wrong to expect other materials, but what we have is made with high quality.
The Fit fits well in the hand, and the controls are similar to the Ace, but unlike older models, there are not sensors on the front panel, but mechanical buttons, which is a plus. What’s important is that despite the budget price of the device, there are no discounts - the screen is capacitive, the expansion slot is hot-swappable, etc.
Scope of delivery:
- Telephone
- Battery
- 2GB microSD memory card
- Charger
- USB cable
Positioning
From the line of Samsung Galaxy smartphones under 10,000 rubles, we tested Fit (S5670) and Gio (S5660). There remains a real bestseller - Ace (S5830). It differs from its predecessors in its large 3.5-inch display and the presence of a high-quality 5 MP camera with flash.
Sales of the Galaxy Ace with the index “i” - S5830i - will begin in mid-December. This is a small upgrade for the S5830, which consists of installing a new 3D accelerator and a processor with a clock frequency of 832 MHz.
Actually, this model will be discussed today.
Design, dimensions, control elements
Galaxy smartphone Ace is a classic candy bar with dimensions of 112.4 x 59.9 mm and a thickness of 11.5 mm. The weight of the device is 113 grams. Externally, it is similar to a smaller copy of the Samsung Galaxy S II: the same body shape and arrangement of control elements with a rectangular Home button. The device is made of plastic: the back cover is black, has a relief surface, the edge around the perimeter is chrome-plated, the material is glossy. Assembly Samsung Ace excellent: over a long period of testing, no creaking, no play, no crunching appeared. The screen is most likely not protected by special glass (or plastic), since it can easily be scratched by sharp objects. Even minor abrasions appeared during use.
Thanks to its light weight, ergonomic design and perforated back cover, the phone fits well in your hand. It fits well in the pockets of jeans, shirt and jacket.
There is a proximity sensor on the front side of the device. Nearby is a speaker. Its volume is average, there is no reserve, the interlocutor can be heard clearly, but as if from afar. Below the screen there are two touch keys “Back” and “Menu”. Their backlight is white, not very bright, but in the light, in principle, it is visible. Between them is a mechanical rectangular Home button. I would add, “classic” for Samsung. It is framed by chrome-plated plastic, the pressure is soft, the stroke is small. When held for a long time, it brings up a menu with previously launched applications.
On the left side there is a thin volume rocker key, almost recessed into the body, and a little higher is the strap fastening bow. On the right is the on/off button, as well as the phone lock. Below is a compartment for installing a microSD memory card, covered with a plastic plug. The card is installed until it clicks.
The microphone is located at the bottom end, at the top there is a standard 3.5 mm audio output for headphones or a headset and microUSB, which can be closed with a curtain. On the back there is a large camera eye, an LED flash and a speaker covered with a metal mesh.
To remove the cover, you need to pry it by the recess on the bottom end. The battery is located under the cover, and the SIM card is installed in the upper area (the battery will have to be removed).
Samsung Omnia W (left) and Samsung Ace:
Samsung Ace (left) and HTC Mozart:
Samsung Ace (left) and Sony Ericsson Arc S:
Display
The Samsung Galaxy Ace smartphone has one of the most large displays in the price range up to 10,000 rubles - diagonal - 3.5". The resolution is standard - 320x480 pixels, and the density is 165 pixels per inch. The Samsung S5830 matrix is made using TFT-LCD technology and displays 16 million shades of color, the sensor is capacitive, works up to two simultaneous touches. Sensitivity is average, slightly, but loses in this parameter to Sony Ericsson Mini and Live With Walkman (located in the same price segment).
Viewing angles are small: when tilted, the picture loses contrast. The brightness is adjusted manually in the “Display” settings, since the device does not have a light sensor. There you can also select a font (downloaded from the Market beforehand), calibrate the three-axis accelerometer (BMA222), set a screen timeout (from 30 seconds to 30 minutes), enable or disable auto-rotate information when tilting the phone.
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The Ace has a magnetic field sensor (MS-3E), orientation, linear acceleration and proximity sensors (TMD26711).
In general, a relatively average screen, which is inferior in color reproduction to SE Mini/Mini Pro, Neo, and even more so - Samsung Wave S8500.
In the light, the screen fades slightly, the information remains readable.
Samsung Ace display from different angles:
Comparison Samsung displays Galaxy Note (SuperAMOLED) (left), Sony Ericsson Arc (LED-backlit LCD), Samsung Galaxy S (SuperAMOLED), Samsung Omnia W (SuperAMOLED), HTC Mozart (S-LCD), Samsung Ace (TFT-LCD), Nokia 700* (ClearBlack AMOLED) (right):
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* - the brightness of the Nokia 700 display at maximum brightness is higher than in the photo. This is due to the fact that I took the shots in the dark, and the phone's light sensor slightly dimmed the display backlight.
Battery
The Samsung S5830 uses a lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery with a capacity of 1350 mAh. Model EB494358VU. The exact same one is available in Galaxy Fit and Gio.
The manufacturer claims that in standby mode the Galaxy Ace will “live” up to 640 hours (2G) and up to 420 hours of 3G network. Talk time - up to 11 hours (2G) and up to six and a half hours on a 3G network.
From USB it charges about two and a half hours, from the mains – about 1.5.
Communication capabilities
The Galaxy Ace smartphone operates in 2G (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (900/2100 MHz) cellular networks. Chip - BCM21553.
HSDPA speed – up to 7.2 Mbit/s. In stock Bluetooth version 2.1 (with A2DP stereo profile) for file and voice transmission. There were no problems connecting the headsets: it does not connect very quickly. Present wireless communication Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n. The device can be used as an access point (Wi-Fi Hotspot). There is a special item in “Settings”. Multimedia content is transmitted via DLNA. USB 2.0 (HighSpeed) is used to “transport” files and synchronize data. When Ace is connected to a PC, it is detected as a USB flash device or USB modem.
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Memory and memory card
Samsung S5830 smartphone has 280 MB RAM(usually about 180 MB free), which is enough for most tasks. However, I would like 512 MB, which is exactly what the Sony Ericsson Mini (and similar) has. About 190 MB of Flash memory is allocated for installing applications (135 MB free). If desired, all applications are transferred to microSD; a 2 GB memory card is included in the package. Its maximum volume can be up to 32 GB.
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Camera
The model has a 5-megapixel camera module with autofocus. There is a single-section LED backlight. The maximum image resolution is 2560x1920 pixels, video shooting (without autofocus) is at a resolution of 320x240 pixels at 30 frames per second.
The quality of the images is very good: the detail is high, there is no “soap” at the edges, and there is practically no “noise” in low lighting conditions. Below are comparison shots on Nokia 700 (left), Samsung Ace and Samsung Omnia W (right):
While recording video, you can use the volume buttons to adjust the 2x digital zoom, and the quality is not lost (there are no artifacts).
The camera is launched through the menu using a shortcut. The interface looks like this: on the left - shooting mode (single shot, smile detection, continuous, panorama), scenes (landscape, night, sports, indoor, beach, sunset, etc.), backlight (off, off and automatic "), settings. On the right is the gallery, switching from photos to videos.
Photo settings:
- Exposure value (-2 to +2)
- Focus mode (autofocus, macro)
- Timer
- Resolution (320x240, 1280x960, 1600x1200, 2048x1536, 2560x1920)
- ISO (auto, 100, 200 and 400)
- Exposure metering (center-weighted, spot metering, matrix)
- Quality (regular, excellent, best)
- Adjust (contrast, saturation, sharpness)
Video mode interface: left – recording mode (normal, for MMS), backlight, settings; on the right – switching from video to photo, entering the gallery.
Video settings:
- Timer
- Resolution (176x144, 320x240)
- White balance (auto, daylight, cloudy, incandescent)
- Effects (no effects, negative, black and white, sepia)
- Video Quality (Normal, Excellent, Best)
The photo album looks familiar to Android devices.
You can get full EXIF information from a photo file:
Video characteristics:
- Video codec: MPEG-4 Visual, 1540 Kbps
- Resolution: 320 x 240, 25 fps
- Audio codec: AAC, 96 Kbps
- Channels: 1 channel, 48.0 KHz
Sample photos:
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Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830i smartphone has a processor operating at a clock frequency of 832 MHz (minimum 312 MHz). Unlike previous models, it uses a graphics accelerator from Broadcom – VideoCore IV HW with support for OpenGL ES-CM 1.1. This is a 40 nm multimedia processor using CMOS technology. The main features are: the use of 20-megapixel digital cameras, FullHD video recording and playback, as well as 1 gigapixel 2D/3D graphics rendering. Unfortunately, in practice it is no different from Adreno 200/205.
During testing, the device behaved quite stably: there were no freezes or slowdowns.
System information:
Navigation
The smartphone has a GPS navigator. Its functionality is the same as most inexpensive phones. “Cold” start – about two minutes, “hot” – up to 10-15 seconds.
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Software platform
Samsung Ace smartphone runs on Android versions 2.3.6. Firmware version – S5830iXXKL1, kernel version – 2.6.35.7root@dell87, build – Gingerbread.XXKL2.
Shell and menu
The familiar TouchWIZ 3.0 shell is used: seven desktops (3 by default) with widgets, a panel with “Dialer”, “Contacts”, “Messages” and an entrance to the “Menu”. To unlock the screen, you need to press the “Menu” button or the device’s power button and then move the background image to the side. The following are assigned to desktops: shortcuts, folders, hot keys and various widgets. Static and animated screensavers are used as wallpaper. When you hold down the mechanical Home button for a long time, a menu appears with previously launched applications. The task manager is also located there.
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The menu is represented by 16 icons in a 4x4 grid on one screen. By clicking on “Menu” and selecting “edit”, the shortcuts can be moved. Including installing them in the bottom panel (“Home” cannot be replaced).
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Challenges
Standard dialer for Samsung phones. From it it is easy to get into contacts and call logs. While dialing a number, a list of contacts starting with these numbers appears in the input field window. To create a contact, you need to click on the “plus” in “contacts”. The following information is available for each subscriber: avatar, first and last name, phone number, email address, Google account Talk, Group, Ringtone, Mailing Address, Organization, Note, Nickname, Website, Birthday and Anniversary.
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Messages
There are two types of keyboards used for typing: Samsung and Swype. The phone has an accelerometer, so when you turn the smartphone on its side, the keyboard takes on a landscape view, making it more convenient to enter text. The options contain the following items:
- Add a topic
- Add text
- Delete text
- Invest
- Insert emoticon
- Cancel
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Applications
To install programs and games, the Galaxy Ace has the Android Market application store, and below is a list of those applications that are already loaded into the phone’s memory, mostly standard software.
Watch. The screen displays time, date and weather information. From this screen you can switch to an album with photos, music and set an alarm.
Calendar.
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Notes.
Internet. Regular internet browser.
Market. Google App Store.
Gmail. Mail client from Google.
Email. Mail client for different mail services.
Search
Cards. Google Maps for navigation.
Social Hub. This is a complete solution that integrates as part of the TouchWiz 3.0 shell on top operating system devices. It includes mechanisms for supporting various data submission formats with a special implementation of their submission. The user receives a likeness phone book, in which you can add not only a phone number, but also data social network(Facebook, Twitter, MySpace), email or Internet messenger (ICQ, AOL).
YouTube. Client for watching videos from the site youtube.com.
Google Talk. Chat from Google.
Locator.
Navigation.
Addresses.
News and weather.
QuickOffice. Allows you to view documents in MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and PDF formats on your Android device, which can be stored both on a memory card and in emails. Supports scaling of documents when viewing, various options for sorting files.
Calculator.
Samsung Apps. Samsung App Store. Some kind of Android Market.
Dictaphone.
Task Manager. View active and downloaded applications. Allows you to clear memory and remove programs.
Web browser
Standard web browser. Surfing is much more convenient than, for example, on Gio and Fit - the screen size matters. Multi-touch is supported - pinch zooming. In general, there were no problems: pages open quickly, and the interface behaves smoothly.
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Multimedia
Music player
The usual player from Samsung is used. From the main menu, you can organize your tracks by artist, album, and song. When playing a song, the album cover, player control keys, and a button for viewing the list of songs are displayed on the screen. In the settings you can set the sound to 5.1 or select an equalizer. For the latter, 11 presets are available: rock, jazz, classical, dance, pop, live sound, concert hall, wide range, music clarity, bass enhancement and externalization.
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The sound volume of the polyphonic speaker is low and comparable to the volume of the speaker Samsung Fit. Plays cleanly, without overload. The sound quality in the headphones is typical for most inexpensive Android devices. In short, all sound parameters are almost the same as on all previous devices: Fit, Gio and Mini.
FM radio
For it to work, you need to connect headphones, they act as an antenna. The sensitivity of the radio receiver is good. Operating range 85 – 108 MHz, RDS supported. Large numbers of the current frequency appear on the screen, and at the bottom there are four cells of frequently listened to radio stations. In the settings you can configure the radio auto-off timer: from 30 minutes to 2 hours. The volume is high.
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Video player
There is no separate application. All video files can be easily found in the “Gallery”. The player is simple, with support for H264/H263 codecs and MP4 and 3GP formats. The maximum video resolution is 640x360 pixels with a bitrate of no more than 2000 Kbps in MP4 format. There are no settings, only rewinding videos and “play” / “pause”.
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Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Ace smartphone made a good impression: photographs with good detail, a high-quality voice speaker, a “nimble” interface and an excellent ergonomic design. However, the Samsung S5830 has enough competitors.
One of them is Huawei IDEO X5. Has an original design, 512 MB of RAM, more modern processor Qualcomm MSM7230 clocked at 800 MHz. In addition, the screen diagonal is 3.8 inches and the resolution is 480x800 pixels. The average cost of an X5 is about 10,000 rubles. I recommend it.
The new LG Optimus Hub boasts a 3.5-inch display diagonal with a resolution of 320x480, a 5-megapixel camera, 512 MB of RAM, a Qulacomm MSM7227T processor with a clock frequency of 800 MHz and a more than attractive price tag - 8,000 - 9,000 rubles.
Musical Sony Ericsson Live With Walkman. It seems to me that one of the most interesting smartphones of the passing year. With an average cost of 8,500 rubles, it has a powerful “gigahertz” Qualcomm MSM8255 processor, 512 MB of RAM, a fast 5 MP camera with HD video recording and two very loud stereo speakers. The display resolution is the same as that of Ace, but the diagonal is slightly smaller – 3.2".
By the way, why not try the Samsung S8530 Bada device: great screen with Super Clear LCD matrix, diagonal – 3.7 inches, resolution 480x800 pixels. The camera is no less interesting: 5 MP with autofocus, flash and HD video recording. Now you can buy it for 8,500 – 9,000 rubles.
In general, as always, it’s up to you to decide, but I would take a closer look at the Huawei X5 or the SE LWW.
Specifications:
- Class: smartphone
- Form factor: monoblock
- Case materials: plastic
- Operating system: Google Android 2.3.6
- Network: GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS/HSDPA 900/2100
- Processor: single-core, 800 MHz, Qualcomm MSM7227
- RAM: 280 MB
- Storage memory: 160 MB and 2 GB memory card
- Interfaces: Wi-Fi (b/g/n/), Bluetooth 2.1 (A2DP), microUSB connector (USB 2.0) for charging/synchronization, 3.5 mm for headset
- Screen: capacitive, TFT-LCD 3.5"" with a resolution of 320x480 pixels
- Camera: 5 MP with autofocus, video recorded in QVGA
- Navigation: GPS
- Additionally: accelerometer, proximity sensor, FM radio
- Battery: removable, lithium-ion (Li-Ion) capacity 1350 mAh
- Dimensions: 112x60x11.5 mm
- Weight: 113 grams
Roman Belykh (
Ace S5830 is a real bestseller, a real top seller of the company! It is part of the Galaxy product line, as you might have guessed based on the model name, and also falls in the price range of up to ten thousand rubles. The Ace S5830 differs from its predecessors (and these are Fit and Gio) in that it has a built-in fairly high-quality camera with a resolution of 5 megapixels, as well as a 3.5-inch touch screen. By the way, the camera is equipped with an LED flash, which allows you to take very good pictures in low light conditions.
Introduction
In December of 2011, a device under the symbol I began to be supplied to the smartphone market. This is the S5830, or rather, its modification. What are the differences between these two models? The device with index I has a slightly different graphics accelerator, and also has a different processor operating at a frequency of 832 megahertz.
Equipment
The delivery package of the device includes, in addition to itself, a Samsung S5830 Galaxy Ace Black battery, as well as a charger. The user is also given the opportunity to synchronize the smartphone with personal computer or a laptop using a MicroUSB - USB cable. This wire is included with the device. Well, the set is completed by a MicroSD memory card with a capacity of 2 gigabytes. It may or may not come with the phone. It all depends on the country in which the device is purchased.
Dimensions
Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 is a real candy bar. Its dimensions in all three planes are 112.4 by 59.9 by 11.5 millimeters. The weight of the smartphone is 113 grams.
Appearance
Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 is similar to a device called S II. So to speak, outwardly it is just a smaller copy of the corresponding phone. The control elements are still located in the same way, complemented by a rectangular button, and the device body has the same geometry.
Material of manufacture
The smartphone body is made of ordinary plastic. The back panel is painted black, the lid is not smooth, but embossed. A practical solution, considering the fact that the relief helps to avoid scratches and mechanical damage. At the same time, the lid will still get rubbed, and fingerprints on black plastic are much more noticeable than on white. For the rest, we note that a chrome edge runs along the perimeter of the phone. The plastic from which the Samsung S5830 Galaxy Ace phone is made (the firmware is available on the company's official website) is glossy.
Build quality
It can please people who have made their choice in favor of this device. Smartphone experts have repeatedly conducted tests that have revealed the excellent build quality of the device. Over the course of long-term operation, the device did not reveal any backlash or squeaks. Even the most ordinary crunch did not appear. At the same time, the device screen is not protected by additional glass or plastic. That is why scratching it will not be so difficult.
Reliability and convenience
Such a small mass made it possible to successfully use the device. The Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 phone, the price of which is about nine thousand rubles, lies in your hand, very reliably. This is achieved, among other things, due to the ergonomic design, which is complemented by perforated rear panel. It is convenient to transport the phone in any pocket, be it jeans, a jacket or an ordinary shirt.
Front panel
Here He is located in the upper part of the front side. Not far from him, to the side, perched a speaker. Its volume is average, sometimes it is not enough in a conversation. The required reserve is missing, for which you can automatically put a minus. Yes, the quality is generally up to par. You can hear the interlocutor from the other end of the line clearly, the purity of the sound is not poor. But if you work in a high-noise environment or the interlocutor has problems with the microphone (and maybe he himself speaks quietly), then this will be a serious problem.
Below the screen there are touch keys that will allow us to get to the main menu, as well as go back one item. There is a backlight. It is not regulated. The backlight color is white. It is not visible in the light, although in low light conditions it becomes an obvious advantage of the device. Between the elements of going to the menu and going back one item there is a key with which we can move to the device’s desktop. This is a standard move for the creations of the South Korean manufacturer. The key is framed with chrome-plated plastic. It has a small stroke and is pressed quite softly. If the user presses the button for a few seconds, a menu will open. In it we can see which applications are currently running on the phone.
Left side
There is a thin key here that allows us to adjust the volume level in the device. With its help, we can change the sound mode, as well as control the volume in the multimedia player where they open music files and video clips. A little higher you can find a sector in which there is a strap mount. Prudently, this cannot be ignored.
Right side
There is a power control button on this side. It is responsible for locking and unlocking the device, as well as turning it on and off. Just below the button you can find a compartment into which the user can install a MicroSD memory card. This nest is covered with a special protective plug made of plastic. When the card is installed as required, you will hear a soft click.
Bottom end
Top end
There will be more choice here, after all. The composition consists of a jack for a 3.5 mm wired headset, as well as a MicroUSB port, which simultaneously serves as a means of synchronization with a personal computer and charging.
Rear panel
It has a fairly large peephole for the main camera. There is a flash nearby that allows you to take good quality photos in low light conditions. Well, everything ends with a sound speaker, which is covered with a metal mesh.
Removing the cover is quite simple. To do this, you just need to pry it off at the bottom end, behind a special recess. When the user withdraws back cover, he will be able to detect the device’s battery underneath. If you remove it, you can see the slot into which the SIM card is installed.
Conclusion and reviews from owners
In general, the Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 makes a pretty good impression. And this cannot be ignored. What is included in our list of the main advantages of the device? Firstly, this is a camera. Still, five megapixels are not lying around on the road. Photos are of high quality, even in poor lighting. Well, in general, this case is no exception.
Secondly, we managed to integrate the software and operating system quite well. It works quite quickly, no significant slowdowns were found during numerous tests. Thirdly, the advantage is an interesting, ergonomic design. But to compete with the most powerful devices in the segment, this is clearly not enough. We should probably say a few words about the dynamics of the device, which is distinguished by the purity of its sound delivery.
Competitors
One of the competitors of Samsung Galaxy Ace is Huawei IDEO X5. Compared to the subject of our review today, it has a more original design, which is automatically an advantage. In addition, the device has a built-in 512 megabytes of RAM, and more powerful processor provides better performance. The processor operates at a frequency of 800 megahertz. In addition, the diagonal of this device will be 0.3 inches larger. Huawei's screen resolution is 480 by 800 pixels. The average cost of the device is almost the same - ten thousand rubles.
Another competitor is the LG Optimus Hub. Here we have a screen of the same diagonal. The resolution will be lower, only 320 by 480 pixels. However, there is a camera (5 megapixels). The device has a built-in 512 MB of RAM and a Qualcomm family processor. It operates at frequencies up to 800 megahertz. The price of the device falls in the range from eight to nine thousand rubles.
Finally, we will answer the question of how to update the Samsung GT S5830 Galaxy Ace. To do this, we will need firmware for the device, which can be found on the company’s official website. Appropriate programs are also needed. We are, of course, talking about Kies. After all the components are assembled, we connect the phone and start the automated file replacement process. However, the user does this at his own peril and risk, do not forget about it.
By the way, the object of our today's review has half as much RAM installed. And this sometimes leads buyers to the idea that it would be better to buy another device with better technical characteristics for the same price. And the built-in memory for storing user data hardly exceeds 150 megabytes.
Samsung Galaxy Ace (GT-S5830) was officially presented by Samsung only today (at 2 a.m. Kyiv time). It is designed to strengthen the manufacturer’s position in the mid-price segment, where Samsung currently has a slight “sag.” I had the opportunity to spend a week with a pre-sale sample of this certainly interesting device. It has all the ingredients for success, but can it become as popular as the legendary Galaxy Spica model?
Excursion into history
At one time, the Android smartphone Samsung Galaxy Spica (GT-i5700) created the effect of a bomb exploding on our market and became the most popular device running an operating system. Android systems. The “blame” for this was the excellent combination of price and characteristics, and neither some technical problems nor the uncertain situation with the update could affect the popularity of the phone software. Galaxy Spica was quickly discontinued - both due to the above mentioned technical problems, and also because the device turned out to be too successful and potentially cannibalized sales of more expensive Samsung phones, in particular, the bada flagship Wave (GT-S8500) that was being prepared at that time for release. The logical continuation of the super-popular “Spoke” was a device called Galaxy 580 (GT-i5800), which, however, did not become popular because its characteristics were partially deteriorated compared to its predecessor. In particular, users were indignant about the reduced screen resolution (240x400 versus 320x480). Meanwhile, competitors were not asleep and presented very interesting Android smartphones at the same (and even lower) price. price category- within literally six months we saw Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Mini and Mini Pro, HTC Wildfire, Garmin-ASUS A10, Gigabyte GSmart G1305, LG Optimus (GT540) and finally Optimus One (P500), which is on at the moment is the most balanced and attractive offer on the market. The answer to the encroachments of competitors was a smartphone called Galaxy Ace, which is designed to return the company to leadership in the mid-price segment. The name - Ace - was probably not chosen by chance; it is such a trump card that the company pulled out of its sleeve at the decisive moment. As with the Galaxy Spica, price and specs are key, but the company has been careful in creating the phone so as not to hurt sales of its older models.
Video
Specifications
In Galaxy Ace, the company abandoned the use of its own S3C6410 processor and chose the Qualcomm MSM7227 platform, which is a complete solution for budget smartphones. Qualcomm MSM7227 combines an ARMv6 processor core operating at 800 MHz and GPU Adreno 200, which currently has the most comprehensive support for Android games. Full specifications smartphones look like this:
- Ranges: GPRS/GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS/HSPA 900/2100.
- Form factor: keyboardless monoblock.
- Operating system: Google Android 2.2 (Froyo) with TouchWiz 3.0 interface.
- Display: TFT, 320x480 pixels, 16 million colors, touchscreen (capacitive matrix).
- Camera: 5 MP, autofocus, LED backlight, geotagging, video recording (320x240).
- CPU: Qualcomm MSM7227, clock frequency 800 MHz; integrated video accelerator Adreno 200.
- RAM: 384 MB.
- Flash memory: 158 MB + microSDHC cards (up to 32 GB).
- Multimedia capabilities: MP3 player, FM receiver, integration with YouTube, Find Music service (analogous to Track ID in Sony phones Ericsson).
- Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.
- Interface connectors: microUSB, 3.5 mm headphone output.
- GPS: yes, A-GPS support, Google Maps support.
- Dimensions and weight: 112x60x11 mm, 115 grams.
Appearance and design features
Personally, I categorically do not like the direction in which Samsung's design ideas are developing: with each new iteration, the phones of this respected manufacturer are becoming more and more similar to the iPhone. And don’t tell me that the touchscreen devices all look the same, this is not true: the same “Spoke” had its own and quite recognizable appearance, while the Ace looks like a Chinese knockoff of the iPhone 3GS.
At the same time, the case materials are quite good: the front panel is covered with solid glass, and the battery compartment cover is made of decent-looking glossy plastic. The only element of the hull that gives rise to concerns about its safety appearance, this is a silver-painted plastic edging.
It is worth noting that recently Samsung time started removing a separate camera button from his phones: it was missing in the Galaxy S, and it’s not in the Galaxy Ace either. In my opinion, this is unforgivable, since it makes taking photos with your phone as inconvenient as possible.
Screen
The Galaxy Ace uses a 3.5-inch TFT screen with a capacitive touch surface with a resolution of 320x480 pixels. The screen is bright and contrasty, viewing angles can be called satisfactory, but nothing more. In my opinion, the screen quality of the Galaxy Ace is somewhat inferior to that of the Optimus One. Apparently, there is an oleophobic coating, since the screen is reluctant to scratch and then wipes off easily.
There is no light sensor and, accordingly, automatic brightness adjustment.
Autonomy
The smartphone is equipped with a battery with a capacity of 1350 mAh. Autonomy is typical for most Android smartphones, that is, with heavy use and a large amount of mobile Internet traffic, it can last a maximum of one and a half to two days. Fully charging the battery from the mains charger takes about 2.5 hours, from USB phone Charges a little slower.
Performance
Initially, I had information that the Galaxy Ace would be built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM7230 chipset (800 MHz Scorpion processor core and Adreno 205 graphics processor). Unfortunately, this information has not been confirmed; the smartphone uses a “budget” Qualcomm MSM7227 solution with Adreno 200 graphics, but the processor core is overclocked to 800 MHz. IN HTC smartphones Gratia and Samsung Galaxy Mini use the same processor at its “native” frequency of 600 MHz.
Despite the budget chipset, the phone performed well in the Quadrant and Neocore benchmarks. Just 9 months ago, such performance was available only to buyers of top-end Android smartphones, but today it is already the lot of middle-class solutions.
Firmware features
The phone runs on the Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system, on top of which is the proprietary TouchWiz 3.0 shell. In general, the interface differs little from other Samsung Android smartphones, for example, Galaxy S.
The Galaxy Ace finally almost corrects a long-standing problem with Samsung smartphones, namely, incomplete localization. In particular, the Cyrillic alphabet has appeared in the quick navigation bar for contacts, which allows you to quickly search for contacts with names in Russian or Ukrainian. True, the “Phone” application still does not provide for entering the Cyrillic alphabet, so if you need a T9 search for contacts, you will have to install the Dialer One application (fortunately, it is free).
You can use either the standard Samsung keyboard or Swype to enter text. In the Samsung keyboard, layouts are now switched as follows: you need to press the space bar and swipe your finger right or left. Swype also has innovations, the main one of which is support for the Ukrainian language.
The Galaxy Ace, like other Samsung Android smartphones, comes pre-installed office suite ThinkFree Office.
The smartphone has a very good (convenient) MP3 player and an FM receiver, which has good reception quality. Of course, the standard Android 2.2 connectivity options are present. mobile phone as a modem and use it as a point Wi-Fi access for mobile internet distribution.
Camera
The Galaxy Ace uses the already familiar 5-megapixel camera module with autofocus and LED backlight. The quality of photos during the day outdoors is very good, at night and indoors it naturally drops, but overall the camera is pleasant.
But Samsung frankly clamped down on video recording: the maximum resolution of the videos is 320x240, the movement in them is frankly jerky, as if the frame rate does not exceed 15 fps (although QuickTime in the video file properties shows 25 fps). Also, note that audio recording begins approximately a second after video recording begins.
Bottom line
It’s not for nothing that Samsung called this smartphone “Ace”, oh, not for nothing. Despite the controversial design and not the highest quality screen, the Galaxy Ace is one of the most interesting offers in the price category up to 3,000 hryvnia. In terms of capabilities, it surpasses even our current favorite, the LG Optimus One, especially considering the excellent 5-megapixel camera and high performance by the standards of this price segment. In general, I recommend this device for purchase with a pure heart (although, of course, I would like to get acquainted with the “sale” sample). 6 reasons to buy Samsung Galaxy Ace:
- high (by the standards of this category of smartphones) performance;
- very good combination of characteristics and price;
- high-quality camera;
- a good set of pre-installed programs - you can start using the phone immediately after purchase;
- Swype keyboard with support for Russian and Ukrainian languages.
3 reasons not to buy Samsung Galaxy Ace:
- secondary design;
- lack of a camera button;
- poor implementation of video recording.
