Samsung GALAXY Ace brings the concept of mobile style to a qualitative level new level. The thin, compact device with rounded corners is an example of the successful synthesis of elegance with technological richness. Thanks to access to the store Android Market With its countless applications, a smartphone can do literally everything: it is both a means of entertainment and your assistant in solving almost any everyday tasks. In addition, the model includes the necessary functions for active communication in social networks. At the same time, the hardware component of GALAXY Ace guarantees fast and uninterrupted operation of the device when performing any task - from browsing web pages to processing data.

Stylish minimalism
The design of GALAXY Ace is exquisitely simple and minimalist. The thin, compact all-in-one with a touch screen fits comfortably in your hand, and the 3.5-inch HVGA display delights the eye with vivid images.

Entertainment without limits
The Android Market offers more than 100,000 applications for download, so there's no end in sight to the potential of your smartphone! Games, utilities, news and financial applications, wellness programs - the already extensive range is replenished and growing every day. GALAXY Ace can master almost anything!

Social service Social Hub
In GALAXY Ace, all entries in your phone book, chats, email and social networks are collected on one page. To organize and view your contacts, there are four ways to present information: Details, History, Activity, and Media. Choose what you like best!

SWYPE accelerated text input method
GALAXY Ace is equipped innovative technology SWYPE, which, by tracking the movement of your finger from letter to letter, “guesses” what exactly you want to write. When typing, all you have to do is move your finger across the keyboard, without lifting it, marking the desired word - the system will do the rest on its own!

Working with office documents ThinkFree
Create, view and edit Word documents, Excel and PowerPoint using the ThinkFree app

Superior hardware for superior performance
Equipped with a powerful 832 MHz processor and BT and Wi-Fi modules, GALAXY Ace is simply designed for comfortable browsing the Internet, quickly downloading heavy multimedia files and communicating with friends. Excellent hardware guarantees full support for multitasking. You'll love it!

Voice search
It's so convenient! You no longer need to type text to find something in a search engine. Just say a word or phrase, and your smartphone will automatically find the necessary web pages in accordance with your request.

After the resounding success of the Galaxy S smartphone, Samsung is clearly thinking about its development. Moreover, it was decided to do this not only by releasing a more advanced modification in the form of the Galaxy S II, but also by expanding the line to include cheaper models.

Samsung Galaxy Ace– the same “cheaper model”. In addition, in terms of its characteristics and price, it belongs to the “golden mean” that many consumers are usually looking for. Of course, the Galaxy Ace differs from flagships in many ways: from body materials to screen type. However, with a price of around 9 thousand, it is a very good option for purchase.

It is not surprising that according to the data we have, the phone is selling more than successfully. We don’t presume to judge how much better it is in this regard than flagships with the letter “S” in the name, but it’s unlikely to be much worse. After all, not everyone needs the maximum technology in one smartphone. And its dimensions are not so large due to the smaller screen diagonal. So next we’ll try to figure out why the Galaxy Ace deserves its popularity.

Design

The appearance of the Galaxy Ace is typical for Samsung smartphones - we don’t know what Apple saw similar in the design of the South Korean devices in comparison with its iPhones, but it won’t be difficult for a trained eye to distinguish Samsung products. It has its own recognizable style and it is also used for the design of the Galaxy Ace.

What is included in this style? First of all, the rounded shape of the side ends is noticeable, then there are three buttons, one of which is physical, traditionally framed by a chrome frame. Well, and, apparently, the word “Samsung” itself under the speaker. In our opinion, there is nothing to blame the company for - everything necessary to differentiate its touch devices from competitors’ products has been done.

However, if you look at it in general, the appearance of the Galaxy Ace does not stand out in any way. Moreover, it is immediately clear that this is nothing more than “average”. This is facilitated by the light gray stripe “covered” along the side ends, as well as the glossy plastic of the back cover. Moreover, it is immediately clear that the body of the device is made of plastic. The plastic, however, is not bad - quite strong, and the assembly was carried out efficiently, without creaks or play. But still, the phone does not look expensive, like, for example, the same Google Nexus S, also made of plastic.

Having become accustomed to looking at “sophisticated” flagships, we were immediately struck by the thickness of the Galaxy Ace’s case. The “fat guy effect” is enhanced even more by the 3.5" diagonal screen - this is noticeably smaller on a 4.0-inch device. However, compared to its direct competitors, the size and weight of a Samsung smartphone are not that great, and it even surpasses some in these parameters.

As a result, Galaxy Ace left mixed impressions. One feels that the phone is clearly not the cheapest, it is well made, but at the same time it is clear that this is not the most expensive model. Its design cannot be called extraordinary - a typical plastic “block” in a typical Samsung style. Probably, if the company's designers had played with color and abandoned the gloss on the back cover, they could have gotten a better result. But, as we said, the device definitely looks worth the money.

Connectors and controls

The fact that the design of the Galaxy Ace matches the general style of Samsung's Googlephones is predetermined by the set of its main controls.

There are three buttons: “Menu”, “Back” and “Home”. As always, the first ones are touch sensitive and are located on the right and left edges of the front panel. The Home button is made physical, and is also framed by a relatively thick chrome frame. I must say that the presence of this button noticeably transforms the experience of using the phone - it’s easy to find by touch, and besides, it’s easy to remember that there’s a “Menu” button on the left and a “Back” button on the right. So even touch controls are not so difficult to find blindly.

At the top of the front side there is a speaker covered with a silver metal mesh, and to the right of it there is a light sensor. Below is the name of the manufacturer.

On the left side there are two raised buttons for adjusting the volume. They can be used blindly without any problems.

On the right there is a button to turn the phone on and off, as well as a compartment for microSD cards.

The microSD compartment is hidden by a small plastic flap, which is quite easy to pry with your fingernail and open.

The top edge is occupied by a 3.5 mm jack for headphones and headsets, as well as a USB connector. The latter is hidden behind a plastic curtain that slides inside the case when opened. It is worth emphasizing the useful qualities of this design - the valve is extremely difficult to accidentally break and at the same time it prevents the connector from getting dirty.

At the bottom there is a microphone and a recess for removing the back cover of the case. The latter can be removed with some effort, which, in general, can be considered more of an advantage than a disadvantage - you won’t have to climb inside often, so it’s better that the lid doesn’t come loose.

At the top of the rear panel there is a camera lens, an LED flash and a speaker on the opposite side.

At the bottom there is only the manufacturer's logo.

Under the lid there is a body made of durable light matte plastic. The compartment for the SIM card is immediately visible, but it still cannot be removed without removing the battery.

Under the battery there was only a sticker with technical information about the phone.

Since we were dealing with a test image of the Galaxy Ace, we won’t be able to talk about its package contents. So we go straight to the screen.

Screen

Although Samsung is famous for its advanced OLED screens, the Galaxy Ace uses a conventional TFT panel. AMOLED, and especially SuperAMOLED (plus), are left to the flagships. However, the image quality did not disappoint us. For a device of this price it is quite rich and bright. Plus, we were pleased with the good viewing angles.

As for the resolution, it is also less than the “flagship” one - 320x480 pixels (HVGA). This is what most mid-range phones are equipped with. At the same time, it cannot be said that the image is grainy - with a 3.5" diagonal, the “notches” at the corners of the screen are practically not noticeable. Now, if it were even smaller (like, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Player 50), the situation would be less rainbow.

It remains to be added that the display is made using capacitive technology, and therefore responds well to touches, and also supports multiple touch recognition. In addition, the screen is additionally protected by Gorilla Glass - a special glass of increased strength.

Camera

Samsung Galaxy Ace is equipped with a very good camera, capable of taking pictures with a resolution of 5 MP. At the same time, the camera supports autofocus and is equipped with an LED flash - a good package for a phone of this class. The quality of shooting can be assessed by the following examples:

In simple shooting conditions (read outside during the day in clear weather), we got excellent, clear pictures with the correct white balance. In more difficult conditions, color reproduction remained at a high level, although you will have to hold the phone more firmly to prevent the image from being blurred.

The phone does not have a front camera, so the system only controls the rear one.

The settings allow you to set the shooting resolution, turn autofocus on or off, adjust light sensitivity (ISO) settings, and specify the level of image compression.

The flash can be forced on or off, or set to auto detection.

There are presets for scene shooting.

You can also set the shooting mode: single shot, series shots, motion shot, smile detection and panoramic shooting.

As for video, it can be shot in a fairly low resolution - only 320x240 pixels (QVGA).

Specification

In terms of its characteristics and price, the Galaxy Ace competes with the LG Optimus One (P500). Both of these phones are comparable in features. For clarity, let's summarize their configurations in one table.

Indeed, both devices are comparable, although in some places better than Samsung, and in some places – LG. The first thing that distinguishes the Galaxy Ace is its 800 MHz processor. It’s not a record-breaking chip today, but you can’t call it slow either. Two years ago it was “above average, almost flagship”, and now it’s just “average”. And indeed, we were quite satisfied with the performance of the device - applications responded to user actions without unnecessary delays. So, if you don’t load your phone with anything particularly “heavy,” it will perform at its best. By the way, the processor in Optimus One is a little more modest - only 600 MHz.

As for the video core, both devices are based on SoC (System on a Chip) Qualcomm MSM7227, so the same chip is responsible for graphics - Adreno 200. Not the fastest solution on the market, but some kind of graphics accelerator. In any case, the Angry Birds game did not slow down.

The noticeable difference is the volume. RAM. The Galaxy Ace has almost half as much as the P500. Of course, we can remember that we are dealing with the middle class, but still at least 384 MB would be more appropriate to see. LG was able to install 512 MB.

Phones have little built-in memory - about one and a half hundred megabytes. It is assumed that the owner will expand the memory independently. However, both Samsung and LG equip the Galaxy Ace and Optimus One with a 2 GB microSD card. If this is not enough, the devices support drives with a capacity of up to 32 GB inclusive.

In terms of screens, both phones are no different. The P500 has a smaller diagonal, but this is not so critical. But the Galaxy Ace camera can shoot with higher resolution, and the FM tuner supports RDS. It remains to mention the less capacious battery of the Samsung smartphone and its smaller dimensions and weight.

BY

The Galaxy Ace sample we received was installed Android system version 2.2 (more precisely 2.2.1). However, at the time of writing this article, information appeared about the availability of newer firmware with Android 2.3. But we believe external changes There is not much between different firmwares. The set of pre-installed software has been preserved for the most part, and the standard TouchWiz shell for Samsung devices has not gone away.

Let us remind you that TouchWiz is distinguished by the presence of a special panel at the bottom with application icons for making calls, working with contacts, mail client and a list of all applications. Of course, they can be replaced - the listed list is installed by default. Widgets and application shortcuts can be placed on the desktop. There can be several desktops. The implementation of wallpaper is interesting - one background stretches across several desktops. That is, when switching between tables, the wallpaper also changes slightly.

There are 16 icons on the application list screen. You can scroll through them by moving your finger left and right. Initially, 31 applications are preinstalled, which fit on two screens. Any application can be dragged to the bottom panel.

The program for making calls is quite convenient and nicely designed. It includes a numeric keypad for dialing, a log of incoming and outgoing calls, and a favorites list that also shows frequently called numbers.

The contact list is not much different from that of other phones.

SMS messages appearing as chat is also a common occurrence.

The on-screen keyboard is a proprietary one from Samsung. In our opinion, it is more convenient than the standard one. First of all, it allows you to type additional characters by holding your finger on the “key”. The proprietary Swype dialing method is also supported - Samsung introduced it quite a long time ago.

The phone settings are generally standard. There is only a separate item for configuring the proprietary Samsung Apps application, which is not available on non-Samsung devices.

It is worth noting the presence of a functional application manager and task manager, which allow flexible management installed programs, delete them, see what is currently running, how much memory each application takes up separately, and how much free RAM there is.

Now about the pre-installed software. The calculator, although “designed” in the Samsung style, differs little from its analogues.

The Calendar and Clock applications do not stand out in any way - standard programs from Android.

The email client is also standard. In general, it is easy to use and allows you to view email headers without downloading their contents.

Traditional is responsible for navigation Google Maps, which several other programs use, including Latitude.

There is a simple application for adding notes.

However, the presence of an office suite is much more important. Samsung installs ThinkFree Office Mobile on its smartphones. It allows you to create and view text documents, spreadsheets and presentations compatible with Microsoft Office.

Gallery for viewing photos from the standard Android package, and here file manager"My files" - no. The manager is not very functional, but it will be enough for most users. Moreover, his very presence is commendable.

The FM receiver and voice recorder are designed very colorfully and are very easy to use.

The installed media player pleased me with its functionality. It sorts all files based on ID3 tags (if it finds them). So tracks can be grouped by artist, album, or alphabetically. During playback, basic information is shown: title, artist, album, and album cover, if available. In addition, there is an equalizer, and player controls are displayed in the system notification area during playback.

There is another interesting application found on Samsung phones - AllShare. It allows you to broadcast and receive media streams to and from various compatible devices. So we almost managed to start playing the audio track on the monitor. Why exactly it didn’t work out can be read in the corresponding . It also contains detailed description this application.

Conclusion

Samsung Galaxy Ace left behind mostly positive impressions. The smartphone has a good combination of characteristics and price. At a cost of about 9 thousand rubles, it is one of the best offers on the market. We liked its good performance, convenient TouchWiz shell (by the way, LG Optimus One lacks a proprietary shell), high build quality, good screen and camera.

The dimensions and weight of the device also cannot be called large, although compared to flagships it is “thick”. Controversial decisions, in our opinion, include the materials from which the case is made. No, they are of high quality and are unlikely to wear out quickly, but they look “cheap”. Probably if Samsung had abandoned the glossy back cover, it would have been better. And the side ends could have been designed a little more interesting.

However, design, if you look at it, still does not play a decisive role when choosing a phone. Otherwise, it is quite difficult to find a competitor for the Galaxy Ace, and therefore you can safely buy it for yourself if you are looking for an inexpensive, but high-quality, functional and fast Google phone.

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 its price also falls in the 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 device is supplied with, in addition to itself, a Samsung S5830 Galaxy Ace Black battery, as well as 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 on 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, given the fact that the relief helps 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 it is made samsung phone S5830 Galaxy Ace (firmware 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 lame. 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 music files and video clips are opened. 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 synchronizing 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 removes the back cover, he will be able to find 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. The photographs are of high quality, even in poor lighting. Well, in general, this case is no exception.

Secondly, we managed to implant it well software and operating system. 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. Probably, a few words should be said 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 today's review, it has a more original design, which is automatically an advantage. In addition, the device has a built-in 512 megabytes of RAM, and a 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.

The Android smartphone market today is experiencing another important stage of its development; it is expanding, but now not at the expense of models in the upper price segment. The niche of top-end smartphones is becoming very crowded, so manufacturers are starting to expand their portfolio of mid-range devices. The Android smartphone S5830 Galaxy Ace from Samsung can be considered as a direct successor to the popular i5700 Galaxy Spica model, which at one time also stood out for its good price-to-functionality ratio.

Screen sizes, build quality, functionality, camera

Marked, weak vibration alert

Verdict

Design, build quality

Galaxy Ace has a nice design that vaguely resembles appearance iPhone 4, but at the same time it is easy to recognize the style of Samsung Android smartphones. The body of the device is entirely made of plastic; there are options with a glossy or matte finish on the back cover, and it can be black or white. The device with a black gloss look is the least practical; it quickly becomes covered with fingerprints and small scratches. In general, the case has a good build, even with strong compression there is not the slightest hint of squeaking.

Display

As mentioned above, Samsung Galaxy Ace is equipped with a 3.5-inch capacitive touch TFT display, which is a kind of record for models of this class. The screen is covered with Gorilla Glass, which is scratch-resistant. In practice, this means that if the smartphone accidentally “meets” the keys in your pocket, then light abrasions may appear on the display, but not deep scratches. The screen itself has good viewing angles and a resolution of 480x320 pixels, although with such a diagonal I would like to see 800x480 pixels. In bright sunlight, the display “fades”, although the text on it remains readable.

Interface

Samsung Galaxy Ace runs the Android 2.2.1 operating system, which is complemented by the proprietary TouchWiz 3.0 interface. This shell has a number of improvements compared to standard Android, it implements quick access to the task manager, the file manager is installed by default, office suite ThinkFree and SocialHub social media app. In TouchWiz 3.0 you can flexibly customize the system menu and panel quick launch, as well as independently add or remove desktops; in total there can be from 1 to 7. In addition standard Android Market install applications in Galaxy Ace You can also from the Samsung Apps store. Otherwise, the capabilities of the smartphone correspond to the functionality of Android 2.2.1, the system supports synchronization with Google services, there is access to Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, maps and search.

Ergonomics

The device uses a minimum of hardware controls; there is one mechanical button on the front panel home screen and two touch keys for returning and calling up the menu. Also on the right side panel there is a button to turn off/lock the display, and on the left there is a volume rocker. At the top end there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a micro-USB port. Due to the enlarged display, work with Samsung Galaxy Ace convenient, there are no problems with clicking on the wrong icon or menu item. The display responds well to touch and supports Multi-Touch technology.

Performance

In terms of performance Galaxy Ace shows average results in synthetic tests. In the Quadrant test, the device scores 561 points, which is slightly higher than the Nexus One with Android 2.1. The smartphone has a Qualcomm MSM7227 processor with a frequency of 800 MHz, an Adreno 200 graphics accelerator and 278 MB of RAM. Thus, when working with menus and applications, there are no complaints about the speed of operation, but when viewing “heavy” web pages or galleries with high-resolution images, slight hitches in the operation of the device may occur. To install programs, the user has 158 MB of internal memory and the ability to use microSD cards of
up to 32 GB.

Camera

Built in Galaxy Ace The 5-megapixel camera is equipped with autofocus and LED flash. There are preset shooting modes, you can change the exposure value, white balance, ISO, contrast, saturation, sharpness, and also add various effects to the photo. The quality of photographs is at a fairly good level, as for smartphones, and largely depends on the lighting. But the video quality is not so good; shooting is only available in a resolution of 320x240 pixels.

Sample photos of Samsung Galaxy Ace

Operation

IN Galaxy Ace A 1350 mAh battery is installed, which provides the smartphone with a little more than a day of operation with data transfer enabled. The volume of the earpiece and ringer is at a good level, but the vibration alert can not always be felt. For now Samsung Galaxy Ace can be called one of best Android smartphone in your class. The device has balanced characteristics and a good price/quality ratio.

Video review of Samsung Galaxy Ace

Specifications Samsung S5830 Galaxy Ace

Standards GSM 850/900/1800/1900/UMTS 900/2100, (GPRS/EDGE, HSDPA)

operating system Android 2.2.1 with TouchWiz 3.0

CPU Qualcomm MSM7227 800 MHz

Memory RAM 278 MB, built-in 158 MB, microSD card slot up to 32 GB

Screen TFT, 3.5" (320×480), touch, capacitive

Interfaces USB 2.0, Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

Built-in camera 5 MP, flash, video recording 320x240 pixels

Supported Formats MP3, AMR, AAC, AAC+, e-AAC+, 3GP, MP4, WAV, WMA

Battery, autonomy Li-Ion, 1350 mAh, 1-2 days

Internet browser Chrome Mobile

Additional features GPS, synchronization with Google services, accelerometer

Dimensions and weight 112.4×59.9×11.5 mm, 113 g

Price$330 (2600 UAH)

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, a cheap plastic case), for which it 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 of them: 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 gorgeous Super Amoled, then all our heroes have ordinary low-resolution TFT matrices and not the most high 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 items in the Samsung Galaxy line. 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 new Galaxy. Unlike younger models, the screen resolution is higher and more powerful processor, 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

The external resemblance to the iPhone 4 is, in my opinion, 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. Software Android platform 2.2, but unlike the same 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 these could all be the costs 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.

Otherwise again standard set 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. Interestingly, it has its own navigation built in parallel to 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 cheapest samsung smartphone in 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.


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