Available now 26th January
2011
The ever-expanding Samsung Galaxy series of Android smartphones expanded
again today, with four new handsets filling out the bottom of the
range, mostly due to hit the shelves sometime this quarter.
Samsung Galaxy Ace (S5830)
The most advanced phone in the group of four, the
Samsung Galaxy Ace is a black slabby device with
a fairly modest specification compared to top-of-the-range
Android handsets.
The Galaxy Ace comes with a 3.5" 320 x 480 pixel
display, an 800 MHz processor with 278Mb of RAM and
Android 2.2. On the back is a 5 megapixel camera with
what appears to be very basic video capture capabilities.
The Galaxy Ace also comes with WiFi (including 802.11n
support), 3.5G and GPS plus a microSD slot and a 2GB
memory card.
Although the Galaxy Ace lacks the screen resolution
of many more expensive rivals, the display is large
enough to be useful and the overall specifications make
this a handy smartphone for most consumers. Samsung
give a recommended retail price of about €360,
which does seem expensive to us. The Galaxy Ace should
be available in some markets from February onwards.
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|
Samsung
Galaxy Ace at a glance |
Available: |
Q1 2011 |
Network: |
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800
/ 1900 + UMTS 900 / 2100 |
Data: |
GPRS + EDGE + UMTS
(3G) + HSPA + WiFi |
Screen: |
3.5"
320 x
480 pixels |
Camera: |
5
megapixels |
Size: |
Medium
tablet 112 x 60 x 12mm |
Bluetooth: |
Yes |
Memory
card: |
MicroSD |
Infra-red: |
No |
Polyphonic: |
Yes |
Java: |
Optional |
GPS: |
Yes |
OS: |
Android 2.2 |
Battery
life: |
Not specified (1350mAh
cell) |
|
Samsung Galaxy Mini (S5570)
There was a small rush of "mini" handsets
in the past year or so, the best of these being the
Sony
Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini. So you would expect something
called the Samsung Galaxy Mini to follow the
same idea. Unfortunately, there's nothing really "mini"
about the Samsung Galaxy Mini at all.. a run-of-the-mill
low end Android phone, the only really distinguishing
feature here is the design which is reminiscent of the
hugely popular Samsung
Corby.
The display is a basic 3.14" 240 x 320
pixel panel with a 3 megapixel camera on the back. Inside
is a 600 MHz processor coupled with 160Mb of RAM. The
Galaxy Mini has 3.5G support and WiFi, plus GPS and
runs Android 2.2. There's a microSD slot with a 2GB
card in the standard sales package, and a 3.5mm audio
socket too.
The suggested retail price is €220, but we think
that the Mini might have a real street price of less
than €200 when it hits the market from February onwards.
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|
Samsung
Galaxy Mini at a glance |
Available: |
Q1 2011 |
Network: |
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800
/ 1900 + UMTS 900 / 2100 |
Data: |
GPRS + EDGE + UMTS
(3G) + HSPA + WiFi |
Screen: |
3.14" 24 0 x 320
pixels |
Camera: |
3
megapixels |
Size: |
Medium
tablet 110 x 61 x 12mm |
Bluetooth: |
Yes |
Memory
card: |
MicroSD |
Infra-red: |
No |
Polyphonic: |
Yes |
Java: |
Optional |
GPS: |
Yes |
OS: |
Android 2.2 |
Battery
life: |
Not specified (1200mAh
cell) |
|
Samsung Galaxy Fit (S5670)
Slotting into the range between the Mini and Ace
phones is the Samsung Galaxy Fit, an elegant
looking smartphone with a 3.3" 240 x 320 pixel
display, 5 megapixel camera, 800 MHz processor, WiFi,
3.5G support and GPS plus a 600 MHz processor and
160Mb of RAM plus a microSD slot (2GB is included),
all running Android 2.2
Samsung quote a retail price of about €320 which
we think is overpriced, and we would expect the Galaxy
Fit to be closer in cost to the HTC
Wildfire which currently retails for less than €250.
|
|
Samsung
Galaxy Fit at a glance |
Available: |
Q1 2011 |
Network: |
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800
/ 1900 + UMTS 900 / 2100 |
Data: |
GPRS + EDGE + UMTS
(3G) + HSPA + WiFi |
Screen: |
3.3" 24 0 x 320
pixels |
Camera: |
5
megapixels |
Size: |
Medium
tablet 110 x 61 x 13mm |
Bluetooth: |
Yes |
Memory
card: |
MicroSD |
Infra-red: |
No |
Polyphonic: |
Yes |
Java: |
Optional |
GPS: |
Yes |
OS: |
Android 2.2 |
Battery
life: |
Not specified (1350mAh
cell) |
|
Samsung Galaxy Gio (S5660)
Another variation on the same theme is the Samsung
Galaxy Gio. This time coming with a 3.2" 320
x 480 pixel display, a 3 megapixel camera, 800 MHz CPU
with 158MB of RAM, microSD slot with a 2GB card in the
standard sales package, 3.5G support, WiFi and GPS plus
a basic 3 megapixel camera on the back, running Android
2.2 again.
Samsung say that "Gio" comes from the Italian
for "jewel", but in reality the Gio is a very
dull looking device that follows the usual black slabby
pattern for smartphones. Still, underneath it seems
capable enough and should certainly be a good enough
Android smartphone for most users. No guidance was given
on price or availability, but the Galaxy Gio will almost
definitely be available in some markets this quarter.
|
|
Samsung
Galaxy Gio at a glance |
Available: |
Q1 2011 |
Network: |
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800
/ 1900 + UMTS 900 / 2100 |
Data: |
GPRS + EDGE + UMTS
(3G) + HSPA + WiFi |
Screen: |
3.2" 320 x
480 pixels |
Camera: |
3
megapixels |
Size: |
Medium
tablet 110 x 58 x 12mm |
Bluetooth: |
Yes |
Memory
card: |
MicroSD |
Infra-red: |
No |
Polyphonic: |
Yes |
Java: |
Optional |
GPS: |
Yes |
OS: |
Android 2.2 |
Battery
life: |
Not specified (1350mAh
cell) |
|
|