After establishing their smartphones as benchmark devices around the world, Samsung recently introduced two of their bestselling models to the Indian market: Galaxy S Advance and Galaxy Pocket – two different phones for two different lifestyles. One is turning out to be a top favorite with a set of raved-about features and the other is a budget device with a humbler set of features. We take a look at both devices for the benefit of our readers.
Samsung Galaxy S Advance
This smartphone offers a reasonably attractive set of features like 5-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi Direct and WVGA Super Amoled Display on a 4-inch screen. For speed it uses a 1GHz dual-core processor however, it doesn’t run on the Android 4.0 Ice-cream Sandwich. But the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS doesn’t disappoint. The performance and the config more than make up for it.
For connectivity the Galaxy S Advance offers Bluetooth v 3.0 High Speed, USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n. The network it covers are HSPA 14.4Mbps 850/900/1900/2100 and EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900. The Galaxy S Advance makes viewing MPEG4 files a pleasure with a CODEC of H.263, H.264, WMV, DivX and VC-1. Recording and playback is also reasonably good 720@30fps. The OS Gingerbread teams very well with the 1 GHz dual-core processor. So speed is never an issue.
The device features a sensor for proximity, light, an accelerometer, a Geomagnetic, and a Gyroscope. For audio, its Codec covers: MP3, AAC, AAC＋, eAAC＋, WMA, AC3 and has a Music Player with SoundAlive. It also includes a Stereo FM Radio with RDS.
The smartphone has two cameras. At the front you have a 1.3mp camera and at the rear an auto-focus 5mp camera for splendind high-res. pictures. The rear camera includes an LED flash for night-time/low-light photo-ops.
The rich bundle of apps and value-added features includes: ChatON (Downloadable via Samsung Apps), Readers Hub (Downloadable via Samsung Apps), Music Hub and Game Hub. Among built-in apps you have a range of Samsung apps like Samsung TouchWiz/ Samsung L!ve Panel UX and Samsung Kies 2.0/ Samsung Kies air/ AllShare. Plus you have Google Mobile Services, Android Market, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, A-GPS, Polaris and Find-My-Mobile. You can sync the device with Google Calendar.
Its screen-size 4.0” WVGA(480×800) Super AMOLED display give you bright images. In-built storage offers 8/16GB and User memory ＋768MB (RAM) with support for a microSD (up to 32GB).
Overall a decent, perhaps even attractive, set of features. But the battery remains the standard Li-ion 1500 mAh. I’d still rate the handset at 4 stars out of 5.
Galaxy S Advance Price Rs. 26,900
Samsung Galaxy Pocket
The Galaxy Pocket comes with a smaller price tag so one can expect a humbler set of features compared to the Galaxy S Advance.
As mentioned earlier, this one too has the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. But being a budget smartphone, it has an 832MHz processor and a 2.8in QVCA display. A single, fixed-focus 2megapixel camera at the back is hardly a luxury for snap-happy folks. Likewise, for video you have MPEG4, H.263, H.264. You can record QVGA@15pfs and playback WVGA@30fps.
Connectivity features in the Galaxy Pocket are similar to the Galaxy S Advance, viz. Bluetooth® technology v 3.0, USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi b/g/n. The network it covers are HSDPA 3.6UMTS 900/2100 and EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900.
It offers an Audio Codec of MP3, OGG, AAC, AAC＋, eAAC＋, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, WAV, MID, IMY and Stereo FM Radio with RDS. Apps and value-added features include Samsung Apps, Samsung TouchWiz UX, Samsung Kies, Samsung ChatOn, Social Hub – Integrated Messaging (Email, SNS), Contacts and Calendar Syncing.
Bundled in the set you have Android Market, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Search, Google + and A-GPS. An accelerometer and digital compass complete the set. And for storage you have 3GB of internal memory with a microSD card slot.
Samsung Galaxy Pocket Price Rs. 8,150