For a smartphone that has a reasonable amount of features for a fair price, the Samsung Galaxy Ace offers users a decent option. It comes with an FM radio, a digital player, and a digital camera that are all rather useful. The 3.5 inch touchscreen is centered in the middle, but it is a bit small when compared to the overall size of the phone. Offering HVGA resolution and access to the social hub that Samsung has set up to provide news updates, this “cousin” of the primary Galaxy phones takes a minimalistic approach that could pay off big for your today.

How Is the Performance of the Samsung Galaxy Ace?

This smartphone is designed to provide users with just enough power to have a smooth operating experience. It starts with the 800 MHz processor that provides relatively quick web browsing and some limited multitasking. Although the Galaxy Ace isn’t going to compare to the quad core processors that can be found in premium phones today, it is good enough to accomplish most jobs. Users will be able to download apps when they wish, share content with their friends quickly, and thanks to the Wi-Fi, even do that outside of its data plan.

The touchscreen is a TFT capacitive Gorilla Glass screen that offers users a 165 PPI pixel density. There is support for 16 million colors, so the quality of the image is decent enough. Images just aren’t as crisp as some users might expect with a modern smartphone. It runs on Android’s Gingerbread operating system.

The Swype technology that has been included with the virtual keyboard allows for faster texting and document composition once users get used to the system. By connecting the pattern of keyboard hits, the interface attempts to determine what you’re saying without lifting your finger from the screen. When combined with the predictive inputs, the experience is fairly accurate, even if finger placement isn’t 100% accurate.

A final advantage in using the Samsung Galaxy Ace is the inclusion of ThinkFree straight out-of-the-box. This gives users the opportunity to create, modify, or read Microsoft Office documents, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. If you’ve got a PowerPoint presentation to give in an hour and need to alter it, the Galaxy Ace is going to allow that to happen.

How Do the Specs of the Samsung Galaxy Ace Compare?

The 5 MP camera is a point of contention for those who use this smartphone. Although using the camera is relatively easy to do, the imaging qualities of the images that are taken are somewhat lackluster. Video recording only occurs in 480p, which means it falls behind the capabilities of other smartphones that are at lower price points.

On the other hand, users won’t have to fall for the temptation of having a different colored phone introduced to them after they purchase the stock model of this one. That’s because the Galaxy Ace comes with a pair of back panels that are interchangeable so that the look of the phone can be changed. The visual aesthetics of the phone itself are reasonably appealing, although the blocky menu button in the central button is a bit oversized when compared to the touchscreen that is a bit undersized.

The button placement is a bit of an issue with this phone. If the touchscreen were 4 inches instead of 3.5 inches, the button placement would be reduced just a little and placed a little lower on the phone. This would prevent many of the accidental button pushes that tend to happen when trying to take a call with this phone. Most people will wind up holding the phone in such a way that the sleep button is depressed, further adding to a learning curve that could be quite frustrating.

What About Its Battery and Other Features?

The Samsung Galaxy Ace has been equipped with a reasonably strong lithium-ion battery that has a 1350 mAh rating. In practical terms, it means that this phone has about 6 hours of talk time on a single charge if connected to a 3G network. Using an Edge or 2G network will about double the amount of talk time that users will receive. Standby times are about 400 hours on a 3G network or about 600 hours for a 2G network.

This phone is GPS equipped and offers Bluetooth and a stereo FM radio with RDS as well. It plays most multimedia files, so it can double as an MP3 player if desired. Connected to a charger or computer with the mUSB v2.0 port and save your data by connecting to Wi-Fi.

The memory and internal storage of the phone, however, are minimal at best. It has just 278 MB of RAM, so some of the latest apps aren’t going to run very well on the Galaxy Ace. There’s only 158 MB of internal storage as well, but the mSD slot recognizes up to 32 GB of external storage. A 2 GB external storage card is included with the purchase of the phone.

What the Verdict on the Samsung Galaxy Ace?

The Galaxy Ace is designed to be an affordable alternative in the Galaxy series of smartphones. Affordable is the key word here as the options and features are definitely downgraded, even from mobile phones of other brands at this price point. If you are partial to the Samsung brand and want an entry level smartphone, then the Galaxy Ace is a viable option to consider. The document and photo editing capabilities are nice to have on hand, even if the video recording is only at 480p in total.

It’s a good first smartphone or backup phone in case the primary mobile phone goes missing or needs to be replaced for some reason. It has just enough features to be useful and a fairly affordable price. Is it the best phone at this price point? That’s something that each shopper will need to determine on their own because the Samsung Galaxy Ace is designed to meet specific niche needs.

One of the most exciting editions to the Samsung line of mobile phones as of late is the Galaxy A3. This smartphone offers an aluminum frame for users to enjoy instead of a plastic one, is beautifully lightweight, and has the super AMOLED display that many have come to expect from Samsung. In short, this particular smartphone looks just as good as it sounds like it does.

Specifications

Here are some of the specs that make this phone stand out.

It’s just 6.9 mm thick, offering users a slim design that is comparable to the Apple iPhone 6.

The 4.5 inch touchscreen offers a 540p resolution and a 245 PPI pixel density for reasonably good images.

A 1.2 GHz Cortex A53 quad core processor helps to keep this phone moving quickly.

1.5 GB of RAM comes standard, as does 16 GB of internal storage, and the mSD slot can support an additional 64 GB of storage.

The Galaxy A3 also comes in a wide variety of models. There’s even an LTE model for those who wish to have that network capability. All of this means that one thing is for certain: this smartphone was designed with the average user in mind.

What Are the Features of the Samsung Galaxy A3?

The standard features that come with the Galaxy A3 are comparable to about any other smartphone at this price point. A digital compass and proximity sensor come included with the design. The accelerometer is responsive and changes the screen perspective quickly when the phone is turned. Threaded view SMS and MMS compliment the email and instant messaging features quite nicely. It’s equipped with a standard HTML5 browser and a Java emulator will help gamers be able to enjoy a diversion when needed.

The battery is a lithium-ion 1900 mAh battery, but it is non-removable, which will disappoint some buyers. Most users will find that they can get 1-2 days of normal use out of the Galaxy A3 before it needs to be charged again. Data consumption will reduce battery life, but not as dramatically as seen in other smartphones. Connect through the mUSB port or Bluetooth for file transfers and turn on the FM radio if you need something to listen to during the day.

Wi-Fi has been included with the Samsung Galaxy A3, as has hotspot functionality, but there isn’t any dual-band support on the phone. This smartphone is GPS enabled as well and offers users the ability to assign MP3 files or WAV files as their ringtones. All in all, it is a feature rich smartphone that might not compare completely to the premium smartphone market, but it comes pretty close.

If you have online photo albums, like on Facebook or Picassa, and you keep your phone connected to a data source, then it is possible to browse through all photos that have been taken whether they are online or local. Facial recognition will help to filter out images so that certain shots can be instantly recognized and then accessed.

A Functional Dual Camera Design For One?

Many smartphones that are equipped with dual cameras have one decent primary camera and an almost worthless front-facing camera. The Galaxy A3 offers users two very functional cameras instead. The primary rear-facing camera has an 8 MP resolution and offers face detection, panoramic shots, touch focusing, and an LED flash. The front-facing camera offers similar features and a 5 MP resolution, so selfies have been made easy with this mobile phone. Switching back and forth is with one touch ease.

The one issue that may come up is a slow video chat connection because of the resolution of the front-facing camera. Slower network or internet connections could make image viewing nearly impossible at times.

The rear facing camera actually sticks out from the back of the phone, so the 6.9 mm thickness isn’t entirely accurate if the camera is taken into account. The extra spacing is protected by metal framing, so damaging the camera by slipping the phone into a pocket isn’t really an issue. Users can record videos in 1080p and then quickly upload them to their preferred social network or send them to a home email account for future distribution.

An added advantage that’s been incorporated into the user interface of the Galaxy A3 is a private mode. This privacy selection will help to password protect voice recordings, photographs, videos, and other files that you don’t want anyone else to be able to see if they get their hands on your phone. Apps do not have the ability to access these files unless the private mode has been unlocked and it works separately from the locking security features that are on the main screen.

What’s the Verdict on the Samsung Galaxy A3?

Android phones tend to drain life out of their batteries quickly, which means the two different power saving modes on the Samsung Galaxy A3 are a nice feature. The ultra power saving mode is especially nice when battery levels reach less than 10%. It will eliminate all of the advanced functions of the phone and even alter the appearance of the home screen so that power reserves can be maximized.

Users will also like the ability to alter the different sound frequencies that are heard in the music being played. Bass and clarity can all be adjusted to provide a fairly authentic sound, all things considered. When these final features are combined with all of the other advantages that are provided by the Samsung Galaxy A3, it’s easy to see why this phone has become a top model.

It’s durable with the metal case. It offers easy connections to social networking, multimedia, and online photo albums. The sound quality is excellent and adjustable. It’s thin, has two functional cameras, and offers enough processing power and memory to allow for a reasonable level of multitasking. For those who are in the market for a new and modern smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy A3 provides a lot of value for a very fair price.

There aren’t many smartphones that are worthy of the marketing hype that surrounds them. The Samsung Galaxy 3 is one of the few exceptions to this rule. Not only does it have a strong battery that gives the phone a lot of life, the processing speeds are fast thanks to quad-core technology. The touchscreen is responsive and the overall design allows uses to manage their media and social connections very easily.

With an entire suite of premium features, this top-end from 2012 still offers a tremendous amount of value today. Maybe the best part about the Samsung Galaxy 3, however, is the fact that it is a premium smartphone that doesn’t come with a premium price.

What Makes the Samsung Galaxy 3 Stand Out

The Samsung Galaxy 3 is one of the super AMOLED HD phones that Samsung released over the years and this gives it a crystal clear display. It’s just 8.6 mm thick, about 5.4 inches in length, and just under 2.8 inches in width. It weighs in at 133g, about average for a smartphone of this size, and the 4.8 inch touchscreen offers a 720p resolution. The 306 PPI pixel density is still highly competitive with more modern smartphones and the Gorilla Glass gives it an added level of protection.

The sunlight legibility is fantastic on the Samsung Galaxy 3. At 3.419 for a contrast ratio, it’s one of the best in the business still today. Even when compared to other Samsung Galaxy products, the Galaxy 3 stands alone. The contrast ration is 1.4 better than the Apple iPhone 4 in direct sunlight.

As for the technical specs, the Samsung Galaxy 3 stands up reasonably well still too. It’s a 1.4 GHz Cortex A9 quad core processor that powers this smartphone and the Mali GPU offers the support that it needs. An external mSD storage slot offers up to 64 GB of extra space, while internal storage ranges from 16 GB to 64 GB depending on the model that is purchased.

The one place where the Galaxy 3 feels a little dated is the fact that it comes with Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich operating system out-of-the-box. Users have the option to upgrade it to Jelly Bean, but it is still a little behind here. That doesn’t change the fact, however, that this smartphone still comes packed with plenty of features that users are going to love.

What Are the Features of the Samsung Galaxy 3?

The primary feature that stands out with the Samsung Galaxy 3 is the 8 MP primary camera. It offers access to an LED flash and autofocuses quickly so that a great shot can be captured in an instant. Users can also record HD video while doing image recording, while touch focus and smile detection are also part of the package. Video is in true HD 1080p. The front facing camera isn’t anything special at just 1.9 MP, but it does record in 720p at 30 frames per second, so it’s good enough for a video chat.

Users will also find that the active noise cancellation is a useful feature. Conversations come through crystal clear on both ends and there is barely any white noise during moments of silence. Bluetooth connections tend to have a bit more background noise when hands-free equipment is being used. Wi-Fi and USB services, including a MHL TV-out, will give users the ability to connect in virtually any circumstance.

The Samsung Galaxy 3 also comes with a proximity sensor, a compass, a barometer, and a gyro. The equipped accelerometer is responsive, while the phone can be setup to receive email, MMS, and instant messaging for greater flexibility. As for multimedia options, this smartphone is able to play most music and video files. It is even equipped to play DivX files that are downloaded or streamed from an online source.

What About the Battery on the Samsung Galaxy 3?

Unlike other premium smartphones, the battery cover is removable with this smartphone so batteries can be switched in an out. It comes equipped with a lithium-ion 2100 mAh battery out-of-the-box and this is good enough for about 11.5 hours of talk time if you’re on a 3G network. If 2G connectivity is only available, then talk time can actually be doubled. It has a standby rating of 790 hours.

The only one real drawback of this phone is that the battery life tends to get sucked away when data is being used. Many people will look at the possibility of 128 GB of storage as a great thing when mSD and internal storage is combined, but accessing HD apps or videos will dramatically reduce the life of the battery by up to 70%. Heavy data users will likely want to invest in a battery backup if the Samsung Galaxy 3 will be their primary internet access point.

What’s the Verdict on the Samsung Galaxy 3?

Although it is an all plastic body that comes with the Samsung Galaxy 3 and having a dedicated camera key would be a nice addition, the overall functionality of this smartphone will give users a premium experience. The S Voice can be problematic at times, especially if your expectations of it were what you saw in advertisements, but those are really the only negative points.

The Samsung Galaxy 3 offers users a rich video experience and there is audio codec support. File management comes pre-installed on the phone and a document editor will help business users stay productive while they’re out and about. An FM radio is also included, there’s a 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones, and the audio quality for music or conversations is remarkably authentic.

If you are looking for a premium phone, then the Samsung Galaxy 3 has a lot to offer, even though it was first offered to the general public in 2012. For those who want a rich experience from their phone while on a budget, then this phone should still be considered today.

Are you thinking about stepping up to a smartphone? Do you have a tight budget that demands a new smartphone at a great price? If so, then the Samsung Exhibit 4G could be the perfect phone to meet your needs. This phone works with the Gingerbread v2.3 operating system from Android, offers users two cameras, and has a reasonably fast 1 GHz processor that will allow for user multitasking. Although the virtual keyboard is a bit compact and the camera software tends to lag just a bit, the budget-friendly price of this smartphone gives it a compelling case during the shopping process.

This Smartphone Gives You Affordable 4G Access

As a candy bar phone, the size of the Samsung Exhibit 4G is surprisingly large. It has corners that have been rounded at the top, but instead of rounded corners on the bottom, Samsung has given the phone a cut angle for an interesting visual appeal. At 4.7 inches in height and 2.3 inches in width, this phone weighs just a little more than 4 ounces. It’s not a phone that looks like you’ll have spent lots of money on it, but the soft touch finish makes the phone feel soft and comfortable. The finish also helps to eliminate fingerprint smudging issues that can creep up with phones like these.

The touchscreen offers 16 million color support, but is only 3.5 inches in size. The screen itself is responsive and has a nice brightness to it, but the glare from direct sunlight makes the phone almost impossible to use under those conditions. Users will want to put the phone into landscape mode with the accelerometer to do texting on the virtual keyboard. Browsing the internet is fine enough with the Exhibit as long as you get a mobile optimized website.

512 MB of RAM comes standard on this phone.

On top of the Android operating system is Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz user interface that isn’t always user friendly. If you like to pack in a lot of app icon shortcuts onto your homescreens, then you’ll love this phone. The initial setup has 5 different screens that can be accessed and users can setup two more screens as well. Gesture commands can help users access all of their screens at once, which is a nice feature, but the scrolling can sometimes be problematic since users have to use a swipe command to switch between the screens.

Accessing the phone’s features is simple enough with the exterior commands. 4 GB of storage comes standard with the mSD card, but it can recognize up to 32 GB of storage in total. The mUSB is curiously on the top of the phone instead of the bottom, situated right next to the 3.5 mm audio port. Watch out for the plastic covering on the mUSB – it tends to want to break off after some use.

What About the Features of the Samsung Exhibit 4G?

At a budget-friendly price, the 4G connectivity of this phone is going to be its primary feature. The Exhibit isn’t the most feature-rich smartphone on the market today, but it does carry a certain usefulness with it. Users will find the dual camera design to be useful enough, although the forward facing camera above the touchscreen is just VGA quality. The primary camera offers a 3 MP resolution instead, but there isn’t a shutter button, so the software for the camera has to be loaded in order to uswe it. It comes with GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi support, however, so connecting to a preferred network is easy enough to do.

The Samsung Exhibit 4G also allows you to set up a complete accounts system so that you can share to virtually any network. It’s possible to merge all of your online email accounts into this one notification system. Sync all of your contacts and your calendars together from these accounts as well so that you have an all-in-one contact system. Users will be able to even access their Twitter and Facebook accounts directly and even upload to services to Flickr.

These features are nice, but the syncing or importing of contacts into the Exhibit can sometimes be a frustrating process. Information errors happen frequently during the process, which requires a manual correct to the contact listing. In some ways, it may be easier to just input each contact directly since each contact needs to be manually checked to see if it is accurate.

Beyond that, users have the opportunity to access the full suite of Google apps and services that a smartphone should have. Google Maps with voice navigational directions is the highlight of these features, but Talk, Places, and YouTube also come pre-installed. The Exhibit puts users into the Android marketplace and the included music player is pretty standard, but does it’s job fairly well.

Could the Exhibit Come With Too Many Apps?

With the available storage, users are only going to get about 1 GB of workable space on their phone for downloads, apps, and images they wish to share. Many of the apps that come with the Samsung Exhibit 4G can’t be uninstalled either, which could be problematic for some users. Some of the apps, like Skype, are nice and useful. There are some TV and movie streaming options available as well, while AllShare allows users to share multimedia onto DLNA devices. The camera is a little problematic during video calls, but it works fine enough.

The cameras and camcorder features are standard. Timers, white balancing, and exposure tools are all included to help tinker with the perfect shot. Indoor pictures are taken fairly easily with this smartphone, but action images are very difficult to capture. Images that are in the indoors tend to look a little dull and muted, but it’s still better than not having a camera at all.

The replay of video on the Exhibit is nice and smooth. Although there isn’t image stabilization on the recording tools, users will find that they can walk and take videos without having the bouncy, jerking motions that typically come with a mobile camera. The volume is rather authentic without all of the background white noise and the colors are pretty good. This smartphone also allows uses to export their videos through email or to their preferred social network.

How Good Is the Call Quality?

Equipped with a quad-band design, the call quality on the Exhibit is above average. Voices tend to sound just a bit hollow over the phone and sounds from the background can be heard around the voice connection. Volume levels are good and can be adjusted. The loudspeaker conversations are equally as good, although it tends to mute the voice inputs that are sent from the Exhibit. Most connections are strong, don’t have interference, and the virtual keypad is easy enough to access and use.

The 4G speeds are definitely evident when using the exhibit. Although the Exhibit is capable of downloads speeds of up to 21 Mbps, much of the actual user experience depends on the local connections that are offered. The average user will typically see speeds that are about 30% of the stated capabilities of the phone. The primary benefit for the 4G connection comes from internet browsing, however, as it allows users the capability of downloading full websites instead of just the mobile friendly options.

The Samsung Exhibit 4G comes equipped with a lithium-ion 1500 mAh battery that’s rated for around 6 hous of talk time, but using data shrinks this time dramatically. Most users will find that they’ll need to charge this phone once per day.

It is a little difficult to use this phone with just one hand. Part of that is because of how smooth the phone is along the back. There’s really no straight edges to the design of the phone, so the natural tendency of it is to slip out of the hand.

What Is the Verdict on the Samsung Exhibit 4G?

For those who want a 4G phone and like the Android platform, the Samsung Exhibit 4G offers a tempting proposition. Although it is far from a premium smartphone, it does have enough strength in its hardware to provide a reasonably good user experience. The reduced screen size compared to other smartphones could be problematic to some users and the camera lag times could be an issue for those who love mobile photography, but overall this phone as the goods to meet most needs.

Any complaints for this phone are relatively minor. It’s an inexpensive smartphone that connects to virtually all business or social networks, offers video chat functionality, and has a good responsiveness outside of the shutter functioning on the camera. Heavy data consumers will want to bring along a backup battery pack or their charger so their phone won’t die on them, but otherwise the Samsung Exhibit 4G is a solid, budget-friendly phone that is definitely worth a consideration.

There are a lot of mobile phones that are rich with features. There are even some mobile phones that come pretty close to being a smartphone. The Samsung E3210 fits into that second category thanks to it’s sleek bar design, tactile keyboard with nicely sized command and call buttons, and the suite of features that are included out-of-the-box. It is priced slightly above the budget category because of all its features, but rest assured that there is plenty of user value to be found for the increased investment. This might just be the best compromise between a smartphone and a feature phone that can be found today.

The Samsung E3210 Is a Sophisticated Mobile Phone

The first impressions of the Samsung E3210 are good ones. It all begins with the black case that has some silver accent lining that gives it a nice visual appeal. The silver highlights are brought into the keypad/command area of the phone as well, giving users a mobile phone that offers ergonomic comforts while providing several upgraded features that will allow everyone to stay connected in virtually any way they prefer.

Unlike other feature phones, the Samsung E3210 is supported by HSDPA so that there are faster download speeds for files and better overall conversation connections. Users will be able to setup a native SNS as well so they can stay in touch with all of their social networks as well. Business users will love the fact that they can link their business email to their phone so they can be productive while traveling should they want to be.

All users will love the integration of the instant messaging as well. There are multiple IM services that are compatible with this feature phone, so as long as users already have an account in place, it’s a simple process to get the phone linked in and messaging started.

The one negative here: the Samsung E3120 doesn’t always install .jar files properly. The files that it will install are not always executed properly either.

What About the Additional Features of the Samsung E3210?

Users can access all of their installed features through the 2 inch TFT display that has 256k colors to it. With a 102 PPI density, however, the images on this phone are far from crisp. It’s enough to get the job done and view some photographs that have been taken through the VGA camera that comes standard. Users will also be able to record videos at VGA resolution if there are specific moments that need to be relived.

The highlight of the additional features has to be the stereo FM radio. The antenna is included within the base of the phone and the signal plays through the phone’s equipped loudspeaker. FM recording is also available and these recordings can be assigned as a ringtone. If you’ve downloaded MP3 files, these can also be assigned as ringtones if desired.

With 36 MB of internal storage, so there isn’t a lot of spare room for extra files, but the phone can recognize up to 8 GB of external storage through the mSD slot. The WAP HTML browser makes it easy to access the mobile internet and games are available for some moments of down time when they come around. There are also downloadable games available for this phone through your preferred data provider.

The Samsung E3210 also supports Opera Mini if users want to get away from the pre-installed browser and this allows for music downloads that can happen directly through the phone instead of through file transfers. If your data plan gives you access to online streaming television, then this phone is capable of showing that broadcast, albeit at the VGA resolution. A 1 year warranty protects your investment.

What About the Battery Life on the Samsung E3210?

The battery on the Samsung E3210 is a lithium-ion 800 mAh battery that offers users about 8 hours of talk time – if they stay on a 2G connection. For those who prefer to use 3G networks, talk time is rated at just 3.5 hours. Standby times reach 550 hours, but are cut by 40% when connected to a 3G network. Accessing data through this phone will increase the battery drainage as well.

It comes equipped with Bluetooth and with a mUSB connection, so file transfers are a pretty simple process. It isn’t GPS equipped, however, so there are some limitations to what this feature phone is able to do. To round out the features, there is the typical organizer, calculator, and other standard features that will keep life structured. Accessing the features is easy enough to do with the keypad commands and the phone responds quickly to each command it is given.

Interestingly enough, even though it connects to a 3G network, the internal clock doesn’t always get updated when connected to a cellular or data signal. This is definitely something to watch if you decide to make this phone your own.

What Is the Verdict on the Samsung E3210?

The one knock on the Samsung E3210 is that it can be very sensitive to moisture and this may cause the phone to malfunction. Moisture tends to enter through the mUSB port and even just the sweat from a person’s hands can be enough to begin the oxidizing process of the internal components. The end result is a phone that requests to be plugged into its charger around the clock and will beep at users until this gets done.

For those that are on a budget and need a feature phone that does more than talk and text, then the Samsung E3210 brings a comprehensive package that needs to be considered. It isn’t going to replace a smartphone and there may be a couple of issues that come up while using the phone for some users, but the overall result is a nice looking feature phone at an even nicer price. If that’s you’re need, then this is definitely a phone to consider today.