Summary review of Samsung Galaxy Ace (S5830), Fit (S5670) and mini (S5570) smartphones. Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 phone: description, specifications, test, reviews Galaxy Ace 5830

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 quite a built-in high quality camera 5 megapixel resolution, as well as 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 a perforated rear panel. It is convenient to transport your 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 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, it all ends 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 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 today's review, it has a more original design, which is automatically an advantage. In addition, the device has built-in 512 megabytes 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.

Today we're looking at the successor to Samsung's mid-range models, the Ace, codenamed GT-S5830. After the GT-i5800 model, Ace still holds the title of successor to the famous and popular i5700 Spica model. The screen resolution was returned to its original position (in the i5800 it was reduced to 240x400 pixels), the hardware became modern for its segment. But whether Ace will become a bestseller among its competitors and repeat the success of Spica - time will tell.

However, it seems to me that it will not be possible to easily surpass the glory of “Spitsa”. Subjective opinion, but, at first glance, if I now had to choose between Ace and Spica, the choice would be ambiguous.

The fact is that Spica has more developed external data. Thus, there is no gloss in the case materials, and in general, the experience of active and long-term use of the i5700 has shown that the model’s appearance is very resistant to wear. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that an all-glossy Ace will rub off faster.

Also, the predecessor has all mechanical keys and not three of them, like the Ace. There is even a joystick, which is so lacking in modern touchscreens, especially in winter.

But not everything is so good. Spokes had serious performance problems. Despite the high frequency, the hardware was designed only for playing converted video. There were problems with games and especially 3D. However, the popularity of the model allowed the smartphone to overcome many obstacles. So, today more and more custom versions are coming out for the i5700.

Let's look at new model. Yes, the Ace is significantly superior to the Galaxy 580. But, if you compare it with the Spica, the Ace, with its custom-made body, wins in terms of characteristics. About them below.

Appearance

Despite the glossy body, the Ace looks good. Externally, it evokes strong associations with the iPhone 4, the same gray edging on the side, the color of the case and only one key in rest mode. Until you unlock the device, the two touch buttons are not visible at all.

Location of everything on the body

On the front side of the smartphone there is a 3.5″ diagonal screen with a resolution of 320x480 pixels. This is the standard resolution for a device of this level. The screen is made using TFT technology and has a capacitive touch surface. Viewing angles are good, but not great. Multi-touch is well implemented; I didn’t notice any confusion in touches like on the LG Optimus One and Google Nexus One.

The speaker and proximity sensor are located above the screen, and control keys are located below it. As with the entire Galaxy line, you can unlock the device not only by pressing the power key, but also by pressing the central mechanical key.

On the right we see the power and screen lock key, as well as a slot for a MicroSD memory card under a flap. If you often change memory cards, for example, to watch movies, you will like this solution.

On the right is a paired volume key and a lanyard eyelet.

Only the microphone is located at the bottom, and at the top we see a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, as well as a connector for the MicroUSB cable. The latter is hidden behind a curtain. We see a similar solution in the Galaxy S.

The back cover is the most glossy I've ever seen. It's just glossy and glossy. There is not even any design, like on the Galaxy S or Nexus S. Prints are part of the existence of the cover.

Among the black gloss there is a 5MP camera with flash and a speaker. The camera has autofocus and takes good pictures, but video shooting in Ace is purely for show, as it shoots video with a maximum resolution of 320x240 pixels. Does this still happen? I'm sure this is a marketing ploy.

Sample photos

Removing the cover you will see the battery itself, with a capacity of 1350 mAh, as well as a slot for a SIM card. The battery is not miraculous; it provides the smartphone with a daily diet, but no more. Of course, it all depends on the activity of use. With a moderate load, you can get a two-day operating mode.

BY

Galaxy Ace runs under Android control OS 2.2.1. In principle, this can no longer be called very good, but that’s how it should be. Whether there will be an update to 2.3 is unknown. This is a minus compared to the competing model LG Optimus One, which will definitely be updated.

As we are already accustomed to seeing in Samsung smartphones, there is a TouchWiz 3.0 interface add-on on top of bare Android. I won’t say whether this is a plus or a minus, as I think it’s a matter of taste. My taste leans towards bare Android.

In TouchWiz, desktops and menus have been changed, some services and applications have been added. It's nice to have a Swype keyboard right out of the box.

Specifications

I admit, I did not expect such performance from Ace; the smartphone turned out to be good in this regard. On Ace you can play cool 3D games like Raging Thunder 2, Gangstar: Miami Vindication HD, Brothers In Arms 2: Global Front HD 3D, and others. And the Neocore test only confirms the performance of these games.

• Dimensions: 112x60x11 mm
• Weight: 115 g
• Operating system: Android 2.2.1 Froyo
• CPU: Qualcomm MSM7227, clock frequency 800 MHz
• Graphics accelerator: Adreno 200
• Display: capacitive, 3.5 inches, TFT, 320x480 pixels
• Memory: built-in 158 MB, microSD slot (up to 32 GB)
• RAM: 278 MB
• Camera: 5 MP with flash, video shooting (320×240)
• Wireless technologies: Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS
• Interface connectors: microUSB, 3.5 mm headphone jack
• Battery: lithium-ion, 1350 mAh

Express video review of Samsung Galaxy Ace

Conclusion

We didn’t get a revolution that needs to be sawed and sawed to make a diamond. We received a functionally good and ready-to-use smartphone on Android OS. Galaxy Ace is fast enough for heavy games and quite inexpensive. For example, a model with similar characteristics from will cost the buyer $100 more. Don’t forget about, which costs the same, but has a more practical body.

One of the advantages is the advanced community of enthusiasts who turn an already good device into candy. Many will never have to tinker with customs, but for those who change Spica to Ace, this will be a good bonus.

The disadvantages include too much “glossy” of the case. I don’t want to call it anything else. Some may not like some similarities in design with the iPhone 4.

Our verdict: moderately stylish, well-built, quite productive and the most glossy Android smartphone with a good camera and a video camera for show.

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.

Will start in mid-December Galaxy sales Ace with the index “i” - S5830i. 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

The Galaxy Ace smartphone 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), as it can easily be scratched by sharp objects. Even minor abrasions appeared during use.

Thanks to its low weight, ergonomic design and perforated surface back cover The phone fits well in the 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 on bottom end, on the top there is a standard 3.5 mm audio output for headphones or a headset and microUSB, 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.

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:

Samsung display comparison 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):

* - 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 1350 mAh lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery. Model EB494358VU. The exact same one costs 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. There is a wireless connection 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.

Memory and memory card

The Samsung S5830 smartphone has 280 MB of 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.

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:

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

Applications

To install programs and games, the Galaxy Ace has an application store " Android Market", 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.

Notes.

Internet. Regular internet browser.

Market. Google App Store.

Gmail. Email 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, to which you can add not only a phone number, but also social network data (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 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.

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. There are 11 presets available for the latter: rock, jazz, classical, dance, pop, live sound, concert hall, wide range, music clarity, bass boost and externalization.

The sound volume of the polyphonic speaker is low and comparable to the volume Samsung speaker 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.

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 resolution of videos 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”.

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. It has an original design, 512 MB of RAM, and a more modern Qualcomm MSM7230 processor with a clock frequency of 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 the Ace, but the diagonal is slightly smaller - 3.2".

By the way, why not try the Bada device Samsung S8530: excellent 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 (

After resounding success Galaxy smartphone S Samsung has clearly thought 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 is 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 deserved 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

What Galaxy design Ace follows the general style of Samsung Googlephones, pre-defines 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. It must be said that the presence of this button significantly transforms the experience of using the phone - it is easy to find by touch, and in addition, it is easy to remember that there is 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” - 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. Game Angry Birds at least it didn't slow down.

The noticeable difference is the amount of 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 equipped with Android 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 numeric keypad for dialing, a log of incoming and outgoing calls, as well as a list of favorite numbers, which 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. Only a separate item is allocated for configuring proprietary Samsung apps Apps, which is not available on non-Samsung devices.

It is worth noting the presence of a functional application manager and task manager, which allow you to flexibly manage 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 anything special - 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.

Navigation is handled by traditional Google Maps, which is used by several other programs, 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, albums, 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.

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 complete 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, YouTube integration, Find service Music (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 design thought is developing Samsung: The venerable manufacturer's phones are becoming more and more iPhone-like with each new iteration. And don’t tell me that the sensory devices all look the same, this is not true: the same “Spoke” had its own and quite recognizable appearance, while Ace looks like Chinese fake for 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 in lately Samsung began removing a separate camera button from its phones: it was missing in the Galaxy S, and it is 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. Battery life is typical for most Android smartphones, that is, with heavy use and large quantities mobile internet traffic he can work for 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 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 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 spacebar 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;
• good set preinstalled 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.