Samsung Galaxy with ACE 2. How smartphones age! Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Now it's time to update the lineup, so a fresh solution will come in handy. At the time, its predecessor became a real sales hit; the model turned out to be successful both in its design, imitating the Apple style, and in its filling. All this was offered at an attractive price, which ensured people's love for the smartphone.

During this time, the market has become filled with models with similar characteristics; there are also many offers from Samsung. You can remember the Galaxy W smartphones - the first is cheaper, others are more expensive than new Galaxy Ace 2. In any case, you can choose among the rich range of one manufacturer and find the optimal solution for yourself.

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone


• Battery


• Cable


• Map microSD memory 2 GB capacity


• Stereo headset


• Charger

Design

Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 is reminiscent of the company’s previously released models, and it’s easy to find common features between them. The body contours are similar to or Galaxy W, from latest news inherited similar plastic. The case is without metal, matte plastic predominates here, fortunately, there is no gloss here, everything is assembled with high quality and monolithically.

The plastic behaves well, but over time, small abrasions may form on the back cover if you carry the smartphone in your pocket with other items.

Tightly fitting parts eliminate play or squeaks; this also applies to the positive qualities of a smartphone.

On the front panel there is a set of proximity sensors and a camera for video calls. Unfortunately, there is no sensor for automatic backlight brightness adjustment. The earpiece is hidden under a decorative silver mesh.

At the bottom, in the center, there is a large Home key, which rises above the body. It's flat to make it easier to feel, and has a silver edge that helps you feel the key blindly. The button is mechanical, the clicks are clear, the travel is small. By holding it for a few seconds, you can display a list running applications.

On either side of it are two other functional controls for the phone. There are symbols on the left and right of the touch panel: these are the Menu button and the Return key. Due to the fact that they are given a large enough space to press them accurately and avoid erroneous or inaccurate presses, they are convenient to use. The buttons are backlit and are activated when you touch one of the touch zones. Subsequently they go out, despite the working screen. Their operation is configured in the menu, so if desired, the backlight can be completely turned off or, conversely, activated for a longer time.

At the bottom there is a small microphone hole and a port
microUSB

There is a 3.5 mm headphone jack at the top end.

On the left side there is a paired volume key. It is embossed, easy to feel and pleasant to press. There is also a slot for microSD memory cards. Access to it is free, you do not need to remove the battery to change the flash drive, hot-swappable is supported, you just need to fold the protective cover to the side.

On the right side there is a small button to turn off the device, which also functions as a screen lock. It also has a comfortable shape.

The back cover is covered with a barely noticeable pattern. This mesh allows you to hold your smartphone more confidently in your hand. At the bottom there is a small protrusion, familiar from the company's models. It adds originality to the appearance of the smartphone, and also helps to hold the device in your hand more confidently.

The dimensions of the smartphone fall within the usual framework: 118.3x62.3x10.5 mm, weight 118 g. Not the largest, not the heaviest device for its class. It fits well in your pocket or hand, in general, it is convenient for everyone.

In the center is a 5-megapixel camera lens, which is decorated with a silver rim. Below it is an LED flash. To the right is the speaker hole.

Inside there is a battery and a SIM card slot.

Screen

The smartphone has a 3.8-inch display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels, which is a significant step forward compared to its predecessor. In general, the screen is good for its class both in terms of picture and pixel density. The display is capacitive, supports 5-point multi-touch, and displays up to 16 million colors. The new type of PLS ​​screen is distinguished by moderate brightness, color reproduction closer to natural colors, differing in this regard from SuperAMOLED.

The device responds perfectly to touches, the sensor is sensitive and accurately responds to touches. The protective layer is made of Gorilla Glass and protects the surface from damage. The screen's behavior in the sun is average; data fades and is difficult to read unless you manually set the maximum backlight level.

Platform

It's in the smartphone dual core processor U8500 Nova Thor 800 MHz, Mali-400 GPU, 768 MB random access memory. 4 GB of internal memory is offered for storing applications, of which about 1.5 GB is used for installing software. The card slot allows you to expand the usable space up to 32 GB inclusive. With map maximum size The smartphone worked well. The operating system is Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread and the proprietary TouchWiz 4.0 shell.

Interface

The proprietary TouchWiz 4.0 interface is used as the shell. At the top of the screen there is a service line, where the time, battery charge, and signal reception level indicator are displayed. Active connections and other data are also displayed there. By clicking on it, you can find out in more detail about what programs were downloaded, what messages and letters were received, or what files were received. Highlighted as a separate line turning on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, silent mode and GPS.

You can use both standard widgets for Android and original elements from Samsung. For widgets, seven desktops are allocated, on which you can place additional functional elements at your discretion.

When you add a new widget to your desktop, a new panel may appear along with it. If desired, you can remove any part of the interface that has become unnecessary.

You can add application shortcuts to the desktop, create folders and change the background image, using both animated images on the desktop and installing static images from the gallery. Sets the image to the lock screen.

When the phone screen is locked, it displays the date and time, as well as service information. To unlock, you need to pull the top layer covering the desktop. If there were missed calls or SMS, they will be displayed on the screen with a separate icon on the left or right. The picture is set on the lock screen, the location for the clock is changed. There are several font styles to choose from.

The menu is presented in the form of 4x4 icons, and an option in the form of a vertical list is also available. If desired, you can move icons to other tables, add them to folders, thus organizing applications to your taste.

When you add new programs, they are automatically placed on the screen. They can be deleted directly from the menu; you just need to go into edit mode. But you can only delete programs that you added yourself; those installed by the manufacturer are not subject to such an operation. Folders for applications are created in the menu.

If you hold down the menu button, a pop-up window will open, showing shortcuts to six recently launched applications.

Phone book

The general list shows stored contacts both in the phone memory and the SIM card, as well as data from account Google. You can choose among them by setting the ability to display subscribers only from the selected memory type. In the settings, you select your preferred method for sorting names.

By clicking the field reserved for the subscriber's picture, you can make a call, send him a message or letter by e-mail, and also view information on it. There are many fields provided for additional data. It includes Various types telephone numbers, email addresses, means of instant communication, residential addresses and other information.

If the subscriber is assigned an image, it will be displayed on the screen. To simplify the search, you can use the vertical line on which the alphabet is depicted. Thus, by sliding your finger over it, the letters pop up and you can quickly find your way around. Of course, there is also a standard search function among contacts. There is a quick call to 8 selected subscribers. Contacts can be divided into different groups, which are assigned an individual signal.

From the phone book, you can quickly call or write an SMS to a person - you just need to swipe your finger left (call) or right (message) on the line with the subscriber's name. By clicking on the space reserved for the subscriber’s picture, a quick menu is called up, with the help of which you can send a message, mail, and also make phone call to the selected person.

Call log

You can access the call log directly from the phone book; it is highlighted in a separate tab. There the dialed numbers are sorted by date. But they are not the only ones who appear. It also contains information about messages. If desired, the amount of displayed data can be reduced to a minimum or, conversely, the most complete informational list of events of recent days can be obtained.

Having selected a subscriber, you can see which calls were made and how many times - such a collapsed list is much more convenient than a long string of dialed numbers of the same type. However, in the general list of calls there is a duplication of identical numbers, which overloads the log with identical data. The smartphone can display frequently used numbers in a separate group, which is convenient.

The number is dialed using a virtual keyboard, and when entering numbers, the smartphone automatically displays on the screen contacts stored in the device’s memory with similar initial numbers in the number.

Messages

For SMS and MMS there is a common folder where received messages go. When sending, by adding various objects to the text, you can automatically transform it into a multimedia message. When sending a message, the phone can display the last used numbers, thereby greatly simplifying the search for the recipient. A message can be sent simultaneously to several subscribers or to a group created in the smartphone’s memory. There is a set of funny android emoticons.

The device combines correspondence with subscribers into dialogues. A smartphone can automatically delete old SMS if there is no desire to store thousands of archives on the device. As you type text, you can cut, copy, and paste it. Entering text is convenient. It offers not only the Samsung keyboard option, but also the Swype function. Its essence is that you just need to move your finger along the layout with signs. The device will independently generate words based on which characters were touched by the user’s hand. For clarity, during such input, a blue bar is displayed on the screen, which allows you to avoid confusion when typing text.

The function is very convenient, it automatically places spaces between words, selects words well, and most importantly, you can type text very quickly. If the word is short and a combination of several is possible possible options, then the phone will display them, then you need to choose between them yourself. You can add new words to her vocabulary.

Email

To work with e-mail it starts automatic setting mailbox(unless it's Gmail, which connects immediately after the email address was entered during the initial activation of the phone). It includes entering basic information (login, password). The phone perfectly understands various encodings, supports loading attachments (you must insert a memory card, otherwise this function will not work) in familiar formats.

When creating a letter, you can also attach various files from the device memory to it. Both the text copy function and automatic check mailbox (the interval is set manually). Sorting mail by date, subject, sender and size works.

Gallery

Photos and videos stored in the smartphone's memory are displayed here. The gallery works in both vertical and horizontal orientation. Working with files is accompanied by nice animation effects. Working with files is fast, image previews are generated without delay. Pictures are displayed in a 2x3 or 3x2 grid, depending on the position of the device.

The preview folders contain smaller pictures, so that not 3, but 4 pictures can be placed vertically. The image opens in full screen, scaling works using multi-touch. Files can be sent via email, Bluetooth, SMS or hosted on Picasa. You can assign images as desktop wallpaper or assign them to a contact. It supports rotating images, reducing their size, and also displaying Additional Information about a specific file, the location where the picture was taken is also shown if geotagging is working.

Images are shown both in folders (for example, received via Bluetooth, photo section) and ordered by date. This makes it very convenient to view photos - there are several sections in the same folder. You can scroll either using the bar displayed at the bottom of the screen or by simply touching the screen with your fingers anywhere on it.

The built-in photo image editor will help you add various effects to your pictures.

Player

The player's interface is simple and intuitive. A general list displays all the songs in the smartphone’s memory. There are also additional columns. Playlists of several types, albums, artists, genres, composers, years. While music is playing, the cover specified in the file tags is displayed on the screen; if there is none, there will be a multi-colored picture instead.

The volume can be changed both from the player menu using the vertical adjustment scale, and by using the side volume keys. The screen displays the name of the artist, the name of the album and the song being played. Tracks can be put on repeat (song, album, all songs) or listened to in shuffle mode.

Virtual keys are used for navigation (forward, backward and pause), and you can also switch between songs by flipping through the file cover image. While listening, you can set your favorite song as a ringtone, contact or alarm.

The user has access to numerous equalizer settings: auto, normal, pop, rock, jazz, dance, classical, live sound, other. You can select the audio effect: normal, wide range, concert hall, music clarity, bass boost, externalization. There is a visualization function, but it does not go well with album covers, so it is more interesting to use it if they are not specified in the file properties.

When the keyboard is locked, the player control line is displayed at the top of the screen, which contains navigation keys, information about the song being played, and cover art.

The sound quality is at the level of the Galaxy W model. That is, not bad, but not the best for its class. In my opinion, Sony Xperia Sola or HTC One V are more interesting as a music source if used quality headphones paired with the device.

Radio

The receiver supports RDS and can work in background and turn off after a set time period (30 minutes, 1 or 2 hours). The automatic search function for radio stations works. You can display 6 of your favorite radio stations on your desktop and quickly switch between them.

As with the player, there is a pop-up window at the top of the screen for quick navigation between stations. To end the radio broadcast, a separate “stop” key is provided.

Video

The smartphone has full support for DivX and XviD codecs. Therefore, it can be used to watch unconverted videos. Here, videos are launched in 720p quality if desired, although due to the limited display resolution, HD quality will not fully manifest itself.

The video library is displayed in the form of a list with a small preview image of the film, its name and duration are also indicated. During viewing, controls may be displayed on the screen, including rewind and pause keys. A scroll bar appears, allowing you to quickly navigate through the movie being played. Using the lock key on the side of the phone, you can protect yourself from accidental presses while watching a movie.

Camera

The smartphone's camera is 5 megapixel, with autofocus and flash. Shooting starts exclusively from the smartphone menu. The interface is well designed. The shutter button is located on the right, the rest of the space is reserved for the viewfinder and two small zones for service options. The shortcut menu located on the left is customizable. The most are taken there required functions For quick access. Focusing on any point on the screen is implemented; you just need to touch the desired place.

Camera settings:

Self-portrait.

White Balance: Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Incandescent lamps, Fluorescent lighting.

Flash.

Shooting mode: one shot, smile, panorama, in motion, cartoon.

Shooting conditions: Portrait, Landscape, Night, Sports, Party, Beach\Snow, Sunset, Dawn, Autumn colors, Fireworks, Text, Twilight, Backlight.

Exposition.

Focus: auto, macro.

Timer: 2, 5, 10 seconds.

Effects: Normal, Negative, Black and White, Sepia.

Photo size: 5M (2560x1920), 3.2M (2048x1536), 2M (1600x1200), 0.3M (640x480 pixels).

ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800.

Metering: Center-weighted, Spot metering, Matrix.

The shooting quality is very good, the smartphone will not disappoint with the results, especially in clear weather. Taking pictures of texts is also not a problem; there is autofocus and a macro mode, so the device can also take a photo of a document or a note on a sheet of paper without difficulty.

Organizer The calendar in the device is made in a traditional style; the display of information for a whole month, a week or a specific day can be configured. You can set the alert type and tone for recorded events and meetings. There is a division of information by storage location, each option has its own color label. Creating new entry, it is given a name, a period and a place are specified. You can specify which calendar it will be synchronized with, you can send invitations to contacts from notebook. The repetition period is set (every day, weekly, monthly, yearly). A reminder will help you not to lose sight of the recording - the alarm will go off in advance. Additionally, the alert type is set. Watch The smartphone allows you to save several alarms in memory. The repeat can be set either once or every day, only on weekdays or weekly. You can also set specific days. The signal melody is set, you can add a vibration alert to it and text file. The period for the signal to be triggered again is set. There is also a pre-alarm function. It boils down to the fact that the phone begins to make quiet sounds in advance, gradually forcing the owner of the phone to wake up. Pleasant sound accompaniment from the sounds of nature has a pleasant effect, helps to wake up in a welcoming mood. The smartphone displays time in different time zones. There is a stopwatch. There is a timer. The voice recorder is simple and convenient; it saves recordings both in the phone memory and on a card. The recording time is user-defined, so you can take small notes that fit in an MMS. Designed as a wooden board with a sheet of paper attached, notes allow you to create notes. The calculator works in both portrait and landscape orientation. In the latter case, more functions are available. YouTube, a standard application for most modern devices, allows you to view videos and search among them. The application runs in full screen mode. The File Manager allows you to work with folders and the data stored in them. You can organize them by different types and delete contents. Mini diary will help you create a note by adding a picture to it. Polaris Office allows you to view documents on your phone screen. The program will detect data not only in the device’s memory, but also on a remote server. Shows weather forecast and news. Tasks are created with a priority and a reminder signal. Google Talk chat starts. Voice control helps you control your smartphone's functions. It does not recognize the Russian language, but it recognized commands in English normally. Therefore, you can call a friend, look up information in the browser, or open the messages menu without using the touchscreen. Browser A convenient application is used for Internet surfing. A navigation bar is displayed at the top of the screen, and to the right of it there is a shortcut that allows you to bookmark the page. The phone remembers the most visited pages and has a log of pages viewed. You can keep several windows open at the same time. There is a search for words on the page, text selection, as well as a practical function for changing the screen brightness directly from the browser. The font size changes, saving passwords works. In this application you can adjust the brightness level. The browser is convenient, it’s comfortable to use, it supports full Adobe Flash, so there will be no restrictions on the sites. GPS navigation Used for navigation Google Maps. The only drawback is that the program requires constant network activity, which affects the amount of traffic consumed by the device. Traffic jams are displayed, so the application has become fully functional and convenient not only for pedestrians, but also for car owners. There is a function for determining the current location, calculating the route from the starting point to the ending point, and specifying the method of movement: by car, on foot or public transport. The route is laid out on the map, with key places indicated in the form text messages, which are displayed on the screen in the form of a column, you can switch between them: view the route in advance or vice versa, go back and plot another path. Scaling works using multi-touch or virtual buttons. Applications The Play Store will provide access to a variety of applications; here it is easy to choose the necessary set of programs for yourself. There is a convenient search function, as well as dividing programs into categories, which greatly simplifies browsing. You can look at the reviews, evaluate the rating and express your opinion about the software. Each application is equipped brief description and images for greater clarity. Purchased applications are displayed in a separate list, which is convenient: if purchased new phone, you can immediately install those programs that you previously purchased. Connections The phone operates in the frequencies 850/900/1800/1900/2100 MHz. There is support for HSDPA - 7.2 Mbit/s and HSUPA - 5.76 Mbit/s, and a front VGA camera is used for video calls. The device has Bluetooth 3.0, which is characterized by high data transfer speeds (of course, with A2DP support). The Wi-Fi module with b/g/n support works great. DLNA support allows you to view photos and videos from compatible devices in wireless mode. Wi-FI Direct supported. The microUSB connector, which has become a standard, allows data transfer via USB 2.0. Kies Air is convenient for synchronizing your device and computer. The smartphone connects via Wi-Fi, forming a connection with the PC. You can work with phone data through a browser. Everything is simple and convenient. The main advantage is that you do not need to install additional applications. Working hours A 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery will allow the smartphone to operate up to 570 hours in standby mode and up to 1070 minutes in talk time. In video playback mode at maximum screen brightness and Wi-Fi smartphone lasted a little less than 5 hours. On average, it turns out to be about one day of working with the Internet, photos, music and calls; there are no differences here from models of a similar level. MicroUSB charging is supported when connected to a PC. Conclusion The speaker for conversations is loud and of high quality, with a good sound reserve. The vibration alert is average in strength. The melody is reproduced purely, rather it is average level, maybe a little higher, but in a noisy place the call is not always clearly audible. Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 has already gone on sale, it started at 12,000 rubles. This is a very reasonable price for a phone with such a set of characteristics. Good screen and the camera, performance and the ability to watch 720p video without conversion, a slot for a memory card and decent battery life will be the important qualities that every buyer pays attention to. Maybe in some categories the Galaxy Ace 2 is inferior to its competitors. For example, it has a metal body, while it has a more original design. There is no NFC or a very beautiful shell, but overall the smartphone is balanced and easy to use. Samsung has released another popular and necessary model, it will be very popular. There are all the makings and necessary qualities for this. © Alexander Pobyvanets, Test laboratory Article publication date: June 19, 2012

2 years ago +1

Price, screen

2 years ago +1

Convenient size, fits well in the hand, light Reliable signal reception, excellent network connection (for a smartphone), good earpiece Finds satellites surprisingly quickly, even indoors Not a bad processor in terms of performance

2 years ago 0

AWESOME screen, super clear screen diagonal and resolution - 800x480, many have been released for this smartphone custom firmware, and also a good camera.

2 years ago 0

From the outside it doesn’t look too bad, although this is all subjective of course. It fits comfortably in the hand and is also comfortable to use. There are no creaks or backlashes, the assembly is surprisingly excellent (ROSTEST CHINA) A good screen, it is not possible to see any graininess there unless you bring it to your nose and look closely, still there is sufficient resolution for such a diagonal. The sensor is responsive, there are no complaints, it works very quickly, I have already downloaded a large number of games and applications, they all run without any problems, I even downloaded 2 games, 3D graphics, and there are no brakes at all, and with the release of Android 4, the performance should also increase . The camera also shoots decently and it even seems to me that it began to shoot faster. The speaker is loud enough to easily hear someone calling you

2 years ago 0

All declared characteristics and capabilities are fully justified!

2 years ago 0

Great screen, lots of memory, no lag, very good Android.

2 years ago 0

Beautiful, good camera.

2 years ago 0

5 megapixel camera, front camera, sound quality, video, all this la fleur is already tired and it’s not here)))

2 years ago 0

on android firmware 2.3 had a lot of advantages, I will not repeat what is listed below. but android 2.3 has long been outdated.

2 years ago 0

The screen is medium-sized (larger than the iPhone4), suitable for simple games, listening to music and surfing the Internet.

2 years ago 0

IMHO The volume buttons could protrude less from the body - there are accidental presses

2 years ago 0

2 years ago 0

In fact, there are none.

2 years ago 0

1 Not very bright screen in bright sun is very difficult to use
2 there is no zoom in the camera, it just shocked me
3 is probably a light sensor, although I don’t know why it’s needed because it’s constantly stupid on all phones and doesn’t set the brightness correctly, but in Samsung you can do this by swiping across the top of the screen. very convenient and why don’t you need it.

2 years ago 0

Sluggish and inaccurate GPS, back cover and the button on the front are very scratched, old Android

2 years ago 0

Initially there were literally a couple of reboots, but I haven’t noticed anything like this for quite some time, apparently due to the release of new software.

2 years ago 0

I didn't find any shortcomings.

2 years ago 0

1. I’m surprised that no one mentioned such a significant drawback for the phone, and this is, after all, a phone!, such as the lack of written notification of SMS delivery. This model only provides a sound alert and a pop-up window. Very inconvenient
2. in some models samsung button The camera is located on the side, which makes shooting very easy. Not here, which is a pity.

2 years ago 0

sometimes it glitches, you have to reboot it, but then it works again
There are some built-in folders that I don’t need, and it’s impossible to delete them (although, however, they don’t bother me)

2 years ago 0

terrible update to android 4.1! Constant lags, freezes while watching videos, clogged RAM, Samsung launcher lags. Is it really impossible to update this decent smartphone normally? No, it’s easier for Samsung to make ace 3, let them choke on money, narrow-eyed misers.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 GT-i8160 - How smartphones age!

10.04.2014

introduction

Have you ever, after purchasing an incredibly interesting gadget, found yourself bitten by the fact that just a month after your lucky purchase, an even more impressive new product comes out?! Or maybe the price of a cherished product, which just recently was unaffordable, drops so much that it’s simply impossible not to buy it, but it’s too late, because the wallet-friendly new thing is already serving you faithfully. To be honest, this happens to me all the time, but the situation did not push me to take decisive action. I was never in a hurry to get rid of a still fresh device in favor of a more interesting one. Many do the same, consoling themselves, saying, well, the current device hasn’t turned into a pumpkin! The argument, of course, is ironclad, but in the long term, your modern acquisition, which seemed just yesterday, is, alas, aging and becoming not as stunning as it was before. What kind of aging is it: physical, moral or something else?! I want to talk about this today using the example of Samsung Galaxy Ace 2.

I was going to start writing my review for Helpix a damn dozen times, no less, but every time something stopped me. The desire first appeared after a couple of months of getting to know the smartphone, in the summer of 2012. But at that time, the number of reviews and opinions about for a worthy Samsung budget employee, it was, as they say, off the charts. Therefore, I decided to wait six months and write a detailed operating experience. But then a more or less real time frame for updating the firmware from Android loomed, and, horrifyingly, 2.3 to 4.1. After which the Korean manufacturer desperately fed the owners of the second Ace “breakfast”, and I, of course, waited. Only in the summer of last year (2013) , finally, the official Jelly Bean was installed on my device. The most important thing is that the update did not come over the air, but through the Samsung Kies synchronization program.

Ace's evolution

Mentions in the press about Samsung and its mobile technology are almost always accompanied by the postscript “Galaxy”. Over the course of several years, the line of Android smartphones of the Korean giant has grown so much that many people who are not very keen on technology simply do not know that the world-famous company has some other, non-Galaxy phones. All this pushes the manufacturer to create various sub-lines in a huge family in order to somehow streamline the marketing names of the products. Last year's situation with the S4 is an excellent confirmation of this, how many smartphones designated by this letter and number turned out to be on the shelves?! - Four gadgets completely separate from each other.

With budget Aces, the situation is somewhat different, however, the third generation of phones has already acquired the name of a tennis serve. It all started with a device similar to the fourth iPhone, which demonstrated a living example that a device from Samsung with acceptable characteristics can be affordable. Many people were waiting for the continuation of the banquet, and after strange experiments with Ace Plus and Ace Duos, a full-fledged sequel finally saw the light of day and did not disappoint, including me. After a short acquaintance with the device in the store, I purchased it for a little more than ten thousand rubles (2012).

Expected results

Some smartphones are aging in appearance: scratches and abrasions appear on the body, the plastic tends to crack, and in some cases, fade. Others are aging, rather, morally: firmware updates are not released, they stop coping with even simple tasks. Still others are becoming a thing of the past due to the fault of the manufacturer. We could close our eyes and resign ourselves to a camera failure or lack of memory, but daily, and indeed repeated, reboots and freezes again take us somewhere into the past, when smartphones were not yet so daring and similar things could happen with the stability of their operation. embarrassment.

As a result, we are dealing with a typical representative of the budget segment. The magic of the Ace family that I imagined for myself turned out to be nothing more than a fantasy. Constantly monitor the amount of music, photos, installed programs, do not rely on the camera in those moments when you caught a successful shot, and be prepared that the smartphone will later starting the next video, you will have to reload - does this mean you will not be deprived of anything?! Not at all, this is not so.

Advantages:

Exactly a year ago, the first generation debuted along with the Samsung Galaxy SII Galaxy smartphone Ace. A year later, the situation repeats itself and a few days before the official start of sales of the Samsung Galaxy S3, buyers have the opportunity to replace their old Ace with a new one. Let's look at whether this makes sense and how the company's vision of what a top-end model in the mid-price segment should be has changed.

Appearance and ergonomics

To be honest, not everyone liked the design and materials used in its predecessor. The new generation looks and feels more expensive, despite the fact that the starting price is lower than the level at which the first-born started. Today, a smartphone can be easily found for 2,999 hryvnia in “live” stores. So those who are ready to part with this amount may well run to the store immediately after reading the review; the smartphone is worth it.

The company strictly follows the rules for the placement of controls adopted several years ago. There must be a hardware key under the display (you can use it to wake up the smartphone from sleep mode), on the right side there is a power/lock key, on the left there is a double volume key and a slot for memory cards, the bottom end houses a MicroUSB connector and a microphone, the top – 3.5mm jack and cutout for rear panel removal. By the way, everything on it is also traditional: a camera with a flash, a speaker and the name of the manufacturer. The removable lid is also made in the best traditions. It has a texture that reminds us of what can be called a coup. In addition, thanks to this pattern, you can be sure that if abrasions appear on the lid, they will not appear soon. There is a small protrusion closer to the bottom end, but unlike the same SGSII, it is almost invisible.

In addition to the already mentioned hardware key responsible for the “Home” command and, with a long hold, calling the Dispatcher latest apps, on the front side of the smartphone there is a 3.8″ PLS display, a proximity sensor and a camera for video communication; there is no light sensor. All of them are covered with tempered Gorilla Glass. To the left and right of the Home key are the touch-sensitive “Menu” and “Back” keys, respectively.

The cover covering the back panel is thicker than, for example, in the SGSII, but it can be removed so easily that at first you begin to expect some play to appear soon. In our week with the Galaxy Ace 2, we've seen just how good smartphones can be. In our memory, this is the only model that cannot be made to creak when tested for torsion. The body is so monolithic that you can’t help but feel like it’s made of stone.

For those who still value compactness or are looking for a device as a second one, Samsung Galaxy Ace 2– one of the few that can be recommended without any “buts”.

Operating system and interface

Installed in the smartphone operating system Android 2.3.6 with branded shell TouchWiz. According to rumors, the update to Android 4.0 should be expected any day now. We deliberately took our time to test the Samsung i8160 so that we could test it with the updated OS version. Our expectations were not met.

Since the current interface does not contain anything new, we will limit ourselves to only a brief description of its features.

The maximum number of Desktop windows is seven, the minimum is one. To launch the ability to edit their number, use the “pinch” gesture. In addition to the main function, the notification line allows you to activate five functions: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, change the sound profile and use the accelerometer to change the screen orientation.

The smartphone features cyclic scrolling of the Desktop and Application List windows.

Same as in interfaces Optimus UI,HTC Sense,Xperia UX, proprietary shell allows you to manage shortcuts in the panel quick launch. It has four shortcuts that are responsible for calling the “Phone”, “Contacts”, “Messages” applications and entering “Applications”, respectively. Shortcuts can be swapped or selected from those present in the Applications menu. It supports creating folders both on the Desktop and in the list of applications, although for this you have to call context menu. Creating folders by dragging icons on top of each other is not possible.

The menu view can be either traditional - a grid, or a list. If necessary, the smartphone allows you to send any of the applications (or several at once) directly from the Application List. The recipient will receive an email with links to the Play Store.
The interface works smoothly; we were unable to find anything that could spoil the impressions of both the system itself and the operation of the smartphone as a whole.

Platform

Over the past two weeks, this is already the fourth device based on the ST-Ericsson U8500 SoC. This means that this platform is gaining popularity and, perhaps, in the near future we will see not only new devices based on the U8500 NovaThor, but also more powerful processors.

By Samsung specifications The Galaxy Ace 2 is the closest, with the same dual-core processor clocked at 800 MHz, Mali-400MP GPU, but 50% more RAM, 768 MB versus 512 MB for the SXS. The latter, however, is equipped with a 3.7” display, while the Galaxy Ace 2 is 3.8”. Since the differences are insignificant, we will consider these smartphones to be their closest competitors, both in terms of cost and the capabilities implemented in them. Let's try to figure out how much of an impact the additional 200 MHz for each of the cores had (in the Sony Xperia Sola, the cores operate at a frequency of 1 GHz), taking into account the smaller amount of RAM, 512 MB versus 768 MB in the Galaxy Ace 2, and the lower screen resolution, 800x480 pixels versus 854x480 pixels for SXS.

The results of synthetic tests were predictable, despite the additional 256 MB of RAM and lower screen resolution, the SGA 2 lost to the Sony Xperia Sola. For those who care about numbers, don’t worry, because in the near future there will be utilities that will allow you to increase the processor clock speed to the level of competitors.

Playing video files

While we're on the topic of resolution, we can't help but talk about how good the PLS display is. At maximum brightness there is simply nothing to complain about. At brightness less than 50%, saturation drops slightly. The display cannot compete with IPS matrices, but you can only notice the difference when comparing head-to-head. Like the LG Optimus L7, the smartphone does not have a light sensor, which is why you will have to set the brightness manually.

Camera

In his Samsung time Galaxy Ace had one of the best cameras in its price segment. In order not to fall on your face, the second generation was also equipped with a camera to take pictures and videos from which could well be used as reference ones. Despite the similar matrix resolution, Ace 2 is capable of recording HD video, for which we can thank the graphics processor. The settings do not have the newfangled HDR mode, but there is its analogue - automatic contrast. By activating this function, you can be sure that the sky will always retain its natural color and appearance, while the sand, if you are shooting on the beach, will also remain visible, that is, not overexposed.

Examples of 5 MP photos

Examples of operation of the “Automatic contrast” mode

Example video with 720p resolution

Results

Once again, Samsung has managed to create a device that others can look up to. Samsung smartphone The Galaxy Ace 2 has a best-in-class camera, an excellent display, good performance (with some caveats), great build quality and materials, and is guaranteed to receive an Android 4.0 update in the near future. Is it worth replacing an old Ace with a new one? Definitely! With comparable dimensions, you get a thinner and more powerful device.

Liked
+ Build quality
+ Housing materials
+ Display
+ Platform
+ Ergonomics
+ Camera
+ Availability front camera
+ Working hours

Did not like
— Lack of light sensor
— Outdated OS

Since the copy we received was without accompanying accessories, we sent a request to the Samsung representative office: “what comes with the smartphone?”, to which we received the following response:

battery
· stereo headset
microSD memory card 2 GB
· Charger
micro USB cable for charging, synchronization and file transfer
· documentation
· warranty card

	118.3x62.2x10.5
Weight (g)	122
Processor (for smartphones)	ST-Ericsson U8500 NovaThor, 800 MHz (dual core) + GPU Mali-400MP
Memory	768 MB RAM + 4 GB internal memory
Expansion slot	microSD (up to 32 GB)
Main screen	PLS, 3.8″, 480×800 pixels, 16.7 million colors, touch, capacitive, multi-touch support
Additional screen	No
Keyboard type	screen input
Accumulator battery	Li-Ion, 1500 mAh
Operating time (manufacturer's data)	n.d.
Communications	USB 2.0 (micro-USB), Bluetooth 3.0+HS (A2DP), WiFi 802.11b/g/n (Wi-Fi Direct), NFC (optional)
Dual SIM support	No
Photography	5 MP, auto focus, digital zoom, front VGA camera
Video shooting	1280x720 pixels
Flash	LED
operating system	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) + original TouchWiz interface
Phone book	dynamic
Working with messages	SMS, MMS, e-mail (Gmail), Gtalk instant messages
Organizer	calendar, clock, alarms, notes
Voice functions	voice dialing, voice notes, voice mail
Speakerphone	Yes
Internet access	Wap 2.0, xHTML, HTML ( Android browser browser)
Additional utilities	calculator, world time clock, viewing MS Office documents
Games	Yes
Sound signal	polyphonic, MP3 support
MP3 player	Yes
FM radio	yes (RDS support)
Additional features	media player, video telephony, a-GPS receiver, Google Maps support, accelerometer, proximity sensor