Samsung galaxy with ace 2. How smartphones age! Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the particular device, if any

Now it's time to update the lineup, so a fresh solution would be most welcome. At one time, the predecessor became a real bestseller, the model turned out to be successful both in design, imitating the style of Apple, and in filling. All this was offered at an attractive price, which ensured people's love for the smartphone.

During this time, the market has been filled with models similar in characteristics, and there are many offers from Samsung. You can remember the Galaxy W smartphones - the first is cheaper, the 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 best solution for yourself.

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone


• Battery


• Cable


• Map microSD memory 2 GB


• stereo headset


• Charger

Design

samsung galaxy Ace 2 resembles previously released models of the company, it is easy to find common features between them. Body contours are similar to or Galaxy W, from latest novelty inherited a similar plastic. The case is metal-free, matte plastic prevails here, fortunately, there is no gloss here, everything is assembled with high quality and monolithic.

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

Tightly fitted parts eliminate backlash or squeaks, this also applies to the positive qualities of the smartphone.

On the front panel there is a set of proximity sensors and a camera for video calls. Unfortunately, there is no sensor for automatically adjusting the brightness of the backlight. The speaker 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 is flat to make it easier to feel, and has a silver edging added to help touch the key blindly. The button is mechanical, pressing is clear, the stroke is small. By holding it for a few seconds, you can display a list running applications.

On the sides of it are two other functional phone controls. On the left and right side of the touchpad there are symbols: this is the Menu button and the Return key. Due to the fact that they are given a large enough space to accurately click on them and avoid erroneous or inaccurate clicks, they are comfortable to use. Illuminated buttons, it works when you touch one of the touch zones. Subsequently, they go out, despite the working screen. Their work 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.

A 3.5 mm headphone jack is placed on the top end.

On the left side is a paired volume rocker. It is embossed, it is easy to grope 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-swap is supported, you just need to flip the protective cover aside.

On the right side is a small button to turn off the device, which also serves as a screen lock. She also has a comfortable fit.

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

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 lies well in a pocket or in a 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 is a battery, a slot for a SIM card.

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, for its class, the screen is good both in terms of picture and pixel density. The display is capacitive, supports 5-point multi-touch, displays up to 16 million colors. The PLS-screen of the new type is characterized by moderate brightness, more close to natural colors in the transfer of shades, differing in this respect from SuperAMOLED.

The device perfectly responds to pressing, the sensor is sensitive and unmistakably responds to touch. The protective layer is made of Gorilla Glass, protects the surface from damage. The screen behavior in the sun is average, the data fades and is not very readable, unless you manually set the maximum backlight level.

Platform

The smartphone is dual core processor U8500 Nova Thor @ 800 MHz, GPU Mali-400, 768 MB random access memory. For storing applications, 4 GB of internal memory is offered, 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 smartphone worked well. The operating system uses Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread and proprietary shell TouchWiz 4.0.

Interface

The proprietary interface TouchWiz 4.0 is used as a shell. At the top of the screen is a service line, which displays the time, battery charge, signal reception level indicator. Active connections and other data are also displayed there. By clicking on it, you can find out in more detail what programs have been downloaded, what messages and letters have been received, or what files have been received. Separate line marked turn on wifi, Bluetooth, silent mode and GPS.

You can use both standard Android widgets and original Samsung elements. 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 the unnecessary part of the interface of your choice.

You can add application shortcuts to the desktop, create folders and change the background image, using both animated desktop pictures and setting static images from the gallery. Sets the image on 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 as a separate icon on the left or right. The picture is set on the lock screen, the place for the clock changes. There are several font styles to choose from.

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

When adding new programs, they are automatically placed on the screen. They are deleted directly from the menu, you just need to go into edit mode. But you can delete only self-added programs - 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, displaying shortcuts to six recently launched applications.

Phone book

The general list shows the 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, the preferred way of sorting names is selected.

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

If a picture has been assigned to the caller, it will be displayed on the screen. To simplify the search, you can use the vertical line, which depicts the alphabet. Thus, by swiping it with your finger, letters pop up and you can quickly navigate. Of course, there is also a standard search function among contacts. There is a quick call to 8 favorite subscribers. Contacts can be assigned to 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 left (call) or right (message) on the line with the name of the subscriber. By clicking on the place reserved for the picture for the subscriber, a quick menu is called up, with the help of which a message, mail is sent, and a phone call is made to the selected person.

Call log

Directly from the phone book, you can access the call log, it is highlighted by a separate tab. The dialed numbers are sorted by date. But they are not the only ones that show up. It also contains information about messages. If desired, the amount of displayed data can be minimized or, conversely, you can get the most complete informational list of events of recent days.

By selecting 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 the same type of dialed numbers. 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 the virtual keyboard, while entering the numbers, the smartphone automatically displays on the screen the contacts stored in the device's memory with similar initial digits in the number.

Messages

For SMS and MMS, there is a shared folder where received messages go. When sending, by adding various objects to the text, you can automatically convert it into a multimedia message. When sending a message, the phone can display the last used numbers, thereby greatly simplifying the search for the addressee. 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. The smartphone can automatically delete old SMS if there is no desire to store thousands of archives in the device. When typing text, you can cut, copy and paste it. Entering text is convenient. Not only is Samsung's keyboard variant on offer here, but also the Swype feature. Its essence is that it is enough just 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 an input, a blue bar is displayed on the screen, which allows you not to go astray while typing.

The function is very convenient, it independently 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 options, then the phone will display them, then you already need to choose between them yourself. You can add new words to her vocabulary.

Email

To work with e-mail starts auto tuning mailbox(unless it's Gmail, connecting 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 downloading attachments (you need to insert a memory card, otherwise this function will not work) of familiar formats.

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

Gallery

Photos and videos stored in the smartphone's memory are shown here. The gallery works in both vertical and landscape orientations. 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.

In the folders, the thumbnails of the pictures are smaller, thanks to which not 3, but 4 pictures are placed vertically. The image opens in full screen, scaling works with multitouch. 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. Rotation of pictures, reduction of their size is supported, and also displays Additional Information about a specific file, it also shows the location where the photo was taken if geotagging is enabled.

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

The built-in photo editor of images will help to supplement pictures with various effects.

Player

The interface of the player is simple and clear. The general list displays all the songs available 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 written in the tags of the files is displayed on the screen, if there is none, a multi-colored picture will be displayed instead.

The volume is changed both from the player's 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.

For navigation, virtual keys are used (forward-backward and pause), you can also switch between songs by flipping through the cover image of the file. While listening to the song you like, you can set it as a ringtone, contact or signal.

Numerous equalizer settings are available to the user: auto, normal, pop, rock, jazz, dance, classical, live sound, other. You can choose the audio effect: normal, wide range, concert hall, music clarity, bass boost, externalization. There is a visualization function, but it does not fit well with album art, so it is more interesting to use it if those are not registered in the file properties.

When the keyboard is locked, the player control bar is displayed at the top of the screen, on which there are 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 musical source if used quality headphones paired with the device.

Radio

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

As in the case of 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 view unconverted video. It runs videos 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 picture of the movie, its name and duration are also indicated. During playback, controls may be displayed on the screen, including the rewind and pause keys. A scroll bar appears, allowing you to quickly navigate through the movie being played. With the lock key on the side of the phone, you can protect yourself from accidental pressing while watching a movie.

Camera

The camera in the smartphone is 5-megapixel, with autofocus and flash. Shooting starts exclusively from the smartphone menu. The interface is well thought out. The shutter button is located on the right, the rest of the space is reserved for the viewfinder and two small zones of service options. The shortcut menu on the left is customizable. The most desired functions for quick access. Implemented focusing on any point on the screen, just touch the right place.

Camera settings:

Self-portrait.

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

Flash.

Shooting mode: single shot, smile, panorama, motion, cartoon.

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

Exposure.

Focus: auto, macro.

Timer: 2, 5, 10 seconds.

Effects: Normal, Negative, Black & 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. Shooting texts is also not a problem, there is autofocus and a macro mode, so the device can also easily take a picture of a document or a note on a piece of paper.

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 is configured. You can customize the type and alert tone for recorded events and appointments. There is a separation of information by storage location, each option has its own color label. By creating new record, it is given a name, a period, a place. It is indicated with which of the calendars it will be synchronized, you can send invitations to contacts from the notebook. The repeat period is set (every day, weekly, monthly, yearly). A reminder will help you not to lose sight of the recording - the signal will work in advance. Additionally, the notification type is set. Watch The smartphone allows you to save several alarms in memory. The repetition is set both for one time and for every day, only for working days or weekly. You can also set specific days. The melody of the signal is set, you can add a vibrating alert to it and text file. Sets the period for the re-triggering of the signal. There is also a pre-alarm function. It boils down to the fact that in advance the phone starts to make soft sounds, 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 the time in different time zones. There is a stopwatch. There is a timer. The recorder is simple and convenient, saves records both in the phone's memory and on the card. The recording time is set by the user, so you can take small notes that fit in the MMS. Designed in the form of a wooden board with a sheet of paper attached, notes allow you to create notes. The calculator works in both portrait and landscape orientations. In the latter case, more functions are available. YouTube is a standard application for most modern devices that 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 arrange them by different types, delete content. Mini diary will help you create a note by adding a picture to it. Polaris Office will allow 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. The weather forecast and news are shown. Tasks are created with a priority and a signal for a reminder. Google Talk chat starts. Voice control helps you control the functions of your smartphone. He does not recognize the Russian language, but he determined the commands in English normally. So you can call a friend, look up information in the browser, or open the message menu without resorting to the touchscreen. Browser For Internet surfing, a convenient application is used. A navigation bar is displayed at the top of the screen, to the right of it there is a shortcut that allows you to bookmark the page. The phone remembers the most visited pages, there is a log of pages viewed. You can keep multiple 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 brightness of the screen 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 is comfortable to use it, a full-fledged browser is supported. 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, thus, the application has become full-featured and convenient not only for pedestrians, but also for car owners. There is a function of determining the current location, calculating the route from the start to the end point, and the method of movement is set: by car, on foot or by public transport. The route is laid on the map, while key places are indicated in the form text messages, which are displayed on the screen as a column, you can switch between them: view the route in advance or vice versa, go back and lay a different path. Scaling works using multitouch or virtual buttons. Applications The Play Store will provide access to many applications, 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 comes with brief description and pictures for more clarity. Purchased applications are displayed in a separate list, which is convenient: if it was purchased new phone, you can immediately install those programs that were previously purchased. Connections The phone works in frequencies 850/900/1800/1900/2100 MHz. There is support for HSDPA - 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA - 5.76 Mbps, a front VGA camera is used for video calls. The device has Bluetooth 3.0, which is characterized by a high data transfer rate (of course, with A2DP support). Wi-Fi module with b/g/n support works fine. DLNA support allows you to view photos and videos from compatible devices in wireless mode. WiFi Direct supported. The microUSB connector, which has become the 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. Through the browser, you can work with phone data. Everything is simple and convenient. The main advantage is that you do not need to install additional applications. Working hours Lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1500 mAh will allow the smartphone to work up to 570 hours in standby mode, up to 1070 minutes in talk mode. In video playback mode at maximum screen brightness and on wifi smartphone Lasted a little less than 5 hours. On average, it turns out about one day of work with the Internet, photos, music and calls, there are no differences from models of a similar level. Supports charging from microUSB when connected to a PC. Conclusion The speaker for conversations is loud and of high quality, with a good margin of sound. The vibrating alert is average in strength. The melody is reproduced cleanly, rather it is average level, maybe a little higher, but in a noisy place the call is not always well audible. Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 has already appeared on sale, it started from the bar of 12,000 rubles. This is a very reasonable price for a phone with such a set of characteristics. A good screen and camera, speed and the ability to watch 720p video without conversion, a slot for a memory card and decent autonomy will become those important qualities that every buyer pays attention to. Perhaps, in certain categories, the Galaxy Ace 2 is inferior to its competitors. For example, a metal body, and a more original design. There is no NFC or a very beautiful shell, but in general, the smartphone came out balanced and easy to use. Samsung has released another much-needed and sought-after model, it will be very popular. To do this, there are all the makings and necessary qualities. © Alexander Pobyvanets, Test Lab Date of publication of the article - June 19, 2012

2 years ago +1

Price, screen

2 years ago +1

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

2 years ago 0

AWESOME screen, super clear screen diagonal and resolution - 800x480, a lot of custom firmware has been released for this smartphone, as well as a good camera.

2 years ago 0

Outwardly, it looks very good, although this is all subjective of course. Lies in the hand comfortably, it is also comfortable to use. There are no squeaks and backlashes, the assembly is surprisingly excellent (ROSTEST CHINA) A good screen, it’s not possible to see any graininess there if you don’t bring it to your nose and don’t peer, all the same, for such a diagonal there is sufficient resolution. The sensor is responsive, there are no complaints, it works very fast, I already managed to download a large number of games and applications, they all go without any problems, even 2 games downloaded 3D graphics, there are also no brakes, and with the release of android 4, the indicators should also increase in terms of performance . The camera also shoots decently and it even seems to me that it quickly began to shoot. Speaker is loud enough to hear calls

2 years ago 0

All the declared characteristics and capabilities fully justify themselves!

2 years ago 0

Excellent screen, a lot of memory, does not slow down, a very good android.

2 years ago 0

Beautiful, good camera.

2 years ago 0

camera 5 megapixels there is a front camera sound quality, video all these la fleur are already tired and this is not here)))

2 years ago 0

there were a lot of advantages on android 2.3 firmware, I will not repeat what is listed below. but android 2.3 is long out of date.

2 years ago 0

The screen is medium in size (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 over the case - there are accidental presses

2 years ago 0

2 years ago 0

In fact, they don't exist.

2 years ago 0

1 Not very bright screen in bright sunlight is very difficult to use
2 there is no zoom in the camera, it just shocked me
3 this is probably a light sensor, although xs why is it needed because it constantly blunts on all phones and sets the brightness incorrectly, in Samsung this can be done by swiping a polish across the top of the screen. very convenient and nafig it is not needed.

2 years ago 0

Braking and inaccurate GPS, back cover and the front button is very scratched, old android

2 years ago 0

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

2 years ago 0

I did not find any shortcomings.

2 years ago 0

1. I'm surprised that no one mentioned such a significant drawback for the phone, and it's still a phone!, as the lack of a written notification about the delivery of sms. This model provides only a sound notification and a moment of a pop-up window. Very inconvenient as
2. in some models samsung button The camera is located on the side, which makes it very easy to take pictures. Not here, unfortunately.

2 years ago 0

sometimes it glitches, you have to reboot it, but then it works again
some folders are built in 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 a video, a clogged RAM, the Samsung launcher lags. Is it really impossible to update this worthy 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 a particular device, if any.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, suggested colors, 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 technologies and data rates

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

Operating system

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

SoC (System on a Chip)

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

Built-in memory

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

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 are recognized by the mobile device.

Main camera

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

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the screen of the device and are mainly used for video calls, 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 navigation and location technologies supported by the device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for short distance data transmission between different devices.

Bluetooth

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

USB

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

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, which is 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 the device.

Browser

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

Video file formats/codecs

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

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge they need to function.

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

10.04.2014

opening speech

Have you ever, after buying an insanely curious gadget, bite your elbows because a month after a happy purchase, an even more impressive new product comes out?! Or maybe the price of the treasured 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 new thing sparing your wallet is already serving you faithfully. To be honest, this happens to me all the time, but the situation did not push for decisive action. I have never been in a hurry to get rid of a still fresh device in favor of a more interesting one. Many do the same, consoling themselves, they say, well, the current apparatus has not turned into a pumpkin! The argument, of course, is ironclad, but in the future, your modern acquisition, which seemed like yesterday, is, alas, getting old and becoming not as stunning as it was before. What is this aging like: 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 "and I was going to a damn dozen times, no less, but every time something stopped me. For the first time, the desire 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 reviews about decent state employee Samsung "and, as they say, went off scale. Therefore, I decided to wait about six months and write a detailed operating experience. But here more or less real terms for updating the firmware from Android loomed, and, to my horror, 2.3 to 4.1. After that, the Korean manufacturer desperately fed the owners of the second Ace with "breakfasts", and I certainly waited. Only last summer (2013) of the year , finally, the official Jelly Bean is located in my device.Most importantly, the update did not come over the air, but through the Samsung Kies synchronization program.

Ace's evolution

Mentions in the press about Samsung "e and its mobile technology are almost always accompanied by the postscript "Galaxy". For several years, the Korean giant's line of Android smartphones has grown so much that many people who are not very fond of 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 products. Last year's situation with the S4 is an excellent confirmation of how many smartphones marked with this letter and number turned out to be on the shelves?! - Four completely separate gadgets.

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

Expected results

Some smartphones age outwardly: scratches and scuffs appear on the case, plastic tends to crack, and in some cases even fade. Others grow old, rather, morally: firmware updates do not come out, they cease to cope even with simple tasks. Still others are a thing of the past through the fault of the manufacturer. It was possible to close your eyes and put up with a camera failure or lack of memory, but daily, and moreover, repeated reboots and freezes take us back somewhere in the past, when smartphones were still not so daring and similar things could happen with the stability of their work. embarrassment.

As a result, we are dealing with a typical representative of the budget segment. The magic of the Ace family that I described to 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 good shot, and be prepared that the smartphone after launching the next video will have to be reloaded - this means not to be deprived of anything?! By no means, this is not so.

Advantages:

Exactly one year ago, along with the Samsung Galaxy SII, the first generation of the Galaxy Ace smartphone debuted. A year later, the situation repeats itself and a few days before the official start Samsung sales 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 much the company's vision of what the top model of the middle price segment should be like has changed.

Appearance and ergonomics

To be honest, not everyone liked the design and materials used in the predecessor. The new generation looks and feels more expensive, with a lower starting price than the first born. Already today, a smartphone can be found without any problems for 2999 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. Under the display, there must be a hardware key (it can be used to wake the smartphone from sleep mode), on the right sidewall there is a power / lock key, on the left side there is a dual volume rocker and a slot for memory cards, the bottom end sheltered the MicroUSB connector and microphone, the top one - 3.5 mm jack and a recess for removing the back panel. By the way, everything is also traditional on it: a camera with a flash, a speaker and the name of the manufacturer. In the best traditions, a removable cover is also made. It has a texture that reminded us of what might be called a coup. In addition, thanks to this pattern, you can be sure that scuffs on the lid, if they appear, will not be soon. Closer to the bottom end there is a small protrusion, 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 applications, 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 glass Gorilla Glass. To the left and right of the Home key are touch-sensitive Menu and Back, respectively.

The cover that covers the rear panel is thicker than, for example, in SGSII, but it is removed so easily that at first you begin to expect a backlash to appear soon. During the week spent with the Galaxy Ace 2, we were convinced of how high-quality smartphones can be. In our memory, this is the only model that cannot be made to creak when tested for torsion. The case is so monolithic that one involuntarily gets the feeling that it is made of stone.

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

Operating system and interface

The smartphone has operating system Android 2.3.6 with branded shell touchwiz. According to rumors, the update to Android 4.0 is worth waiting for any day. We deliberately took the time to take the Samsung i8160 for testing in order to be able to test it with an updated version of the OS. Our expectations were not met.

Since the current interface does not carry anything new, we will limit ourselves to 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, the pinch gesture is used. The notification bar, in addition to the main function, 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 has a cyclic scrolling of the Desktop windows and the Applications List.

As in interfaces OptimusUI,HTC Sense,Xperia UX, proprietary shell allows you to manage shortcuts in the panel quick launch. It has four shortcuts responsible for calling the application "Phone", "Contacts", "Messages" and entering the "Applications", respectively. Shortcuts can be swapped or selected from those present in the Applications menu. The creation of folders is supported, both on the Desktop and in the application list, although for this you have to call context menu. Creating folders by dragging icons onto each other is not provided.

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 failed to find anything that could spoil the impressions, both from the system itself and from the operation of the smartphone as a whole.

Platform

Over the past two weeks, this is the fourth device based on SoC ST-Ericsson U8500. 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 comes closest to , the same dual-core processor running at 800MHz, Mali-400MP GPU, but 50% more RAM, 768MB versus SXS's 512MB. The latter, however, is equipped with a 3.7-inch display, while the Galaxy Ace 2 has a 3.8-inch one. Since the differences are insignificant, we will consider these smartphones as the closest competitors, both in terms of cost and the capabilities implemented in them. For one thing, let's try to find out how much the additional 200 MHz for each of the cores affected (in the Sony Xperia Sola, the cores run at 1 GHz), given the smaller amount of RAM, 512 MB versus 768 MB in the Galaxy Ace 2, and a lower screen resolution, 800x480 pixels against 854x480 pixels for SXS.

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

Video file playback

While we're on the subject 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. When the brightness is less than 50%, the 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 lacks an ambient light sensor, which means you'll have to set the brightness manually.

Camera

In my Samsung time Galaxy Ace had one of the best cameras in its price segment. In order not to fall face down, the second generation was also equipped with a camera for taking pictures, and the video from which may well be used as a reference. Despite the similar resolution of the matrix, Ace 2 is capable of recording HD video, for which the graphics processor is to be thanked. There is no newfangled HDR mode in the settings, but there is its analogue - automatic contrast. By activating this feature, you can be sure that the sky will always retain its natural color and appearance, while the sand, if you shoot on the beach, will also remain distinguishable, that is, not overexposed.

Examples of 5 MP photos

Examples of how Auto Contrast works

720p video example

Results

Once again, Samsung has managed to create a device that others will look up to. Samsung smartphone The Galaxy Ace 2 has a best-in-class camera, a great display, good performance (with some caveats), great build quality and materials, and is guaranteed to get an Android 4.0 update soon. Is it worth it to change the old Ace to 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
+ Operating time

Did not like
- Lack of light sensor
- Outdated OS

Since the copy that was reviewed was without related accessories, we sent a request to the Samsung representative office: “what comes with the smartphone?”, To which we received the following answer:

battery
stereo headset
2 GB microSD card
· Charger
Micro USB cable for charging, syncing 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 dots, 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.a.
Communications	USB 2.0 (micro-USB), Bluetooth 3.0+HS (A2DP), WiFi 802.11b/g/n (Wi-Fi Direct), NFC (optional)
Support for 2 SIM cards	No
Photography	5 MP, auto focus, digital zoom, VGA front camera
Video filming	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 messaging
Organizer	calendar, clock, alarms, notes
Voice Features	voice dialing, voice memos, voicemail
Speakerphone	Yes
Internet access	Wap 2.0, xHTML, HTML ( android browser browser)
Additional utilities	calculator, world time clock, MS Office document viewer
Games	Yes
Sound signal	polyphonic, MP3 support
MP3 player	Yes
FM radio	yes (RDS support)
Additional features	media player, videotelephony, a-GPS receiver, Google Maps support, accelerometer, proximity sensor