Okay Geek Farm
Samsung's newest low-end mobile offerings
Daniel Carey
This last year has seen Samsung’s mobile team come out in full force, releasing not one, but five high-end smartphones. Carrying the trend into 2011, Sammy’s recently announced their newest line of Galaxy handsets. And this time their taking a slightly different approach. Unlike their high-end mobile offerings from the tail end of 2010, Samsung has begun to move into Nokia territory, pushing their wares into the lower end of the market.
Low end smartphones don’t generally receive that great a coverage these days simply due to their — ahh, how to put this nicely — mediocrity. You may disagree, but it just so happens to be true. With that said however, the deployment of low-end handsets certainly happens to be a strategy that works. After all, Nokia smartphones have very little traction in the United States, and while they have great pull in both Australia, and Europe it’s ultimately Nokia’s low-end offerings that keep the Finnish rubber company afloat.
Now, we’re not here to discuss marketing rhetoric, or the traction of devices worldwide. So we’ll just get back to what matters, Samsung’s latest offerings!
Galaxy Ace:
Galaxy AceThe Galaxy Ace is the closest of Samsung’s current offerings to the original ‘S series’, both design and specification wise. (Note: and by ‘close’, I mean as close as we are genetically to an asexual amoeba).
With a 3.5-inch HVGA (320 x 480) display, Android 2.2 Froyo with TouchWiz, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, WiFi (b / g / n), and an 800MHz processor; the Ace, while seemingly low powered by today’s standards, makes good use of what its got. Especially when you remember what market this is aimed to tap — which brings up the next point. Samsung’s Galaxy Ace is currently available in Russia, with other European countries, India, and China to follow suit.
Galaxy Fit
Moving down the richter scale is Samsung’s Galaxy Fit. It too, much like its brother the Ace, makes use of Android 2.2 with TouchWiz, and a 5-megapixel camera, sadly this time, without an LED flash. Other specifications include a 3.31-inch QVGA display at 240 x 320 pixels, a 600MHz processor, and WiFi (b / g / n). The Galaxy Fit is currently due to go walkabout worldwide starting February in Russia, then jogging up a nice pace as it rounds home in other European countries, India, and South America soon after.
Galaxy Gio
At first glance the Gio is much like its other low-end brothers and sisters, smallish display, lowly clocked processor, and not much more. However, surprisingly, while the Gio does in fact have a smaller display than either the Ace or Fit — it happens to be 3.2-inches — this little Gem, which is ironic because the name ‘Gio’ is based on an Italian term for jewel, bumps said display back up to HVGA (320 x 480). Once again, other specifications include a TouchWiz’d iteration of Android 2.2, a 3-megapixel camera, WiFi (b / g / n), and surprisingly an 800MHz processor. As with the aforesaid phones above, Sammy’s Gio will launch in Russia with other European countries, India, and China following soon there after.
Galaxy Mini:
Galaxy MiniRounding out Samsung’s low-end offerings is the Mini — a device that at times may feel slightly inadequate around the ladies (sorry couldn’t help myself). Inappropriate jokes aside, the Mini runs Android 2.2 with TouchWiz, alongside a 600MHz processor, a 3.14-inch QVGA (240 x 320) display, WiFi (b / g / n), and lastly a 3-megapixel camera. Galaxy Minis worldwide are due to begin their shipping decent in Russia, before setting sail for other European countries, India, and finally China.
Wrap-up:
They may not be what the western market’s used to — well, I know for a fact that’s a lie, our handsets just happen to be more matured. i.e. They’ve grown up into full fledged monsters that continually feed on the bones of small animals, our precious o-zone layer, and melting icebergs. However, do any tickle your fancy? They don’t necessarily have to be for primary use, but what are your thoughts? We’d love to know.
