SPECS
3.5in, 320 x 480 pixel display
800MHz processor
Android 2.2 Operating System
5.0 megapixel camera with LED
Design and Hardware
The budget smartphone sector is one of the biggest growth areas in the mobile market, so it's no surprise to see Samsung plastering adverts for its latest budget model, the Samsung Galaxy Ace, all over the place. Sporting a 3.5in screen, 800MHz CPU and a fully-fledged version of Android, it has all the essentials but can it trump all before it?
The phone's design certainly doesn't betray its budget leanings. It's nothing particularly new or innovative but the glossy front, silver sides and textured back are smart enough. In terms of build quality, there's a certain plasticky feel to it but when some high-end smartphones like Samsung's own Galaxy S II also have a rather lightweight plastic build, the difference isn't glaringly obvious.
The phone's design certainly doesn't betray its budget leanings. It's nothing particularly new or innovative but the glossy front, silver sides and textured back are smart enough. In terms of build quality, there's a certain plasticky feel to it but when some high-end smartphones like Samsung's own Galaxy S II also have a rather lightweight plastic build, the difference isn't glaringly obvious.
The button layout helps too. Like other recent Samsungs, the power button is on the right edge where it falls easily under your thumb or finger, saving you having to stretch to the top of the device. Meanwhile on the left is the volume rocker, which has a reasonably light yet defined action so it’s easy to operate when the phone’s in your pocket.
Like the Galaxy S II, the Ace has just a single physical button on its front, which will take you back to the homescreen. Flanking it are touch buttons for Back and Menu, which disappear into the blackness of the bezel when the phone is powered down. This design apes Apple a little too obviously, but we do actually think it’s the best button layout for Android phones, especially as the Home button also activates the screen.
Speaking of the screen, it’s probably the first place this phone really starts to show its budget origins. The 3.5in size isn’t quite on the level of the 4in models sported by many of the most powerful smartphones but it’s perfectly adequate, indeed it’s the same size as the iPhone 4. However, it certainly isn’t the same when it comes to sharpness. With a resolution of just 320 x 480 pixels, it has a pixel density of just 164 pixels per inch compared to the iPhone’s 320ppi and the Galaxy S II’s 220ppi. The upshot is the Ace does look rather blocky. You can still read most text messages and emails easily enough but browsing the web can be a bit more tricky as you have to zoom in and out that much more.
GALAXY ACE:
