Samsung nowadays embark on to outstrip the size phenomenon of the handsets. We have seen this intent when the company released the mini flagships of S5, S4 and S3. Thanks to Samsung for finally realizing that most people prefer using something that actually fits in the palm of their hand. With giant phablets like Note 2 and 3 which hardly adjust in jeans pocket, Samsung also provided phones with small sizes such as Duos series phones.
For average users, what about a phone with 4.5 inches screen, yes we are talking about the new Galaxy Core series handset, Samsung Galaxy Core 2 which is a successor of Galaxy Core and it’s cheaper than earlier version.
After 3G, many companies mainly Chinese, embarked on to launch relatively cheap smartphones in the market, while Samsung had their focus on hi fi phones, which isolated the position of the Samsung in the market. Therefore Samsung has launched Galaxy Core 2, which is unique in a sense that it has provided the average specs in an average price, something that was missing from the company’s end as Samsung smartphones were either too low in price or high previously. It will go fight with upcoming Lenovo, Huawei and QMobile. Where top notch brands like Apple and Samsung are having worries to penetrate in emerging markets, in the midst of Chinese and local manufacturer bombardment, Samsung has produced a device which have an immense potential to battle these rivals.
User Interface:
The big news here is that the new handset is preloaded with Android most popular but yet rare version KitKat. And yes it is 3G and Dual SIM enabled smartphone, makes it more appealing among a specific buyer club in the market.
Though apparently there are no differences in the KitKat and Jellybean in the design but under the hood, KitKat offers a lot. Google enables KitKat to run on new devices with 512MB RAM, rather than the 1GB to 3GB that we’re seeing in many of today’s phones and tablets. This is of immense importance because emerging markets are likely going to hold the key to the future success of any platform on the market today. So nothing to worry about the 768 MB RAM scope with respect to KitKat in this device.
You can have only 5 home screens in its interface. It provides all Google services and launchers. Other than Google App Store, it is also preloaded with Samsung Apps. We know that Samsung Apps lacks the wide range of apps but Samsung has made a relented stance to deliver the App Store in its smartphones in a quest to gradually capturing the market. Samsung’s TouchWiz Home is a bit boring, to amplify the party, go to Play Store and download Nova launcher.
Design:
While designing its design, the manufacturers did some brilliant work in specific areas but sadly neglected the one dimensions or two. Like the metal resembling strips on the side bars gives the phone so much fresh look and make it a complete treat to watch it from sides. The phone overall impression from the front and from sides is excellent but alas on the rear, an orthodox plastic gives a shabby look.
Samsung has changed the design of the set as compared to the Galaxy Core but didn’t radically make the changes. The predecessor overall gave a curvy look and the corners were curved extendedly from the upper and lower sides. This time, with 4.5 inches screen, the curved design is kept limited only to the corners which gives phone a rectangle like shape.
On the below bar you’ll find charging slot. The power and volume buttons are not kept along with each other rather power key is on right and the volume is on left bar, tacked in the metallic bar. On the top bar you’ll find headphone hole. Speaker unit is on right in the middle of the top bezel which helps to spread the audio synchronously. The button layout is standard for Samsung with a single physical home key on the front.
Another horrifying thing is that the right and left capacitive buttons don’t glow in the dark which makes it difficult to play with sometimes.
Its weight is measured at 138 g which is reasonable and the thickness is 9.8 mm, which is slightly extended and that is because of the Note 3 like alloyed metal strips.
Processing:
What about adjusting a dual core processor with a GB RAM but Galaxy Core mixes a kind of weird combination. The phone is providing a quad core processor with a 768 MB RAM which will certainly irk some thinking buyers.
What about the performance, well as far as normal consumption is concerned it is more than welcomed but wait a minute. I want to play a lot of games, keep heavy apps and use it more often. This seems nearly impossible with 768 MB RAM. You’ve got to check again and again the optimizer of the phone to close down running apps which could be a reason for fast battery drain.
But hopefully we didn’t experience any problem while multi-tasking, for instance we were downloading a drama and were playing Hill Climbing at the same time. The moment RAM threshold went completed at above 768, even then the phone went smooth. Maybe it is because that we were using a brand new handset. And I am sure that with more and more apps in the phone, as you crosses the 768 RAM barrier, the phone would gradually slow down.
Display:
The new model has the same screen resolution as its predecessor with 480 x 800 pixels and 207 pixel density. On many occasion you feel fuzzy pixelization. Some people criticized the problem of low brightness in the previous model but thanks to Samsung for slightly fixing this issue. With full brightness, you can have nice luminous display.
Since its display specs are kept below par, HD videos are not a complete treat to watch on. Also you will feel slightly low brightness while watching HD videos and also be ready for a less colorful experience if you are planning to buy one.
Since the mobile is only equipped with a lone accelerometer sensor, it lacks a light sensor which means no automatic brightness settings and thus no lights on virtual buttons. The company has to cut it short considering the price tag.
Camera:
In a world full of photos and selfies, companies are putting their focuses accordingly to introduce better cameras but here Samsung missed few things. Its rear camera is 5 megapixels which is not a bad idea but the front is a VGA which we believe could have been something better. But, no blames attach to it in this regard considering its price range tag.
Sadly there are no such striking changes in the camera which urged us to write it about. In outdoors the camera result is relatively good but indoor is the opposite, just like rest of the low cost mobiles where the indoors depend largely on the light condition. It has come up with auto focus and LED flash. Along with auto focus it has macro focus option which keeps the image result clear even if you take the camera to object to a negligible distance. It can also record 480 p videos.
Moreover, in a selfie age, with this phone you are advised to take one from the rear camera of it. The more the light, the less terrible selfie will be captured.
It has just 2x zoom which makes the camera even more less-dynamic.
Multimedia:
The one thing I like the most in the set that its speakers are aligned at a very appropriate position which is a sigh of relief for many people like me, who does not mostly like to listen the songs via hands free. With this position of the speakers, the sound quality comes out with perfection.
Galaxy Core 2 gives away beautiful handsfree but the sounds are not very promising. What about downloading an equalizer like DSP.
Sadly there is only one built in app for listening songs and that is too from Google, yes I am talking about Play Music. No other built in app for listening songs which was disappointing for me. But again thanks to Play Store for giving away unlimited music related apps.
As far as video watching is concerned we have already mentioned that HD videos are not a complete treat to watch out on the display of the handset.
With 4 GB internal memory you can do nothing but to hit the head on the wall but thankfully it has expandable memory option which is up to 64 GB.
Battery:
2000 mAh battery is quite enough for a one whole day activity and same was the case with Samsung Galaxy Core 2. But it is advisable to use Power Saving mode while playing games and watching videos which limits the CPU performance and reduce the screen frame and lower the brightness for saving power and enhancing the battery life accordingly.
Verdict:
Keeping in view the price range the overall performance of the phone with preloaded essentials was very good. We had also played games like Subway Surfers, Gunship Battle and Hill Climbing without any hitches although the graphical details looked a bit stumpy.
Samsung had all the right to compensate the specs with the price but we believe that RAM should be provided with at least 1 GB. Those who are looking for Huawei and QMobile same price same specs but 1 GB phones should also consider this option.
No comments:
Post a Comment