Samsung's range of Galaxy phonesseems to be expanding so rapidly that I'm terrified it will get so massive it collapses in upon itself. Galactic catastrophes aside, the wonderful thing about having such a vast range is there's likely to be a phone to suit the needs of every single person in the universe.
On the other hand, with so many,many phones on offer, choosing the right Samsung Android for you can quickly become a planet-sized headache, leaving you lying down in a darkened airlock, whimpering softly.
To help ease your journey through this Galaxy of handsets, I've rounded up what I think are the five stand-out phones. There's nothing bargain basement in this article, so if you're after a really cheap Android handset, check out my best cheap Android phones round-up. Down below are mobile prices ranging considerably, starting at £250 and rising to around £500.
Samsung Galaxy S3
If you keep half an eye on technology-related goings on, you'll have heard all about the Galaxy S3 -- Samsung's long-awaited sequel to the insanely popular S2. The S3 is the lofty pinnacle of the Galaxy range, with a whopping price tag rivalled only by its gigantic 4.8-inch, 720p resolution display and humungous 1.4GHz quad-core engine. This multi-core beast stomps over pretty much every other smart phone in town right now, so if you want to put unrivalled power in your pocket, look no further.
The Galaxy S3 is for people who like their 3D gaming action high octane and their browser tabs too numerous to count. Small-handed wimps with budget constraints need not apply.
Samsung Galaxy S2
Before the S3 landed, the Galaxy S2 was Samsung's darling, helping the company deal a firm left hook to Apple. Even now, more than a year after it burst onto the scene, it's still much beloved. Why so popular? Because it's a winning formula. Its 4.3-inch screen is superbly bright, clear and colourful, so your pictures and videos will look awesome. The 1.2GHz dual-core processor easily tears through most apps. And at only 9mm thin, it'll slide easily into your pocket.
It was our favourite phone of 2011 and it continues to excite CNET readers in 2012 -- not least because, earlier this year, it got a long awaited update to Ice Cream Sandwich. If you want a super-powered Galaxy without the eye-watering price of the S3, the S2 remains a fantastic choice.
Galaxy Nexus
One of my favourite things about the Nexus is its 4.65-inch screen. It boasts a delicious 720x1,280-pixel resolution and is slightly curved like a banana, which gives it a unique look, as well as making it sit snugly against your face. Like the Galaxy S2, it's powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, but unlike the S2, the Nexus arrived with Ice Cream Sandwich right out of the box.
The Nexus runs naked Android, without Samsung's own software layer sitting on top, so it's at the front of the queue for OS updates. Indeed, it has already been updated to the latest version of Android -- 4.1 Jelly Bean. So if you're the sort of person who simply has to have stuff long before the herd gets its sweaty hands all over it, the Nexus will float your boat.
Galaxy Note
With a gigantic 5.3-inch screen, the Note is arguably more tablet than phone. On the one hand, that means you look slightly silly when making a phone call, but on the other, the sheer vastness of the screen makes watching videos and browsing the web a joy.
It's extremely bright and clear too, which makes your images pop, but also results in a poor battery life -- so do make sure you carry a charger with you. Still, if big-screen browsing is your bag -- or you're the proud owner of some generously proportioned mitts -- the Note is worth a gander.
Galaxy S Advance
As the name suggests, the Galaxy S Advance is the sequel to the reasonably priced Galaxy S. The S Advance is essentially a Galaxy handset for people who hanker for the S2 but can only afford pay as you go prices. Folk on a budget will appreciate its slick, gently curved 4-inch AMOLED display and dual-core 1GHz chip, which results in pretty nippy performance for the money.
While it's no super-powered S3, the S Advance will happily handle lots of apps and websites, plus Facebookery, email and the like -- making it a trusty sidekick for people of more modest means.
Additional writing by Andrew Hoyle.
Samsung Galaxy S3
The Samsung Galaxy S3 has a gorgeous 4.8-inch 720p resolution display, a deliciously slim and light casing and a super-powered quad-core engine. It's the Ferrari of the Android circuit so it's very expensive, and Samsung's TouchWiz software isn't always as slick as it could be. But if you're a power-loving Android fan hankering to trouser a monster, look no further. Read more
Reviewed on 3 May 2012
Samsung Galaxy S2
The Samsung Galaxy S2 crams a gorgeous display, lightning-fast processor and powerful camera into one of the slimmest, lightest smart phones we've ever had the pleasure to hold. The Android operating system could be more user-friendly, but it's never felt faster. Read more
Reviewed on 31 January 2011
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
While it lacks the refined aesthetics of the iPhone 4S, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus impresses with a 4.65-inch HD screen and the slick new Android 4.1 operating system. Read more
Reviewed on 21 October 2011
Samsung Galaxy Note
The Samsung Galaxy Note's huge size is both its biggest asset and its biggest drawback. If you can live with its hugeness, the Note is one of the more powerful and flexible Android phones out there. Read more
Reviewed on 8 September 2011
Samsung Galaxy S Advance
The Samsung Galaxy S Advance is a souped-up version of the Galaxy S that looks like a smaller S2 but packs a curved Super AMOLED screen. Its specs won't blow your socks off, but they're not bad if you're in the market for a mid-range pay-up-front blower -- provided you're happy to stomach the slightly stale Android Gingerbread.Read more
Reviewed on 28 February 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment