Computers and modern gadgets

The exterior of the novelty will not surprise an advanced gadget lover. The forms show features of another popular mid-range smartphone - Samsung Galaxy W. We will not discuss the design from the point of view of originality, there is nothing to catch the eye, and the general features of the model are nothing more than traditional. However, the device does not cause negative emotions, and spectacular contours rarely get to a mass product. If the flagship Galaxy S III did not come out of the designer's pen as the most original, then it remains to be said about a more modest version. The dimensions of the gadget are chosen as comfortably as possible, the smartphone is medium in size, so both adults and children will like it. You can carry it with you in any clothes, it does not burden your pockets. The dimensions are as follows: 118.3 x 62.3 x 10.5 mm, weight 118 g.

The front surface is covered with a glass-plastic layer that protects the display with a diagonal of 3.8 inches. Above the display are a proximity sensor, a camera for video calls and a cut-out earpiece. In this case, a PLS-matrix with a resolution of 480 x 800 is used. The display is made using capacitive technology, a 5-point multi-touch works. The display is attractive with rich colors and fairly good viewing angles. The picture is bright and juicy, 16 million shades are displayed. In the sun, the screen fades, but remains readable, but for this you have to set the maximum brightness in the menu. The model does not have a light sensor, therefore, it will not be able to adapt to changing lighting conditions. The proximity sensor is responsible for blocking the screen during a call, the built-in accelerometer allows you to correct the data on the display depending on the position of the device in space. For unknown reasons, the smartphone lacks a sensor for automatic brightness adjustment. Therefore, you have to change this parameter manually in some cases. Below is the only mechanical button to return to the main screen. On the sides of it are two touch keys: Menu and Back. They have enough area for error-free pressing and comfortable use. In the menu, the backlight time of the milky white color is adjusted. The backlight is activated when touched, the rest of the time only the marking is visible, indicating the purpose of the buttons.

The 3.5 mm headphone jack is placed on the top end. The standard microUSB port stands out at the bottom, and a microphone hole is also placed here.

There are buttons on both sides: on the left side there is a volume rocker, and on the right side there is a power button. The buttons have a soft stroke, they are comfortable in everyday use. Also on the right is a compartment for microSD memory cards, closed with a special plug.

The back of the device is represented by standard plastic with a barely noticeable texture. The surface is different in that it allows you to confidently hold the smartphone in your hand, without fear of dropping the device or scratching it. At the same time, various kinds of prints and other traces from the daily use of the device are excluded. In the center is a 5-megapixel camera lens, next to which are a flash and a speaker.

Software features

The smartphone uses the Touch Wiz 4 shell. Acquaintance with the device begins with the lock screen. It displays the time and date, as well as information about the events left unattended. They can be messages or calls. By pulling one of the shortcuts, you can immediately go to the call log or SMS. To unlock the screen, you need to move the translucent layer in any direction.

Above the main screen is a status bar that promptly notifies you of various actions using clear icons. The dropdown menu consists of a string that combines 5 understandable characters. This is turning off the wireless module, sound, GPS and screen auto-rotation. All display space is reserved for widgets and auxiliary elements. These include folders and application shortcuts. For them, 7 zones are allocated, each allows you to place several widgets. Of course, size also plays a role: sometimes a beautiful virtual detail takes up the whole screen. At the bottom there is a line of 4 icons that you can set as you wish.

To add new items to the screen, you can hold your finger on the display for a few seconds, after which an auxiliary menu will open at the bottom of the screen. It is called in another way, through a function key. Here you need to choose what exactly you want to replace or supplement. Widgets are displayed in one line of 4 icons, which must be scrolled to access new ones. There are not only standard ones for Android, but also branded ones from Samsung. If you wish, you can replenish assorted widgets through the Samsung Apps application.

As a background image, not only static wallpapers from Samsung are used, but also animated background pictures that colorfully emphasize the bright colors of the display. Fans of concise design can remove unnecessary details at their discretion. The menu has become a little stricter. This is all thanks to the lack of a multi-colored outline on the icons, which not everyone liked. Instead of a boring black background, a translucent pattern of the main screen acts as a backing. The icons are sorted by name, arranged in a 4x4 matrix on three zones. They scroll cyclically with a simple movement of the finger to the side. You can display all the data in a single list or arrange them as you wish. Icons are transferred to folders that everyone creates on their own, dividing the icons into groups.

The built-in accelerometer not only allows you to change the position of data on the display, but also supports gesture control. By turning the smartphone screen down, you can interrupt music playback or turn off the ringtone of an incoming call. Holding down the Menu button will open the list of running applications.

Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Phone book and call service

To dial a number, large keys are used, where only Latin characters are applied. This means that automatic search for names from the phone book in Russian is not possible. However, the smartphone is able to analyze the order of the entered numbers and shows the appropriate numbers. To some extent, this compensates for the limitations of the search engine. The call list combines the history of not only telephone conversations, but also includes messages. All data is displayed in a long list, which is divided by day. Calls to the same number are not grouped, so the list of numbers is unnecessarily long.

The picture assigned to the contact is displayed on the left. On the same line, the name of the caller is indicated, as well as his number. A visual icon shows the type of call: incoming, outgoing or missed. By selecting one of the items in the list, an additional window will open, which displays the full history of calls to a specific number, indicating the time and date. From here, you can add a number to the phone book by creating a new contact or adding to an existing one. The blacklist function will get rid of unnecessary calls.

There is a tab with a separate list of the most needed numbers, which are highlighted in the Favorites group. It also includes not only contacts added by the user on their own, but also the most frequently used numbers. This list is generated automatically.

The phone book is represented by a list that allows you to store an unlimited number of contacts in the device's memory. It is complemented by kinetic scrolling, as well as a quick search bar. By touching it with your finger, it is easy to select the desired letter of the alphabet and select the desired recipient. When viewing information about a contact, you can see not only the general data that is assigned to him, but also some additional information. These include the history of calls and messages, as well as correspondence on social networks. By swiping left, you can send a message to a contact, a similar gesture to the right will allow you to make calls directly from this menu without performing any additional actions.

A new contact automatically receives a lot of fields that will save the most complete information about the subscriber. The first step is to choose a memory for storing data. It can be a SIM card, the phone itself or Google account data, without which the use of the device is impossible in itself in principle. Here you can find a speed dial for 8 numbers, as well as several ways to organize names. The operating system settings allow you to select the necessary contacts to display, hiding the extra ones.

As for the information itself, which can be entered, these are the following. Name, patronymic, surname, family prefix, nominal suffix, phonetic name, phonetic patronymic, phonetic surname

  • Phone: Mobile, Home, Work, Work Fax, Home Fax, Pager, Other, Internet Call Number.
  • Email: work, home, mobile, other
  • Chat: Google Talk, AIM, Windows Live, Yahoo!, Skype, QQ, ICQ, Jabber
  • Group
  • Ringtone
  • Postal address: home, work, other
  • Organization: worker, other
  • Additional data: note, nickname, website, birthday, anniversary, image
  • Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Organizer, office

    An animated gallery is used to view photos and other images. Here, all content is divided into folders, if any were originally created on the memory card or in the device itself. Pictures are transferred from the phone in various ways, including such as MMS and email, you can use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Upload to various social networks. The gallery works not only in portrait, but also in landscape form. There is a built-in photo editor that will help you make a collage, crop a frame or make additional changes to it.

    When creating a new alarm, you can select the days to be triggered again, the volume of the melody, the type of notification: combinations of sound and vibration. In addition, there is an interesting pre-alarm function, which is accompanied by one of six pleasant audio effects. Sets the period during which the alarm will sound until it is turned off.

    The calendar displays scheduled events for a month, a week, a day, or a general list. Here the weekday is indicated in white, Saturday is in blue, and Sunday is highlighted in red. On the left is the number of the week of the year. The current date is highlighted with a blue cursor. If you point it at the day where an event will take place, then information about it will be displayed at the bottom of the display. When you create a new calendar entry, it is assigned various information: date, time, location, participants, snooze period, reminder, and description. The application settings set the default view and the first day of the week. In addition, the type of notification about various events is changed.

    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Tasks

    All sorts of reminders are entered in this section, which is designed in the form of a leather diary. The name of the task, its due date, priority, reminder and text note with additional data are entered. The list is sorted into several categories, including due date, status, priority.

    The mini-diary can combine images, geotags and text into small notes. Here the date of creation of the record, the notes assigned to it, and the assigned picture are used as the photo. Simple text entries are added to notes. Then they can be sent in various ways to other devices.

    The calculator is not as simple as it seems. If you turn the phone on its side, an additional panel with various mathematical functions will open on the screen.

    To clarify the weather forecast, there is a built-in application that will predict weather conditions for the week ahead. Another tab in this program opens a menu of news feed headlines. By clicking on one of them, a browser opens where you can read the entire content of the article.

    Viewing various types of documents on the big screen of your smartphone is very convenient. As an aid, Polaris Office is used, which opens files of various types. In addition to viewing the contents of the file system, the application allows you to edit them.

    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Communications

    The smartphone supports 2G (850/900/1800/1900) and 3G (900/2100) networks. Speed ​​HSDPA - up to 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA - up to 5.76 Mbps.

    The Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n wireless module works well, no failures were noticed. The device remembers passwords, automatically connects to networks if it is within range. Works with WEP/WPA/WPA2 encrypted networks. To synchronize with a computer, not only the USB 2.0 protocol is used, but also a wireless connection via Wi-Fi through the Kies application. The Allshare app allows you to share content over Wi-Fi. Bluetooth 3.0 with EDR and A2DP support ensures stable data transmission. The smartphone can work as an access point for other devices. At the same time, we can note the presence of a front camera, which will become one of the auxiliary means for communication.

    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: GPS

    To determine the coordinates on the ground, Google Maps is used, which receives regular updates and an increasing number of functions. The first launch takes no more than 2 minutes, later this task will take even less time - about 20-30 seconds. A feature of the program is the need to download data, which affects the consumption of traffic. At the same time, the maps are able to display the traffic situation, displaying information about the congestion of the streets. The application is able to calculate the route map in various ways.

    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Browser

    The application for viewing network resources has full support for Adobe Flash technology, which allows you to watch videos and listen to music directly in your browser, as well as see banners on Internet portals. As befits a modern communicator, it supports the mode of simultaneous work with multiple windows. Moreover, you can open an additional tab both through the functional menu, and with a simple pinch, pulling the page from different sides to the center. This action only emphasizes the convenience of using multi-touch, which simplifies the scaling of data on the screen. Separate bookmarks highlight the history of pages viewed, a list of resources stored in memory. You can download data directly through the browser, saving files in the smartphone's memory. An additional menu with settings will help optimize your browsing experience. The screen diagonal is sufficient for comfortable Internet surfing, and the high speed of the device will not upset the owner when working with the global network.

    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Camera

    The smartphone has two cameras. The first is located on the front side, it will allow you to make video calls and take self-portraits. The main 5-megapixel module is located at the back. The application is launched exclusively from the menu, a separate key would obviously not become superfluous. The screen acts as a viewfinder, only small areas on the sides carry out functional functions. There is a shutter button and a variety of auxiliary icons. A separate lever allows you to switch between photo and video shooting. The interface adapts depending on the position of the smartphone, it can be both vertical and horizontal.

    The following settings are available:

  • Focus: autofocus, macro
  • Shooting conditions: single shot, smile shot, panorama, motion shot, cartoon
  • Resolution: 2560x1920, 2560x1536, 2048x1536, 2048x1232, 1600x1200, 1600x960
  • Shooting Mode: Portrait, Landscape, Night, Sports, Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dawn, Autumn Colors, Fireworks, Text, Candle, Backlight
  • Metering: center-weighted, spot, matrix
  • Switching to the front camera
  • Flash: Off, On, Auto
  • Exposure: +2 to -2
  • Timer: 2, 5, 10 seconds
  • ISO: auto, 100, 200, 400
  • Net
  • GPS tag
  • Video settings:

  • Flash
  • Resolution: 1280x720, 720x480, 640x480, 320x240, 176x144
  • Recording mode: normal, for MMS, front camera recording
  • Exposure: +2 to -2
  • Timer: 2, 5, 10 seconds
  • Effects: negative, grayscale, sepia
  • White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent
  • Net
  • In order to evaluate the quality of shooting, you can look at the examples. The smartphone shoots well, the summary of the shooting will be extremely positive. Galaxy Ace 2 produces exactly the results that we would like to get from a device with a declared 5-megapixel module without any shortcomings. I liked the camera in terms of color reproduction quality, objects look lively and natural.

    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Apps

    Additional software is installed through Google Play or the Samsung Apps store. We get a huge assortment of different kinds of programs, among which there are both free versions and those that you need to buy in order to use the full version of the application. The content is divided into categories, among which a group of previously purchased utilities stands out. This helps to immediately find previously purchased software for your smartphone. There are built-in stores for buying music and games. Accordingly, they are called Music Hub, Game Hub.

    The file browser will show the folder structure, allow you to create new directories and help you perform various operations with files. You can delete, copy and organize in various ways. Viewing content posted on YouTube is possible thanks to the application of the same name.

    Voice control to some extent simplifies the work with the device. However, the smartphone only recognizes English. Thus, a lot of functions are carried out: you can get directions, type a message or turn off the player. You need to press the button, the smartphone will record the command, after which you need to confirm the action. The device will then follow the verbal command given to it.

    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Multimedia features

    The music player has retained the division into categories. Among them there are tabs with albums, artists, playlists and a general list of all songs. At the same time, a separate menu is responsible for the categories displayed on the screen, which allows you to select only the most necessary ones.

    In the general list of tracks, the cover assigned to the album, the name of the song itself and the name of the artist are displayed. The search bar will allow you to quickly navigate among the volume of the music library and find the right tunes. As soon as you start listening to music, a large album cover will be displayed on the screen. Above it, information is indicated, including information about the author of the track, the album and its name. The button on the left allows you to enable 5.1 sound emulation, and the right button is responsible for calling the volume control scale. In addition, the sound level is changed by separate keys on the side of the smartphone. At the bottom is a scale with an indication of the duration of the song. The shuffle and repeat mode is immediately activated. It is included both for one song and for the whole album. Three dedicated keys at the bottom are responsible for controlling the player. These are the standard rewind and pause buttons.

    Directly from the player, you can set the melody as a signal or transfer it in various ways. From here, music is also streamed to wireless headphones. In addition, playlists are formed quite simply here. The equalizer allows you to use the following settings: normal, pop, rock, jazz, dance, dance, classical, live sound. There is a manual mode. Sound effects allow you to simulate the environment: normal, wide range, concert hall, music clarity, bass boost, externalization. The proprietary shell allows you to open the player control menu even when the screen is locked, eliminating the need to unlock the screen.

    The sound quality is average, even when using expensive headphones, the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 will not be able to please the audiophile with excellent sound. From the point of view of the mass consumer, the audio path in the model deserves approval, the smartphone should appeal to most buyers.

    The FM receiver stores more than 30 stations in the smartphone's memory, supports RDS, displaying a variety of information on the screen during the broadcast. The auto-search function will simplify the process of filling cells. There is a line on the screen where the most popular and favorite frequencies are stored, which are added there during the listening process. The timer function will allow you to fall asleep to your favorite wave, and the radio control when the screen is locked is completely similar to the player. There is also a function to switch between stations.

    The voice recorder allows you to record data in the memory of the phone itself or on a card. At the same time, you can limit the file size in order to send it via MMS.

    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Video

    Thanks to the support of XviD and DivX codecs, it is convenient to watch movies here without the need for conversion. The vast majority of tested videos in AVI and MKV started without problems. The only limitation will be the file system, which will not allow you to copy video over 4 GB, which excludes the viewing of "heavy" HD-video. The smartphone remembers the place where playback stopped. Thus, allowing you to watch several different films in turn without having to rewind to the right moment.

    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Hardware Capabilities

    The phone is running Android version 2.3.6. Dual-core processor NovaThor 8500 with a frequency of 800 MHz and 768 MB of RAM provide the smartphone with a normal operating speed. To store application data, the user has 4 GB of its own memory. Traditionally, the volume can be increased by installing a microSD memory card, media up to 32 GB are supported. We hope that the manufacturer will not forget about this device and update it to Android Ice Cream Sandwich in the future, giving users the latest version of the software.

    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2:: Overview:: Impressions and conclusions

    The capacity of the complete lithium-ion battery is 1500 mAh. Declared up to 670 minutes of talk time, up to 16 hours of standby time. On average, you need to charge your phone once a day. Like other Android devices, it is quickly depleted in data transfer mode, that is, when mobile Internet is needed. If you do not use social networks and occasionally go online, the battery capacity will last for one and a half or even two days.

    The speaker is good and loud, allowing you to communicate calmly in various conditions. The vibrating alert is average in strength and is not felt in all cases. The ringing speaker is not the loudest, but most often the melody is heard normally.

    Sales started from the bar of 12,000 rubles. This is a good offer for those who choose a functional smartphone for themselves, but are not ready to overpay. Most of the requested functions are implemented in a high-quality way: camera, video viewing, performance at a decent level, Galaxy Ace 2 will like this for its owner. A somewhat ordinary design in a simple shell, however, may not please everyone, in which case, you can pay attention to the Sony Xperia Sola or HTC One V, which will become its main rivals.

    At the moment, Samsung has a rich range of models in the middle class. This will include the Galaxy W, Galaxy S Plus, Galaxy Ace 2, Galaxy R, and Galaxy S Advance. Not every manufacturer is able to offer such a range. Among these devices, the Galaxy Ace 2 turns out to be the most recent smartphone, and at the same time with a very attractive price tag. We strongly advise you to take a closer look at this device, it is worthy of attention and will be an excellent purchase for your money.


    Positioning

    Last year, Samsung released a smartphone from the Galaxy line - Ace (S5830). In a short amount of time, the device became popular due to two simple things: firstly, the cost of the device was about 10,000 rubles, and secondly, the hardware component was at a fairly high level. The model sold like hot cakes. Interestingly, many users noted that they bought the S5830 not only because of the excellent price / quality ratio, but also because of the external resemblance to the iPhone 4. Scandals even erupted around Ace (and not only): Apple accused South Koreans of copying technology and design.

    Few paid attention to the fact that Samsung began selling another variation on the Galaxy Ace theme - S5830i. Essentially the same device, but with a different chipset.

    In 2012, the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus comes out - an improved version of the "first" Ace. The difference between them turned out to be small: a slightly faster processor, a little more memory and a slightly larger display diagonal. The announcement passed without "noise and dust", in fact, its sales began in the same way. By the way, a little later they introduced the Galaxy S Advance, tucked somewhere between the Galaxy I8150 and Galaxy i9100, which few people still remember about. In general, the South Koreans, as always, overfulfilled the plan for the production of the same type of smartphones.

    After riveting a few tasteless models, Samsung launches the Galaxy Ace 2 I8160. From my point of view, a real replacement for the S5830/S5830i. The upgrade turned out to be not global, since it was necessary to maintain the notorious value for money, and also not to make the device more interesting than more expensive models.

    And I think that Samsung succeeded: at a price of about 12,000 rubles (now you can find it for 10,000 rubles), the smartphone came out, albeit a weak one, but with a dual-core processor, enough RAM for most tasks, a display diagonal of 3.8 inches , high-quality screen matrix with a resolution of 480x800 pixels and excellent assembly.

    Design, dimensions, controls

    Unlike the previous model, Ace 2 has more sloping body edges. The shape of the home button has also changed slightly: now it is oval. The back surface has become less embossed, a small tubercle appeared in the lower part, approximately like on the Samsung I9000, I9100 and others, but much smaller. Most likely, it was made only to emphasize belonging to the modern Galaxy line.

    Plastics are still used as materials. The bezel backing is black, while the bezel and back cover are navy blue. There is also a white option.

    If we compare the dimensions of both devices, the novelty is slightly thinner, wider and longer than its predecessor: 118.3 x 62.2 x 10.5 mm versus 112.4 x 59.9 x 11.5 mm in the Galaxy Ace. Weighs I8160 122 grams, S5830 - 113 grams.

    The Samsung Ace 2 fits perfectly in the hand thanks to its small thickness, smooth outlines of the case and materials that are pleasant to the touch.

    The assembly is not bad: nothing creaks, does not crunch. However, when pressing on the central area of ​​the back side, the lid flexes slightly, and a sound is heard similar to the “click” of a button.

    The protective coating of the screen could not be recognized, since some Samsung representatives talk about the absence of Gorilla Glass, others claim that it is exactly the same as on the "first" Ace. According to my own observations, I will only note that for several weeks of active use of the device, there were no scratches on the display. But the back surface, unfortunately, quickly became covered with small scratches and scuffs.

    There is a proximity sensor on the front of the device. Next to it is a speaker. Its volume is high, the timbre is a bit bassy, ​​which is nice, the interlocutor is heard clearly and legibly. Below the screen are two touch keys "Back" and "Menu". Their backlight is white, not very bright, but in principle it is visible in the light. Between them is a mechanical oval "Home" button. It is framed with chrome-plated plastic, the pressure is soft, the stroke is small. With a long hold, it brings up a menu with previously launched applications.








    On the left side there is a thin, almost recessed into the body, volume rocker key, a little higher - a strap attachment shackle. Below is a compartment for installing a microSD memory card, covered with a plastic cap. The card is installed with a click. On the right is the on / off button, as well as the phone lock.


    The microphone and microUSB are located on the bottom end, on the top there is a standard 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones or a headset. On the back side there is a large camera eye, an LED flash and a speaker covered with a metal mesh.


    To remove the cover, you need to pry it by the recess on the top end. The battery is located under the cover, and the SIM card is installed in the upper area (the battery will have to be removed).



    Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 (left), Philips X331 and MegaFon SP-W1 (left)

    Display

    Samsung uses almost all possible diagonal displays, and sometimes the step is 0.1 inches. The Galaxy Ace smartphone has a diagonal of 3.5", Wave M - 3.65", Galaxy W - 3.7" and finally, Galaxy Ace 2 - 3.8" (physical size 50x83mm). Samsung I8160 screen resolution is standard for most modern smartphones - 480x800 pixels, density - 245 pixels per inch. Sensor - capacitive type, fulfills up to 8 simultaneous touches. The sensitivity is excellent.

    The matrix is ​​made using PLS-LCD technology, capable of displaying 16 million shades of color. I must say that its quality is very good, close to IPS, for example, like the LG Optimus L7. The viewing angles are maximum (brightness only slightly decreases under tilt), the picture is not distorted at all, the colors are juicy. The image on the screen of the Galaxy Ace 2 can even be compared with the iPhone 4. It is clear that the latter has a higher resolution, but in many respects the displays are similar.

    The screen brightness of the Galaxy I8160 could be a little higher, however, the matrix practically does not fade in the light, and the image behaves more or less well in the sun: you can easily read information. There is no light sensor on the phone.



    From the settings - the usual set: auto-rotate, animation, screen timeout, touch button backlight time.

    Below is a screen comparison (from left to right): LG Optimus L7, LG Optimus 3D max, Samsung Galaxy S i9000 and Samsung Ace 2.

    Oddly enough, but, in my opinion, the best quality was in LG Optimus 3D max: more natural color reproduction, good clarity, high brightness (albeit a strong glow of the matrix). From various angles, the Samsung Galaxy S with SuperAMOLED-matrix behaved better.


    Samsung Ace 2 display from various angles

    Battery

    The Samsung Ace 2 uses a 1500 mAh lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery. Model EB425161LU. The manufacturer indicates the following figures: talk time - up to 980 minutes (just over 16 hours) in 2G and up to 450 minutes (7.5 hours) in 3G, standby time - up to 650 hours (about a month).


    My data. If you use the phone for about 15 - 16 hours, then the battery will be completely discharged, provided: 20-25 minutes of calls per day, 3 hours of using Wi-Fi Internet (Twitter, mail, downloading applications and installing them), about 5 hours of mobile Internet while listening to music (a couple of hours).

    More numbers:

    • Only in talk mode, the device works up to 7 hours
    • Only when playing video (720p) at maximum volume in headphones and maximum screen brightness - just over 10 hours (!)
    • Only playing music in headphones at maximum volume - about 30 hours
    • Games only (using the example of Running Fred) - about 4.5 hours

    Excellent energy saving results! Approximately the same indicators came out when I tested the Samsung Galaxy Advnce. In general, no wonder: both gadgets operate on the same chipset and have the same battery capacity.

    Antutu test:

    From USB it charges in 2.5 hours, from the network - for the same time.

    In the settings there is a special section "Energy saving". You can turn this feature on or off. There are many options: turn off Wi-Fi when there is no mobile Internet connection, turn off Bluetooth and / or GPS when idle, turn off synchronization, change the brightness level of the backlight, etc. There is even an item "Energy Saving Tips".

    Communication options

    The smartphone works in cellular networks 2G (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and 3G (900/2100 MHz). Speed ​​HSDPA - up to 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA - up to 5.76 Mbps. Available Bluetooth version 3.0 HS (PBAP, PBA, A2DP, AVRCP, GAP, HFP, HSP, OPP and others).

    There is a wireless connection Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz). The unit can be used as an access point (Wi-Fi Hotspot), file transfer (Wi-Fi Direct) and multimedia content (DLNA). In the "Settings" there is an item "Tethering and hotspot". Connects Samsung with a computer over the air using Kies via Wi-Fi. For all the time of work, the network did not “fall”.

    Hi-Speed ​​USB 2.0 is also used for file transfer and data synchronization. When connected to a PC, the Ace II is identified as a USB flash drive or USB modem.

    SAR value

    Your phone has been manufactured to comply with the limits for exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy recommended by the Council of the European Union. These standards prohibit the sale of mobile phones whose radiation level (called the specific absorption rate, SAR) exceeds 2.0 watts per kilogram of body weight.

    During testing, the maximum SAR for this model was 0.498 (Galaxy Advance - 0.543, Galaxy Ace - 0.694) watts per kilogram.

    In normal use, the SAR value is much lower because the phone emits only the amount of RF energy needed to send a signal to the nearest base station. By automatically reducing your phone's radiation levels, your exposure to radio frequency energy is reduced.

    Memory and memory card

    Smartphone Samsung i8160 has 768 MB (really - 555 MB and free on average about 250 MB) of RAM, sufficient for most tasks. 4 GB of Flash memory is allocated for installing applications, photos, music and videos, but only about 2 GB is available.

    There is a slot for installing a microSD memory card. Its maximum capacity is 32 GB.

    Camera

    The Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 has two camera modules: 5-megapixel (with autofocus) and 0.3-megapixel (front, no autofocus, for video calls). There is a single section LED flash.

    In Skype, the device functions well:


    The quality of the photos is not better, but not worse than the shots taken on the Samsung Ace, Omnia W and Wonder: natural color reproduction, not a lot of color noise even on shots taken at night. From the EXIF ​​information of the photo file, we managed to find out that the aperture number is f/2.7, the minimum shutter speed is 1/1000, and the maximum shutter speed is 1/8. In automatic mode, the camera prefers to choose ISO from 50 to 200, even in the dark it “plays” with shutter speed, and not “ISO”.

    Video recording is carried out at a resolution of 1280x720 pixels (720p) without autofocus at 30 frames per second. Good quality.

    There is no separate “photo” button in the device, so the camera is activated by clicking on the corresponding icon on the screen. The camera shoots quickly, there is no visible delay between pressing the screen and receiving a frame. But in terms of speed it is still inferior to smartphones from Sony and Sony Ericsson.

    Camera interface. On the left is the icon for switching from the main camera to the front and vice versa, flash (disable, force enable and set to automatic), settings. On the right is the choice of mode (camera or video camera), the shutter activation button and the entrance to the gallery.






    Camera settings

    • Edit Links
    • Self-portrait. Switching to the front camera
    • Flash. Enable or disable
    • shooting mode. The user can choose from a single shot, a smile shot, a cartoon, a panorama and a shot in motion.
    • Subject (none, portrait, landscape, night, sports, room, sunset, dawn, autumn colors, text, candle, backlight)
    • Exposure value (-2 to +2 in 0.5 steps)
    • Focus mode. Auto focus or take photos in macro mode
    • Timer (enable/disable)
    • Resolution (from 640x480 to 2560x1920 pixels)
    • ISO (auto, 100, 200 and 400)
    • Metering. These are options for setting exposure in the central part of the frame, pointwise and across the entire field of the frame
    • Auto contrast (enable/disable)
    • Blink Definition
    • Net
    • Image quality
    • GPS. Ability to leave location data in EXIF ​​information
    • Reset all camera settings

    Video camera interface. On the left is the icon "Recording mode" (normal, limited for MMS, recording from the front camera), flash (disable, force enable and set to automatic), settings. On the right is the choice of mode (camera or video camera), the shutter activation button and the entrance to the gallery.




    Camcorder settings. It contains the following items:

    • Edit Links
    • Backlight (enable or disable)
    • Recording mode. Ability to record clips in the usual version, for MMS or video recording on the front camera
    • Exposure value
    • Timer
    • Effects (none, negative, grayscale, sepia)
    • Resolution (from 174x144 to 1280x720 pixels)
    • White balance (auto detect, daylight, cloudy, incandescent)
    • Video quality
    • Net
    • Memory (internal or card)
    • Reset all camcorder settings

    The photo album looks normal for Android.

    Video file characteristic:

    • File Format: MP4
    • Video codec: AVC, 12.3 Mbps
    • Resolution: 1280 x 720, 30 fps
    • Audio codec: AAC, 63 Kbps
    • Channels: 1 channel, 44 kHz

    Photo examples:

    Panoramic photography:

    Examples of photos on the front camera:

    Performance

    Samsung equipped the Galaxy Ace 2 with the NovaThor U8500 chipset developed by ST-Ericsson. It uses a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor with a clock speed of 800 MHz (minimum - 200 MHz) of each core. I note that Galaxy Advance has a processor clock speed of 1000 MHz.


    Brief specification of NovaThor U8500:

    • Release year: 2010
    • Architecture: ARMv7
    • Manufacturing process: 45 nm
    • Maximum frequency: 1.2 GHz
    • Graphics accelerator: Mali-400 MP (single core)
    • Memory: LP-DDR2

    Peculiarities:

    • Full HD 1080p recording and playback (H264 HP, VC-1, MPEG-4)
    • Support for high resolution displays (up to WXGA)
    • Working with two displays
    • High performance in 3D graphics
    • Dual camera support up to 20 MP
    • WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and FM
    • Built-in USB 2.0, HDMI output
    • Support for various OS

    Sony Xperia Sola, P, U, "go" and Samsung Galaxy Beam also work on this chip.

    In practice, the device showed its best side: no glitches or brakes were noticed, it did not reboot or freeze. Separately, it is worth mentioning the smoothness of the interface - it really does not "lag". I had about the same feelings from the Samsung Galaxy W smartphone. There are no problems with toys either: ShadowGun and the like are calm.

    Below is a brief technical specification and a few performance tests:

    Quadrant Standart scr31 Linpack scr32 NenaMark 2 scr33 scr34 RL Benchmark scr35 scr36 scr37 Vellamo scr38 scr39 Smartbench 2012 Scr40

    Navigation

    The smartphone can work with both GPS and GLONASS. The speed of satellite detection amazed me: a “cold” start is about 10 seconds, a “hot” one is 2-3 seconds. Unfortunately, satellites are reluctantly determined indoors, so the navigator found only two with difficulty. However, in open space in clear weather, Ace 2 identified more than 12 satellites. Alas, for the entire time of testing the device, I did not manage to “catch” the GLONASS satellites.

    Software platform and shell

    The Samsung i8160 runs on Google Android firmware version 2.3.6 (i8160XXLG1). Whether this model will receive an update to ICS is still unknown, but I think not.

    As the design of the OS, Samsung used the same shell as on the Galaxy S II and other smartphones - TouchWiz version 4.0. I will not repeat myself, I will tell you in short: the main screen has 7 virtual desktops, on which you can put folders, shortcuts, widgets and hot keys.

    Challenges

    The dialer is standard for Samsung - large and comfortable. From it it is easy to get into the call log and contacts. For each subscriber, you can set a phone number, email address, ring tone, postal address and profile picture. In additional settings - note, alias, birthday and anniversary. The call log provides information about the time of the call and its date. If you click on a phone number, a list of all calls from this contact will open.

    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.

    Width

    Width information refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.

    62.2 mm (millimeters)
    6.22 cm (centimeters)
    0.2 ft
    2.45in
    Height

    Height information refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.

    118.3 mm (millimeters)
    11.83 cm (centimeters)
    0.39ft
    4.66in
    Thickness

    Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement.

    10.5 mm (millimeters)
    1.05 cm (centimeters)
    0.03 ft
    0.41in
    Weight

    Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.

    122 g (grams)
    0.27 lbs
    4.3oz
    Volume

    Approximate volume of the device, calculated from dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.

    77.26 cm³ (cubic centimeters)
    4.69 in³ (cubic inches)

    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.

    SoC (System on a Chip)

    A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.

    ST-Ericsson NovaThor U8500
    Technological process

    Information about the technological process by which the chip is made. The value in nanometers measures half the distance between the elements in the processor.

    45 nm (nanometers)
    Processor (CPU)

    The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is the interpretation and execution of instructions contained in software applications.

    ARM Cortex-A9
    Processor bit depth

    The bit depth (bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance than 32-bit processors, which, in turn, are more productive than 16-bit processors.

    32 bit
    Instruction Set Architecture

    Instructions are commands by which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.

    ARMv7
    Number of processor cores

    The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing many instructions to be executed in parallel.

    2
    Processor clock speed

    The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).

    800 MHz (megahertz)
    Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

    The graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc.

    ARM Mali-400 MP1
    Number of GPU cores

    Like the CPU, the GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle the graphical calculations of different applications.

    1
    The amount of random access memory (RAM)

    Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost when the device is turned off or restarted.

    768 MB (megabytes)
    Type of random access memory (RAM)

    Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.

    LPDDR2

    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.

    Type/technology

    One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends.

    pls
    Diagonal

    For mobile devices, the screen size is expressed in terms of its diagonal length, measured in inches.

    3.8in
    96.52 mm (millimeters)
    9.65 cm (centimeters)
    Width

    Approximate Screen Width

    1.96in
    49.66 mm (millimeters)
    4.97 cm (centimeters)
    Height

    Approximate Screen Height

    3.26in
    82.77 mm (millimeters)
    8.28 cm (centimeters)
    Aspect Ratio

    The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side

    1.667:1
    5:3
    Permission

    Screen resolution indicates the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper image detail.

    480 x 800 pixels
    Pixel Density

    Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be shown on the screen in clearer detail.

    246 ppi (pixels per inch)
    96ppm (pixels per centimeter)
    Color depth

    Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for the color components in a single pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors the screen can display.

    24 bit
    16777216 flowers
    Screen area

    Approximate percentage of screen space on the front of the device.

    56.04% (percentage)
    Other characteristics

    Information about other functions and features of the screen.

    capacitive
    Multitouch

    Sensors

    Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that are recognized by the mobile device.

    rear camera

    The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its rear panel and can be combined with one or more additional cameras.

    Svetlosila

    Luminosity (also known as f-stop, aperture, or f-number) is a measure of the size of a lens aperture that determines the amount of light that enters the sensor. The lower the f-number, the larger the aperture and the more light reaches the sensor. Usually, the number f is indicated, which corresponds to the maximum possible aperture of the aperture.

    f/2.8
    Flash type

    The rear (rear) cameras of mobile devices mainly use LED flashes. They can be configured with one, two or more light sources and vary in shape.

    LED
    Image resolution

    One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, giving an approximate number of pixels in millions.

    2592 x 1944 pixels
    5.04 MP (megapixels)
    Video resolution

    Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record.

    1280 x 720 pixels
    0.92 MP (megapixels)
    Video recording speed (frame rate)

    Information about the maximum recording rate (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps.

    30 fps (frames per second)
    Characteristics

    Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera.

    autofocus
    Burst shooting
    geo tags
    panoramic shooting
    Touch focus
    Scene Selection Mode

    Front-camera

    Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a PTZ camera, a cutout or hole in the display, a camera under the display.

    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.

    Version

    There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, making it easier to discover and connect devices. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device.

    3.0
    Characteristics

    Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols for faster data transfer, power savings, better device discovery, and more. Some of the profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here.

    A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)
    AVCTP (Audio/Video Control Transport Protocol)
    AVDTP (Audio/Video Distribution Transport Protocol)
    AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile)
    GAVDP (Generic Audio/Video Distribution Profile)
    GAP (Generic Access Profile)
    HFP (Hands Free Profile)
    HID (Human Interface Profile)
    HSP (Headset Profile)
    MAP (Message Access Profile)
    OPP (Object Push Profile)
    PBAP/PAB (Phone Book Access Profile)
    SPP (Serial Port Protocol)
    SDP (Service Discovery Protocol)

    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.

    Capacity

    The capacity of a battery indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliamp-hours.

    1500 mAh (milliamp-hours)
    Type

    The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more specifically, by the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used in mobile devices.

    Li-Ion (Li-Ion)
    Talk time 2G

    Talk time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery is completely discharged during a continuous conversation in a 2G network.

    16 hours 20 minutes
    16.3 h (hours)
    979.8 min (minutes)
    0.7 days
    2G standby time

    The 2G standby time is the amount of time it takes for the battery to fully discharge when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.

    670 h (hours)
    40200 min (minutes)
    27.9 days
    3G talk time

    Talk time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery is completely discharged during a continuous conversation in a 3G network.

    7 hours 30 minutes
    7.5 h (hours)
    450 min (minutes)
    0.3 days
    3G standby time

    The 3G standby time is the amount of time it takes for the battery to fully discharge when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.

    640 h (hours)
    38400 min (minutes)
    26.7 days
    Characteristics

    Information about some additional features of the device's battery.

    Removable

    Joining the company of smartphones such as Orange San Diego, HTC One V and occupying a niche between the base and mid-range phones, the Galaxy Ace II has entered a market where you have to try hard to stand out from the crowd. The £160 price tag made it an attractive proposition for many.

    Description of Ace II (GT-I8160)

    The rounded, impressive little smartphone with an attractive 3.8” WVGA capacitive touchscreen with 800 x 480 pixels is a pleasing sight despite failing to stand out from the competition. The pixel density is 245 dpi. This is inferior to the high-end 300dpi phones from 2012, but the high-quality PLS panel makes the pixels almost indistinguishable, providing an extremely sharp image. Samsung's PLS technology was designed to compete with the IPS panels used in the iPhone 4S and HTC One X. The screen's viewing angles are excellent and only dim slightly in brightness when tilted a lot in some directions. The display contrast of 843:1 at a maximum brightness of 500 cd/m 2 does not match the characteristics of IPS or OLED matrices, but for a mid-range phone this is quite acceptable.

    The plastic yet aesthetically impeccable body features a solid construction that makes the device as pleasing to the hand as it is to the eye.

    To everyone's disappointment, despite the fact that the phone was introduced and entered the market much later than the release of the Android 4.0 OS, the Korean manufacturer preferred to use the operating system version 2.3, on the platform of which the original Galaxy Ace also worked. Such an obvious statement of the imperfection of the smartphone does not negate the fact that the device has received many updates that compensate for outdated software and give some advantage over models offered at higher prices.

    Subsequently, the Ace II (GT-I8160) firmware, among other models, was still updated by the Korean brand to Android 4.1.2. It improved the camera app, made it faster, streamlined the user interface, and appeased those owners who were outraged when they found out they would never get the 4-1 update.

    Design

    In the 2nd generation of the model, the manufacturer made a comprehensive overhaul, installed a 2-core processor with a frequency of 800 MHz, increased the RAM from 278 to a much more respectable 768 MB. In addition, the smartphone is equipped with a 5-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and built-in LED flash. Also, it became possible to record high-definition video 720p, which made it possible to classify the phone as a mid-range model. The second VGA camera is installed on the front panel of the model.

    The smartphone has a comfortable weight of 122 g and a thickness of 10.5 mm. The Ace II (GT-I8160) can be upgraded with up to 32GB of permanent storage via a microSD card. It also offers a standard set of wireless 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and optional - GPS and HSDPA.

    Although the screen size of the smartphone has increased from 3.5 to 3.8 inches compared to the first generation model, the smartphone has become thinner by 1 mm, narrowing to a relatively slender 10.5 mm at its widest part.

    Although the model uses a plastic construction, it is surprisingly strong and well-built device, which only bends or creaks a little with great effort.

    As nice as the design of the Samsung GT-I8160 Galaxy Ace II is, owner reviews say it's far from unique and shares a number of characteristics with many other Android devices from the Korean company, with a large rectangular home button dominating the front of the phone. . There is nothing wrong with this similarity, but the gently curved edges and slim form factor that allows you to comfortably hold the device in your hand make it even more attractive.

    One of the design features that the Ace II unfortunately inherited is the fragile and flimsy back panel. The thin component leaves the user confused when trying to remove it to gain access to the SIM card, microSD and battery.

    With the increase in size, the Samsung Galaxy Ace II mobile phone (GT-I8160) gained weight compared to its predecessor, although not significantly. Despite the addition of 9g, which brings the smartphone's weight up to 122g, the device is comfortable to hold and not so heavy that it feels uncomfortable. Rounded edges and a lightly textured back panel help prevent accidental drops and slips.

    The smartphone has only 3 physical controls - a home screen button, a standard power switch, and a volume up and down key. Although the last two elements are located in an area prone to accidental pressure when the phone is held in both the right and left hand, they are hard enough to cause concern. The microUSB port and 3.5mm headset jack are the only "defects" in the impeccably smooth surface of the case.

    Software

    Despite all the innovative technical features, the Samsung Galaxy Ace II (GT-I8160) is a standard combination of "Android 2.3" and the TouchWiz 4.0 user interface. The phone comes with software that has been proven to work on previous Galaxy models. TouchWiz is an intuitive interface with a range of features, shortcuts and features that will appeal to both novice and advanced smartphone users.

    Offering quick access to the most frequently changed settings, the menu widget occupies 1 of 7 possible home screens and allows owners to quickly turn Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, sync, auto-brightness, and screen timeout on or off. Thanks to the dual-core 800MHz processor, the interface of the Samsung GT-I8160 Galaxy Ace II is said to be lag-free, and the GPU pairs well with the highly sensitive 3.8” multi-touch display, delivering smooth screen transitions with little to no lag or stuttering. ". For quick access to settings and messages, the standard notification menu provides links to the most necessary data, which helps keep your smartphone running smoothly. And although such a feature is supported by all competitors, it never disappoints.

    Phone calls

    While a growing number of entry-level and mid-range smartphones aren't giving this basic feature the attention it deserves, the Galaxy Ace II's hardware performs well. The strong signal and clear sound of the phone lacks only the noise reduction function, since background noise sometimes interferes with the normal course of a conversation, drowning out the interlocutor. This is especially noticeable when the person at the other end of the line is in an area of ​​heavy traffic or strong winds.

    Internet

    In most cases, Android apps provide great functionality, and the smartphone browser offers few advantages over the standard pre-installed universal browsers of the TouchWiz UI platform and interface. It's far from spectacular and has a limited feature set, none of which sets it apart from nearby competitors that have similar capabilities. Users can download a much better version of the browser from the Google Play Store. For example Firefox.

    When accessed over Wi-Fi, web pages load instantly, but the 3G connection makes web browsing a little slow, accompanied by not-so-smooth page loading.

    Because the pre-installed browser doesn't bother formatting content to make it easier to read, the smartphone renders text and images very quickly when zoomed in, so you don't have to wait for fuzzy content to clear up. However, a small problem when zooming in on large sections of a web page is that scrolling through or online articles can be a little difficult, as the interface does it so quickly that it's easy to skip the right sections.

    What makes the browser more manageable and convenient is the ability to simultaneously access 8 separate tabs of web pages and an efficient and easy-to-use bookmarking system, called up by simply pressing the dedicated on-screen button next to the URL input panel. In addition, there is a quick access to the most frequently visited sites. From the tab, you can also view the browser history.

    Camera

    Exceeding every expectation put on paper by smartphone specs, the Samsung GT-I8160 Galaxy Ace II's 5MP rear camera is said to deliver impressive results with autofocus, built-in LED flash and smile detection, making it easy to shoot in any environment.

    The shutter speed is more in line with static panoramic shots, but the user can activate AF by simply tapping on the desired area of ​​the screen. This is a handy feature that works well, ensuring that your subject is always clearly displayed. Although the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy Ace II (GT-I8160) do not allow for macro photography (the device refuses to set the focal length too close), a large set of scenes outweighs this shortcoming. The standard list, which includes such scenes as "Portrait", "Landscape", "Night", "Sports", "Fireworks", is supplemented by more complex modes.

    The Cartoon option gives little impressive results, while Panorama is one of the best on the market, stitching together a range of images into an impressively expansive image. For those who want more control over the photo-taking process, the Samsung Galaxy Ace II (GT-I8160) lets you change the white balance, exposure values, and ISO settings. While the user is given a little leeway, making adjustments is easy and doesn't require much fuss.

    While photographing bright objects from the dark has mixed results, the Samsung GT-I8160 Galaxy Ace II's built-in 5MP image sensor impresses with its indoor photography capabilities when using LED flash, according to owners.

    Video

    Despite the low price and not exactly revolutionary specifications, video recording on the Samsung GT-I8160 Galaxy Ace II, according to the owners, has excellent speed, excellent color reproduction and a lot of customizable features. The smartphone's camera is capable of capturing 720p HD video at 30fps and creating video content free from heavy pixelation, motion blur, and weak audio. Further enhancing the mobile phone's video capabilities is the built-in LED flash, which can be used to illuminate dark scenes, while a set of filters lets you see footage in classic black and white, sepia, or reverse.

    Despite its strengths, the video shot with the Samsung Galaxy Ace II (GT-I8160) is not without flaws, according to customer reviews. Lacking contrast and color depth from higher-end competitors, the phone delivers a result that suffers from large color blocks, with content sometimes more segmented than in real life.

    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 of sales of the Samsung 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.

    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 Recent Applications Manager, 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 an 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 quick launch panel. 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. It supports the creation of folders, both on the Desktop and in the application list, although for this you have to call the 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.

    The Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 is closest in specs to the same dual-core processor running at 800 MHz, Mali-400MP GPU, but 50% more RAM, 768 MB versus 512 MB for the SXS. 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

    Codec/NameFinalDestination5.mp4Neudergimie.2.mkvs.t.a.l.k.e.r.aviSpartacus.mkvParallelUniverse.avi
    VideoMPEG4 Video (H264) 1920×798 29.99fpsVideo: MPEG4 Video (H264) 852×362 29.994fpsXvid 712x400 25.00fps 1779kbpsMPEG4 Video (H264) 1280×720 29.97fps ]MPEG4 Video (H264) 1280×536 24.00fps 2726kbps
    AudioAAC 48000Hz stereo 96kbpsAudio: AAC 48000Hz stereo 96kbpsMPEG Audio Layer 3 48000Hz stereo 128kbpsDolby AC3 44100Hz stereo]MPEG Audio Layer 3 44100Hz stereo 256kbps

    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

    At one time, the Samsung 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. The Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 has a best-in-class camera, a great display, good performance (with a few caveats), great build quality and materials, and is guaranteed to get an Android 4.0 update in the near future. 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
    + Presence of a 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

    Dimensions (mm)118.3x62.2x10.5
    Weight (g)122
    Processor (for smartphones)ST-Ericsson U8500 NovaThor, 800 MHz (dual-core) + GPU Mali-400MP
    Memory768 MB RAM + 4 GB internal memory
    Expansion slotmicroSD (up to 32 GB)
    Main screenPLS, 3.8″, 480×800 dots, 16.7 million colors, touch, capacitive, multi-touch support
    Additional screenNo
    Keyboard typescreen input
    Accumulator batteryLi-Ion, 1500 mAh
    Operating time (manufacturer's data)n.a.
    CommunicationsUSB 2.0 (micro-USB), Bluetooth 3.0+HS (A2DP), WiFi 802.11b/g/n (Wi-Fi Direct), NFC (optional)
    Support for 2 SIM cardsNo
    Photography5 MP, auto focus, digital zoom, VGA front camera
    Video filming1280x720 pixels
    FlashLED
    operating systemAndroid 2.3 (Gingerbread) + original TouchWiz interface
    Phone bookdynamic
    Working with messagesSMS, MMS, e-mail (Gmail), Gtalk instant messaging
    Organizercalendar, clock, alarms, notes
    Voice Featuresvoice dialing, voice memos, voicemail
    SpeakerphoneYes
    Internet accessWap 2.0, xHTML, HTML (Android browser)
    Additional utilitiescalculator, world time clock, MS Office document viewer
    GamesYes
    Sound signalpolyphonic, MP3 support
    MP3 playerYes
    FM radioyes (RDS support)
    Additional featuresmedia player, video telephony, a-GPS receiver, Google Maps support, accelerometer, proximity sensor

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