Samsung galaxy ace 2 gt. Smartphone Samsung GT I8160 Galaxy Ace II: reviews and specifications

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

Description of Ace II (GT-I8160)

A rounded, impressive little smartphone with an attractive 3.8” WVGA capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, it is pleasant to look at, although it still fails to stand out from the competition. The pixel density is 245 dpi. It's inferior to the 300 DPI of high-end phones from 2012, but the high-quality PLS panel makes the pixels virtually indistinguishable, delivering extremely sharp images. Samsung's PLS technology was designed to compete with the IPS panels used in the iPhone 4S and HTC One X. The viewing angles of the screen are excellent and only lose a little brightness when tilted too far in some directions. The display contrast of 843:1 with a maximum brightness of 500 cd/m2 does not match the characteristics of IPS or OLED matrices, but for a mid-price phone it is quite acceptable.

The plastic but aesthetically pleasing body features a durable design that makes the device as pleasing to the hands as it is to the eyes.

To everyone’s disappointment, despite the fact that the phone was presented and entered the market much later than the release of the Android 4.0 OS, the Korean manufacturer chose to use the operating system version 2.3, on the platform of which the original Galaxy Ace worked. This obvious statement of the imperfections of the smartphone does not negate the fact that the device has received many updates that compensate for outdated software and give some advantage over models offered at higher prices.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 updated by the Korean brand to Android 4.1.2. This improved the camera app, made it faster, modernized the user interface, and appeased those owners who were angry when they learned that they would never receive the update to version 4-1.

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, and 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. It also became possible to record 720p high-definition video, which made it possible to classify the phone as a middle-class 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. Ace II (GT-I8160) can be improved by expanding the storage capacity by 32 GB using a microSD card. Also offered is a standard set of wireless communications 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and optionally GPS and HSDPA.

Although the smartphone's screen size has increased from 3.5 to 3.8 inches compared to the first-generation model, the smartphone is 1mm thinner, tapering down to a relatively slender 10.5mm at its widest point.

And although the model uses a plastic construction, it is a surprisingly durable and well-built device that only bends or creaks a little under great force.

No matter how pleasant the design of the Samsung GT-I8160 Galaxy Ace II is, reviews from owners indicate that it is far from unique and shares a number of characteristics of many other Android devices from the Korean company with a large rectangular home screen button dominating the front panel of the smartphone . There's nothing wrong with the similarity, and the smoothly curved edges and slim form factor that fits comfortably 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 access the SIM card, microSD and battery.

With the increase in size, the Samsung Galaxy Ace II (GT-I8160) mobile phone has gained weight compared to its predecessor, although only slightly. Despite the addition of 9g, which increases the weight of the smartphone to 122g, the device is comfortable to hold and not so heavy that it feels uncomfortable. This is also helped by the rounded edges and slightly textured back panel, which prevents accidental falls and slips.

The smartphone has only 3 physical controls - a home screen button, a standard power switch and a volume up and down key. While the latter two elements are located in an area susceptible to accidental pressure when holding the phone in either the right or left hand, they are stiff enough to be a concern. The microUSB port and the 3.5 mm headset jack are the only “defects” of the flawlessly smooth surface of the case.

Software

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

Offering quick access to the most frequently changed settings, the menu widget takes up 1 of 7 possible home screens and allows owners to quickly turn Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, synchronization, automatic brightness control and screen timeout on and off. Featuring a dual-core 800MHz processor, the Samsung GT-I8160 Galaxy Ace II's interface is said to be lag-free, and the GPU pairs well with the highly responsive 3.8" multi-touch display, delivering smooth screen transitions with little lag or stuttering. " For quick access to settings and messages, the standard notification menu provides links to the most essential data, which helps keep your smartphone running smoothly. And although this feature is supported by all competitors, it never disappoints.

Phone calls

While more and more entry-level and mid-range smartphones don't give this basic feature the attention it deserves, the Galaxy Ace II's hardware performs well. The phone's strong signal and clear sound lacks only noise-canceling functionality, as background noise sometimes interferes with the normal flow of a conversation, drowning out the other party. This is especially noticeable when the person on the other end of the line is in an area of ​​heavy traffic or strong winds.

Internet

In most cases, Android apps provide excellent 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 set of features, none of which set it apart from its closest competitors with 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 Internet navigation a little slow, accompanied by somewhat less than 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 there's no need to wait for unclear content to clear up. However, a small problem with zooming in on large areas of a web page is that scrolling or scrolling through online articles can become a bit difficult, as the interface does so at such a speed that it's easy to miss sections you need.

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

Camera

Exceeding all the expectations set out in the smartphone's specifications on paper, the 5-megapixel rear camera of the Samsung GT-I8160 Galaxy Ace II, according to owners, provides impressive results with autofocus, built-in LED flash and smile detection, which allow you to easily shoot in any conditions.

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 visible. Although the Samsung Galaxy Ace II (GT-I8160)'s specifications don't allow for macro photography (the device refuses to set its focal length too close), the large selection of scenes outweighs this drawback. The standard list, including scenes such as “Portrait”, “Landscape”, “Night”, “Sports”, “Fireworks”, is supplemented by more complex modes.

While the Cartoon option produces unimpressive results, Panorama is one of the best on the market, stitching together a series 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) allows you to change white balance, exposure values ​​and ISO settings. Although the user is given a little leeway, adjustments are easy and don't require much fuss.

While photographing bright objects from darkness produces mixed results, the Samsung GT-I8160 Galaxy Ace II's built-in 5-megapixel image sensor is said to impress with its indoor photography capabilities when using the LED flash.

Video

Despite the low price and not entirely revolutionary specifications, video recording on the Samsung GT-I8160 Galaxy Ace II, according to owners, is characterized by excellent speed, excellent color reproduction and a large number of customizable functions. The smartphone's camera is capable of shooting 720p HD video at 30 fps and creating video content that is free of 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, and a selection of filters allows you to view footage in classic black and white, sepia or negative mode.

Despite its strengths, the video shot with the Samsung Galaxy Ace II (GT-I8160) camera, according to customer reviews, is not without its shortcomings. Lacking the contrast and color depth of higher-end rivals, the phone produces results that suffer from large color blocks, with content sometimes appearing more segmented than in real life.

Exactly a year ago, the first generation of the Galaxy Ace smartphone debuted along with the Samsung Galaxy SII. 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 the company's vision of what a top-end model in the mid-price segment should be has changed.

Appearance and ergonomics

To be honest, not everyone liked the design and materials used in its predecessor. The new generation looks and feels more expensive, despite the fact that the starting price is lower than the level at which the first-born started. Today, a smartphone can be easily found for 2,999 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. There must be a hardware key under the display (you can use it to wake up the smartphone from sleep mode), on the right side there is a power/lock key, on the left there is a double volume key and a slot for memory cards, the bottom end houses a MicroUSB connector and a microphone, the top – 3.5mm jack and cutout for rear panel removal. By the way, everything on it is also traditional: a camera with a flash, a speaker and the name of the manufacturer. The removable lid is also made in the best traditions. It has a texture that reminds us of what can be called a coup. In addition, thanks to this pattern, you can be sure that if abrasions appear on the lid, they will not appear soon. There is a small protrusion closer to the bottom end, 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 up 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 Gorilla Glass. To the left and right of the Home key are the touch-sensitive “Menu” and “Back” keys, respectively.

The cover covering the back panel is thicker than, for example, in the SGSII, but it can be removed so easily that at first you begin to expect some play to appear soon. In our week with the Galaxy Ace 2, we've seen just how good smartphones can be. In our memory, this is the only model that cannot be made to creak when tested for torsion. The body is so monolithic that you can’t help but feel like it’s made of stone.

For those who still value compactness or are looking for a device as a second one, 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 should be expected any day now. We deliberately took our time to test the Samsung i8160 so that we could test it with the updated OS version. Our expectations were not met.

Since the current interface does not contain anything new, we will limit ourselves to only 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, use the “pinch” gesture. In addition to the main function, the notification line 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 features cyclic scrolling of the Desktop and Application List windows.

Same as interfaces Optimus UI,HTC Sense,Xperia UX, proprietary shell allows you to manage shortcuts in the quick launch panel. It has four shortcuts that are responsible for calling the “Phone”, “Contacts”, “Messages” applications and entering “Applications”, respectively. Shortcuts can be swapped or selected from those present in the Applications menu. It supports creating folders both on the Desktop and in the application list, although you have to call the context menu to do this. Creating folders by dragging icons on top of each other is not possible.

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 were unable to find anything that could spoil the impressions of both the system itself and the operation of the smartphone as a whole.

Platform

Over the past two weeks, this is already the fourth device based on the ST-Ericsson U8500 SoC. 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.

In terms of characteristics, the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 is closest to , the same dual-core processor clocked at 800 MHz, Mali-400MP graphics processor, but 50% more RAM, 768 MB versus 512 MB for the SXS. The latter, however, is equipped with a 3.7” display, while the Galaxy Ace 2 is 3.8”. Since the differences are insignificant, we will consider these smartphones to be their closest competitors, both in terms of cost and the capabilities implemented in them. Let's try to find out how much of an impact the additional 200 MHz for each of the cores had (in the Sony Xperia Sola, the cores operate at 1 GHz), taking into account the smaller amount of RAM, 512 MB versus 768 MB in the Galaxy Ace 2, and the lower screen resolution, 800x480 pixels versus 854x480 pixels for SXS.

The results of synthetic tests were predictable, despite the additional 256 MB of RAM and lower screen resolution, the SGA 2 lost to the Sony Xperia Sola. For those who care about numbers, don’t worry, because in the near future there will be utilities that will allow you to increase the processor clock speed to the level of competitors.

Playing video files

While we're on the topic 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. At brightness less than 50%, 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 does not have a light sensor, which means you will 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 on your face, the second generation was also equipped with a camera to take pictures and videos from which could well be used as reference ones. Despite the similar matrix resolution, Ace 2 is capable of recording HD video, for which we can thank the graphics processor. The settings do not have the newfangled HDR mode, but there is its analogue - automatic contrast. By activating this function, you can be sure that the sky will always retain its natural color and appearance, while the sand, if you are shooting on the beach, will also remain visible, that is, not overexposed.

Examples of 5 MP photos

Examples of operation of the “Automatic contrast” mode

Example video with 720p resolution

Results

Once again, Samsung has managed to create a device that others can look up to. The Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 smartphone has a best-in-class camera, an excellent display, good performance (with some caveats), excellent build quality and the type of materials used, and is also guaranteed to receive an update to Android 4.0 in the near future. Is it worth replacing an old Ace with a new one? Definitely! With comparable dimensions, you get a thinner and more powerful device.

I liked it
+ Build quality
+ Housing materials
+ Display
+ Platform
+ Ergonomics
+ Camera
+ Availability of front camera
+ Working hours

Didn't like it
— Lack of light sensor
— Outdated OS

Since the copy we received was without accompanying accessories, we sent a request to the Samsung representative office: “what comes with the smartphone?”, to which we received the following response:

battery
· stereo headset
microSD memory card 2 GB
charger
micro USB cable for charging, synchronization and file transfer
· documentation
· warranty card

	118.3x62.2x10.5
Weight (g)	122
Processor (for smartphones)	ST-Ericsson U8500 NovaThor, 800 MHz (dual core) + GPU Mali-400MP
Memory	768 MB RAM + 4 GB internal memory
Expansion slot	microSD (up to 32 GB)
Main screen	PLS, 3.8″, 480×800 pixels, 16.7 million colors, touch, capacitive, multi-touch support
Additional screen	No
Keyboard type	screen input
Battery	Li-Ion, 1500 mAh
Operating time (manufacturer's data)	n.d.
Communications	USB 2.0 (micro-USB), Bluetooth 3.0+HS (A2DP), WiFi 802.11b/g/n (Wi-Fi Direct), NFC (optional)
Dual SIM support	No
Photography	5 MP, auto focus, digital zoom, front VGA camera
Video shooting	1280x720 pixels
Flash	LED
operating system	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) + original TouchWiz interface
Phone book	dynamic
Working with messages	SMS, MMS, e-mail (Gmail), Gtalk instant messages
Organizer	calendar, clock, alarms, notes
Voice functions	voice dialing, voice notes, voice mail
Speakerphone	Yes
Internet access	Wap 2.0, xHTML, HTML (Android browser)
Additional utilities	calculator, world time clock, viewing MS Office documents
Games	Yes
Beep	polyphonic, MP3 support
MP3 player	Yes
FM radio	yes (RDS support)
Additional features	media player, video telephony, a-GPS receiver, Google Maps support, accelerometer, proximity sensor

Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 GT-i8160 - How smartphones age!

10.04.2014

Opening remarks

Have you ever, after purchasing an incredibly interesting gadget, found yourself bitten by the fact that just a month after your lucky purchase, an even more impressive new product comes out?! Or maybe the price of a cherished product, which just recently was unaffordable, drops so much that it’s simply impossible not to buy it, but it’s too late, because the wallet-friendly new thing is already serving you faithfully. To be honest, this happens to me all the time, but the situation did not push me to take decisive action. I was never in a hurry to get rid of a still fresh device in favor of a more interesting one. Many do the same, consoling themselves, saying, well, the current device hasn’t turned into a pumpkin! The argument, of course, is ironclad, but in the long term, your modern acquisition, which seemed just yesterday, is, alas, aging and becoming not as stunning as it was before. What kind of aging is it: physical, moral or something else?! I want to talk about this today using the example of Samsung Galaxy Ace 2.

I was going to start writing my review for Helpix a damn dozen times, no less, but every time something stopped me. The desire first appeared after a couple of months of getting to know the smartphone, in the summer of 2012. But at that time, the number of reviews and opinions about for a worthy Samsung budget employee, it was, as they say, off the charts. Therefore, I decided to wait six months and write a detailed operating experience. But then a more or less real time frame for updating the firmware from Android loomed, and, horrifyingly, 2.3 to 4.1. After which the Korean manufacturer desperately fed the owners of the second Ace “breakfast”, and I, of course, waited. Only in the summer of last year (2013) Finally, the official Jelly Bean was installed on my device. The most important thing is that the update did not come over the air, but through the Samsung Kies synchronization program.

Ace's evolution

Mentions in the press about Samsung and its mobile technology are almost always accompanied by the postscript “Galaxy”. Over the course of several years, the line of Android smartphones of the Korean giant has grown so much that many people who are not very keen on technology simply do not know that the world-famous company has some other, non-Galaxy phones. All this pushes the manufacturer to create various sub-lines in a huge family in order to somehow streamline the marketing names of the products. Last year’s situation with the S4 is an excellent confirmation of this, how many smartphones are designated by this letter and number. on the shelves?! - Four gadgets completely separate from each other.

With budget Aces, the situation is somewhat different, however, the third generation of phones has already acquired the name of a tennis serve. It all started with a device similar to the fourth iPhone, which demonstrated a living example that a device from Samsung with acceptable characteristics can be affordable. Many people were waiting for the continuation of the banquet, and after strange experiments with Ace Plus and Ace Duos, a full-fledged sequel finally saw the light of day and did not disappoint, including me. After a short acquaintance with the device in the store, I purchased it for a little more than ten thousand rubles (2012).

Expected results

Some smartphones are aging in appearance: scratches and abrasions appear on the body, the plastic tends to crack, and in some cases, fade. Others are aging, rather, morally: firmware updates are not released, they stop coping with even simple tasks. Still others are becoming a thing of the past due to the fault of the manufacturer. We could close our eyes and resign ourselves to a camera failure or lack of memory, but daily, and indeed repeated, reboots and freezes again take us somewhere into the past, when smartphones were not yet so daring and similar things could happen with the stability of their operation. embarrassment.

As a result, we are dealing with a typical representative of the budget segment. The magic of the Ace family that I imagined for myself turned out to be nothing more than a fantasy. Constantly monitor the amount of music, photos, installed programs, do not rely on the camera in those moments when you caught a successful shot, and be prepared that the smartphone will later launching the next video will have to be reloaded - this means you won’t be deprived of anything?!

Advantages:

2 years ago +1

Price, screen

2 years ago +1

Convenient size, fits well in the hand, light Reliable signal reception, excellent network connection (for a smartphone), good earpiece Finds satellites surprisingly quickly, even indoors Not a bad processor in terms of performance

2 years ago 0

AWESOME screen, super clear screen diagonal and resolution - 800x480, many custom firmwares have been released for this smartphone, as well as a good camera.

2 years ago 0

From the outside it doesn’t look too bad, although this is all subjective of course. It fits comfortably in the hand and is also comfortable to use. There are no creaks or backlashes, the assembly is surprisingly excellent (ROSTEST CHINA) A good screen, it is not possible to see any graininess there unless you bring it to your nose and look closely, still the resolution is sufficient for such a diagonal. The sensor is responsive, there are no complaints, it works very quickly, I have already downloaded a large number of games and applications, they all run without any problems, I even downloaded 2 games, 3D graphics, and there are no brakes at all, and with the release of Android 4, the performance should also increase . The camera also shoots decently and it even seems to me that it began to shoot faster. The speaker is loud enough to easily hear someone calling you

2 years ago 0

All declared characteristics and capabilities are fully justified!

2 years ago 0

Great screen, lots of memory, no lag, very good android.

2 years ago 0

Beautiful, good camera.

2 years ago 0

5 megapixel camera, front camera, sound quality, video, all this la fleur is already tired and it’s not here)))

2 years ago 0

Android 2.3 firmware had a lot of advantages, I won’t repeat what is listed below. but android 2.3 has long been outdated.

2 years ago 0

The screen is medium-sized (larger than the iPhone4), suitable for simple games, listening to music and surfing the Internet.

2 years ago 0

IMHO The volume buttons could protrude less from the body - there are accidental presses

2 years ago 0

2 years ago 0

In fact, there are none.

2 years ago 0

1 Not very bright screen in bright sun is very difficult to use
2 there is no zoom in the camera, it just shocked me
3 this is probably a light sensor, although I don’t know why it’s needed because it’s constantly stupid on all phones and doesn’t set the brightness correctly, but in Samsung you can do this by swiping across the top of the screen. very convenient and why don’t you need it.

2 years ago 0

Slow and inaccurate GPS, back cover and front button are very scratched, old Android

2 years ago 0

Initially there were literally a couple of reboots, but I haven’t noticed anything like this for quite some time, apparently due to the release of new software.

2 years ago 0

I didn't find any shortcomings.

2 years ago 0

1. I’m surprised that no one mentioned such a significant drawback for the phone, and this is, after all, a phone!, such as the lack of written notification of SMS delivery. This model only provides a sound alert and a pop-up window. Very inconvenient
2. In some Samsung models, the camera button is on the side, which makes shooting very easy. Not here, which is a pity.

2 years ago 0

sometimes it glitches, you have to reboot it, but then it works again
there are some built-in folders that I don’t need, and it’s impossible to delete them (although, however, they don’t bother me)

2 years ago 0

terrible update to android 4.1! Constant lags, freezes while watching videos, clogged RAM, Samsung launcher lags. Is it really impossible to update this decent smartphone normally? No, it’s easier for Samsung to make ace 3, let them choke on money, narrow-eyed misers.

In February 2011, the Samsung Galaxy smartphone family was replenished with a new mid-price device - Ace. Despite the mediocre technical content, the communicator quickly gained popularity. For a not too high price, a consumer could get a functional device with the current version of the Google Android operating system, which also resembles an iPhone 4 from afar. The model is still selling well: in almost a year and a half, the price has decreased almost twice.

The need for a successor to the Samsung Galaxy Ace arose at the end of 2011. Right after 2012 arrived, Ace Plus was announced. The new model marked progress in almost all technical aspects: display diagonal, amount of RAM, processor type and frequency. But the new product was prevented from becoming an undisputed bestseller not only by the archaic screen resolution, but also by severe internal competition. The unbridled growth of the Galaxy family and not always thoughtful positioning led to the fact that sometimes a more powerful model was sold at almost the same price as an outright average one.

Finally, Samsung decided to fully continue the Galaxy Ace line. Already in February, the Ace 2 was officially announced, and in June the mobile device reached Russian retail. Will it become one of the most notable models in the mid-priced smartphone market, like the first Ace, or will it go virtually unnoticed, like the Ace Plus?

⇡ About APPEARANCE

Frankly speaking, describing the appearance of budget Samsung smartphones is a thankless task. The Korean company's mobile devices are similar, like 0.5 and 1.5 liter mineral water bottles: only the size differs. There are rare exceptions, but the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 is not that case. We could replace the photos of the device with images of the Ace Plus, and it's unlikely that anyone would notice the catch.

But even against the backdrop of the frankly boring design of the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2, there are no complaints about its appearance. All the classic controls and design elements are present here: a hardware Home button with a chrome edge, two touch-sensitive keys for back and context menu on the sides, a durable metal speaker mesh and a shiny bezel around the entire front panel. This description can be used for all Samsung smartphones from Galaxy Pocket to Galaxy S III.

The back cover of the smartphone is made of unpainted matte plastic. Its surface is not as grippy as the first Ace, but the fine checkered pattern hides at least some of the fingerprints. There are no complaints about the assembly: uniform minimal gaps everywhere, the body does not creak even when compressed and twisted.

⇡ About SCREEN

Finally, a phone from the Galaxy Ace family has a screen with an acceptable resolution for 2012 - 800 by 480 pixels. Along with it, the diagonal has also increased to 3.8 inches. The pixel density is 246 ppi. Not 326, like Apple's Retina iPhone 4, but significantly higher than the 165 dpi of the original Galaxy Ace. If we take into account the device’s not very large diagonal and its budget positioning, the resolution is quite sufficient.

The matrix belongs to the TFT family; it is made using the new PLS (Plane-to-Line Switching) technology developed by Samsung. In terms of production method and consumer qualities, such a display is close to the beloved IPS. In practice, this means that the record brightness and contrast of Super AMOLED is not inherent in the new type of screen. But many will be pleased with the natural color rendition, the absence of PenTile and large viewing angles. At maximum brightness, information remains readable even in bright sunlight.

It was not possible to put an end to the dispute about the use of Gorilla Glass in the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2. It is not mentioned in the lists of official characteristics; there is also no mention of it on the Corning website about the new smartphone. Samsung official representatives in different countries give opposite answers. One thing is clear: glass is used here and it is scratch resistant.

⇡ About the INTERIOR

Samsung has finally started installing dual-core processors in smartphones in the lower price group. The Galaxy Ace 2 uses the NOVATHOR U8500 model from ST-Ericsson. It is based on an ARM Cortex-A9 with two cores and an ARMv7 processor instruction set. The chip is made using a 45 nm process technology. The nominal clock frequency of the U8500 is 1 GHz, but in the new device from the Korean company it is reduced to 800 MHz. The same processor is used in more expensive smartphones, for example, in the Samsung Galaxy S Advance and Sony Xperia P, so the “stone” can be considered a plus of the Ace 2 in absentia.

The system-on-chip includes a Mali 400 graphics accelerator. Fans of 3D Android action games began to get a little shiver: exactly the same GPU can be found in yesterday’s flagship of the Koreans, Galaxy S II! But don’t rush to rejoice: in the top “Galaxy” the video chip is equipped with four cores, here - only one. The new smartphone also carries 768 MB of RAM and 4 GB of internal memory. To expand the volume, there is a slot for microSD cards.

⇡ About POWER

Since the second Galaxy Ace received significantly improved hardware, we can expect a significant increase in performance. Synthetic tests partly confirm this: a good level of “raw” computing power can be noted in the Linpack tests. And the newcomer performed well in Nenamark 2: despite the significantly increased screen resolution compared to Ace Plus, here the number of frames per second is higher. But the browser benchmarks SunSpider and Rightware BrowserMark disappointed: in the second, the new “Ace” manages to be inferior even to Ace Plus, and in comparison with more powerful competitors, the result is completely disastrous.

In reality, there are no complaints about the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2. The standard TouchWiz 4.0 interface spins quickly and smoothly. As far as Android itself allows it. Yes, and sites in the standard browser load quickly, and the limitation of a maximum of eight tabs does not even allow you to completely fill the device’s RAM. Thanks to the good “Asu” graphics chip, it can handle games that are very demanding on hardware. The only thing that can stand in the way of conquering new three-dimensional heights is Samsung's software quirk, which appeared recently and is carefully selected from model to model: the phone understands the device's own memory as microSD, and the real card is disguised as the external_sd folder. Naturally, game manufacturers do not know about such a tricky feature, so the large cache does not fit on the built-in 4 GB, of which only 1.1 GB is allocated to the user. This problem can be solved, but using an unofficial method.

⇡ About the BATTERY

In moderate use, Ace 2 can be counted on for one and a half to two days of operation on a single charge. If you load your smartphone to its fullest, then the day will seem like a marathon with a trajectory close to the map of sockets at home, at work, at school and in the car. Everything is quite standard for a modern Android device - at least without any obvious failure.

But in AnTuTu Tester, testing the battery for stress resistance showed the best qualities of the smartphone: despite the average 1500 mAh for the market, Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 scored 732 points. From the initial 97% to 16% at maximum brightness and full processor load, the battery reduced its charge in 4 hours and 5 minutes. Bravo!

⇡ About COMMUNICATION

The GSM module works without significant complaints, but you shouldn’t expect unexpected results from it either: the quality of communication decreases where the average competitor also has difficulty receiving a signal. There were no issues with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

In open areas, the GPS Test utility finds up to 15-18 satellites in a matter of seconds, allowing you to determine coordinates with an accuracy of up to six meters. Without the help of a mobile connection, the device takes more time to achieve the same result, but still copes with the task relatively quickly.

⇡ About the CAMERA

The Korean company tried to provide the camera of the new budget phone with the maximum number of additional settings and modes. The interface cannot be called too friendly, but there is an opportunity to properly customize it for yourself - it’s convenient. There is focusing by pressing the screen. It sometimes works thoughtfully, but this allows you to achieve good accuracy: in good lighting there are few mistakes in most modes.

A matrix with a resolution of 5 megapixels, which has become the de facto standard for the budget-mass segment, allows you to take pictures of acceptable quality. The main condition is good lighting. However, even in the dark, automation cannot increase light sensitivity beyond the ISO 400 threshold, which avoids a terrible pixel mess. In a word, the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 takes photographs acceptable, and for an inexpensive solution on Android it is quite confident. However, the phone often makes mistakes with the placement of colors; some bright objects can turn into one big spot. Sometimes white balance is determined incorrectly in automatic mode. The smartphone also has a front camera with VGA resolution for video calls.

The maximum video recording quality is 720p at 30 frames per second. In 2012, even inexpensive smartphones can demand full 1080p.

⇡ About SOFT

The Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 comes with Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread installed from the factory; there are no official updates for the smartphone. There are persistent rumors that soon owners of the new product will be able to install Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but Samsung has not given any official confirmation. With the interface, everything is quite ordinary - TouchWiz 4.0, known from the army of Korean devices produced in 2011.

⇡ About OUTPUT

A year and a half has passed since the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Ace. The device remained popular for a long time thanks to a good balance between characteristics and price. The Ace Plus, released in 2012, at first glance seemed like a much-anticipated evolution, but the weak screen and unclear positioning did not allow the model to repeat the success of its predecessor. But Ace 2 is more balanced: it has a nice screen, a modern dual-core processor, and a sufficient amount of RAM. The price will decide everything.

The recommended retail price of Galaxy Ace 2 is 11,990 rubles. But today, with some persistence, you can find it for 10,700, and some time ago the smartphone was officially sold in a large chain store for 9,690 rubles. Against this background, the average price tag of 9,700-9,900 rubles for the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus definitely does not look attractive. In addition, buying a Galaxy W, which is slightly inferior to the Galaxy Ace 2 in a number of parameters, for 12,500 rubles becomes clearly unprofitable. Among the closest competitors, it is difficult not to mention the Sony Xperia sola. This is an almost complete technical analogue of the hero of our review, for which it is not a shame to pay 13,000 rubles.

Would we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 for purchase? The device has no significant technical flaws, but still does not have support for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which can be considered its main disadvantage. If you are not tired of the constant design of Korean smartphones, and the proprietary TouchWiz 4.0 shell does not cause rejection, then there is no reason to refuse to buy Ace 2. This also applies to the owners of the first Ace: you can safely exchange it for the next successor.