Hands-on: Samsung's Galaxy of Devices
Samsung unveiled five new devices for 2012, all of which are targeted for a Q1 2012 release date. We share our hands-on experience on some of these gizmos.
Rounding Up the New Galaxy Devices
Samsung has kick-started the year with a myriad of phones and tablets. Some of the devices were unveiled earlier in the later part of last year, including the long awaited Galaxy Nexus and the new Samsung Omnia W. Sadly, the Samsung Tablet 7.0 Plus wasn't available at the event for us to have a quick look at the product, but expect it to make an official appearance in this month.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
The Android 4.0 Samsung Galaxy Nexus made a short appearance at the event; official sets weren't available at the event, but don't fret. You can head over to our introductory article and comprehensive hands-on write-up for a better understanding of the gadget. If you are looking to switch over to the Ice Cream Sandwich OS, you can catch up on our preview article as well as our OS comparison table.
We managed to take a quick snapshot of a Samsung representative's Galaxy Nexus handset. The 4.65-inch Super HD AMOLED touch screen and on-screen navigation buttons, among other things, differentiate the handset from the others.
Key highlights of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus
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Samsung Omnia W
The Samsung Omnia W ('W' for 'Wonder') made its first appearance alongside the official unveiling of the Windows Phone 7.5 update in September last year. The more affordable cousin to its flagship Omnia 7, the device showcases a more compact form factor and a smaller price tag of S$498. Originally slated for a Q4 2011 release, the smartphone will be making its appearance very soon in January this year as well.
The Samsung Omnia W comes with a 3.7-inch capacitive Super AMOLED screen and the Windows Phone 7.5 update.
Key highlights of the Samsung Omnia W
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Samsung Galaxy W
Like its Omnia W counterpart, the Samsung Galaxy W is positioned as an affordable option at $498. The device is about half the price of its higher-end cousins and is notably missing Samsung's signature AMOLED touchscreen. Nonetheless, the 1.4GHz single-core Galaxy W chugs on nicely and smoothly when we tried it out. The only downside is its lackluster 4GB internal memory which can be compensated with the purchase of a 32GB SD card. There's no news and confirmation as to whether the phone will get the Android 4.0 update, so that leaves it packaged with the Gingerbread OS for the moment.
The Galaxy W might not sport an AMOLED screen but a smaller 3.7-inch TFT LCD screen but we had no qualms about it. We noticed that colors were not as saturated as their AMOLED-equipped counterparts but having a 800 x 480 screen resolution is sufficient for clear video viewing. The phone comes with a single physical Home button flanked by two capacitive buttons (MENU and Back).
The smartphone is predominantly plastic - no surprise here, given that the phone only weighs about 114g. The phone's textured back makes for a firm grip and adds a modern touch to its design.
At the top, we find the usual 3.5mm audio jack and the microUSB port protected by a plastic flap.
The curved ends of the phone differentiates it from its more angular siblings and also makes it easy for gripping as well.
Key highlights of the Samsung Galaxy W
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
A 7.7-inch tablet? Samsung surprises us with yet another device with an odd screen size (Remember the Samsung Galaxy Note?). That aside, the other outstanding thing about this gadget is its HD AMOLED Plus touchscreen and awesomely constructed body. Specs-wise, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 comes across as the more capable of the two new tablets, the other being the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 plus. This is especially true when you consider the fact that it is the first tablet in Samsung's history to boast of a AMOLED touchscreen and that it comes with a higher battery capacity of 5100mAh in a smaller body. Of course, be prepared to shell out more money for the Galaxy 7.7 as compared to the Galaxy 7.0 Plus.
Key highlights of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
Like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is a tablet-sized device that allows users to make calls. Noteworthy improvements include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, a 7.0-inch PLS display and streamlined dimensions. The 7.0 Plus is slightly lighter as well. The tablet is equipped with the Google Android 3.2 Honeycomb OS; as of now, there hasn't been any confirmations so as to whether it will get the Android 4.0 update.
As mentioned earlier, there weren't any sets available onsite at the media event. However, you can read all about it here at our Philippines portal. Otherwise, do refer to our comparison table below for major specs differences between the 7.0 Plus and its predecessor:
Specifications | Samsung GalaxyTab 7.0 Plus | Samsung Galaxy Tab (7.0) |
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Processor |
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Display |
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Camera |
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Storage |
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Battery |
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Dimensions |
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Weight |
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Key highlights of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
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