Key features:
* Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
* 3G with HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps
* Android OS v2.1 Eclair, upgraded from v1.5 Cupcake
* 3.2" capacitive touchscreen of HVGA resolution
* 800 MHz CPU
* 3.15 megapixel autofocus camera
* Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and GPS receiver
* Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
* Standard miniUSB port for charging and data
* Stereo Bluetooth (A2DP)
* microSD card slot, up to 32GB support
* Standard 3.5mm audio jack
* Great DivX/XviD video player
* Limited smart dialing
* Voice dialing
* Equalizer presets are a first in the Android realm
Main disadvantages:
* Inadequate sunlight legibility
* No ambient light and proximity sensors
* Erratic performance under Android 2.1 (noticeable lag in some apps)
* No Live Wallpapers
* No 3D view in the gallery
* No preloaded document viewer
* No multi-touch support
* CIF video recording is below par
* No Flash support for the web browser
* No Bluetooth file transfers (not without rooting)
* No two-position camera shutter key, slow autofocus
* Average loudspeaker performance
The rate of Android proliferation is matched by no other platform on today’s market – you only need to look as far as the review section of our site, which is swamped with droids of all shapes and sizes.
The likes of Nexus One, HTC Desire, Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 and Motorola MILESTONE make up the Android elite, the Samsung I5700 Galaxy Spica is priced and spec’d in the middle.
It’s a reasonably cheap buy into the Android world, which opens the doors to a well-stocked Android Market and all sorts of cloud-based features (Google’s Near Me Now and the likes come to mind).
Android is shaping up to be the multitasking OS to buy – the iPhone OS and Windows Phone 7 can’t, Symbian^3 is still in future tense. Windows Mobile 6.1/6.5 or Symbian S60 are ageing platforms. Maemo and WebOS have limited reach.
Not that the Samsung I5700 Galaxy Spica doesn’t have its quirks. The CPU may be clocked at 800MHz (faster than most Androids) but the UI is still laggy. The camera acts up, but those are things that can potentially be fixed with a software update.
The Galaxy Spica specs detail the archetypal Android – no real deal-breakers, but no mind-blowing features either. Maybe some other phone with roughly the same asking price will be better suited for your needs.
The Samsung I7500 Galaxy immediately jumps to mind – you’d find it for less than the Galaxy Spica but it tops it with an AMOLED screen, 8GB built-in storage, better camera and it’s actually thinner. The CPU speed and RAM are set noticeably lower though and the I7500 Galaxy hasn’t gotten a taste of Eclair yet.
If price is key, look no further than the HTC Tattoo – it’s got the pedigree, it’s greatly customizable and matches most of what the Galaxy Spica has to offer at a bargain price.
Of course you could be willing to part with some more cash for sweet perks like aluminum unibody (HTC Legend). Or go all in with an HTC Desire or a Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10. If you need a physical keyboard, the Motorola BACKFLIP and the MILESTONE are at your service.
However, for the price gap between the Galaxy Spica and, say, the XPERIA X10, you could buy a point-and-shoot digicam that will outdo the X10’s 8MP shooter. You won’t have a 4” touchscreen or the Snapdragon CPU and so on, but still.
You could also take a walk on the wild side, by which we mean pick another OS or even a feature phone. There’s so many to choose from, but here are a few examples, each with its pros and cons – be it the camera, the screen, free navigation or office document editor.
So, we’ve come a long way since the days when “Android” meant either an HTC Dream or Magic. There’s choice – lots of it – and the Samsung I5700 Galaxy Spica is a great option.
It’s not a silver bullet though, not a crowd pleaser. The Samsung Galaxy Spica probably won’t be a bestseller, but it’s on the recommended reading list. If your operator has a sweet deal, the Samsung Galaxy Spica can be quite the thing for you.
Labels: Android , Samsung
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