The First Look at Samsung Galaxy ACE (S5830)
Just listen to the name Ace, it sounds almost like an "S". When I was telling a colleague about this phone, I caught myself thinking we all are starting to ask each other what phone are we talking about. I could've meant Galaxy S or talked about Galaxy Ace. Samsung clearly tried to achieve similar sounding name to get an association of a junior model with the flagship.
Ace is in fact a flagship too, only in the mid price tier, closer to the Wave/Wave II. Without the Wave the company would have definitely need an Android model at this price point, but while Wave exists and is very successful, there is no need for a similarly priced solution.
When Samsung began to develop the Ace, the task was to make a phone able to compete with a similar phone from HTC. Looking at the full HTC model lineup, we can see that the HTC device capable of such competition is the Legend, but Samsung decided to create something less expensive to attract attention to its product. Products from LG, other manufacturers were purposefully ignored, although they look good, have a similar or better functionality with a compatible cost. The reasons are described in the article about Samsung Android strategy for 2011.
Considering the cost, this phone is marketed to those who like its design. It strongly suggests Apple iPhone 4 and it could become one of the reasons to buy a phone, we cannot underestimate this factor. Of course, the body is made of plastic, this is a phone of a different level and class. However if you'll look at the technical aspects, this is an Android smartphone for those who like Samsung, those who will appreciate its functionality, who will not be scared away by a cost higher than that of competing models. In a sense, the phone is designed to be pushed by retailers, it will not sell itself, sales people will have to show their professional abilities. As a result, most of the customers will be people not yet familiar with Android, for many it will be their first device running this OS. As the first experience this phone will keep many users happy, it has no serious downsides, is pleasant in everyday use.
The ringtones volume is ideal courtesy of a dedicated loudspeaker at the back and nice choice of melodies. The vibro is good and has above average power. This is a typical Samsung without any speech communication problems.
The Ace is priced at €320, which is not cheap for this model. HTC Legend is its direct rival with better design and Sense shell priced about the same. At the same time, while the phones are compatible in screen resolution, Samsung's screen is much bigger, it is the model's main competitive advantage. Otherwise the phones are stacked against each other pretty evenly.
Overall I liked this phone – it is fast, the screen is OK, design is not bad. At the same time there are plenty alternatives for less money that look just as good. This is where Samsung Galaxy Ace loses out. This makes the device interesting only if you like the brand, trust it. Clearly, there will be enough takers of this phone, but it will not become a bestseller. It is a niche solution designed to close the gap in the model lineup, just as are many other Samsung phones.
Ace is in fact a flagship too, only in the mid price tier, closer to the Wave/Wave II. Without the Wave the company would have definitely need an Android model at this price point, but while Wave exists and is very successful, there is no need for a similarly priced solution.
When Samsung began to develop the Ace, the task was to make a phone able to compete with a similar phone from HTC. Looking at the full HTC model lineup, we can see that the HTC device capable of such competition is the Legend, but Samsung decided to create something less expensive to attract attention to its product. Products from LG, other manufacturers were purposefully ignored, although they look good, have a similar or better functionality with a compatible cost. The reasons are described in the article about Samsung Android strategy for 2011.
Considering the cost, this phone is marketed to those who like its design. It strongly suggests Apple iPhone 4 and it could become one of the reasons to buy a phone, we cannot underestimate this factor. Of course, the body is made of plastic, this is a phone of a different level and class. However if you'll look at the technical aspects, this is an Android smartphone for those who like Samsung, those who will appreciate its functionality, who will not be scared away by a cost higher than that of competing models. In a sense, the phone is designed to be pushed by retailers, it will not sell itself, sales people will have to show their professional abilities. As a result, most of the customers will be people not yet familiar with Android, for many it will be their first device running this OS. As the first experience this phone will keep many users happy, it has no serious downsides, is pleasant in everyday use.
The ringtones volume is ideal courtesy of a dedicated loudspeaker at the back and nice choice of melodies. The vibro is good and has above average power. This is a typical Samsung without any speech communication problems.
The Ace is priced at €320, which is not cheap for this model. HTC Legend is its direct rival with better design and Sense shell priced about the same. At the same time, while the phones are compatible in screen resolution, Samsung's screen is much bigger, it is the model's main competitive advantage. Otherwise the phones are stacked against each other pretty evenly.
Overall I liked this phone – it is fast, the screen is OK, design is not bad. At the same time there are plenty alternatives for less money that look just as good. This is where Samsung Galaxy Ace loses out. This makes the device interesting only if you like the brand, trust it. Clearly, there will be enough takers of this phone, but it will not become a bestseller. It is a niche solution designed to close the gap in the model lineup, just as are many other Samsung phones.