We’ll continue our Galaxy Ace review today, despite being quite annoyed that yesterday’s installment is currently sitting there with only one “retweet” to its name. And that was generated automatically by the system when the post was uploaded.
Anyway. Here’s how the Samsung Galaxy Ace performs as a web browser, plus we’ll answer the boring question about how well it runs bloody Angry Birds.
So yes, as we expected, the only slightly weak point here is the screen resolution. Seeing a 320×480 image blown up to fill a 3.5″ screen results in some slightly rough text.
It’s by no means a disaster or a phone-breaker, it’s just that compared with a phone running at a higher resolution text is a little harder to read. But as most Galaxy Ace buyers are likely to be trading up to this phone rather than, in our case, switching down from an HTC Desire, we doubt anyone will have an issue with it.
Browser speed is good. Pages whizz around quickly, although we did get the odd weird scrolling glitch that would fire us to random bits of the page unexpectedly. But it was rare enough to not be an issue.
Multitouch zooming is supported. The settings and bookmarks are your standard Android 2.2 web browser types. It works very well as a mobile browser.
Alternate Android keyboard Swype is pre-loaded and set as the default text entry system. We’re still undecided on Swype. Some days we think it’s the best thing in the world, then the next we get stuck for AGES editing one word and wish we’d stuck with the default keyboard.
But this is not a review of Swype.
Oh wait, there’s another issue – no Flash Player support.
We don’t really give a toss about Flash Player, to be honest, but the fact that its non-appearance means some apps will be missing from the Android Market is a pity. The average user is going to feel pretty pissed off when his brand new Android phone can’t run the BBC iPlayer services when his friend’s similar Android 2.2 phone can.
At least Angry Birds runs well. Very well. Perfectly, in fact. If you like random physics engines, your luck’s in.
GPS. Someone always asks about the GPS. It works. It took a few seconds to connect via Google Maps Navigation. Seems OK. Worked.
General app performance was fine. We didn’t notice any lock-ups or significant glitches while using the thing. Solid phone.
Anyway. That’s enough screenshots and half-baked opinions for today. We’re running out of words. Tomorrow we’ll look at the Galaxy Ace’s camera and maybe finish it off with some sort of coherent conclusion.
HTC’s 4.3″ dual-core Android model, powered by Qualcomm’s all-new S4 processor. It’s smaller than the enormous One X, but is it as nice as its bigger brother? (SPOILER: Yes it is).
HTC is very much B-A-C-K at the top of the Android world with this, its quad-core flagship for 2012. Great camera, huge 4.7″ display and Android 4.0 running beautifully well.
Sony returns with an all-new mobile design for 2012, pairing a dual-core processor with a 720p display. It’s a lovely phone, but is it enough to end our Samsung and HTC obsession?
LG’s updated Prada phone comes with an absolutely crazy black & white theme, but is it just for fashionable suit wearers who want to make themselves look a bit more interesting?
sura
/ November 28, 2011hellooo.> mine is the latest gngrbrd version, can anybody help me to find video calling.? its stil embarassing that rest of low bdget phones from samsung providing the same and semi bdget one wont do. …..wht u think guys….?
junaid-the-numb
/ November 30, 2011i want to know if i would be able to use telnet feature on ace to login my router…
your info will be highlt appreciated…
br//
junaid
[email protected]
master piece
/ December 3, 2011my phone samsung gt-s5830 galaxy ace has been lost. is another way to find my phone?
aaron
/ December 3, 2011I downloaded an app off the market for my galaxy ace, will it cost internet to play the game off my phone now?.
judith
/ December 4, 2011How to download apps on the ace? the apps im trying to download is at http://www.amazon.com
Ryan
/ December 13, 2011does it have 3G or HSDPA ?
ANd does it support the games where you have to tilt the phone?
donna soguilon
/ December 17, 2011i bought this galaxy phone for less than a month… im worried cause the keypad cannot be turned to wide screen mode although i rotate the device.. it stays on its portrait format.. is there any problem with the phone? i hope you can help me.. thank you…
Jason
/ January 12, 2012Hspda yes , flash- not without some sort of rooting , front video- no, keypad should auto rotate on landscape , 3d and tilt functions – yes, battery life is dependant on whats running in the background and on your home screens- if yoir running live wallpaper have fb on news updates on etc it.ll chew battery !, dont it won’t. Plasticy back ?? Yes its thin and plasticy but I do like the textured back somehow feels safer in your hand and when ots on ua phone only you’ll know how cheap the backing is . All in all for the 129.99 I paid for it I am v happy , a mate has the galaxy s2 which is class but he is also locked into a 45pound a month contract. As a mid range phone at a bargain price you should not be disappointed . Other issues like poor connection amd download speed – are normaly associated with network -ie my mates s2 took 45 seconds longer to download a song but he.s on t,mobile were as I am on 3. ..oh and the guy who wants to watch torrent vids atc I have found varying results, I.m guessing its motly down to the audio codecs that the video has been made
Jason
/ January 12, 2012Oh and the person with the landscape keybourd problem…….ig u go to settings – locale and text- then samsung keypad and enable querty imstead of 4 x 4 etc this should solve your problem…
Jason
/ January 12, 2012Sorry just read back was a little vague on divx xvid playback- the stock player is not the one for these vids I have found mobo video player and mx video player to be more suitable both are ad free and price free safe from android market. But as previously stated playback is very much down to the codecs the encoder has used rather than the video players ability to play the file. My biggest negative is the lack of flash support hoping this eill be addressed soon . Hope have helped . J .
Jason
/ January 12, 2012Also as far as I am aware there is no front facing camera , there is a proximity sensor that is often mistaken for a camera. So no amount of updates of the android system can fix this problem.
vishal
/ January 20, 2012hey i am using this phone from last 2 weeks i am really happy with app bt 1 question i`ll having that i am nt getting a proper games which suites my cell and can u tell me how can i download a good action games from my mobile internet thk u
sissy-s
/ January 24, 2012all my contacts got deleted with this phone when i type in someones name to txt them their name comes up but i cant view it from the contacts list what do i do?
Navnoor
/ January 29, 2012hi, i would like to buy this ace, but i would like to know wether it can play games like hero of sparta,ashpalt 5,dungeon hunter,assassin creed altairs chronicle. and does it really doesnt has flashplayer even in its gingerbread version
thank in advance
san
/ February 4, 2012very nice one it rocks,,,,
azremy
/ April 6, 2012i already install games ,aplication,and music in my galaxy ace.suddenly
all that disappear..why…help me please..do email me