Samsung GALAXY W Preview

Introduction:

The Samsung GALAXY W is among the latest batch of Android smartphones that the manufacturer introduced back in August, and on paper it is definitely the most potent of the bunch. In terms of specs it stands in the upper mid-range of Samsung's current portfolio with its 1.4GHz single-core processor, 3.7-inch WVGA display and 14.4Mbps HSPA radio. A couple of cameras are also on board – a 5-megapixel main one accompanied by an LED flash and a front-facing shooter for video chat.

But that is all theory, and we all know that the first-hand experience is what truly matters. Well, we have a prototype unit of the Samsung GALAXY W right here and we've given it some thorough testing. Would you like to know how it stood up to the challenge? Read along to find out!


Design:

Although it is marketed as a high-tier device, the Samsung GALAXY W does not boast the visual cues necessary to make it stand out of the crowd. It feels like a run-of-the-mill slab of flimsy plastic, as if its designers have given a low priority to looks and focused primarily on its functionality. Sure, that does not necessarily spell failure out loud, but the handset simply lacks the “wow” factor that would please visually a potential buyer when holding up the device for the first time. It seems like both premium materials and superior craftsmanship have been reserved only for the very best in Samsung's stables.

On the other hand, the all-plastic body of the GALAXY W has a soft touch finish added to it and its back cover sports a nice texture pattern. Both of these design touches add some extra grip  and make it pretty comfortable to hold. On top of that, the smartphone’s dimensions are great if you prefer operating it with a single hand, and all of its buttons are easy to find with your thumb.



You can compare the Samsung GALAXY W with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.

What glows in the smartphone's front side is a 3.7-inch LCD display packing a resolution of 480 by 800 pixels. Punching the numbers into a PPI calculator gives us the impressive figure of 252 pixels per inch, which in simple words translates into crisp images and sharp-looking text. We were genuinely pleased with the beautiful graphics that the prototype unit delivered leading us to believe that the display on the finalized model will not disappoint.

In a nutshell, the Samsung GALAXY W looks more like a plastic toy rather than a high-tier smartphone, yet packs a display that is truly a pleasure to look at due to its high pixel density. Let's move along and see what it can offer in terms of functionality.