Samsung GALAXY W Review
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After the Samsung Galaxy S II and the Galaxy R, which we already reviewed, it's time to have a look one step down the ladder – to the midrange Samsung GALAXY W.
Its place there is secured by the 1.4GHz single-core processor, 3.7-inch 480x800 pixels LCD display and the 14.4Mbps HSDPA radio. Also, the 5MP rear camera is accompanied by an LED flash, and we have a front-facing one for video chat – two features which are absent from the lower-end Galaxy M Pro, for example.
On paper, the phone has it all to be a decent Android handset and the design, while nothing remarkable, has some interesting curves to flaunt. Does it hit the sweet value for money spot that its category is meant to conquer? Read on our review to find out...
Design:
The Samsung GALAXY W looks like a pouch with its flat upper side and curved bottom, especially when you turn it over on its front. The upper part where the camera with the LED flash are, is made of hard glossy plastic. It is not soft-touch plastic, just dotted for easier grip, which makes the Galaxy W very easy to hold and operate. It is not that thin at 0.45” (11.5mm), but is very light at 3.93” (112g).
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The Samsung Galaxy W is very easy to hold and operate | ||
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You can compare the Samsung GALAXY W with many other phones using our Size Visualization Tool.
The handset is almost the perfect size for one-handed use, since it doesn't boast a huge display, but a 3.7” LCD one with 480x800 pixels, making for a good 252ppi pixel density. This allows for text to appear crisp, and the display also sports rich colors. Viewing angles are decent, plus it is sufficiently bright outside under broad daylight to allow normal operation.
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Front | Keys below the display | Front-facing camera |
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Volume rocker on the left | Top edge with microUSB and 3.5mm jack | Power key on the right |
The sides of the Samsung GALAXY W | ||
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Back | Rear camera | Battery compartment |
Drag the picture or use the keyboard arrows to rotate the phone. Double click or press keyboard Space to zoom in/out
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27 Comments
1. kshell1 posted on 31 Oct 2011, 06:55 2 2
so you took away probably 1 or 1.5 points just for the camera being a little slow? the calling part i understand due to it being a cell PHONE
2. RORYREVOLUTION posted on 31 Oct 2011, 07:31 0 0
Cameras have always been nice to have but overall just a optional function for me. Now I could understand if it had really bad picture and video quality but a little slow to focus? That doesn't seem like a understandable con if you ask me.
3. kshell1 posted on 31 Oct 2011, 08:28 1 1
exactly anyway if i want a camera ill go buy a real camera like a canon or something
4. hunted posted on 31 Oct 2011, 17:17 1 0
Why samsung is releasing more phones with very few differences or nothing.
14. Androidtidbits.com posted on 10 Dec 2011, 05:35 1 0
I think its their marketing strategies.
5. belovedson posted on 31 Oct 2011, 18:54 0 0
this phone should sell pretty well. not a fan.
please make phones with good voice, data, lcd, and camera over to attention to detail items like looks, or build quality manufacturers!
6. nowind posted on 01 Nov 2011, 03:17 0 0
Quote: "Voice quality in the earpiece is below average, with muffled voices, hollow sound and insufficient volume".
This is really dissapointing. This is a phone, right?
Just one question. Could it be the earpiece, or is it the phone itself?
8. johancr posted on 08 Nov 2011, 19:56 0 0
hello..
i bought the phone about 5 days ago.. and the result: this mid-range phone is really superb! i've used to share my idul-adha photos with m frens thru' e-mail and it gave if not all, almost what i want from a phone. More than words can say!
13. Androidtidbits.com posted on 10 Dec 2011, 04:46 0 0
How about its battery capacity? Does it last a day?
9. Crispy54 posted on 27 Nov 2011, 12:59 0 0
This is a fine phone except for the on/off button placed on the side - I'm always hitting it by accident! As for the soft-focus camera, did you notice the lens is covered by (a small and difficult to remove) plastic film? Took me while to notice it but since taking it off I think the photos are pin sharp.
10. jason1 posted on 02 Dec 2011, 11:17 0 0
hi Dan ! Can you confirm how much MB Internal Memory is available for users to install applications.
11. paul5an posted on 04 Dec 2011, 01:01 0 0
How on earth can you give a PHONE with such a fundamental flaw as BAD CALL QUALITY get such a high score? Such an issue means that it can't possibly deserve the same as a similarly priced Xperia Neo.
Even more ridiculous than that, the similarly priced Xperia Pro has been given a lower score by PhoneArena than this?!!! WTF?!!!! Xperia Pro has no issues with call quality, has a better camera and with the addition of the truly excellent hardware QWERTY keyboard which is superior for text-input than touch-screens.
12. cyern0324 posted on 08 Dec 2011, 09:22 0 0
Probably because of the fast 1.4GHZ processor , slimmer body , bigger interbal memory , touchwiz 4.0 , game hub and social hub??
15. dian283 posted on 10 Dec 2011, 18:11 0 0
No NFC? Why? I think this phone is very well, but just one minus.. NO NFC...
16. kscoutg posted on 13 Dec 2011, 10:47 0 0
I have had this phone for a month. When I first the phon ei would have to agree with your 4/5 rating. After a month of using it not downloading anything or taking up any of the memory the phone is slowing down more and more every day and it can't comprehend opening or closing things and merely crashes the majority of times this is the second Samsung galaxy w I have had now after I sent the other one off to repair and again same problem.
Initial week of usuing the phone it should get a 4/5 but after a week a 1/5 if that.
18. doniking posted on 22 Dec 2011, 00:45 0 0
isn't that a problem with android itself?
so what's your phone now?
i'm looking for a new one.
17. Vyker posted on 17 Dec 2011, 12:15 1 0
I've had this phone for a month now, and I've got to say its fantastic.
The reports on poor phone quality are hard to justify, for me its been fantastic...
The speed of the phone is where it really shines, the 1.4ghz clearly makes a difference, there is no lag at all with the UI or any of the apps. You have to really push it for it to slow down.
The Camera is also very good, the results when I view on a computer screen are impressive, there is a slight delay as it auto focuses, but its nothing more than any other phone on the market. [The real winner in this area is the Palm Pre2, instance autofocus and shots, even faster than the iPhone4]
The phone is so light as well, when you're using the phone, playing a game or such, the weight really helps. On my old phone, playing a bit of Angry Birds and I'd get tired holding up the phone when lieing flat, but with this, barely know its there!
The future is bright for this phone, if you don't want the much larger SII, and just want a pocket-able phone, this fits the bill perfectly.
I've compared it to the Desire S, and though the Desire S feels heavy and well built, it just didn't perform as well as the Galaxy W.
I recommend this phone!
19. Filip posted on 11 Jan 2012, 09:55 0 0
Hi to all of you.... Can someone describe me this phone a little bit detail... I want to bouy it so.. Does this phone have Gorilla Glass? Is there any bug? How the screen is compared with amoled screen (colours and stuff like that)? Is it worth to buy? When you use it, is there a plastiky feel, or is high-quality.... Sorry for my English :P
22. Vyker posted on 12 Jan 2012, 06:22 0 0
It doesnt have Gorilla Glass, but it has Samsungs own version of toughened glass. The glass is the best I've used personally, it is very slick, smooth, and never gets dirty.. fingerprints dont ruin it. It is also scratch resistant.
The screen is fantastic, the high density ppi makes a big difference. Websites look great on it.
It is worth buying, as they are so cheap for good performance. as cheap as £200 now.
It does feel plastic'y, as it is a light phone. Very light in fact. But the plastic'y feel is not a cheap feeling. It still feels ok. Nothing like the Desire S, which felt very heavy and premium. This is the opposite.
20. goodboy posted on 11 Jan 2012, 10:33 1 0
Does anyone know if and how you can change the way to unlock the phone when you press the unlock button on the side of the phone?
if you do not know of I mean, look at this in the youtube clip from about 2:17 to 2:35.
youtube.com/watch?v=41GImX1YJYQ
sorry for my bad English.
