Affordable Samsung Galaxy Avant officially launched by T-Mobile

posted by Florin T. / Jul 30, 2014, 11:18 AM

Affordable Samsung Galaxy Avant officially launched by T-Mobile

Just as expected, T-Mobile today officially released the Samsung Galaxy Avant, a new mid- to low-end smartphone that’s offered at a low price. T-Mobile is selling the Avant for $216 outright, or for $0 upfront and $9 per month for two years.

The Galaxy Avant is a slightly improved version of Samsung’s Galaxy Core LTE, which was released in other markets earlier this year. The Avant runs Android 4.4 KitKat, and comes with an “Easy Mode” that should allow first-time smartphone users to quickly accommodate with the device. The new smartphone further features a 4.5-inch display with 540 x 960 pixels, LTE, NFC, a 5MP rear camera with LED flash, front-facing camera, 1GB of RAM, and a quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz. There’s 16GB of onboard memory which can be expanded via microSD.

T-Mobile didn’t say anything about the rumored Remote Unlock capabilities that should have debuted on the Galaxy Avant, so the handset doesn’t seem to include them for now. Anyway, the new Samsung smartphone is available to purchase both online, and in T-Mobile stores nationwide. It looks like you can buy the Avant only in black (there’s no word on other possible color versions).

T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy Avant

source: T-Mobile (1), (2)

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View Full specs

Display 4.5" 540 x 960 pixels

Camera 5 MP / 0.3 MP VGA front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, Quad-core, 1200 MHz

Storage 16 GB + microSDXC

Battery 2100 mAh(13h 3G talk time)

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39 Comments

1. DogeShibe

Posts: 1121; Member since: Jan 10, 2014

'Avant' That's a weird name...but i already have that wallpaper so i got that going for me which is nice

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 11:22 AM 0

36. sgodsell

Posts: 7191; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

Phonearena got the amount of ram incorrect. It comes with 1.5gb of ram. Even the links that are listed state that this device has 1.5gb of ram.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 8:40 PM 0

2. ihavenoname

Posts: 1693; Member since: Aug 18, 2013

Well, not terrible.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 11:28 AM 0

3. hurrycanger

Posts: 1759; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

An upgrade for the Galaxy Light. It still has a 0.3mp crappy front camera just like on the Light (same thing on the LG Optimus L90). It's better than not having anything, but still, that's my complain about this phone. Oh and I just noticed now. It has 16gb storage? That's actually very nice for a $218 good mid-range phone with microSD slot. I thought it was only 8gb (which imo is still acceptable)

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 11:31 AM 0

4. PapaSmurf

Posts: 10457; Member since: May 14, 2012

It's supposed to replace the Galaxy Light, which is near EOL and isn't going to be offered through T-Mobile soon.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 11:38 AM 0

12. hurrycanger

Posts: 1759; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

The Avant is already available at some T-Mobile stores. I played with it at the closest store to my house yesterday.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 1:59 PM 0

14. Augustine

Posts: 1043; Member since: Sep 28, 2013

And how does it perform?

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 2:06 PM 0

20. hurrycanger

Posts: 1759; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

No lag on the home screen on that display unit. No lag or slow down when swiping left to the Magazine thingy (which did show slow down on some S5 display units I played with a long time ago). Apps launch quickly including the Camera app and Gallery. Front camera is terrible (I mentioned before). The display doesn't seem very bright to me, not sure if it's because of the lighting, the blue wallpaper, or the display itself. I couldn't log in on that unit, so I couldn't download any app to try. I didn't spend so much time with it anyway (spent most time there messing with the LG L90). So, well, so far that's all I can say about the Avant.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 3:28 PM 1

21. Planterz

Posts: 2120; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

OT, what do you think of the L90? A co-worker was looking at getting one because it's only $100 right now. I suggested he go on eBay and pick up a NOS LG F6 for $109, since it has LTE vs HSPA 21.1/Mb/s. But he likes the bigger screen and quad core vs dual core of the L90. He's very broke right now (he switched to T-Mo and got a flip phone), so he's looking for the best he can get for about $100.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 3:55 PM 0

23. hurrycanger

Posts: 1759; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

It's very smooth and nice. For now it's one of the best deals. My gf likes the L90, too. I personally prefer the Galaxy Light because of LTE, NFC, and NFC payment with Isis, but then the Light is only 4". I don't recommend the F6 anymore because the L90 simply beats it for a cheaper price. Performance of the F6 is behind as far as gaming goes. It's internal storage is also too small in comparison (4gb vs 8gb). I used to recommend the F6, but that time is over, haha. Both Light and L90 are $99.60 right now. If he doesn't need LTE, I would say go for the L90. By the way, what's OT?

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 4:19 PM 0

30. Planterz

Posts: 2120; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

Off topic. My co-worker wants it for streaming music, Netflix, and basic browsing and texting., which is why I suggested the F6. But the 21.1Mb/s of the L90 should be fast enough even for Netflix. Here in Tucson, even where the connection is at its weakest, speeds are fast enough to run Netflix in HD. He's leaning towards the L90 because of the slightly bigger screen and quad core.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 5:26 PM 0

34. hurrycanger

Posts: 1759; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

That's great. Fast enough to run Netflix in HD is good. The phone is only 540p, so I guess he will not have problem streaming stuff.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 5:49 PM 0

35. Augustine

Posts: 1043; Member since: Sep 28, 2013

Keep in mind that it's 21Mbps over the air. The effective bandwidth is more likely to be 14Mbps at best.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 6:07 PM 0

22. andynaija

Posts: 1255; Member since: Sep 08, 2012

Why would you use your account to log into a display unit at a store?

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 4:08 PM 0

24. hurrycanger

Posts: 1759; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

I made an account just for logging in as the store. ;)

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 4:19 PM 0

25. hurrycanger

Posts: 1759; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

Oops. I mean "at the stores".

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 4:20 PM 0

26. andynaija

Posts: 1255; Member since: Sep 08, 2012

Ohhh... Never thought of that

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 4:24 PM 0

37. sgodsell

Posts: 7191; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

The front camera is a 1.2mp camera and not a 0.3mp.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 8:44 PM 0

38. hurrycanger

Posts: 1759; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

I played with the phone. It said 480 x 640 or something like that and it says 0.3mp when I go to settings for the front camera. I didn't see any other option for resolution or megapixel. Also, the lens is very tiny, about the same size with the Galaxy Light.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 9:08 PM 0

5. sprockkets

Posts: 1612; Member since: Jan 16, 2012

yeah but how much is available. Moto G with LTE is a better phone.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 11:56 AM 4

6. PapaSmurf

Posts: 10457; Member since: May 14, 2012

But it's missing WiFi calling. :/

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 12:00 PM 3

8. hurrycanger

Posts: 1759; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

and NFC.

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 1:10 PM 2

19. Planterz

Posts: 2120; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

It's a toss-up for me. Moto G is probably smoother with it's nearly stock Android, and the screen is 720p. But the Avant has 16gb bult-in, 64gb rather than 32gb microSD compatability, and the extra .5gb RAM might make a big difference in performance (my Galaxy Light would be so much better with an extra .5gb). And I like hardware buttons (although I'd prefer Menu instead of Recent Apps) and removable batteries. If I were in the market for these phones, I'd have to think long and hard (hehe, long and hard) about this choice. Actually, no I wouldn't. I'd pony up $20 and get a Sony Xperia SP 5306 off Amazon, or a Nexus 4 off eBay for $240

posted on Jul 30, 2014, 3:16 PM 0

17. Planterz

Posts: 2120; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

So I guess I'll never get the KitKit upgrade we were promised? Definitely an upgrade over the Galaxy Light. KitKat out of the box, and 16gb built-in would certainly be appreciated, especially compared to the 8 or even 4 on comparably phones. Most appreciated by me would be the larger screen. As much as I like the small size of the GL when in my pocket, the dinky screen is a PITA to actually use. A few months too late for me though. I just got a Nexus 4 for the cost of a replacement screen assembly. Already hacked the LTE modem and flashed Cyanogenmod 11. Just gotta get the proximity sensor issue figured out.