So, I was on a quest to search for a suitable smartphone model with iphone-like features BUT with a price budget of below RM1k. For several weeks I browsed through the shops, but they were either too expensive (above RM1.8k) or too simple (below RM500). Of course, the sellers were trying their luck to persuade me in getting the more expensive models, bragging on and on about their attractive advanced features, but I was adamant with my decision to get one below RM1k.
Finally, one day I came across this cute Samsung Galaxy W in a shop. It boasted a lot of attractive features (5MP camera with auto focus, LED flash, GPS, WiFi, 3G, touchscreen, HD video playback, clear LCD screen etc.). Naturally, without much hesitation, I bought this cute wonder (and in case you are wondering, the 'W' in Galaxy W stands for 'wonder'! How aptly-named it is!)
Getting used to a touchscreen phone took a bit of time, as I was always used to the 3x4 keypad on my previous phones. After about 2 days, I finally got a grasp on most of the features and was tapping away messages and exploring the mobile Internet in no time.
I wouldn't want to get into the technical details of this phone as you can easily find them on a lot of websites. Here is a URL which you can refer to: http://www.google.com.my/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=samsung%20galaxy%20w&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgsmarena.com%2Fsamsung_galaxy_w_i8150-4114.php&ei=QZDITtTEHoTPrQfx6pjeDw&usg=AFQjCNF-Kp7JGn3pgPQkLPBTJ2KhLRlRlQ
The phone size is just right for a standard right-hander like me. It is within easy grip, not too big yet not too small. The thickness of the phone is moderate. Take a look at the pics below and see for yourself.
Well, I really like this phone as it provides all the features I want for a mid-range smartphone. The Galaxy W may not be as slim as Galaxy SII or even Iphone 4, but it is a lot more affordable and adequate for Internet-browsing, chatting, gaming, apps-downloading. It runs on Android OS v2.3 Gingerbread platform, and there is a Market which I can download and install thousands of apps offered by Android. It is not a Super AMOLED screen, only LCD. So colour-wise, it is not as sharp as its Galaxy SII or Galaxy S Plus. The touchscreen is quite sensitive and scrolling from 1 page to another is smooth and not jerky. The GPS feature is really cool, as the phone screen size is 3.7", it is easy to follow the navigation from 1 destination to another. The voice instructions are also clear. I don't need to get a separate GPS device for this purpose at all.
Another feature that I am pleased with is the Social Hub by Samsung App. This application integrates all of my various different email accounts (say for example: Gmail, Yahoo, Facebook Messenger etc.) for convenience, so that I don't have to open separate browsers to access different accounts. I can see all my configured accounts in 1 page and with just 1 or 2 taps on the screen, I am able to access and reply to my emails directly. How neat!
The camera function is not bad. I can capture quick photos with just a touch on the screen. By touching a certain point of the image, I can have the camera to focus on that particular point and capture the photo. Photo quality is good, and you can have the option to play around the camera functions and select a mode which is suitable to the photo you are about to take. 5 megapixels is sufficient and large enough for decent images.
Battery-wise is only average. The Galaxy W is equipped with a 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery. With constant usage on WiFi, GSP or playing games, I notice that the battery power will require charging in 2 days the most. I guess this is typical even for the more expensive models like Galaxy SII or iPhone 4. The battery manufacturers should really improve on the battery life even with heavy usage. It seems that the battery technology has yet to catch up with the advances in the gadget technology.
As for the storage, Galaxy W offers a 2GB of internal memory and can be extended to 32GB on a microSD card, and this has to be purchased separately. I don't plan to extend the storage as the capacity is quite sufficient at the moment. I will purchase additional memory sometime down the road when the need arises.
Right now, I am in dire need of protective films and casing for my Galaxy W. Currently the seller only provides a temporary matted protective film for the screen, which is not my preference. According to him, the protective films & casings for Galaxy W are only available in approximately 1 month's time. So now, I have no choice but to borrow a small black pouch to store the phone and to protect it from scratches. Will have to make do with this arrangement for now.
All in all, I have no regrets in my Galaxy W and will recommend it to those of you who are on a budget constraint and are aiming for mid-range smartphones. This is a good choice, and it is a WONDER that it packs in a lot of attractive features as you would see in the higher-range smartphones. Cheers!
