Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 GT-i8160 - How smartphones age!

10.04.2014

introduction

Have you ever, after purchasing an incredibly interesting gadget, found yourself bitten by the fact that just a month after your lucky purchase, an even more impressive new product comes out?! Or maybe the price of a cherished product, which just recently was unaffordable, drops so much that it’s simply impossible not to buy it, but it’s too late, because the wallet-friendly new thing is already serving you faithfully. To be honest, this happens to me all the time, but the situation did not push me to take decisive action. I was never in a hurry to get rid of a still fresh device in favor of a more interesting one. Many do the same, consoling themselves, saying, well, the current device hasn’t turned into a pumpkin! The argument, of course, is ironclad, but in the long term, your modern acquisition, which seemed just yesterday, is, alas, aging and becoming not as stunning as it was before. What kind of aging is it: physical, moral or something else?! I want to talk about this today using the example of Samsung Galaxy Ace 2.

I was going to start writing my review for Helpix a damn dozen times, no less, but every time something stopped me. The desire first appeared after a couple of months of getting to know the smartphone, in the summer of 2012. But at that time, the number of reviews and opinions about for a worthy Samsung budget employee, it was, as they say, off the charts. Therefore, I decided to wait six months and write a detailed operating experience. But then a more or less real time frame for updating the firmware from Android loomed, and, horrifyingly, 2.3 to 4.1. After which the Korean manufacturer desperately fed the owners of the second Ace “breakfast”, and I, of course, waited. Only in the summer of last year (2013) , finally, the official Jelly Bean was installed on my device. The most important thing is that the update did not come over the air, but through the Samsung Kies synchronization program.

Ace's evolution

Mentions in the press about Samsung and its mobile technology are almost always accompanied by the postscript "Galaxy". Over the course of several years, the line of Android smartphones of the Korean giant has grown so much that many people who are not very keen on technology simply do not know that the world-famous company has some other, non-Galaxy phones. All this pushes the manufacturer to create various sub-lines in a huge family in order to somehow streamline the marketing names of the products. Last year's situation with the S4 is an excellent confirmation of this, how many smartphones designated by this letter and number turned out to be on the shelves?! - Four gadgets completely separate from each other.

With budget Aces, the situation is somewhat different, however, the third generation of phones has already acquired the name of a tennis serve. It all started with a device similar to the fourth iPhone, which demonstrated a living example that a device from Samsung with acceptable characteristics can be affordable. Many people were waiting for the continuation of the banquet, and after strange experiments with Ace Plus and Ace Duos, a full-fledged sequel finally saw the light of day and did not disappoint, including me. After a short acquaintance with the device in the store, I purchased it for a little more than ten thousand rubles (2012).

Expected results

Some smartphones are aging in appearance: scratches and abrasions appear on the body, the plastic tends to crack, and in some cases, fade. Others are aging, rather, morally: firmware updates are not released, they stop coping with even simple tasks. Still others are becoming a thing of the past due to the fault of the manufacturer. We could close our eyes and resign ourselves to a camera failure or lack of memory, but daily, and indeed repeated, reboots and freezes again take us somewhere into the past, when smartphones were not yet so daring and similar things could happen with the stability of their operation. embarrassment.

As a result, we are dealing with a typical representative of the budget segment. The magic of the Ace family that I imagined for myself turned out to be nothing more than a fantasy. Constantly monitor the amount of music, photos, installed programs, do not rely on the camera in those moments when you caught a successful shot, and be prepared that the smartphone will later starting the next video, you will have to reload - does this mean you will not be deprived of anything?! Not at all, this is not so.

Advantages:

Dear Trashbox users, this smartphone, or rather the Samsung GALAXY Ace 2, fell into my hands at the end of May and I decided to make a review dedicated to this smartphone.
So let's start with the technical specifications:

• 3.8" TFT display with 480 x 800 pixel resolution
• dual-core processor ST-Ericsson NovaThorU8500 with a clock frequency of 800 MHz, video accelerator MALI-400MP (single-core)
• RAM 768 MB
• built-in memory 4 GB
• two cameras: 5MP main, 0.3MP front
• battery 1500 mAh
• communications USB 2.0 / Bluetooth 3.0+EDR / Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n+DLNA) / GPS (with a-GPS support)
• dimensions 118.3 x 62.2 x 10.5 mm
• weight 122 g

EQUIPMENT
Samsung GALAXY Ace 2 comes in a miniature white box. The box shows the smartphone itself, several Samsung logos, on the right side there is a short list of technical characteristics, on the left side we see the inscription Samsung GALAXY Ace2.
The device contents are standard: the smartphone itself, charger, headphones, microUSB cable, documentation, warranty card, screen cleaning cloth.
APPEARANCE
There is nothing special about the design of the Samsung GALAXY Ace2; it can easily be confused with the Samsung GALAXY Ace Plus or the Samsung GALAXY W, so let's not get hung up on the design.
The case material is plastic, the back cover material is corrugated surface.
On the front side there is a 3.8-inch display.

Below it there are two backlit touch buttons – “Back” and “Menu”, between them there is a mechanical oval “Home” button. A long press will launch the Application Manager.

Above the screen there is a proximity sensor, front camera, speaker, and Samsung inscription.

On the back side we see a 5MP camera, flash, speaker, and Samsung inscription.

On the right side there is an on/off button, which also functions as a phone lock.

On the left side there is a volume up/down button, just above the strap mount, and a slot for microSD memory cards.

At the top end we see a standard 3.5 mm audio output for headphones or a headset, a small recess, with the help of which we can remove the cover

At the bottom end there is a microUSB connector and a microphone.

Under the cover we will see a battery and a SIM card slot.

To give you an idea of ​​the size of a smartphone
(Left to right: Samsung GALAXY Ace2, Nokia 5230, old Nokia)
SCREEN
Samsung GALAXY Ace 2 is equipped with a 3.8-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels (up to 10 simultaneous touches) and excellent sensitivity. The screen is quite bright, the pictures on it are very “juicy”. I also wanted to say about the viewing angles, they are maximum, the picture is not distorted at all, the colors are just as rich. The material of the wheelbarrow is glass.
SYSTEM At the time of writing this review, Samsung GALAXY Ace 2 runs Google Android version 2.3.6. The shell is the same as in Samsung GALAXY S2 TouchWiz 4.0.
PERFORMANCE
Samsung GALAXY Ace2 is equipped with a dual-core ST-Ericsson NovaThor U8500 processor clocked at 800 MHz, and a MALI-400MP video accelerator, 768 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal memory and a slot for microSD memory cards.

As for simple games like angry birds or cut the rope, they go great, besides these I tested



Samurai II
The technical specifications stated that the device has 4 GB of internal memory, but in fact only 1.1 GB is free. This means you won’t be able to play NFS: Most Wanted, Real Racing 3, GTA VC, of ​​course this can be fixed, but you need to get Root rights, which means losing the warranty. I was only able to test the game Iron man3. During the gameplay, no lags or glitches were detected. The quality of the graphics can be seen in the screenshots below




Benchmark testing results

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

2 years ago +1

Price, screen

2 years ago +1

Convenient size, fits well in the hand, lightweight Reliable signal reception, excellent network connection (for a smartphone), good earpiece Finds satellites surprisingly quickly, even indoors Not a bad processor in terms of performance

2 years ago 0

AWESOME screen, super clear screen diagonal and resolution - 800x480, many custom firmwares have been released for this smartphone, as well as a good camera.

2 years ago 0

From the outside it doesn’t look too bad, although this is all subjective of course. It fits comfortably in the hand and is also comfortable to use. There are no creaks or backlashes, the assembly is surprisingly excellent (ROSTEST CHINA) A good screen, it is not possible to see any graininess there unless you bring it to your nose and look closely, still there is sufficient resolution for such a diagonal. The sensor is responsive, there are no complaints, it works very quickly, I have already downloaded a large number of games and applications, they all run without any problems, I even downloaded 2 games, 3D graphics, and there are no brakes at all, and with the release of Android 4, the performance should also increase . The camera also shoots decently and it even seems to me that it began to shoot faster. The speaker is loud enough to easily hear someone calling you

2 years ago 0

All declared characteristics and capabilities are fully justified!

2 years ago 0

Great screen, lots of memory, no lag, very good Android.

2 years ago 0

Beautiful, good camera.

2 years ago 0

5 megapixel camera, front camera, sound quality, video, all this la fleur is already tired and it’s not here)))

2 years ago 0

Android 2.3 firmware had a lot of advantages, I won’t repeat what is listed below. but android 2.3 has long been outdated.

2 years ago 0

The screen is medium-sized (larger than the iPhone4), suitable for simple games, listening to music and surfing the Internet.

2 years ago 0

IMHO The volume buttons could protrude less from the body - there are accidental presses

2 years ago 0

2 years ago 0

In fact, there are none.

2 years ago 0

1 Not very bright screen in bright sun is very difficult to use
2 there is no zoom in the camera, it just shocked me
3 is probably a light sensor, although I don’t know why it’s needed because it’s constantly stupid on all phones and doesn’t set the brightness correctly, but in Samsung you can do this by swiping across the top of the screen. very convenient and why don’t you need it.

2 years ago 0

Slow and inaccurate GPS, back cover and front button are very scratched, old Android

2 years ago 0

Initially there were literally a couple of reboots, but I haven’t noticed anything like this for quite some time, apparently due to the release of new software.

2 years ago 0

I didn't find any shortcomings.

2 years ago 0

1. I’m surprised that no one mentioned such a significant drawback for the phone, and this is, after all, a phone!, such as the lack of written notification of SMS delivery. This model only provides a sound alert and a pop-up window. Very inconvenient
2. In some Samsung models, the camera button is on the side, which makes shooting very easy. Not here, which is a pity.

2 years ago 0

sometimes it glitches, you have to reboot it, but then it works again
There are some built-in folders that I don’t need, and it’s impossible to delete them (although, however, they don’t bother me)

2 years ago 0

terrible update to android 4.1! Constant lags, freezes while watching videos, clogged RAM, Samsung launcher lags. Is it really impossible to update this decent smartphone normally? No, it’s easier for Samsung to make ace 3, let them choke on money, narrow-eyed misers.

The middle class of mobile devices is in considerable demand. Released in 2012, the Ace 2 device attracted the attention of many buyers. And even after several years, the smartphone looks pretty good.

Design

The buyer will most likely not pay attention to the discreet Galaxy Ace 2 phone. The appearance of the device is quite classic for Samsung and is probably borrowed from the W model from the same series. Nowadays this design is more reminiscent of a “state employee”, but in 2012 this type of device was very respectable.

Korean craftsmen have made the Galaxy Ace 2 as convenient as possible. Adults and children will be equally comfortable working with the device. The phone doesn't try to slip out of your hand. The dimensions are small, which is quite expected from a device with a diagonal of 3.8 inches. Although for such a size the weight of 122 grams is daunting.

In addition to plastic, metal was also used in the case. Of course, there is not much of it, but it definitely affected the weight of the device. As with all Samsung products, there is no point in talking about the build quality. All parts fit perfectly, there are no creaks or gaps.

The design of the device will appeal to the buyer due to its simplicity, but it is not without its drawbacks. The smartphone is available in only one color option, namely black with a small silver edging. Of course, the designers' decision is quite typical for 2012, but I would like more.

Functional elements

The front part is divided between a small screen, a speaker, sensors and, of course, a front camera. Under the display, the company placed two touch buttons and one mechanical one. The back of the Galaxy Ace 2 houses the main camera, flash, speaker and Samsung logo.

On the right side, on the side, there is a power button. The opposite side was allocated for the volume control and a connector for a flash card. The nest is closed with a plate. The 3.5 jack for the headset is located at the top end. At the top you can see a small gap intended for removing the back cover. The USB connector and conversational microphone are located at the bottom end.

The arrangement of the elements is quite familiar. The power button and are located in user-friendly places. There is no side overload, which is often found in mid-range devices.

Screen

In the Galaxy Ace 2 GT-i8160, the manufacturer installed a small, 3.8-inch display. The diagonal is not the largest, but it is enough for work. The resolution of 800 by 480 pixels fits perfectly into the specifications. It will be difficult to notice imperfections in the image with the naked eye, since the phone has 245 ppi.

The most surprising thing is the multi-touch. The screen supports as many as 10 touches, which was a rarity even in top devices of that year. Although Ace 2 would be quite enough with 5 points.

The manufacturer installed its TouchWiz 4.0 shell on top of the native system. The interface has not undergone any significant changes. The user still has access to seven desktops, weather information and other little things.

Of interest is the ability to mute the sound during a call by simply turning the device over. The company even added a voice assistant. Otherwise there are no fundamental differences. The user will receive a standard set of programs and several applications from Yandex.

Connection

Galaxy Ace 2 GT supports working with popular GSM and WCDMA networks. There is also standard navigation, for which regular Google maps are used. Finding a location is not the fastest process. The first launch will take approximately 2-5 minutes. Then the smartphone will be able to determine the coordinates in 30-40 seconds.

Navigation in the device is very “gluttonous”. This concerns not only battery charge, but also consumed traffic. However, the function is fully justified. The phone is capable of displaying not only the route, but also the traffic situation. The route map is calculated in several ways.

There were also standard functions. The company equipped the device with GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth version 3.0 and the quite expected Wi-Fi 802.11.

Price

Just arriving on store shelves, the new product cost about 9 thousand rubles. Now the price has dropped significantly, given that the device is outdated. Today you can become the owner of Ace 2 for 3-4 thousand rubles. Although the price corresponds to a modern “state budget” model, the characteristics are noticeably inferior to the new products.

Equipment

In addition to Ace 2, the set includes a proprietary headset, an AC adapter, a USB cable, documentation, and a battery. Considering the plastic case, it would be useful to supplement the kit with a cover. There is also an urgent need for more memory. The user will be forced to purchase a flash card.

Positive reviews

Despite the fact that a similar design has already been seen in the company’s devices, the appearance is a definite plus of the Ace 2. The high-quality plastic of the case can withstand a fair blow. The assembly of the device is also not satisfactory. The only gap that can be seen is at the top and is intended for removing the cover. Unfortunately, many buyers are upset by the poor selection of colors.

A well-implemented screen is one of the advantages of the Galaxy Ace 2. The characteristics of the small display were to the taste of almost all users. Although the device uses a TFT matrix, this only played a positive role. The image attracts with warm and rich tones. Naturally, due to the matrix, the screen’s behavior in the sun is not the best, and the viewing angles are low. Although the maximum brightness is enough to smooth out almost all sharp corners.

Users also appreciated the opportunity to switch to a more recent system. Almost all owners rushed to replace their Android 2.3 with 4.1. The system really turned out to be much better than the factory one.

Owners of Ace 2 speak very positively about the sound of the phone. Of course, there are minor crackles, but only at maximum volume. I was pleased with the smartphone and the presence of a built-in equalizer with many settings and adjustments. Things are much better with headphones. Using the headset, the user receives clear sound with rich low frequencies.

A definite plus is the battery. I’m especially pleased that the battery is removable and can be replaced with a larger capacity one. The battery power fully matches the characteristics of the device. The phone will work for a day without additional charging.

The device's camera is ideal for everyday use. The 5 megapixel matrix does not inspire confidence at first. The owners of the device appreciated the sharpness and bright colors of the images.

Negative reviews

What confuses users most about a device is the processor. Previously released phones based on NovaThor of a similar version had two cores, each of which was one gigabyte. The decrease in performance is puzzling, although it does not affect the operation of the device.

In addition to the processor, there is a more noticeable drawback. We are talking about the amount of built-in memory. Only 1.1 GB is available to the user. There is definitely not enough memory even for the most necessary applications and functions. What saves the device is the ability to install a card with additional capacity.

The smartphone has good navigation capabilities. However, judging by the reviews, working with the applications is tedious. Programs take a very long time to process data, sometimes up to several minutes of waiting.

Bottom line

At one time, Ace 2 caused a real sensation. The device was able to compete even with the flagships of some companies. Despite many minor shortcomings, the device attracted the interest of fans.