If you are looking for a prepaid Android budget smartphone, you can do better than Samsung Galaxy ring Virgin Mobile. Although the fine entry-level phone sound specifications on paper - a 4-inch touch screen, dual-core processor and 5 megapixel camera - in the real world, the ring below expectations of $149.99.
We saw the high performance of smartphones from Samsung before, such as 99 cents contractual Galaxy S3 Mini, AT & T; This makes it very disappointing that the ring drops below several levels.
Do yourself a favor and opt instead for the LG Optimus F3, another smartphone $ 150 with comparable features, which also supports the 4 G LTE.
Design and construction
Visually, the ring is cut from the same cloth that many other phones in the lower end of Samsung catalog. Unless you know where to look, you sometime difficult to distinguish from the axiom of Galaxy (US Cellular), Galaxy admire 2 (Cricket) and Galaxy S3 Mini (AT & T).
It has the same bubbly corners, rounded and smooth, smooth, shiny surfaces. In fact, I have more than once grabbed the wrong phone thinking it was the ring. The device is blue-gray, with a strange black border around the screen and the front camera, almost like a filter. It intervenes in regard the same dimensions as his cohort, but thicker: 4.8 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide by 0.47 inches deep and weighing 3.4 ounces.
The phone is comfortable on the ear and the hand, but it feels a little thick in the pockets.
Do not forget that the filter on the screen I mentioned it a minute ago? This is not a good thing. When the 4 inch screen is at rest, it seems grey opaque and wispy, almost like the e - ink, or the surface of an old television. Samsung screens often are a reflection, but mirror of the ring surface bounces more, more even than the Galaxy admire 2 and Mini S3 that look so.
At least the colors are vivid and rich with the resolution of 800 x 480 pixels (233ppi), but good luck trying to read anything in the Sun. My suggestion: try to find yourself a job shadow.
Samsung Galaxy ring has an incredibly shiny finish and a small image.(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
Typing on the virtual keyboard of the screen, is a little cramped, especially if you have handled more big-screen phones. Samsung trace-based software can help take the sting out of tapping if you are tired of accidentally write the wrong thing.
Navigation is standard Samsung with a physical home button that also pulls up these recent apps (this model does not seem to have voice loaded by default S). Press and hold the Menu button to get instant Google.
A Micro USB charger is at the bottom and is joined by a (up to 64 GB) microSD card slot and rocking the volume on the left spine. In a usual good Samsung change, the power/lock button is at the top, which must befall accidental bootups and there is a physical camera on the right shutter button.
This 5 megapixel camera with LED flash is on the back. The other half of the equation of the camera, a 1.3 megapixel camera, is sitting in the front. You need to pop off the hull back if you want to remove the battery 750mAh 1.
OS and features
Running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, topped with a layer of Samsung's TouchWiz, the ring is reasonably up-to-date. I would hold my breath for any upgrade sponsored for Android 4.2.2 4.3 or higher, but you don't really miss not too when it comes to major functionality changes and interface.
Ring offers the standard package of Google's titles, like Navigation, browser Chrome, YouTube and many doors in the store's set of Google apps and content entertaining. More essential tools of Android mobile - a music player, a calendar, a calculator, a system clock - come with all devices.
The dedicated camera key is a nice touch, or would be, if it launched a little faster.(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)Samsung star and Virgin Mobile, too, pepper ring with preload, as a manager account, apps, and an RSS feed. Packs of ID Mobile load apps and wallpaper on a certain theme - say, sport - in a predefined profile.
If Android seems a bit overloaded for your tastes, the now-standard easy Mode is stab from Samsung to training wheels. It's a nice touch that you will see in various forms from several manufacturers.
With regard to connections and communications base, the ring has Wi - Fi, GPS and Bluetooth 4.0 cutlery, but there is no support NFC, then you will not be able to use S-Beam beam Android adaptation or Samsung.
Cameras and video
Camera 5 megapixel usual Samsung can take some eye-catching photos with rich, deep colors and sharp edges. The ring of the Galaxy, unfortunately, was not invited to the feast of the photo. Focus Auto is still a bargain and worked here. Photos, however, are released faded, dull colors with indistinct contours. There is a LED flash, but as a general rule, the more natural light, you can submit, the better.
The same mediocrity that afflicts the main camera is also photos taken with the front 1.3 megapixel, dull and blurry camera for most, but still usable if your standards are not high.
This 5 megapixel camera photographed surprisingly low.(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)
If you want to fiddle around with the camera settings, you will be able to adjust the size and resolution of the white balance and choose some filters and modes, such as night and the landscape. There is a panorama, which is always a nice option to have, but not designated macro mode. Instead, wait to lean in for close-ups.
I am sad to say that HD video 720 p of the ring has let me down. Image capture has been fairly good, but the camera pumped once more the colors dull, flat and flexible instead of sharp lines, defined edges. Videos shot outdoors in natural lighting will look the best, but you can forget to preserve the conversational gems.
The low microphone has not been able to pick up the individual voice amidst the din of the traffic outside and inside, a hilarious conversation between two colleagues and me has almost entirely mute since about 5 or 6 feet below, only pick their audio when I arrived within 2 feet. Even in this case, my own audio sounded calm when played at maximum volume on the speakers of the ring. Video sounded stronger thanks to my high quality headphones.
Iridescent AWE battery holder is decorated with ridges.
Virgin Mobile apps include MyAccount (left) and a new application called the feed.(Credit: Lynn La/CNET)