My criteria was simple: Wi-Fi, email, office doc tools and arcade games to keep me busy when I am bored.
I used to be a samsung monte owner previously and although it is a great budget phone but after two years it felt it needed a change. so there I was searching the net for the best I can get in my budget (12 - 15k). With win 7 mobiles being costly as ever and with the low software support over the open source channels, android was the obvious choice.
After a month of research and net surfing. I zeroed onto particularly two handsets.
The SE neo V and Galaxy SL. Both had same specs except for the screen size(SL has 4 and neo v had 3.7) and the adreno 205 GPU of the neo vs a less powerful powervr530 of the SL. For me the decider factor was the screen size which made me choose over the Neo V. (I have big hands, the bigger the better for me.)
So at the end I went for the GSL. And boy I was lucky to make the choice. the extra .3 inch made a huge diff. for me.
Now for the Pros.
1) Screen. For me its the biggest when compared.
2) Had same specs as the original galaxy S1. i9000
3) Smooth smooth touch exp.
4) Loads of apps and all for free.
5) The GB official update is announced by samsung and so we can update.
6) Battery is a plus if you turn off auto sync and use wi-fi, 3G on a required basis and not leave them on all time. I personally get a day and a half before it reaches 10% charge. This includes wi-fi for ~2 hours, music/radio for 1 hour, arcade games for 2 hour, 50-60 sms’s, 1 to 2 hr ph calls. I do not use 3G or GPRS. Have set the phone to GSM only. This also saves a little juice on ur battery I presume.
I said battery is a plus coz other android mobs give 1 day when this gave me 1 and half approx. its batter is also a little bigger(1650mHz) than SE Neo V (1500mHz).
7) Wi-Fi connection is smooth, never got DC as many have said in other forums. Mine never gave any probe.
8) Got a lock on GPS in approx 10 sec with 20feet accuracy. Though I dont use it, just tried it a couple of times from diff locations. Every time got a lock. (All the places were wi-fi assist enabled)
9) The colors are just stunning. Pictures and wallpapers look vivid. Never played a movie yet.
10) Price with respect to it being a 4" mobile.
11) Gorilla glass... although never tried to check it by scratching it with a pin as shown in some you tube videos :-P
12) Email client (i use exchange server at work place) works perfectly.
13) PDF, excell, word opens fine.
14) Pinch to zoom is superb in websites as well as games and documents.
14) I tried some games like angryB, donkey jump, city jump, yoo ninja, fruit ninja and raging thunder/drag racing/motoracing. all work without lag what so ever.
Now Cons:
1) Screen although is stunning but not as great as galaxy S (AMOLED)
2) The back cover feels plastic and is a finger print magnet. I put a silicon jacket on it to avoid the smudges :-)
3) 2000mHz battery could have been appropriate. But u cant get everything can you. :(
4) Too many apps running slows down the liquid-y flow of the interface a bit but its obvious. (1 GB RAM plzzzz.... ye dil mange more... :-) )
5) Cam though 5mp is not that great. It has no flash... even Ace has flash.. common samsung...
6) Sound is Ok-OK.... not great... both via speaker and via ear-plugs. Could use a beeter ear piece for better sound modulation and bass effect. Sony wins here I guess.
This is my short review and my reasons for choosing this model.
Hope this is help full. I would post additional cons is I find any after I update to GB XXXKPH firmware.
Till then,
Cheers,
Kaushik
Price = 16200
- I hated the BADA OS type lock screen so I installed the MagicLocker widget. It’s cool.. plenty of themes even iphone like lock screen themes for those of you who like it. So enjoy.