Samsung I5700 Galaxy Spica review: Stars serving Eclairs
- H
- Horst
- jJc
- 09 Apr 2010
I think you need to distance yourself from the sponsors of your website, as you objectivity is definitely fleeting, particularly in the case of Samsung products:
Example: "However, for the price gap between the Galaxy Spica and, say, the XPERIA X10, you could buy a point-and-shoot digicam that will outdo the X10’s 8MP shooter. You won’t have a 4” touchscreen or the Snapdragon CPU and so on, but still"
...still what? The two devices are fundamentally different. Why are you comparing other than to give the X10 yet another jab of criticism, despite the fact that it is a very nice customized Android device? It is like saying: "Buy this VW Jetta because it is almost like a BMW if you take out everything that differentiates the BMW"
The Spica is a nice device but it is alright to criticize for its shortcomings (Lack of notable differentiation on UI, less than optimal music experience, lame camera and smaller screen than other Android flagships currently in the market, etc.)
- T
- TechGigg
- TRK
- 09 Apr 2010
aalap, 08 Apr 2010Yeah!! Absolutely!!! Kudos to GSMARENA for this review.
... moreI don't use push email, cause I mainly use GMAIL and FACEBOOK. But I want to point out, it's highly advisable to use 2G networks as you can stretch the batt life to almost 2days. with 3G on all the time, you are expecting around 1.5 days or less(saps battery even on standby). With Wi-fi i could get a few hours, not sure exactly since I don't measure but definitely will last for a day. So that's pretty similar to iPhone 3G's batt life.
I got the 5800XM the moment it became available in my region(feb 2009) and I gave Nokia a solid year to improve on their UI, but they best they could was throw in a capacitative screen, a fatter price tag but the SAME annoying and counterintuitive UI in the X6. That was my last straw, after being their avid fan for almost a decade, but I don't feel sorry for them cos the bulk of their revenue comes from the bread and butter entry-phones in emerging markets, not their mid-to-high-end offerings(they will never go bust).
I'm still keeping my fingers crossed though on their open-sourced Symbian^3. hopefully they can pull it off and you never know, I might jump ship back to the Symbian bandwagon
- C
- Catalin
- p$u
- 09 Apr 2010
I have the Spica (for my gf), I have a Nexus One and I had several iPhones, including a 3GS. I have to say the Spica is really impressive for the 180EUR I paid for it, and I didn't even have to buy a new subscription, just to extend my existing one. It's a full Android 2.1 experience minus the multi-touch and a notification LED which is great to have on the Nexus One. The phone is not as fast as the Nexus One, of course, but it is the same as the iPhone 2G and 3G (not the 3GS). The browser is very very usable, and you will quickly get used with the way it works, it really doesn't need multi-touch.
I think this review doesn't do the Spica justice. It's way too toned down and sad, when in fact this phone is great ! To rival iPhone on features and speed at this price, it is an achievement. I think Samsung will hit big with this phone because of the price and the full Android experience.
If you are deciding between Nokia 5800 and this, don't even think about Nokia. Nokia is confused right now, it has no answer to what's happening in the market. They had years to prepare and they did nothing. Their phones are stable good at signal and as phones, but for anything else they are rubbish.
- s
- sm.gurdeep
- utn
- 09 Apr 2010
Andrei, 09 Apr 2010I was wondering... could any of you guys who already have t... moreNo.
This feature is not included.
- t
- tusay
- uwZ
- 09 Apr 2010
Ok, how can I get the official eclair update in india? i connect the phone to the new pc studio software and try to update, it says the device is not supported, this device does not support software update
- A
- Andrei
- LaG
- 09 Apr 2010
I was wondering... could any of you guys who already have the Spica tell me if this phone can do Turn-to-mute? It has an accelerometer so I guess it should have this function (on incoming call, you flip over the phone and it mutes the ringtone).
- s
- sm.gurdeep
- utn
- 08 Apr 2010
Also, the right way to click picture is simple Point-and-Shoot!
Just point at the subject, press the camera key and release it immediately (don't hold and wait for the focus). It will automatically focus the subject before capturing!
Second thing, long pressing home key doesn't bring up "Task Manager"!
It brings up the shortcuts to the "Recently Opened Apps"!
If the app is already opened in the background, it simply brings that app to the foreground else it loads a fresh copy of that app into the memory!
- a
- aalap
- u15
- 08 Apr 2010
TechGigg, 08 Apr 2010It took GSMArena quite a well to do this review........
bu... moreYeah!! Absolutely!!! Kudos to GSMARENA for this review.
and i must admit i like their honest review (even though it added to the problem of SPICA vs 5800.
it's came down to " My Heart says Spica & My Brain says 5800"
but now thankx to TechGigg i'll most certainly go for the SPICA. thanks mate.
hey Gigg, can u tell me the battery life if u use the phone for email with instant notifications (push mail)???
- S
- Simon
- S1M
- 08 Apr 2010
For the first time I'm surprised about a review here. I feel like a reviewer really didn't like it but couldn't point out any bigger flaws and was angry. Or played with one of these Snapdragon monsters earlier (which cost 3 times more than a Spica).
In most tests this phone turns out pretty great and reviewer made it seem "so-so".
First of all I'm really surprised about these so called "lags". It works way smoother than all 1st gen Android phones. I blame the fact that you probably had a Snapdragon before testing this one (this is not a new phone and still is better than new mid-end Androids like HTC Legend).
The phone comes with a 1gb Samsung card, and some other things which were not mentioned. You probably had a test unit with preloaded older verion of Eclair - the newest one is less laggy than 1.5 (the newest official one is not officially available in most countries yet).
This will not be a bestseller? It already is selling great in many European countries. Awesome performance/price factor - one of the best selling Android phones there.
Disappointing camera? It's one of the best 3mpx cameras and it's a smartphone. Even HTC Magic's camera got a more pleasing review and I'm sure you know that you shouldn't even compare these two side by side.
I'm sure most people will be confused after reading that line and then seeing sample photos which are very good. I agree that autofocus should be solved differently (not speed - it's fast to pick focus but shutter button - it always catches focus correctly though).
Oh and battery life - When I reviewed this phone (with 1.5 Android) it would last me about 3 days of intense usage with wi-fi on. The key is to turn off 3g though. It lasts about twice as long with 3g off. With 2.1 it's said to last even longer.
- r
- rainai
- TRE
- 08 Apr 2010
Andrei, 07 Apr 2010@rainai
I understand your disappointment, but you must und... more@Andrei
I know that this is a mid-range phone and I agree that it does offer quite a lot for it's price range. I guess I'm just disappointed with what the Eclair update brought (or did not bring) to the Spica.
I admit that many of the things I want in the Eclair update are just eyecandy. But, hey, looking at Spica's hardware, you'd think it should be able to support those... It just seems like a waste to not be able to support those features the update is offering.
Anyway, I said I was disappointed. But, I didn't say I would not be considering this phone anymore. I still like the phone for what it offers.
Now, I'm torn between HTC Hero and the Spica. Which should I buy?
- Spica is way cheaper than Hero...
- Design-wise, I'm not a fan of the Hero's chin. =p I like the design of the Spica better, though, I have to admit, it just seems to have so many buttons (for a touch-screen phone)!!
- 800Mhz CPU in the Spica vs 528Mhz in the Hero...
- Hero has 288MB RAM; Spica only has 128MB???
- Hero has multi-touch support; Spica has none... :(
- I'm a fan of Samsung display screens...
- Hero has the very sexy Sense UI... Samsung's TouchWiz is a bit boring for my taste...
- Hero has Flash support in it's browser; Spica has none...
- Spica can play DivX files!!
- Hero has better camera...
- Elcair seems to have made Spica laggy... :( Wonder how Eclair will be on Hero...
So, which one should I choose? I can't wait to renew my work pass so I can apply for a plan!!! =p I just wish, if ever I'm going with Spica, the white one will be available... Currently, only black is available here in Singapore...
- s
- sm.gurdeep
- utn
- 08 Apr 2010
"The Spica screen has true 16M color support and the color banding issues plaguing earlier Android phones do not affect it."
But I still experience color-banding on wallpapers/widgets and during movie-playback as well. I'm on un-official JCF 2.1 f/w. Can that be a reason?
- ?
- Anonymous
- Sw2
- 08 Apr 2010
This phone has a lot more than 128MB of RAM, at least 192 but probably 256. This is easy to check with any kind of memory diagnostic application. Surprised that GSMArena still spreads the old misinformation that's been debunked ages ago. :/
Wouldn't buy this phone though, Samsung's customer service sucks and you can definitely do better with your hard-earned $/€/£.
- s
- sm.gurdeep
- utn
- 08 Apr 2010
sm.gurdeep, 08 Apr 2010Good review!
A frame is missing in 3d view though ... lolz...sorry, I get it now :D
Cheers!
- s
- sm.gurdeep
- utn
- 08 Apr 2010
Good review!
A frame is missing in 3d view though ... lolz...
- ?
- Anonymous
- LaL
- 08 Apr 2010
Anil Kumar, 08 Apr 2010I bought this in Dubai, UAE. Doesn't have Android Market ev... more"have used a friends Iphone which is far far better"... are you comparing a 250E device with an 600E iphone? This is a budget phone to battle 5800's not iphones.
- M
- MF
- yLq
- 08 Apr 2010
I've paid 200€ for mine and it is worth every Euro. Yes, it is no iPhone or Desire, but these are so much more expensive. Sunlight usualibity is better than average and the battery is more than enough for normal users. I can reach up to four days without recharge with normal use (some calls, sms, a little bit of surfing and IM'ing, facebooking). The Spica is a solid perfomer, nothing more nothing less. In the same category with the Nokia 5800, LG Arena, Samsung Jet and HTC Tattoo the Spica is king (though the others have other pros and contras).
- T
- TechGigg
- TRK
- 08 Apr 2010
It took GSMArena quite a well to do this review........
but would have been a great injustice to review the phone in Cupcake 1.5! It's definitely a WAY better phone than 5800XM as I switched to the Spica from that, so for those potential or undecided buyers wait no further.
But i gotta admit, even with an 800MHz CPU, the 128MB is seriously hampering the overall user experience. And till the day where you can install apps on external memory, the 170MB+ of internal memory on this phone is too meager if you wanna install tons of apps(like you would on an iPhone).
However, it does better in MANY ways as compared to the iPhone spec for spec. Am still waiting for the official 2.1 update in my region....
anyhow, kudos to GSMArena!
- S
- Sri
- Pxr
- 08 Apr 2010
After reading ur review; I changed the phone's opinion from a must-have device to must-avoid device.
I wud better use an ordinary phone, and for the wifi and bluetooth wud buy a net book or go for an adam tablet by wating till june....
Thanks a lot for the review GSMguys....
- ?
- Anonymous
- 2Av
- 08 Apr 2010
Hello, Do you guys updated the spica to 2.1 through NPS or using other methods? :)
- s
- spica user
- n46
- 08 Apr 2010
i have spica and i think that sunlight visibility is very good.i have no problems.this device is very good,loudspeaker is loud enough,autofocus works perfectly,screen is very bright and processor is fast.payed 300 euros.