Android smartphones: the Samsung Galaxy family at a glance

Samsung is the most successful manufacturer of Android smartphones and its model range is also almost unmanageably large. We give here an overview of the "Galaxy" family and throw it also a look into the future. Finally, the new top model Galaxy S 4 is eagerly awaited by many.

Last year, Samsung has brought in Germany fourteen smartphones on the market. Although a two-to three models to meet more frequently in the press or publicity, but the range of the manufacturer moves through all price ranges. Classically, a distinction in smartphones three categories: beginners, middle-class, high-end.

Samsung Galaxy smartphone family

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Samsung's entry-level smartphones 2012 - small display, poor technique, but cheaper price

The entry-level models have a weak processor, little memory and a camera with a lower resolution. While technically they cannot compete with the upper class, but they have another obvious advantage: its price. Entry-level models are moving in the lower price range and are suitable not only for customers who want to spend less money, but also for the kind of customers who want to try once in a smartphone and use it for basic functions.

Samsung currently has six of these entry-level models in the range. They include a single-core processor from 800 MHz to 1 GHz and also have smaller displays than the upper class of smartphones. The smallest screen, the Samsung Galaxy Pocket. With its 2.8-inch diagonal is a little more than half of the current Samsung Galaxy 2 (5.5 inch). The largest display in the entry class has the Galaxy S Duos. With 4 inches it is in the range of display sizes of the middle class smartphones.

Beginners smartphones offer manufacturers the opportunity to experiment with unusual features. Thus, for example, two of the entry-level models, the use of Samsung Galaxy Y Duos and the Samsung Galaxy S Duos, the possibility of two SIM cards simultaneously. In Asia this is already used in many models, but for us to have dual SIM smartphones cannot yet established because users get us all deals mostly from one source.

The Galaxy Mini 2 has built the only entry-level model a chip for Near Field Communication. This enables wireless data transfers to realize other smartphones or accessories. NFC technology has been known in the past. However especially for cashless payments via smartphone

Two models of the beginner series published as a special edition. With the Samsung Galaxy Ace Hugo Boss and Samsung Galaxy Y in the Hello Kitty Edition speaks to two very specific target groups. Both smartphones have hardware can not compete with the top sellers, but here was the emphasis placed on brand and style.

All entry-level models from Samsung last year

Mid-2012 smartphones from Samsung - compromise between price and performance

The category on the entry-level models, the middle class. Here are the hardware and smartphones price in a balanced equilibrium. They are more powerful than the entry-level models and more expensive, but enough for most needs a smartphone user. Mid-range models are often on the technical levels of high-end smartphones in the previous year. However, they are, however, much more attractive, because savings from 100 to 300 euros are not uncommon. Whom it is not so important to always have the latest model comes with a mid-range smartphone.

Samsung currently has in its range four middle-class models. Price they start with the mini Samsung Galaxy S3 with 439 euros and the most expensive mid-range model is the Samsung Galaxy S2 in the Crystal Edition with 599 euros. With the Samsung Galaxy S2 in the Crystal Edition is the 2011 top model, the Samsung has relaunched. The target group we have here explicitly women in mind, since the model has a back made of white leather and has been equipped with 129 Swarovski crystals. The other two mid-range models have their Anpruch to be part of the range to be. The Samsung Galaxy Beam for example, has a built-in projector, which can project images and videos from your phone onto any surface. The Samsung Galaxy S Advance is also a development and new edition of the Samsung Galaxy S. Just the S model has gone through many variations in 2011 and 2012. Optionally, this model is also available with an NFC chip.

All mid-2012 from Samsung smartphone at a glance

Samsung's high-end models and figureheads 2012

High-end smartphones, Samsung has two currently. These two, however, come out in two different variations. The Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 you get in Germany with both LTE and without LTE support. The LTE version is a 50 euros more expensive. Near Field Communication have all four variations, as well as a quad-core processor. Both the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the score 2 of all models in the range have the largest display. The Samsung Galaxy S3 is a display diagonal of 4.8 inches, while the score even can boast 5.5 inches.

Especially the Samsung Galaxy Note and the successor score 2 were long under fire, chasing a trend that is long gone: the pen as an input device. As the Samsung Galaxy Note 2011 was unveiled at the IFA in Berlin, Samsung earned first many snide comments to the press. It is interesting to observe, however, that Samsung has held not only in the concept note and S-Pen, but also hereby success. Reason is probably that the pen as an input device is not always necessary, but extends the functionality of your smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy 2 is the logical evolution of this success. In addition, with a bored Androidoberfläche and his own innovative ideas, such as the multi-window feature allowing multiple apps can be open on one screen, a unique feature found.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 has benefited from this. The new features of the Samsung Galaxy 2 have been transferred to the S3, so many features you can now also use there. With the S3, the sales records of the previous models have been broken. And they will of course want to continue this year.

Differences of the current top models of Samsung

2013: Samsung Galaxy S 4 and the score 3 - The Case of the octa-processor

The Samsung Galaxy S 4 will be released this year, that's for sure. When and how it will be especially equipped, we can not be sure, but only from hearsay. Based on the hardware components, but the Samsung introduces beginning of each year at CES in Las Vegas, you can still derive a little and speculate how is the future model.

At CES 2013, Samsung has introduced a Okta example processor. The model with the product name Exynos 5 octa 5410 is, however, no eight-core processor in the traditional sense. The eight cores can not be driven simultaneously, as this is combined by two quad-core processors. In which a processor is a strong and powerful ARM Cortex A15 processor cores which can be clocked at up to 1.8 GHz and is especially suited for very demanding applications. The other quad-core processor is a slightly weaker Cortex A7. It comes into play when less power is needed and is therefore more likely intended to save energy. This processor is not just for the Samsung Galaxy S 4 in conversation, but should probably also in the Samsung Galaxy 3 are used.

Energy is likely to be a big issue, because there is currently far from the manufacturers instead of a rethink, as the batteries of smartphones are finally bigger. Samsung also should be aware that a larger battery and thus a longer period can look very attractive to customers .

It becomes interesting when it comes to screen size, because the S3 and Note 2 are 4.8 and 5.5 inches with each side by side. Much leeway the manufacturer and thus Samsung my view no longer have. Already, each increment of diagonal display is connected with a loss of maneuverability. Is my personal limit to operate a smartphone comfortably at most, 4.3 inches, so now we are moving more in the 5 inch range. This is especially problematic when the handy smart phones only come with old hardware on the market, while the high-performance models are becoming increasingly unwieldy.

In March there is the rumored to be so far from mid-March to the Samsung Galaxy S 4 will be presented in early April and then come into the trade. Confirmations are not officially, but it is certainly not long endure. In addition to the S4 but we will certainly see many more models. It is also expected to appear that new variations of S3 and smartphones coming to the market, bringing with it the features that we have not seen on other models so far. The time of the race for the fastest processors and the largest display is slowly, and it is time that we get to see more innovation.