Galaxy A3 Review

My dad just bought the Samsung Galaxy A3 at RM538. Well, because he traded in his old phone, so that's why its cheap. The Galaxy A3 is powered by a 1.2GHz Quad Core Processor, packed with 1GB RAM and 16GB ROM. There is a Nano SIM and MicroSD Slot on the right of the device. It comes with a 8MP Rear camera and 5MP Front Wide Angle Camera. It has a 4.5" Super AMOLED qHD (960x540) HD Screen. The phone uses 3G and 4G LTE network technology. The phone looks like the iPhone 5S, with the metal bezel, the headphone port being at the bottom, the non-removable battery cover (and battery too) and the lack of the LED indicator in front. It runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat and will be updated to Android 5.0 Lolipop eventually. The phone can play high performance games, take great pictures (especially selfies). However, the audio is loud and unclear when on speaker mode. the phone is made of metal (on the side) and plastic (on the back and front). It is priced at RM899, but trading in your phone (If you bought it at a price below RM499, and it's more than a year old, or going to be a year old) is good too.

Galaxy Grand Prime (SM-G530H) Review

The Galaxy Grand Prime sports a qHD LCD Screen (960x540), 1GB of RAM, 8GB of Internal Storage, a 2600MAh Battery, and a 1.2GHz Quad Core processor. It actually starts up faster than the Galaxy S5. Yes. You read that correct. I tested it before.

Network
It can go to speeds of 21Mbps, which is 3.5G, pretty close to 4G (Not LTE), but it supports HSPA+.

Gaming
Playing high performance games like Alsphat 8:Airbone or The Sims FreePlay shouldn't be a problem.

Camera
Selfie lovers, you're gonna like this. It has a 5MP front camera. Yes. It has a 5 Megapixel front Camera. There's even a special Selfie mode. It has a 8MP AF rear camera with 1080p video.

Price
At RM699 (Around S$260 or US$195), the phone is very affordable. However, note that unlike the Galaxy Grand Quattro (GT-I8552) Galaxy Grand (GT-I9082), Galaxy Grand 2 (SM-G7102), it does not have S Voice and unlike the Galaxy Grand 2 (SM-G7102), it does not have NFC.

Samsung Phone Lineups

Galaxy SII Lineup

Basic: Galaxy Y, Galaxy Y Plus

Mid Range: Galaxy Advance, Galaxy Wonder, Galaxy Ace 2

Higher End: Galaxy S Advance, Galaxy R

Flagship: Galaxy SII, Galaxy Note

Galaxy SIII Lineup

Basic: Galaxy Young

Mid Range: Galaxy Core, Galaxy Grand Quartto, Galaxy Trend/Ace2x

Higher End: Galaxy Grand

Flagship: Galaxy SIII, Galaxy SIII mini, Galaxy Note 2

Galaxy S4 Lineup

Basic: Galaxy Y Neo

Mid Range: Galaxy Trend Plus, Galaxy Ace 3

Higher End: Galaxy Grand 2, ATIV S, Galaxy Note 3 Neo

Flagship, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S4 mini, Galaxy S4 Active, Galaxy Note 3

Galaxy S5 Lineup

Basic: Galaxy Young 2, Galaxy V,  Galaxy J1

Mid Rage: Galaxy Ace Style, Galaxy J5, Galaxy J7, Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Core Prime

Higher End: Galaxy Grand Prime, , Galaxy E5, Galaxy E7

Flagship: Galaxy S5, Galaxy S5 mini, Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge
A Series (Higher End): Galaxy A3, Galaxy A5, Galaxy A7

Galaxy S6 Lineup

Basic: Galaxy J1 Ace, Galaxy J2

Mid Rage: Galaxy J3, Galaxy J5, Galaxy J7

Higher End: Galaxy Grand Prime, Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Core Prime

Flagship: Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, Galaxy Note 5

Galaxy S7 Lineup

Basic: Galaxy J1 Mini, Galaxy J1 Ace

Mid Rage: Galaxy J3 (2016), Galaxy J5 (2016), Galaxy J7 (2016)

Flagship: Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge
A 2016 Series (Higher End): Galaxy A3, Galaxy A5, Galaxy A7

Samsung Galaxy Trend Review

The Samsung Galaxy Trend (GT-S7560) is a low cost Samsung phone, RRP RM599 with a 1GHz Single Core Processor and 768MB RAM. As of December 2013, it has been replaced by the Samsung Galaxy Trend Plus GT-S7580, which is now selling at RM399. The Samsung Galaxy J1 is the latest of the lineup. It has a 5MP AF Flash camera with a 4.3" Screen, prices at RM399 too.

It is powered by Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The Malaysian version of the phone is preloaded with S7560XXAMJ2 build firmware, but newer firmware can be obtained through www.sammobile.com. If you have this phone already, and you are living in Malaysia, Singapore, or any other Southeast Asian country, I would suggest you download the build version S7560XXBNE1 for Kenya (because it is in English). That build includes S Voice. 

GAMING

It runs quite fast for a Single core device, but for certain games, the device is just not compatible with the current version, so the Galaxy Trend Plus would be a better pick. Another option is the Samsung Galaxy Core 2, which is priced at RM599. The specifications for the Galaxy Core 2 can be seen below.

MEDIA

It's okay for playing 720p HD movies and MP3 music, but for 1080p videos, although the Galaxy Trend Plus supports them, the Galaxy Core 2 is a better option. As for the camera, it's good, but the Galaxy Core 2's is still better.

The Galaxy Trend should be updated to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or Android KitKat 4.4.4 someday in the future, but most likely the Galaxy Trend Plus will get the update first. In the Galaxy Trend lineup, another phone called the Galaxy V has been released, but with not a very good camera. I will writea review about this phone in the future.

Phones mentioned in this post:

Samsung Galaxy Trend GT-S7560

RRP: RM599, reduced to RM399 in November 2013

Released: December 2012-February 2013

Series: SIII

OS: Android ICS 4.0.4

Specs: 1GHz Single Core, 768MB RAM, 5MP AF Rear, VGA Front

Samsung Galaxy Trend Plus GT-S7580

RRP: RM599, reduced to RM399 in July 2014

Released: December 2013-February 2014

Series: S4

OS: Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2

Specs: 1GHz Dual Core, 768MB RAM, 5MP AF Rear, VGA Front

Samsung Galaxy V SM-G313HZ

RRP: RM299

Released: September 2014

Series: S5

OS: Android KitKat 4.4.2

Specs: 1GHz Single Core, 512MB RAM, 3.2MP Rear, VGA Front

Samsung Galaxy Core II SM-G355H

RRP: RM599

Released: August 2014

Series: S5

OS: Android KitKat 4.4.2

Specs: 1GHz Quad Core, 768MB RAM, 5MP Rear AF, 1.2MP Front

Samsung Galaxy J1 SM-J100H

RRP: RM399

Released: January 2015

Series: S5

OS: Android KitKat 4.4.2

Specs: 1GHz Quad Core, 512MB RAM, 5MP Rear AF, 0.3MP Front