Samsung launches the Galaxy Fame, Young, Star, and Pocket Neo in the Philippines

Samsung launches the Galaxy Fame, Young, Star, and Pocket Neo in the Philippines

The new Samsung Galaxy Young
The new Samsung Galaxy Young

Samsung’s Galaxy line of devices in the Philippines just got bigger. Or smaller, seeing that none of the forthcoming Android phones go past the 3.5-inch mark with their displays. And that’s okay; after all, we’re referring to the Korean giant’s bargain-basement smartphones–all of which sport Samsung’s signature styling and are equipped with Android Jelly Bean.

You’re looking at the Samsung Galaxy Fame, Samsung Galaxy Young, Samsung Galaxy Pocket Neo, and the most affordable of the bunch, the Samsung Galaxy Star, which is priced at P3,990. There is still no definite Philippine release date for these new models as of this writing.

Now, let’s get to know each of these phones a bit more intimately, shall we?

Whatta name! Galaxy Fame!
Whatta name! Galaxy Fame!

Samsung Galaxy Fame (Price: P7,490)

  • 1GHz CPU
  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage
  • 3.5-inch display (320 x 480 resolution; 165ppi)
  • 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash
  • VGA front camera
  • 1,300mAh battery
  • Android Jelly Bean (version 4.1.2)

First up is the Galaxy Fame, which occupies the top rung of Samsung’s entry-level ladder, with its higher price point and respectable spec sheet (for a low-priced Samsung). It wields a 3.5-inch touchscreen powered by a 1GHz single-core processor, and Android Jelly Bean is bundled as standard.

The inclusion of Jelly Bean, plus the limited screen real estate, translates to a nice balance of smooth operation and favorable loading times. Other highlights include a 5-megapixel rear camera, a VGA front-facer, and a pair of capacitive navigation buttons that light up when pressed.

Samsung Galaxy Young (Price: P5,490)

  • 1GHz CPU
  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage
  • 3.27-inch display (320 x 480 resolution; 176ppi)
  • 2-megapixel camera
  • 1,300mAh battery
  • Android Jelly Bean (version 4.1.2)

The good news is that the latest iteration of Samsung’s Galaxy Young, as you’d expect, has grown up. The not-so good news is, you can barely tell the difference–well, aside from the noticeably different oblong-shaped home button. All the same, we’ll take the spec bumps no matter how minor they are.

Inside, the Galaxy Young is armed with a single-core processor clocked at 1GHz and 512MB of RAM. At 4GB, internal storage is rather limited, but at least there’s a microSD slot under the battery to top that up. Round the back, the device packs a 2-megapixel camera, although it’s lacking LED flash. A front-facing shooter is also missing, so selfies and video calls are not an option here. Samsung’s Galaxy line of devices in the Philippines just got bigger. Or smaller, seeing that none of the forthcoming Android phones go past the 3.5-inch mark with their displays. And that’s okay; after all, we’re referring to the Korean giant’s bargain-basement smartphones–all of which sport Samsung’s signature styling and are equipped with Android Jelly Bean.

The Pocket Neo
The Pocket Neo

Samsung Galaxy Pocket Neo specs:

  • Dual SIM
  • 850MHz CPU
  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage
  • 3-inch display (240 x 320 resolution; 133ppi)
  • 2-megapixel rear camera
  • 1,200mAh battery
  • Android Jelly Bean (version 4.1.2)
  • SRP: Php4,990
The Galaxy Star
The Galaxy Star

Samsung Galaxy Star specs:

  • Dual SIM
  • 1GHz CPU
  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage
  • 3-inch display (240 x 320 resolution; 133ppi)
  • 2-megapixel rear camera
  • 1,200mAh battery
  • Android Jelly Bean (version 4.1.2)
  • SRP: Php3,990

Occupying the lowest rung of Samsung’s bargain deck are the Galaxy Pocket Neo and Galaxy Star, and for good reason: The identical pair are just about as entry-level as Android smartphones get nowadays. We’re talking about single-core chips, 3-inch QVGA touchscreens, and 2-megapixel cameras sans flash modules. Both Samsungs have dual SIM slots.

The difference between the two models lies in their silicon; the Galaxy Star has a higher-clocked 1GHz processor, while the Galaxy Pocket Neo is backed by a 850MHz chip. That’s good and all, but the very minor speed bump doesn’t justify the P1,000 price gap. The fact that the Galaxy Pocket Neo, theoretically the slower handset, is more expensive than the Galaxy Star gives us another reason to scratch our heads.

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