While someone produces one or two phones a year, Samsung won’t have even a dozen. Don't believe me? Look at the section of our website called . Products from the Korean manufacturer are only occasionally supplemented with services or other gadgets. There are a lot of Samsungs and this doesn’t bother anyone, although sometimes it becomes difficult to choose. Today we’re looking at Galaxy Win, another dual-SIM Android smartphone that could be an interesting choice in the mid-price segment.
Namely, the cost in Ukraine fluctuates around $300. For this money you get a more or less convenient display size - 4.7″, moderately large, but not huge, good battery life and all the delights of an Android smartphone. And if you are in love with the design of the latest n x (n+1) Samsung smartphones and tablets, Win will definitely become your favorite.
Since we started talking about design, I’ll just leave a few links here: , and - they are all players of the same, almost football team. And, if we take into account that not all Galaxy of this year were reviewed by us (there were no Grand, Core, Ace 3, etc.), we can judge for sure that this year Galaxy is not just a full-fledged team of 11 players, but also good second cast. Indeed, the design of the models is, so to speak, too consistent. I can’t say that this is bad; it would be funny and wrong if the entire model range was replete with different designs. And so, a single design philosophy is well expressed in all models of the current year. At the same time, everyone will be able to choose a suitable smartphone for themselves, based on a combination of characteristics and cost.
The only thing that distinguishes Win from some other models in the line is the side edging, it is painted chrome. It looks like an amateur, the main thing is that the coating is resistant to external influences. Although, remembering my first Galaxy Note, there should be no problems. The rest is a familiar Galaxy with the usual arrangement of all elements. By the way, even the sample that has seen journalists still does not creak, does not play or wobble. The assembly is good, as in most new products of 2013.
Under the battery compartment cover there is a battery that can be replaced, which is convenient for travelers, a combined slot for a SIM card and a Micro SD memory card, and another slot for a SIM card at the bottom. Both are for MicroSIM cards.
Display
Some people call 4.7″ a shade, but we all know that in today’s realities this is a fairly average size. 4-4.3″ today seem like very small diagonals, although a few years ago we ourselves called 4.3″ smartphones huge lapats and even staged skits in reviews on this topic. Today it looks like 640 KB of RAM and Bill’s assertions that this is simply unrealistically large and more is unlikely to ever be needed. However, this diagonal is absolutely enough for any task, even for an advanced user. Why am I so sure? It's enough for me, and I'm an advanced user. The display has a resolution of 480x800 pixels and a pixel density of 199 ppi. Matrix type - TN. Overall, given the Win's placement in the Galaxy lineup, the screen is good. Multimedia things look good on it, but you can still use it with one hand. Of course, you can see the pixel, but I can’t say that the screen is very grainy. Viewing angles are smaller than in PLS and IPS matrices, but sufficient, brightness and contrast are at the same level. 5 simultaneous touches are supported, which is enough for any task.
Cameras
Samsung Galaxy Win has two cameras, the main one is 5 MP and the front one is VGA. As you understand, I won’t remember the last one at all, I’ll just say that it’s better than if it didn’t exist. The main one also does not catch stars from the sky, but there is a flash and autofocus, this is already good. The video is recorded in a resolution of 720x480 pixels. The quality of the photos is quite good, even in a dark room you can get plus or minus high-quality images.
Specifications and software
I'll start with what today's flagship models lack - cold lithium ion. In general, even with 100% processor load, the smartphone practically does not heat up, which is very pleasing. The processor inside the Galaxy Win is a quad-core Qualcomm MSM8625Q Snapdragon 200, clocked at 1.2 GHz. Graphics - Adreno 203. RAM - 1 GB, built-in - 8 GB, there is a slot for Micro SD memory cards. The performance is enough for any undemanding tasks, but the smartphone can also cope with games. Casual games run without problems, 3D with slightly simplified graphics.
Android version is 4.1.2, with TouchWiz on top. Everything is familiar to those who have at least once encountered Samsung smartphones of this year or watched one of our reviews. At the moment, I have not found a single custom firmware for Galaxy Win; those who like to sew and tinker with custom ones will be indignant. I, like most users, have already forgotten about unofficial firmware for two years now.
software screenshots
Working with two SIM cards is quite simple. In the settings you can name each one and specify what it is allowed to do. For example, for myself, I see the use of a dual-SIM network only for 3G Internet, due to the fact that in Ukraine it is exotic. One card is for the Internet, the second is for calls. But, if tariffs are important to you, you can install cards from different operators and select the one you need each time when making calls and sending messages.
The battery life is quite good; the Galaxy Win scored 450 points in the AnTuTu test. The battery capacity is 2000 mAh, which is enough for a day of more or less active use. A smartphone cannot be called a long-liver, but it certainly won’t let you down, running out of juice before you plan to charge it at home. I think that for the average Win user, its autonomy will be enough for two days.
- Dimensions: 133.30 x 70.70 x 9.65 mm.
- Weight: 143.9 g.
- Operating system: Android 4.1.2 JB.
- Processor: quad-core Qualcomm MSM8625Q Snapdragon 200, 1.2 GHz.
- Graphics: Adreno 203.
- Display: TN, 4.7″, 480 × 800 pixels, 199 ppi, 5 simultaneous touches.
- Memory: 8 GB flash expandable (Micro SD up to 64 GB).
- RAM: 1 GB.
- Camera: main - 5 MP, video recording in 480p, front - 0.3 MP.
- Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0.
- Interface connectors: 3.5 mm headphone jack, Micro USB.
- Battery: Li-Ion battery 2000 mAh.
Conclusion
For the picky dual-SIM user, the Samsung Galaxy Win is a good choice. Some would consider the display resolution to be a disadvantage, but two years ago even flagship models, including the Galaxy S 2, had it. There were also 4.7″ models in the upper price segment on the market with a resolution of 480x800 pixels. Yes, today we are spoiled by Full HD on 5″ screens, but a real Galaxy Win buyer may have never dreamed of such a high-quality display, and even in a new product from a well-known manufacturer and at a cost of $300. Honestly, if a flagship came out today with a resolution lower than HD, I would strongly object, but this model, I think, is equipped with a good display. With a 4.7″ diagonal, the device can still be used with one hand, with only occasional help from the other, but at the same time, the display is large enough to comfortably watch videos on Youtube. I think this model is exactly what young people need who are looking to save on communication costs, who love to listen to music and watch viral videos.
Video review of Samsung Galaxy Win
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The South Korean company Samsung, without a doubt, offers quite high-quality and productive models in the highest price segment. However, the buyer will not be satisfied with flagships alone. After all, not all of us have that much money. Therefore, the company is playing in the direction of the budget smartphone niche. Despite the fact that in recent years Samsung has been trying to make money on its brand, the company’s devices are not becoming less popular. These include Win GT-I8552, which we will consider today.
Brief technical specifications
Win GT-I8552 has a screen with a diagonal of 4.7 inches. There are two cameras. The main resolution is 5 megapixels. The smartphone is powered by a quad-core chipset. The volume of built-in RAM and long-term memory is one and eight gigabytes, respectively. The operating system of the Android family, version 4.1, is installed on board the device as software. To work in a cellular network, it is possible to install a Micro SIM card. There are two card slots. The battery is not the most capacious: only 2,000 milliamps per hour. In general, this is a typical representative of the budget class.
Exterior
Samsung 8552, the characteristics of which we have just listed, is made in the traditional spirit inherent in this South Korean company. It’s unlikely that we’ll be able to talk about the specifics here. However, let's look at the smartphone from possible angles and find out what it has. Before us, in general, is a typical Samsung. In it, the body is made in such a way as to give it a glossy look. There is a silver edging along the perimeter. The control circuit is designed in a standard form.
Dimensions
The dimensions are also typical and similar to other devices in the segment. The height of the device reaches 133 millimeters, the width and thickness are 71 and 10, respectively. Moreover, the device weighs 140 grams. The model turned out to be quite wide. That is why not all users will be able to operate it with one hand. Sometimes it is difficult to cover the touch screen area with your finger. This means that you will have to use your second hand to work. A significant drawback of the case is its slipperiness. Again, when working with one hand, it’s quite easy to drop your smartphone.
Above
Above the screen of the Samsung Galaxy 8552 you can see a silver grille that protects the earpiece. A set of sensors is also located here. Unfortunately, this model from the South Korean developer cannot boast of having a light sensor. Below we will see a mechanical button necessary to go to the main screen. On the sides there are two touch elements that allow you to go back and view the list of open applications. They are equipped with backlighting, which, although insignificant, is still a plus.
Side
Samsung Win Duos 8552 also has other mechanical elements that are located on the side edges of the smartphone. They allow you to adjust the sound level and change the device's sound mode, as well as lock the screen. The output for wired headphones is located on the top edge. This is an ordinary 3.5 mm standard socket. On the opposite side there is a microphone, as well as a connector for connecting a MicroUSB cable.
Behind
There is a camera lens on the back cover. It protrudes strongly in the center. And this is not so good, since there is a risk of scratching the glass. On the sides of the lens there is an LED flash, as well as a sound speaker. I would like to note that the back panel itself is fixed (snaps) tightly. To remove it, you have to pry it from the side. After this, the Samsung battery can be detected. On the sides of it there are connectors that are needed to integrate SIM cards and/or external MicroSD format.
Screen
Like many devices in the line, the model received a screen not exceeding five inches diagonally. In this case, the TFT variation is set as the matrix. We are accustomed to thinking that TFT TN is already a thing of the past. Yes, that may be true. However, in this case, the use of such a matrix can be justified by the fact that the Samsung battery will not discharge after several hours of active use. But let's get back to the numbers. The screen with a diagonal of 4.7 inches displays an image in a resolution of 480 by 800 pixels. It is stabilized, there is no distortion.
It still looks better when compared with the Galaxy Grand model. There the resolution is the same, but the screen diagonal is larger. This is why the picture becomes distorted. Thus, such a decision by the Koreans can be called a compromise. At the same time, the disadvantage of the TFT TN matrix will be the fading of the picture in the sun. Perhaps this problem could be corrected by expanding the brightness range. But this is not here, the range is too small. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that reading in sunlight will be almost impossible.
Paradoxical decisions
As mentioned earlier, the Samsung Win 8552 does not have an automatic brightness adjustment sensor. The value can only be changed manually. Considering that the smartphone contains many other, not very simple functions, the absence of this important component looks at least strange. It seems impossible to understand why the developers worked on this for a long time, investing additional funds in the device, but ultimately decided not to build it in.
Performance
In the paragraph where the technical characteristics are described, we said that the device has a built-in processor running on four cores. The frequency of each of them is 1.2 gigahertz. Adreno 203 is used as a graphics accelerator. There is not much RAM, just one gigabyte. 8 GB is built-in for storing user data. To expand this volume, you can use external drives up to 64 GB in size. Samsung 8552 works with a pre-installed operating system of the Android family, version 4.1.2. She is relatively old. Although not all users pay attention to this.
The main thing is that the shell and OS work smoothly, without freezing. Even despite the relative weakness of the chipset and graphics accelerator, the small amount of RAM, the interface does not become dull. The same can be said about undemanding applications. In general, the speed should not disappoint us. And many Samsung 8552 buyers liked this. Fans of watching videos and films using a smartphone will not be disappointed either.
Interface features
Let's look at the lock screen. There you can see a certain amount of service information. There are also three shortcuts here. They allow you to use one or another application at the right time. The selected widgets are displayed on the lock screen. Each user can customize the wallpaper to their own taste. At the top there is a line containing shortcuts necessary to quickly activate or deactivate smartphone functions. There are different ways to unlock your device. From simple to complex: this is unlocking using a finger gesture or turning on the front camera.
General characteristics
Type
Deciding on the type of device (phone or smartphone?) is quite simple. If you need a simple and inexpensive device for calls and SMS, it is recommended to choose a telephone. A smartphone is more expensive, but it offers a wide variety of options: games, videos, the Internet, thousands of programs for all occasions. However, its battery life is significantly less than that of a regular phone.
smartphone operating system Android OS version at the start of sales Android 4.1 Case type classic Housing material plastic Control mechanical/touch buttons Number of SIM cards 2 SIM card type
Modern smartphones can use not only regular SIM cards, but also their more compact versions micro SIM and nano SIM. An eSIM is a SIM card integrated into the phone. It takes up virtually no space and does not require a separate tray for installation. eSIM is not yet supported in Russia. Glossary of terms for the category Mobile phones
micro SIM Weight 143 g Dimensions (WxHxD) 70.7x133.3x9.65 mmScreen
Screen type color TFT, 16.78 million colors, touch Diagonal 4.7 inches. Image Size 800x480 Pixels per inch (PPI) 199 Aspect Ratio 5:3 Automatic screen rotation There isMultimedia capabilities
Number of main (rear) cameras 1 Main (rear) camera resolution 5 MP Photoflash rear, LED Functions of the main (rear) camera autofocus Recording videos There is Max. video resolution 720x480 Max. video frame rate 30 fps Front-camera yes, 0.3 MP Audio MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, FM radio Headphone jack 3.5 mmConnection
Standard GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G Interfaces
Almost all modern smartphones have Wi-Fi and USB interfaces. Bluetooth and IRDA are a little less common. Wi-Fi is used to connect to the Internet. USB is used to connect your phone to a computer. Bluetooth is also found in many phones. It is used to connect wireless headphones, to connect your phone to wireless speakers, and also to transfer files. A smartphone equipped with an IRDA interface can be used as a universal remote control. Glossary of terms for the category Mobile phones
Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, USB Satellite navigation
Built-in GPS and GLONASS modules allow you to determine the phone's coordinates using signals from satellites. In the absence of GPS, a modern smartphone can determine its own location using signals from cellular operator base stations. However, finding coordinates using satellite signals is usually much more accurate. Glossary of terms for the category Mobile phones
GPS A-GPS system yesMemory and processor
CPU
Modern phones and smartphones usually use special processors - SoC (System on Chip, system on a chip), which, in addition to the processor itself, houses the graphics core, memory controller, input/output device controller, etc. Therefore, the processor largely determines the set of functions and device performance. Glossary of terms for the category Mobile phones
1200 MHz Number of processor cores 4 Built-in memory capacity 8 GB RAM capacity 1 GB Memory card slot Yes, up to 64 GBNutrition
Battery capacity 2000 mAh Removable battery Talk time 11 o'clock Standby time 210 h Operating time while listening to music 26 h Charging connector type micro-USBOther functions
Speakerphone (built-in speaker) there is Management voice dialing, voice control Airplane mode yes A2DP profile yes Sensors compass Flashlight yes Use as a USB storage device There isBefore purchasing, check the specifications and equipment with the seller.
Flagship models are good and attractive in many ways, but not everyone can afford them. The Samsung company has always been distinguished by its loyal attitude towards customers from any segment, presenting not only premium-class gadgets to the market, but also mid-range and budget models.
The Samsung GT I8552 Galaxy Win Duos smartphone is just such a modest solution - a kind of shadow of the flagship Galaxy S4. Externally, both models are very similar, but as for the internals, the I8552 is noticeably weaker, but cheaper.
So, the subject of today's article is Samsung Galaxy Win Duos. The characteristics of the smartphone, its pros and cons, as well as reviews from gadget owners will be discussed in this review.
Equipment
The device comes in a white box made of thick cardboard. The front part is occupied by a photograph of the smartphone itself and the name of the series. On the reverse side you can see the most “delicious” characteristics of the gadget and a list of awards at some exhibitions.
Contents of delivery:
- the Samsung Galaxy Win Duos GT smartphone itself;
- accumulator battery;
- prefabricated memory for a standard network;
- USB cable for charging and working with a PC;
- stereo headset;
- manual (including in Russian).
The equipment can be called ordinary. They didn’t put anything extra in the box, but maybe that’s for the best, because all kinds of cases, films and other accessories significantly increase the cost of the gadget, and we don’t seem to need this. In any case, on the brand’s shelves you can always buy all the missing surroundings, and at more than reasonable prices.
Appearance
The Samsung I8552 Galaxy Win Duos model received the design of a typical and easily recognizable creation of Samsung. Here we have a typical glossy body in a light white design, silver edging, familiar navigation and rounded corners.
The smartphone turned out to be very bulky - 133 x 71 x 10 mm and weighing 140 grams. The wide body makes it difficult to work with the gadget with one hand, but this is the cost of a large screen, so it’s difficult to call this a definite disadvantage.
The glossy style without any matte inserts or corrugations makes it possible to hold the device firmly in your hands so that it does not slip out. So there is no way to do without two-handed control. Owners in their reviews have repeatedly complained about this unpleasant nuance, but for some reason the company doesn’t even want to think about any kind of texture or matte design elements for fixing in the palm.
Interfaces
At the top front of the Samsung Galaxy Win Duos there is a decorative speaker grille and a pair of sensors with a camera eye. Unfortunately, there are no sensors for automatically adjusting the backlight in the gadget.
The center of the bottom of the smartphone is occupied by the usual mechanical “Home” button, and backlit touch keys are located on the sides. At the end on the left side there is a volume rocker, and on the right there is a button to turn the device off/on, combined with the screen lock functionality.
At the top end we will see a classic “minijack” for a headset (3.5 mm), and at the bottom there is a hole for a microphone and a micro-USB port. The rear part of the smartphone is occupied by the main camera eye, and on the sides there is a speaker and a flash of the same shape.
The back panel is fixed very tightly - without any backlash or gaps. Users leave mixed reviews on this matter. On the one hand, it’s good that the back cover doesn’t shake like most competitors in this segment, but on the other hand, to open it, you have to use some kind of tool or have strong claws. Under the cover of the Samsung Galaxy Duos Win there is a compartment for the battery, a pair of slots for micro-SIM cards and an SD interface for external cards.
Screen
The gadget has a 4.7-inch diagonal with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. All this works on a TFT matrix and, oddly enough, the output picture is quite decent and has good viewing angles. But, nevertheless, for its money, the Samsung Galaxy Duos Win can be called a compromise option, where they saved a lot on the screen, which is not uncommon for this segment.
It is very inconvenient to use a smartphone outside on a sunny day. The gloss reflects the sun's rays, and the matrix cannot handle the display. Many owners, judging by the reviews, are perplexed why a gadget that has an intelligent mode (the device does not go into hibernation while the user is looking at the screen) does not have automatic brightness adjustment and the backlight intensity has to be changed manually.
Performance
Samsung Galaxy Duos Win is equipped with a very fast Qualcomm MSM8625Q processor from Snapdragon, running on four cores with a frequency of 1.2 GHz. The graphics component falls on the shoulders of the Adreno 203 series accelerator. The tandem is complemented by a good amount of RAM - 1 GB and 8 GB of internal memory. If the latter turns out to be not enough, then it can always be expanded using third-party SD cards, up to 64 GB.
The set of chipsets runs on the Android platform version 4.1.x from Jelly Bean. Today's realities dictate more stringent requirements for the OS (5.1.x "Lollipop"), but, judging by the reviews of the owners, a good half of users do not even pay attention to the platform version.
The interface works stably without any jerks, freezes or brakes. But it’s not surprising, because this set of chipsets is designed for a much higher resolution than that of the Samsung Galaxy Duos Win.
The smartphone’s performance is enough to run almost all games, but for particularly “heavy” applications you will have to reset the graphics settings to a minimum. This is due to the lack of RAM and the middle-aged Adreno video accelerator.
Cameras
The device is equipped with a 5 MP main camera and a 0.3 MP front camera. The latter is suitable for communicating via some simple messenger and for making avatars. The rear camera shoots quite well and produces good shots, but only in good lighting. Among the mass of competitors, our respondent's photographic capabilities look sad.
Nevertheless, it is quite possible to take a high-quality photo series on a sunny day. In addition, the camera copes well with shooting any documents and texts - everything is visible clearly and without blurring.
Autonomous operation
The gadget received a modest-sized 2000 mAh battery, which is clearly not enough for the Android platform. A moderate load on the gadget (40 minutes of calls per day, occasional Internet, music) allows you to extend the battery life to one and a half to two days.
If you properly load the device with some high-definition movie or a “heavy” game, the battery charge will drain in three to four hours. In general, owners speak well of the autonomous capabilities of the smartphone, because most users are accustomed to the Android brethren constantly asking to be plugged in.
Summarizing
Competition in this price segment (less than 10,000 rubles) is very high. Finding a gadget with similar parameters for yourself is not so difficult. Among the closest competitors are the One X model from NTS, Xperia SP from Sony and Optimus L9 from LG. The first two options are a little more interesting in terms of screen and performance, but more expensive, and the last one is completely identical in terms of available characteristics.
Brands of category “B” are also not asleep. Here we have Xenium W8510 from Philips, IdeaPhone S820 from Lenovo and Fly IQ4412. As we can see, our respondent has plenty of competitors. It is very difficult to single out just one, as well as to identify the obvious pros or cons of a particular model. It's all a matter of preference here. If you like “Koreans” - welcome to the Samsung shelf; if you like “Taiwanese” or “Japanese” - NTS and Sony will always have analogues.
In general, the Galaxy Duos Win smartphone was a success. For its price category it is quite competitive, and you can close your eyes to the existing shortcomings by looking at the price tag. And for overly demanding users, there are flagships and the premium segment.
Great model
The advantages of the Android 4.1.2 phone are, accordingly, all the advantages of Android and Google services. 2 SIM cards. The price/quality ratio is excellent. Disadvantages of the phone: Not as fast as say S3 (this is more of a nitpick). Has 1 radio module* (not critical). Doesn't hold much charge (I always have mobile data turned on = internet, I communicate via instant messengers, periodically listen to music and talk on the phone - in the end I need to recharge 1-2 times a day!!) I think that without the internet and moderate use you can stretch it out for longer time, but I doubt that it will last even 2 days.
Comment about the phone:
I was looking for a Samsung to suit my needs (2 SIM cards, Android, modern, not expensive) and settled on this (and there isn’t much choice in this category under 10 thousand rubles). In the end I am very pleased. But it’s worth explaining about the radio module. SIM card No. 1 is used for the Internet. SIM card No. 2 for calls and SMS. The phone calmly receives everything on both SIM cards, but, say, during a conversation on SIM card No. 2, the radio module will be continuously busy and the transmission of Internet data on SIM card No. 1 will be stopped at this time. Which, in fact, during operation is not at all critical, and in fact is even effective for battery consumption.
Review No. 2 about the Samsung Galaxy Win GT-I8552 phone
Good model
Use experience: more than a year
Advantages of the phone 1) 2 sim (In my opinion, the best 2-sim solution at the moment).
2) Sufficient screen size (not as small as on the 4-inch brothers, but not a “shovel” like the 5-inch Galaxy Grand).
3) Fast 4-core processor (however, sometimes it freezes when entering standby mode and when loading a phone or address book, which is a little annoying).
4) Ergonomics, see point 2.
5) The quality of materials and workmanship is very good! True, “smears” from fingers very quickly remain on the screen, but this is the fate of touchscreen phones... By the way, one of the corners of the lid does play by a fraction of a millimeter, but this is not annoying, because it does not crunch or creak during a conversation.
6) The quality of the conversational speaker is quite good. The volume is even enough for a conversation on the subway (however, the network is not enough for this). Disadvantages of the phone: 1) Battery!!! In standby mode the next day there is still something left, but once you start using it... The battery “melts” before your eyes... By the end of the day you are already frantically looking for an outlet. Yes, the TFT screen with such dimensions has a fair amount of power consumption, but I didn’t think it would be that much. At the same time, the battery has adequate capacity - 2000 mAh.
2) Impossibility of transferring applications to an SD card using standard means. It is quite strange to receive messages about insufficient memory (when trying to install an application from the market for several MB) when there are almost 0.5 GB free.
3) It’s almost impossible to work in the bright sun (the screen fades completely)... Eh, who would compete with the screen of the Blackberry Bold, which doesn’t care about the sun... It lies there, handsome, pleasing to the eye).
4) TELE 2 and Beeline installed. At first there were glitches with the fact that people could not get through by phone when the reception was full and SMS notifications arrived, but then everything got better. Maybe it was an operator glitch, maybe the forwarding was set up crookedly...
5) Yes, I almost forgot, micro-Sim. Unfortunately, so far only a few models support this format, so if you suddenly need to quickly move the SIM card to another device, then alas.
