Samsung Galaxy Express Review

The Samsung Galaxy Express is a mid-range device that has already launched in the United States, but now it is making its way to Europe in a version that is similar, but also different in key areas. It is the same 4.5-inch Android handset, but in this modification it runs on an (almost) up-to-date Android 4.1 and features Qualcomm’s energy-savvy 28nm Krait processor on a Snapdragon chip with 4G LTE support.

That’s definitely a big asset for a relatively affordable device, but you know Samsung had to cut it short somewhere to arrive at its lower price. And indeed it has with the most visible shortcut being a 5-megapixel camera. How huge of a compromise is that and is it worth making? Let’s find out.

Design:

If you appreciate original design, we’d definitely understand your frustration with the Galaxy Express. It is the same generic iteration on the Galaxy S III pebble-like form that we have seen so many times already. It’s practical and feels well in the hand with its nicely rounded corners and relatively thin 0.37-inch (9.3mm) profile, but it’s definitely not awe-inspiring, not something that we’d feel attached to emotionally. The device is built out of plastic and comes with a glossy finish

Display:

The Galaxy Express comes with a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen with vivid saturated colors. There is only one downside to it - it is of the disappointing for its size WVGA 480 x 800 pixel resolution. On the 4.5-inch that works out to a low pixel density of around 200ppi and while that’s not such a huge deal, it definitely has a noticeable impact on things like text readability.

With that said, we have to give credit where credit is due. Despite its disappointing resolution, the screen looks good. Colors are vivid, blacks are pitch black, viewing angles are wide, and sunlight legibility is good.

Interface and Functionality:

Samsung Galaxy Express runs on a contemporary version of Android and that is 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. On top of it, there is a sprinkle of TouchWiz Nature UX flavor with its watery sounds and plenty of other additions we mostly like. It brings improvements first and foremost to basic functionality - you have smart dialing in the contacts app and you can swipe left on a contact to directly call them or swipe right to send a text message. Also, in messages you can attach locations easily..
Processor and Memory:

First and foremost, though, it’s worth pointing out that everything flows smoothly with absolutely no lag. We can’t help noticing how much of an improvement has come with Project Butter in Android Jelly Bean in regards to Android lag, and now it’s gone on almost all JB devices.

Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy Express has a serious brain: a 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8960 chip with Adreno 305 graphics and 1GB of RAM. This might not seem like a terribly potent hardware choice, but keep in mind that this device comes with a 480x800-pixel screen. That means less pixels to process than other modern smartphones, and ultimately an easier task for the processor.

Internet and Connectivity:

On this device, you get the choice between the traditional Android stock browser and Chrome. Both work really well, rendering pages quickly and with smooth scrolling and zooming.

The device is well equipped in terms of connectivity. 4G LTE support on a mid-range device is rarity in Europe and most markets outside the United States, and the Galaxy Express supports it. The handset also supports 21.1Mbps HSPA, quad-band GSM, GPS, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0.

Conclusion:

Finally, we can confidently say the Galaxy Express is a very solid mid-range device. It comes with two compromises that you have to take into account. The first one that we are ready to forgive it is a 480x800-pixel screen which works out to a sub-par pixel density. The screen however is bright and vivid, which partly makes up for that. The second one is the 5-megapixel rear camera. It produces decent shots, but nothing too impressive, and if you plan on using the camera extensively we would recommend you look at other options. But if that’s not your primary concern and you care more about a great performing and energy-savvy device, the Galaxy Express will not disappoint.