You know how you have a choice of 3 different iOS device sizes/types? There’s the iPad, the iPhone and the iPod touch. Now you have that same choice when it comes to Android devices. Samsung has the Galaxy Tab tablet, a huge selection of Galaxy smartphones and now they have the Galaxy Player 50 for those of you that want a pocket device but don’t want to pay for another monthly data plan. Let’s take a look.
Note: The images in this review can be clicked to view a larger size.
Hardware Specs
Processor: 800 mhz ARM
OS: Samsung Android 2.1 (Éclair)
Memory: 16GB/8GB + MicroSD (Up to 32GB)
Display: 3.2” WQVGA TFT LCD
Video Codecs supported: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV(VC-1), DivX/XviD
Format : 3GP, MP4, AVI, WMV, ASF
Audio Formats supported: MP3, M4A, AAC, FLAC (Lossless), WMA, OGG, WAV
FM RADIO (RDS in Europe, Russia & US)
Camera: 2.0 Megapixel camera (Video Camcorder), Normal Shot,
Battery: 1,000mAh Music: 24Hrs or higher (TBD), Video: 5Hrs
Connectivity 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 : A2DP, AVRCP, OPP, PBAP
Sensors: GPS, Accelerometer Sensor, Digital Compass
Dimension: 54.2 x 105.5 x 11.08mm (2.35g)
Package Contents
Player
Micro USB charging cable
Earphones with extra eartips
I wanted to start out by giving you an idea of the size of the Galaxy Player. Here you see it next to an iPhone 4. It’s small and easily pocketable. It’s a solid little player and doesn’t flex, creak or crack when you squeeze it.
The Samsung Galaxy Player 50 has a shiny White plastic case with some chrome accents. The front has a 3.2 inch capacitive touch screen. Below it are three buttons. There’s a chrome outlined Home button in the center that is flanked by two touch buttons. On the left is the Menu button and on the right is the Back button. These side buttons don’t have any tactile feedback, but they do light up in Blue when touched. The center button does have tactile feedback.
On the back of the player, you’ll find the camera lens and speaker grill.
On the left side of the device is the volume button. I’m not sure what the little hole is above the volume button though. My guess is that it is for a handstrap… but I’m unsure how to attach one.
On the opposite side you’ll find the power button and the microphone.
On the top is a 3.5mm headphone jack and a micro USB connector that is protected by a sliding door.
Here we see the micro USB connector exposed. The siding door that protects the port is a nice feature. I wish all devices had one.
The capacitive display on this player is not as vivid and crisp as I’ve come to expect from other Samsung Galaxy devices that I’ve reviewed. It’s definitely not an AMOLED display. It’s very small and not the most comfortable for reading small text in the various apps and the browser. It’s not impossible to read, but it’s quite a bit inferior to Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
The user interface is very similar to the interface on Galaxy phones that I’ve reviewed.
There are 3 home screens that can have wallpaper, icons, widgets just like other Android phones. However, the bottom row of icons (Music, Video, Browser and Applications) can’t be changed…
The application list scrolls left to right instead of up and down like my Droid X.
Basically the Samsung Galaxy Player 50 is just like a Samsung Galaxy smartphone minus the phone features, a 1GHz Hummingbird processor and a better camera. Instead, this player only has Wifi, a 800mhz processor and a 2MP camera.
The lack of a 1GHz processor is noticeable to me. Launching applications feels sluggish as does moving between some features in the stock apps. For example, switching from the month view of the calendar app to the list view takes quite a few seconds instead of almost instantaneously on a smartphone the first time you do it. Same goes from switching between groups in the Contacts app. The Samsung Galaxy Player isn’t horribly slow, but when you’re used to working with a device that is snappier, you will notice it.
Don’t expect much from the built in 2MP camera. The images it captures are on par with mobile phones of 2 years ago. Yeah, that bad… Here’s an example:
Pretty fuzzy right? I’m referring to the image, not the cat 🙂
Using the Samsung Player as a media player, a game machine, a GPS, and for web surfing can be done, but due to the small display and sluggish processor, it’s not wonderful experience. There’s also the fact that the device can’t be updated to a new version of the OS. It’s locked into 2.1. One other little gotcha is that you will need to purchase a microSD card if you want to install apps from the App Market. You can load music and video into the 8GB of storage built into the device, but not apps. Go figure…
This player isn’t currently available here in the US, but it can be ordered via Amazon UK. The price conversion makes it a bit expensive though for what you get. You could get an 8GB iPod Touch for about $30 less… of course Android fans won’t want an iPod Touch. If you have your heart set on a non-smartphone Android device, I would probably skip this particular device or wait for version 2. Hopefully it will address some of the short comings of this one.
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Seems like a half-hearted attempt at doing an android iPod touch.
This is an older one, and the new ones, the Galaxy Player 4.0 and 5.0, are much better.
This is an old release in Britain. The devices which will be coming the our shores some time this spring will have AMOLED screens or 4 or 5 inches, and will be running 2.2 with later update to 2.3 and I can assume updates as google releases them. The US release will really out do the ipod touches apples craps out ever few months. As a music player, I am also happy that it supprots higher quality codecs like ogg and flac. I can also use windows media player instead of the administrative pain in the ass that is itunes. I am truely looking forward to this device.
An interesting product. I would consider it once Samsung improves it all around and lowers the price.
Louis, has Samsung announced when they are coming out yet?
It has been formally announced and the release date is sometime in the spring… Whatever that means. Lookup Samasung Glaxaxy S Wifi.
Samsuck, how low can you go in copying Apple.
Even the earphones are white coloured 😀
Get a life Samsuck!!
Samsung is one of the most respected device manufacturers world wide and how is making a device a simple color (white and black) copying apples, last time I checked apple was not the first to make earphones or devices in black or white. Yes the device bears resemblance to the iPod touch but that is because the exterior hardware is in essence the same. That is the device that the market demands and that is the device Samsung is delivering. I would like you ask you what iOS has that is even close to or better than Android. This device also includes features that surpass the iPod touch and do things that apple hasn’t done. You apple obsessed nut jobs should look beyond that crappy logo and buy based on the merits of a product. Be an educated individual and google Samsung Galaxy S Wifi, you might be surprised by what you will find (might even cure you of apple fever).
Thank You and have a good day!
First of all the User experience and simplicity of iOS is unparalleled.
Your loser Android is so easily hacked lol
iOS is 1000 times more secure than this shit.
All the best of the best apps are first made for iOS then your cheap devices get them.
Just wait and see the fate of this shitty device in front of iPod touch.
Dont just hate Apple products, Get some more money, maybe work for an year and then maybe you will be able to buy one. lol
Till then be satisfied be with your cheap, disgraceful SAMSUCK devices 😛
Apple, only logo is enough to get you in a different league….but people like you will never get that feeling 😀
have a nice day 😉
@Raj
First of all, Android is only “hackable” due to the fact that it is made by Google who wanted it to be open source which is basically one of the things it is known for.
And how is Iphone more secure? Jailbreaking nowdays from what ive seen and done, is actually legal and very easy.
I have also known people who have had their itunes accounts stolen from an unsecure wifi network (their own fault)
You bloody apple fans think you know everything. Its quite sad 2bh.
And yes i have an iphone, i just personally like Android. Theres really no such thing as “better” when it comes to the operating systems, its just which is more suited to the user. Android to me is better for a lot of reasons.
Thank You! Now I hope that puts this battle of entrenched opinions to a close.
if anyone knows when the galxy 4.00 and 5.00 are coming out in the uk pls tell me
Something has been made to bring down the I-pod Touch. Took a long time coming, however. The Samsung Galaxy Player, is new, authentic and absolutely everything you could possibly want from a Music Player. Everything is easy to do and can be done quickly, great touch screen and loads of apps. A MUST BUY !
well, this is way different than the model ive seen is korea. i guess they upgraded the model? since it now uses android version 2.2 and is 121 grams, not what i call too light. it has permanently attatched skype and also qik, so its almost like a galaxy s2