Samsung Galaxy Core (Quick Review) has been quite successful in Indian Market, being the one of the rare few Samsung Branded smartphones landing in 10,000 INR to 15,000 INR range. The Galaxy Core however is quite old technology now and Samsung will soon introduce Samsung Galaxy Core Advance in India as the successor of this phone. In the Global markets, another revamped Galaxy Core variant dubbed as Samsung Galaxy Core Plus was also spotted couple of months back. Let’s discuss if Samsung is flogging a dead horse or is Galaxy Core Advance will be a viable option in its expected price range.
Camera and Internal Storage
The Camera module is similar to what we have seen in Galaxy Core. The primary camera has a 5 MP sensor supported by LED flash. It wouldn’t be wise to expect much from the camera. Moto G which is expected to arrive in the same price range will also sport similar camera specs. A VGA camera is also present at the front for video calling.
The internal storage is 8 GB and can be extended to 64 GB using MicroSD card. The internal Nand Flash memory is faster compared to SD card memory and this is the reason more internal storage is always a commendable option. The Samsung Galaxy Core Advance fairs well in this department similar to its predecessor.
Processor and Battery
The new Samsung Galaxy Core Advance will feature a dual core processor clocked at 1.2 GHz. Though it is not confirmed, the processor cores most likely will be based on Cortex A7 architecture and 28nm process technology unlike the predecessor phone.
Samsung Galaxy core has Cortex A5 based cores which are quite obsolete now. The RAM capacity backing the processor has been doubled to 1 GB and this will render a significant boost in performance.
The battery capacity of Samsung Galaxy Core was decent and the Advance variant is expected to fare well with its slightly increased 2000 mAh battery.
Display and Features
The TFT LCD display size has been increased to 4.7 inches in this smartphone but the display resolution remains same at 480 x 800. This will amount to pixel density of 199 ppi which is not very impressive. Moto G and other Domestic manufactures are offering much sharper displays in the mid range segment.
On the software front you will get Android 4.2 Jelly bean operating system. Various other software features including S Voice, S Translator, Sound & Shot, Group Play and Easy Mode have been incorporated in this device.
For Visually challenged users, the phone incorporates features like Optical Scan which can scan text from image, light sensing technology that senses light via camera sensor, screen curtain which allows users to operate phone on a black screen and Text To Speech functionality along with voice guided features.
Looks and Connectivity
The phone will be thicker than Galaxy Core at 9.7 mm and will also be slightly heavier at 145 grams. The capacitive keys at the bottom of the display have been replaced by hard buttons. Other than that, the phone looks similar to its predecessor. Connectivity features include 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v 4.0, NFC and GPS with GLONASS.
Comparison
The major competitor will be Moto G which is expected to launch by the end of January 2014. Other rivals include Huawei Ascend D1, Sony Xperia M, Micromax Canvas HD and other phones from domestic manufacturers in the price range of 10,000 INR to 15,000 INR.
Key Specs
| Model | Samsung Galaxy Core Advance |
| Display | 4.7 Inch WVGA |
| Processor | 1.2 GHz Dual Core |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Internal Storage | 8 GB, Expandable |
| OS | Android 4.2 |
| Cameras | 5 MP/ VGA |
| Battery | 2000 mAh |
| Price | To be Announced |
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Core Advance makes slight changes to Galaxy Core in terms of hardware specifications. With quad cores and octa cores overcrowding the mid range segment, Samsung Galaxy Core Advance will swim using the perceptible advantage of Samsung brand value and after sales support. The phone has been listed on Infibeam and Homeshop18 and will be soon available for purchase.
