Review-Samsung Galaxy Y: Feature-rich, Yet Affordable

Benchmarks

We use five benchmarking software to performance. The aim is, of course, to find out how powerful is the hardware combination in a specific phone or tablet. It needs to be noted that these benchmarks do not necessarily represent the corresponding device’s actual performance, as it largely depends on the level of optimization carried out by software developers towards certain hardware. If properly optimized, actual performance should be in line with benchmark results.
The benchmarking applications are available for free at the Android Market. Scores from Samsung’s Galaxy Gio are included for comparison purposes. Despite its higher price tag and higher resolution screen, it will be interesting to see how Gio compares to the Y.

FPS Benchmark

NeoCore is a game benchmark software that utilizes Qualcomm’s graphic engine, while GEARS is used to measure OpenGL ES 1.0 and 2.0 performances of a graphics processor. Results are presented in Frame per Second (FPS), higher FPS means better performance and smoother gameplay. Here we can see that, despite having to drive a higher-resolution screen, Galaxy Gio’s Adreno 205 graphics accelerator is still superior compared to Galaxy Y’s VideoCore IV.

LinPack For Android

Our next benchmark software is LinPack, which gauges a device’s floating point performance. Results are presented in the amount of floating point operations per second, measured in millions or MFLOPS (Million Floating Point Per Second). Higher score indicates better performance.

Quadrant

This free application runs some tests using its own engine to measure out CPU, I/O, and GPU performances. Higher score is better. It’s surprising that Galaxy Y outperforms its pricier cousin by a large margin in this benchmark.

Benchmark PI

In Benchmark PI, device performance is measured through a series of PI calculations. Results are presented in milliseconds, which means that smaller number equals better performance.

Conclusions

Looking for a feature-packed smartphone or a GPS unit that does much more than just pinpointing your exact location? Maybe a handy MiFi device? The Galaxy Y easily fills those roles while being easy on your wallet. For its price, it offers a very complete set of features, and the performance is good too. The Google map software that comes preinstalled with this smartphone supports offline map viewing, so you don’t have to be connected to the internet to utilize Galaxy Y’s GPS functionality.
In general, Galaxy Y performs better than its more expensive cousin, the Galaxy Gio. Although it does lag behind when it comes to graphics processing, you can still play most Android games without experiencing any noticeable slowdown. Unfortunately, the 3-inch screen feels a bit restricting, so you have to be careful when selecting titles. Make sure they’re comfortable when viewed on a small display.
The name suggests that Galaxy Y is most suitable to younger people, but it’s also perfect for anyone needing an affordable smartphone. Its small-ish size means typing difficulties for those with large fingers, but if that doesn’t bother you, Galaxy Y could prove to be a fun companion.

Pros:

+ Affordable Price

+ Good performance

+ Complete set of features

+Comes with gingerbread OS

+ Numerous pre-installed applications

+ Responsive

+ Proximity Meter Included

Cons:

– Small 3-inch display less suitable for gaming

– No Flash support

Technical Data

Processor	Broadcom BCM21553 with ARM11 832 MHz processor and VideoCore IV GPU
Supported Video Formats	H.264, MPEG4, AVI
Supported Audio Formats	MP3, MP4, WMA, AAC, WAV, MIDI, OGG
Supported Picture Formats	JPG, BMP, PNG
Subtitles Support	N/A
Camera Resolution	2 MP
Interface	MicroUSB
Wireless Connectivity	Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 3.0 HS
Size and Weight	104 x 58 x 11.5 mm / 97,5 gr
Battery Life	630 Minutes
Manufacturer	Samsung
Website	http://www.samsung.com
Street Price	Rp1.199.000 (around US$ 135)