Samsung Galaxy S

Build quality and the range of features are top class and it excels with movies, music and the internet. 

It looks like an iPhone and is overflowing with features

 Pros

► Superb screen

► Fast processor

► Slim chassis



Cons

i> Poor contacts menu

► Slight freez ng at times

► No camera flash



The Galaxy S is Samsung's big assault on the smartphone market. Packing oodles of top end technology into a handset it thinks can take on the iPhone 4.

Samsung has finally decided to offer up its own skin for the search engine's mobile OS. Known as TouchWiz 3.0, this overlay was first used on the Samsung Wave, where new widgets were the order cf the day. While these worked well, and 10 home screens was a bonus, on the Galaxy S you get seven displays to work with, and both widgets and icons alike.

This is great, as it means you can mess around with the placement of your favourite applications. However, widgets are less of an attraction, with very few available from both Samsung and the default Android offering -certainly you get a lot more from the likes of the HTC Des re.

Redemption comes thanks to the large, capacitive touchscreen. We're not saying it's better than the iPhone 4, but for someone who's never picked up a touchscreen phone in their life, this cannot be beaten.

The lightest touch will produce an instant reaction, and coupled with the 1 GHz processor,the Galaxy S is one of the snappiest phones around.  


Here's the good news

Swype text input is cool, and HD video recording works well. We also love the fact that DLNA content sharing finally works through the All Share application.

There are a few odd foibles, however. For instance, it not being able to lose the SIM contacts in the address book is very annoying.
The Galaxy S is easily the best smartphone Samsung has made so far, boasting impressive build quality and a decent range of features. It excels with movies, music and internet, is a good messaging device and works fast and promptly, with minimal slowdown (although we did experience a little bit of slight freezing from time to time).

Arguably, the cost is a little high and there are some kinks that need to be ironed out (given time, we're sure they will be) before this can be classed as a real world beater. But overall, it's a decent phone and well worth auditioning.