Sections
- Page 1 Samsung Galaxy Fame Review
- Page 2 Software, Call Quality and Camera Review
- Page 3 Samsung Galaxy Fame – Battery Life, Connectivity and Verdict Review
Samsung Galaxy Fame – Battery Life
Battery life on the Samsung Galaxy Fame is one area where it wins back some credibility.
Thanks to the lower demands of the small, dull display, the 1,300mAh Lithium-Ion battery goes a surprisingly long way. The Fame saw us through more than two days steady use without need for a recharge. The Fame’s limited multimedia credentials help here, too, as it means you’re less likely to perform battery draining tasks than on other phones.
Standby time is hugely impressive – the Fame keeps chugging along with minimal use for the better part of a working week.
Samsung Galaxy Fame – Connectivity
Connectivity on the Samsung Galaxy Fame is a mixed bag of tricks. It has the basics (Wi-Fi 802.11, GPS, 3G, microSD and microUSB), but also includes NFC. It’s an odd choice given NFC is has yet to capture the public’s attention, especially as it no doubt adds to the price.
We suspect it has something with Samsung’s TVs support NFC and Samsung wanting people to use the two together, but we wish Samsung Galaxy Fame should have focused more on the basics and cut the price. The Wi-Fi signal strength, though satisfactory, is weaker than some phones and tablets we’ve tested, and on one occasion we had problems connecting to available networks.
Should I buy the Samsung Galaxy Fame?
In short, no, probably not – not unless it comes down in price, at least. There are cheaper phones that are faster, have better screens and more features compared to the Samsung Galaxy Fame.
One such option is the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2, which has a better screen and faster performance for a similar price. And if you’re not bothered about performance, budget Alcatel and Huawei phones are just as good at a fraction of the price. Failing that, Windows Phones are another viable option, with the HTC 8S a far superior product at a similar price.
Save another £3 a month and there’s an even better option. You might not be able to get the iPhone 4 SIM-free for anywhere near the price of the Fame, but on a standard 24-month contract at £17 per month vs £20 per month it’s the obvious choice.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Fame is budget by nature but not by price. It’s too slow and laggy and has a dire screen – unacceptable for the £150 price tag. Unless it comes down in price considerably, we advise you look elsewhere.
How we test phones
We test every mobile phone we review thoroughly. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly and we use the phone as our main device over the review period. We’ll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Performance 5
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Camera 7
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Design 6
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Usability 5
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Value 4
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Features 6
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Screen Quality 4
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.