Samsung is the current market leader in smartphones in India as well as across the world. However, that doesn’t mean all its products are the best in their class. So here we compare its sub-Rs 16,000 products with similarly priced devices from international rivals like HTC, Sony, Nokia, and LG.
Samsung Galaxy Pocket vs LG Optimus L3 vs Sony Xperia Tipo
Samsung Galaxy Pocket offers a 2.8 inch screen with 240 x 320 pixel resolution, Android 2.3, a 2 megapixel camera, 1200 mAh battery and a healthy 3 GB of internal memory that is expandable up to 32 GB. The remaining features like 3G and WiFi that are commonly found in Android phones are all there. The phone is available at about Rs 6,500.
Compare that to a slightly costlier Optimus L3 from LG selling at an average price of Rs 7,000. You get much better specifications: a 3.2 inch touchscreen with 240 x 320 pixel resolution, 3.2 megapixel camera and 1500 mAh battery. The remaining specifications are very similar. Optimus L3 is also better looking with LG’s L Series design philosophy-a slim squarish profile.
Samsung Galaxy Y with a 3 inch screen and 2 megapixel camera is also on offer at the same price point as L3, but even this one has a smaller screen and camera though the rest of its features are very similar to those of the L3.
Sony Xperia Tipo is the only Android 4.0 based phone here and with Sony’s user interface the 3.2 inch screen is more usable on the phone, although the device is otherwise very similar to LG Optimus L3. It is priced much higher at Rs 8,800
The LG Optimus L3 is best in terms of specifications and price, however Sony is better in terms of latest software and performance.
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Samsung Galaxy Y Duos vs LG Optimus L3 Dual vs Sony Xperia Tipo Dual
Samsung has a slight EDGE in terms of the cheapest dual SIM Android phone with Galaxy Duos Lite, which has specifications similar to those of the Galaxy Pocket. However, the Galaxy Y Duos with average price of Rs 7,800 gets a slightly bigger 3.14 inch screen, and 3.15 megapixel camera. The rest of its specifications are similar to those of the Pocket, like the 832 MHz Processor and 1300 mAh battery.
LG Optimus L3 Dual on the other hand has the same specifications as the single SIM version and is priced at Rs 7,800 making it slightly better than the Samsung in terms of battery and style.
Sony Xperia Tipo Dual has the same kind of specifications as the Tipo single SIM version and is available at an average price of Rs 9,600 which makes it the latest but most expensive option. Its performance is nonetheless quite good.
Overall, Samsung has an edge in the entry level dual SIM models with wider options and very competitive specifications. Sony, on the other hand, is expensive but offers better performance and has the latest software. The LG product is good though. It lacks in terms of brand appeal at the moment and offers nothing great in terms of features for people to choose it over Samsung.
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Samsung Galaxy Chat vs LG Optimus Pro C660
Samsung Galaxy Chat is a bar shaped Android 4.0 phone with full QWERTY keypad, and a 3.0 inch screen, 2 megapixel camera, 850 MHz processor and 4 GB internal memory powered by a 1200 mAh battery. The phone is one of the few options in terms of a touch and type Android phone. It is currently available for approximately Rs 8,500
On the other hand, LG Optimus Pro is an old phone running on Android 2.3 with a design similar to that of the Chat, though with a slightly smaller 2.8 inch screen, a slightly larger 1500 mAh battery and a 3 megapixel camera. LG Optimus Pro is available at about Rs 7,000.
The Samsung offer is slightly more attractive thanks to the latest operating system and slightly bigger screen and better styling. The rest of the specifications are better in the LG, but, overall, the Samsung is a better product.
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Samsung Galaxy Ace vs LG Optimus Hub vs Motorola Fire XT
Samsung Galaxy Ace has had a price cut recently, and is now available for only Rs 10,000. The phone comes with a 3.5 inch screen, 5 megapixel camera, and Android 2.3 operating system. It runs on an 800 MHz processor and 1350 mAh battery. Given its pricing it is quite popular right now.
The phone doesn’t get much in terms of competition: Motorola, which has Fire XT with very similar specifications at a lower price, has decided to move out of the country and is currently only clearing its stocks. Although it has promised to support its products through their lifetime, we would not recommend the phone. Right now, it is available for approximately Rs 9,400.
LG Optimus Hub is a good match for Ace in terms of specifications and gets a bigger 1500 mAh battery. It is priced at Rs 9,000 but somehow LG has not promoted the product as much and it is not as popular as the Galaxy Ace.
Since no other company exceeds the Galaxy Ace in terms of specifications, features, or pricing, Samsung is a clear winner here.
The story is similar in the case of Ace Duos, which is the dual SIM version of the phone.
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Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus vs Sony Xperia J vs LG Optimus Black
Samsung could not recreate the success of Galaxy Ace with Ace Plus and the reason is clear-Ace Plus gets specifications that are not so attractive in comparison to the competition, which is getting even stronger.
Samsung Galaxy Ace plus has a 4 inch screen, a 1 GHz processor and 5 megapixel camera. It is based on Android 2.3 and has only a 1300 mAh battery. The phone is currently available for around Rs 14,500.
Sony Xperia J is the latest product from Sony and comes with a 4 inch screen with Gorilla Glass protection. It is based on Android 4.0 and will get an Android Jelly Bean update. It runs on a 1 GHz processor and is powered by a much bigger 1750 mAh battery. You get a 5 megapixel rear camera as well. The phone is currently selling for Rs 15,500 and since it just got launched we expect the price to drop further in the coming days.
LG Optimus Black is an old phone, but still gets some very good features and specifications. The first thing is that its 4 inch screen is an IPS panel with wider viewing angle, and is also one of the brightest screens with 700 nits of brightness. It currently runs on Android 2.3 but will get the Android 4.0 upgrade shortly. You get a 5 megapixel and 2 megapixel (front) camera. The phone runs on a 1 GHz processor and a 1500 mAh battery. It is currently selling for only Rs 13,500.
Samsung Galaxy Ace gets beaten by its rivals, both in terms of pricing, features and performance. If you want the latest, go for Sony Xperia J. If you want good performance at a low price go for the LG Optimus Black.
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Samsung Omnia W vs Nokia Lumia 710
Samsung Omnia W is the Windows Phone 7.5 offering from Samsung and comes with a 4.0 inch screen, 1 GHz processor and 5 megapixel camera. It is currently available for Rs 15,000.
In comparison, Nokia Lumia 710 has a smaller 3.7 inch screen but a much better 1.4 GHz processor. The phone is much better than the Samsung offering with specialised Nokia maps and apps. And it is also cheaper with an average price of Rs 14,000.
Nokia is Windows Phone focused; while Samsung is Android focused with just a few products that run on Windows Phone. Nokia 710 is a very well built phone with a lot of focus in terms of apps from Nokia, which has also spent a lot on marketing this phone. Samsung offers almost a stock Windows Phone 7.5 experience, and is not promoting the phone much in terms of quality, though there is no compromise.
Overall
Samsung products get beaten in most segments, but the reality is that Samsung has transformed itself into the Maruti of the mobile world, so that most uninitiated people go for the brand name rather than a pure comparison of the competing products. Having said that, many of Samsung’s products are indeed very compelling, like the more expansive Galaxy SIII, but that doesn’t mean all the phones are market leading and that the buyer must check for what is on offer from other companies before buying a phone.