SAMSUNG HAS EXPANDED its range of Galaxy smartphones
with the Mega, a 6.3in handset that fills
the gap between the flagship Galaxy S4 and S-pen packing Galaxy Note 2. The
device, which had been rumoured to exist for some time before being made
official in March, uses LCD display technology rather than AMOLED, which is
reserved for premium handsets such as the Galaxy S4. It also has reduced specifications
in order to hit a lower price when it launches later in the year.
Continuing Samsung’s design cues of rounded edges
and a plastic rear, the Galaxy Mega lacks the modern squared-off edges of the
S4, but it’s still an attractive headset. Its 1280x720 resolution display may not
be able to match the 1080p S4, either, but at 6.3in it has a considerably
larger surface area.
Powered by a dual-core 1.7GHz processor and 1.5GB
of RAM, the Galaxy Mega should easily be fast enough to run Android. Samsung
has used the latest 4.2 Jelly Bean version of the operating system, along with
its own Touchwiz customised user interface running on top. The usual suite of
applications are included as well, including MyFiles, S Memo, S Planner and S
Translator.
An 8-megapixel rear camera sits on the back and a
1.9-megapixel webcam faces forward for making video calls. The handset will
include either 8GB or 16GB of internal memory depending on the model, but both
include a MicroSD card slot for adding extra capacity later. To keep the
massive screen and 4G modem juiced up, the Mega uses a powerful 3,300mAh battery,
which should help it get through the day without needing a top-up from a mains
socket.
“We are aware of a great potential in the bigger
screen for multimedia) web browsing and more,” Samsung’s CEO JK Shin said of
the new handset. “We are excited to provide another choice to meet our consumers’
varying lifestyles, all while maintaining the high-quality features of the
Galaxy series.”
The Galaxy Mega will be available from May onwards,
although Samsung has yet to fix a firm launch date or announce pricing. We’re
hoping that it will cost less than a Galaxy S4 when it goes on sale later in
the year, although the massive screen size could bump up the price.
Tech Specs
Network/Bearer and Wireless Connectivity
| Infra | VOICE & DATA, HSPA-PLUS, LTE | |
|---|---|---|
| 2G | EDGE / GPRS (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900MHZ) | |
| 4G | LTE | |
| 3G | HSDPA 42Mps HSUPA 5.76Mbps | |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4+5GHz | |
| Wi-Fi Direct | Yes | |
| Bluetooth Profiles | PBAP, PBA, A2DP, AVRCP, GAP, HFP, HSP, OPP, SAP, SPP, HID, PAN | |
| NFC | Yes | |
| Connectivity Support | DLNA, MHL 1.2 | |
| PC Sync. | KIES, KIES Air |
OS
Android, 4.2
Display
| Technology | Super Clear LCD | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.3" | |
| Resolution | 1280 x 720 |
Chipset
| Type (Dual, Quad) | Dual Core Application Processor | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Speed | 1.7GHz |
Memory
8GB
Camera
| Camera Resolution(Front) | CMOS, 1.9MP | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Resolution(Rear) | CMOS, 8.0MP | |
| Flash | Power LED (1EA) | |
| Auto Focus | Support |
Sensors
Accelerometer, Gyro-sensor, Digital Compass (Magnetic), Luminance (RGB), Hall, Proximity
Physical Specification
| Dimension (HxWxD) | 167.6 x 88 x 8mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 199g |
Connectors
| USB | USB 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Earjack | 3.5pi 4pole, Stereo | |
| External Memory Slot | MicroSD (up to 64GB) | |
| SIM Support | 3FF (Micro SIM) | |
| Connector | Micro USB (5V, 2A) | |
| MHL | Yes |
Battery
| Standard Battery | 3200mAh | |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Time(3G) | Up to 10 hrs | |
| Internet Usage Time(LTE) | Up to 6 hrs | |
| Internet Usage Time(WI-FI) | Up to 12 hrs | |
| Video Playback Time | Up to 11 hrs | |
| Audio Playback Time | Up to 82 hrs | |
| Talk Time(W-CDMA) | Up to 17 hrs | |
| Standby Time(W-CDMA) | Up to 420 hrs | |
| Standby Time(LTE) | Up to 390 hrs |
Location
AGPS, GLONASS Support
Services and Applications
| Samsung Apps | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| Music Hub | Download | |
| Readers Hub | Download | |
| Game Hub | Download | |
| ChatON, mFluent IM | ChatON | |
| ActiveSync | Yes | |
| B-to-B Compability | ODE, EAS, MDM, VPN, WebEX |
Audio and Video
| Video Format | MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC1, WMV7 / 8, Sorenson Spark, VP8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Video Resolution | Full HD (1080p) Video Playback | |
| Video Frame rate | 30fps | |
| Audio Format | MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, I-Melody, MIDI, WMA, FLAC, WAV, OGG, RA |