Samsung Xcover is the first smartphone from this Korean manufacturer to boast dust and moisture protection. Subsequently, two more generations of this device appeared on the market. A mobile secure phone was also released, which also belongs to this series of devices. It is these four gadgets that will be discussed in detail in our material.
Niche
People leading an active lifestyle need special smartphones that can boast high protection against dust and moisture. It is for them that the Xcover series of devices has been developed. It includes 4 devices. Initially, in 2011, the S5690 smartphone and the Samsung B2710 Xcover cell phone appeared on sale. In 2013, the second generation of the Xcover 2 smartphone, which had the designation S7710, saw the light. The next update of the device of this line took place in 2015, when Xcover 3, or SM-G388F, appeared on store shelves. It should be noted right away that these devices cannot boast of a high level of performance. And their autonomy is not at a very high level. Their main advantage is a high degree of body protection. Therefore, the greatest interestthis line is for those who want to get a high-quality "smart" phone with protection against moisture and dust. At the same time, you will have to overpay for this feature and lose some of the functionality in comparison with a conventional device.
Set
All devices in this series, including the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2, can boast the following bundle:
- The device itself.
- Battery.
- Charger.
Other optional accessories (case, screen protector, stereo headset and flash drive) will need to be purchased separately.
Design, ergonomics and handling
All devices of this series come in reinforced plastic cases. All communication ports are protected by special rubber plugs. The buttons in these devices are mechanical. There is also a separate button for controlling the camera. Such a constructive solution allows you to shoot, for example, using the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2, even while in the water. The display size of the largest smartphone in this series, Xcover 3, is 4.5 inches. All control buttons on the side faces of the gadget are grouped. As a result, it is not difficult to control this device with only the fingers of one hand. The same statement is true for other representatives of this line of gadgets.
Processor
Regarding the cell phone Samsung B2710 Xcover, there is no specific information about the type of chip used, this can only beguess. The first generation of smartphones in this series was based on the Marvell MG2 processor. It consists of only one computing core, capable of overclocking up to 800 MHz under the most intense load. The second generation Samsung Xcover is based on the NovaThor U8500 dual-core chip developed by Ericsson. Its clock frequency can be increased up to 1 GHz. The most productive chip is installed in Xcover 3 - ARMADA PXA1908, designed by Marvell. It consists of 4 computing modules, which are accelerated to 1.2 GHz in the heaviest load mode. As can be seen from the above specifications, only the third generation of this device can boast an acceptable level of performance today.
Display and graphics card
Each smartphone of the XCover line is equipped with a graphics accelerator. This smart engineering solution can significantly reduce the load on the central processor due to the fact that graphics processing falls on the video adapter. The most modest graphics accelerator is installed in the Samsung Xcover S5690. This is AdrCG800. Its computing capabilities are quite enough to process images in a resolution of 320x480 (this is the resolution of the display of this gadget). The screen is based on a TFT matrix. Accordingly, when deviating from the right viewing angle, the image on the display is distorted. Moreover, this remark is true for all devices of this series. Much better technical specifications in Xcover 2. It already has a display diagonal of 4 inches,and the resolution is 800x480. At the same time, the image output is provided by the Mali 400MP graphics adapter. The parameters are even better in the Samsung Xcover 3. It has a Vivante GC7000UL graphics chip. The screen diagonal in this case is increased and is 4.5 inches. But the resolution is exactly the same as that of its predecessor - 800 x 480. The most modest graphics system parameters in this family of devices are in the B2710 cell phone. The screen diagonal is 2 inches, and its resolution is 240x320.
Cameras, photo and video capabilities
All gadgets of the Xcover line have the ability to take photos and record videos. The most modest characteristics of the camera in the Samsung Xcover GT - B2710. It has a 2 megapixel sensor. There are no additional technologies (autofocus, stabilization system, backlight). Therefore, the quality of the photo is very, very modest in good lighting. Well, in the dark, the situation will be even worse. The situation is similar with video recording. The device can record videos in 160x128 resolution. Slightly better camera in the first generation Xcover. She has a sensor already at 3.2 megapixels and there is an LED backlight. And in Xcover 2, the sensor is already at 5MP, there is an LED backlight and autofocus. The photo quality is acceptable. This device can record video in 720p format. An identical sensor element is installed in Samsung Xcover 3. Everything is the same with a photo, but it can record video in 1080p format. There is also a 2MP front camera that can be used to make video calls.
Memory
Total 40 MBinstalled in Samsung Xcover cell phone. This is clearly not enough for comfortable work, and in order to solve the problem of lack of memory, the owner of this gadget will have to install an additional flash card, the maximum size of which can reach 32 GB. Moreover, the problem of lack of built-in storage capacity is typical for all devices in this series. You can solve it only with the help of an external drive. The first smartphone of this series has 512 MB of RAM and 150 MB of built-in storage. The second generation Xcover 2 is already equipped with 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of integrated storage (of which only 1 GB is allocated for installing programs and storing user personal data). Even better is the memory situation in Xcover 3. There is already 1.5 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage (in this case, the owner of the gadget can count on 3 GB).
Autonomy
A cell phone of this line boasts a high degree of autonomy. Its battery capacity is 1300 mAh. We add only one SIM card and a diagonal of 2 inches to this and we get 4-5 days of battery life in the “dialer” mode (that is, only for calls and SMS). If the device is used as a compass, then the specified number of days will be reduced to 3. Well, in maximum saving mode, this device can last 7 days. The battery capacity of 1500 mAh allows you to count on 2-3 days of work on a single charge at an average load level. In the most intensive mode, this value will be reduced to 1 day, but in the maximum saving modethis gadget can work 4 days. A proportional increase in Xcover 2 battery capacity up to 1700 mAh and a screen up to 4 inches allows you to count on exactly the same autonomy parameters. Even more battery in the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 - 2200 mAh. But at the same time, a more productive central processor is used and the screen diagonal is increased to 4.5 inches. As a result, the battery life of this smartphone is almost identical to that of its two predecessors.
Data sharing
The most modest set of interfaces in a cell phone of this series. It has only Bluetooth (for exchanging information with similar devices), GSM (provides making calls, receiving and receiving SMS and MMS and connecting to the Internet), GPS (allows you to use the gadget as a full-fledged navigator) and MicroUSB (synchronization with PC, a stereo headset is also connected to the same connector). Smartphones of this series can boast of having the following interfaces:
- One slot for installing a SIM card. In the first smartphone, only GSM networks were supported; in the Samsung Galaxy Xcover S7710, this list expanded to 3G. Well, in Xcover 3, LTE was also added. All this allows you to make calls, exchange SMS and MMS, receive information from the Internet.
- Wi-Fi is the main wireless interface that allows you to receive and send information from the Global Web.
- "Bluetooth" allows you to connect a wireless headset to your smartphone, share files with similar mobile devices.
- Availability of GPS sensors and support for A-GPS technologyallows you to accurately and very quickly determine the location of the device.
- The micro-USB port allows the gadgets of this series to synchronize with a PC. It is also used to charge the battery.
System software
The cell phone of this series uses an operating system with a minimum set of functions. All smartphones of this series use the most popular software platform for mobile devices - "Android" as system software. The first device is running its version 2.3. Version 4.1 is installed on the second gadget. Well, Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 is equipped with a fairly recent version 4.4. From the standpoint of software compatibility, it is the 3rd revision of this gadget that looks most optimal. All existing applications should be installed on it without problems.
Price
The first generation Samsung Galaxy Xcover is no longer available. It has been out of production for a long time, and its stock has been sold out. The same is true for the B2710 mobile phone. This is not surprising. After all, their sales started more than four years ago, and during this time they have become obsolete both morally and physically. Xcover 2 is still available from stock. Its present value is $180. This is a rather high price for a device with such hardware characteristics. But, as noted earlier, this cost is due to the special design of the case. The same is true for Xcover 3, whose sales started relatively recently. The cost of this device is $250.
Owner Reviews
Samsung Galaxy Xcover of the first generation managed to prove itself perfectly. Most of the reviews about this device are positive: the quality of the case, the performance of the processor, the diagonal of the display - these are far from all its advantages. But it has only two shortcomings: a low degree of autonomy and only 150 MB of integrated storage capacity. The first issue can be solved by installing an additional external battery, and the second - by installing an external flash card. But Xcover 2 does not have these shortcomings. Such claims are put forward to it: a glossy coating of the case and low brightness of the screen. In the first case, everything is solved with the help of a protective case and a film. But to solve the problem with a lack of brightness, you can use a matte protective film. The only drawback of the third generation of this device is the low level of CPU performance, which is not enough to solve resource-intensive tasks. But this device is bought for everyday tasks, and this gadget has no problems with them.
CV
Of all the devices in the Samsung Xcover line, only the third-generation smartphone is relevant. He and the hardware component allows you to solve most everyday tasks, and the software part is quite fresh. The rest of the representatives of this model range are outdated both morally and physically.
