Manufacturers are trying to confuse us by naming their smartphones in very strange ways. Let's not let them do this!
The editors of DGL.ru have a feeling that smartphone manufacturers are completely confused about the naming of their devices. In other words, they have forgotten how to name models so that it is immediately clear what class the smartphone belongs to, when it was released and what it can do. And for this reason, it can be very difficult to figure out what is in front of you - a budget device or a middle-class device, a current model or something from the past.
Therefore, we decided to launch a series of materials in which we will tell you which models from which manufacturers are included in which series, and what it all means. Let's start with one of the market leaders - Samsung. Things aren't as bad for her as for some others, but still there are some oddities.
Samsung Galaxy Note series smartphones
With the Galaxy Note series, everything is as simple as possible: at one time it includes only one current device, complete with a stylus (hence, in fact, Note - this word is translated from English as “note”). Right now it's the Galaxy Note 8. If you want, you can find the Galaxy Note 5, and collectors should be on the hunt for the Galaxy Note Edition (probably named in honor of fans who have not given up on Samsung after the whole fire story). This, if anyone doesn’t remember, is a refurbished Galaxy Note 7 with new firmware and a safe battery. Galaxy Note FE is sold only in Asia.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
What do the letters "A" and "S" mean in reality?
Of course, Samsung's two classes of devices are part of the company's marketing strategy, which it has been following for quite some time. The first S model, simply called the Galaxy S, was released in 2010. Here, the "S" does not stand for the "Super AMOLED" display that was used previously, as many assumed, but rather "Super Smart".
The "A" in "Galaxy A", on the other hand, stands for "Alpha". Other Samsung designations include "Y" for "Young", "C" for "China", "M" for "Magic" and "J" for "Joy".
Samsung Galaxy S series smartphones
And here everything is not so complicated: there is the Galaxy S9, there is the Galaxy S9 Plus, which is a little larger and a little more serious in terms of photo capabilities. The Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8 Plus, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge models are still on sale, but there is no confusion with them. The only point that requires clarification is the Galaxy S8 Active and Galaxy S7 Active models. These are devices with shock protection, enclosed in “off-road” housings, as indicated by the word Active (supposedly an active lifestyle). They are not officially supplied to us, so those interested will have to order these models from the USA. Perhaps it makes sense: the same Galaxy S8 Active is the only “eight” with a flat screen. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S9 Active has not yet been presented, but, most likely, it will be released sooner or later.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Active
Samsung Galaxy A series smartphones
This series includes devices of the middle and upper-middle class. They are weaker than the representatives of the Galaxy S series, but for most consumers the capabilities of the ASH are quite enough, which is why the series is popular and long-lived.
Now in Russian retail there are models Galaxy A3 2016, Galaxy A5 2016, Galaxy A7 2016, Galaxy A3 2022, Galaxy A5 2022, Galaxy A7 2022, Galaxy A8 2022 and Galaxy A8 Plus 2022. All of them are interesting to one degree or another, although the models 2016, of course, cannot be called very relevant today.
Samsung Galaxy A8 2018
Sales of the Galaxy A6 2022 and Galaxy A6 Plus 2022 began in May. Roughly speaking, these are the successors to the Galaxy A5 2022 and Galaxy A7 2022 models, which were not updated this year.
Samsung Galaxy A6 Plus 2018
Please note that the Galaxy A8 2022 and Galaxy A8 Plus 2022 are the first devices of the Galaxy A8 series on the Russian market. In Asia this designation has been used before. In addition, huge smartphones of the Galaxy A9 family with 5000 mAh batteries were once sold in China.
What does the M series mean in Samsung?
These are the so-called mid-budget gadgets. As a rule, they are distinguished by high-capacity batteries that can work for several days on a single charge. Accordingly, they may be suitable for those who actively use the phone or are often on the road.
For example, the Galaxy M21 and Galaxy M31 have 6000 mAh batteries, which, according to the manufacturer, provide up to 29 hours of video viewing or up to 48 hours of talk time.
In addition to high autonomy, M series smartphones are equipped with good cameras, although, of course, these are far from camera phones.
There is also an NFC module available, which allows contactless payment for purchases.
“Galaxy M is a line of mid-budget smartphones under the auspices of price and quality,” explains Vladimir Gritsenko.
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Samsung Galaxy J series smartphones
The situation with Galaxy J smartphones is perhaps the most confusing. In Russian retail there is a whole scattering of models of this line, and it is difficult to understand them. Seriously. But we still tried.
So, there are the Galaxy J3 2022, Galaxy J5 2022 and Galaxy J7 2022 models - this is the most interesting trinity in the Galaxy J family. So to speak, the key and latest products. The Galaxy J2 2022 model is included in the same category (of key fresh products). Soon the Galaxy J2 Pro 2022 will be added to the Galaxy J2 2022 - the essence is the same, but with an increased amount of RAM (2 GB versus 1.5).
Samsung Galaxy J2 2018/Galaxy J2 Pro 2018
At the same time, some stores still sell Galaxy J smartphones from 2016 - Galaxy J2 2016, Galaxy J2 Pro 2016 (the same, but more RAM and internal memory), Galaxy J3 2016, Galaxy J5 2016 and Galaxy J7 2016. The same series includes the Galaxy J1 2016, Galaxy J1 Mini 2016 and Galaxy J1 Mini Prime 2016 models (we are talking about them separately, since Samsung has stopped producing new Galaxy J1 models). The first device is 4.5-inch, the other two are 4-inch. At the same time, the Prime version has a slightly faster processor (1.5 GHz versus 1.2) and more RAM (1 GB versus 768 MB). Please note that all 2016 devices have already been discontinued, but they are still available for sale. We don’t know whether it’s worth buying them. They are old, getting confused in them and buying something that is not what you need is a piece of cake.
Samsung Galaxy J1 Mini 2016
Do you think that's all? No matter how it is! There are also a number of devices of the Galaxy J family, whose position in the Samsung line is mysterious and does not obey the laws of logic. There is, for example, the Galaxy J5 Prime smartphone. It looks like some kind of intermediate version between the Galaxy J5 2016 and the Galaxy J5 2022 - that is, the Galaxy J5 Prime will be worse than the latter smartphone, but differs favorably from the first (for example, with a metal body). But the situation with the Galaxy J2 Prime is different: it is inferior to both the Galaxy J2 2016 and the Galaxy J2 2022. And for some reason, the Galaxy J2 2016 has the highest screen resolution in this trinity - 1280 x 720 versus 540 x 960.
The picture is completed by the Galaxy J7 Neo smartphone, which is very similar to the Galaxy J7 2016, but lacks NFC, is equipped with a slightly less capacious battery and costs about a thousand rubles less.
Samsung Galaxy J7 Neo
In some markets (but, fortunately, not in Russia) there are a bunch of other versions, including Galaxy J7 Max, Galaxy J7 V, Galaxy J7 Duo, Galaxy J7 Prime 2, Galaxy J3 Emerge and so on.
Here I just want to say: “Buy Samsung Galaxy J smartphones! They are quite good! But you can’t figure them out without a bottle...” Why is everything so bad with Korean naming? There is a suspicion that Samsung is more interested in selling flagship devices and is putting all its efforts into them. But entry-level models, to put it mildly, live their own lives and are not given much attention. Although the same Galaxy J1 became the third most popular smartphone in Russia at the end of February.
Flexible screens – Galaxy Fold and Galaxy Z Flip
About a year ago, Samsung showed the first smartphone with a flexible screen – the Galaxy Fold. This device became a pioneer in a new category of devices for the entire market, a kind of pioneer. The compact folding body houses a large screen that creates a hybrid smartphone and tablet. Nothing like this had ever existed before, and this is the first commercial smartphone with such capabilities.
The lack of competitors, a completely new niche and high cost instantly turned the Galaxy Fold into a hero among fashion smartphones; there is simply not a single production model on the market that would be sold in such volumes. And competitors were unable to establish mass production in the absence of their own flexible screen technologies.
Due to its size, the device is perceived as masculine, which is what it is. And this is not bad, since for the first time a model has appeared for those who are willing to spend 180 thousand rubles on a smartphone and do not consider this a high price. This is a price for status and technology.
Flip phones disappeared for a while, only to return in the form of the Galaxy Z Flip, which is perceived as a great smartphone for women. It also has a flexible screen, but the body colors and appearance – all this gives away the device as a female model. It turns out that the Galaxy Fold is for him, and the Z Flip is for her.
In the absence of even remote analogues to such a model as the Z Flip, it instantly became popular; at a cost of 120 thousand rubles, it is also an image model. The fairer sex loves bright, unusual things, and the Z Flip is no exception. When a girl wants to stand out and at the same time get not just a toy, but a smartphone at the flagship level, then this is almost the only option.
Smartphones with flexible screens are a combination of advanced technology and image, the latter cannot exist without technological innovation. And smartphones with flexible screens have both. But their cost is such that it is impossible to call such models a mass segment; these are not millions of buyers, like other series of smartphones from Samsung. Such devices can safely be called exclusive, accessible to a few.
Samsung Galaxy Xcover series smartphones
Everything is elementary here: the line includes protected smartphones (Cover - in English this is a cover, covering, casing) of the middle level, and they are protected not only from water, but also from impacts. At one time, representatives of this series were supplied to Russia, but then “the tap was turned off.” And now you can bring Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4 - and this is the latest smartphone in this series (announcement took place in the spring of 2022) - from Germany, for example.
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4
Serie A
The so-called mid-price line A is in fact not such in the strict sense. The lineup starts with budget devices (up to 10,000 rubles) and ends with gadgets whose cost is comparable to the flagships of Chinese brands (under 40,000 rubles). So what are the A series smartphones?
These are devices that offer the best value for money. They are distinguished from the S series by the lack of fancy options (for example, no wireless charging) and not so expensive materials. In other words, the buyer of any Galaxy A device can be sure that the hardware in it will best match the cost of the gadget and will not have to overpay for advanced (and not everyone needs) functions. It is no coincidence that the Galaxy A line includes models that are among the top 10 best-selling phones worldwide.
Who is the Galaxy A suitable for: buyers who want the perfect balance between cost and features at any price category.
Samsung Galaxy C series smartphones
A series of smartphones specifically for China. We don’t know why they are not sold outside of China, but... In general, our guess is that the first Galaxy C models from two years ago looked very much like the iPhones of that time. In copyright-tolerant China, this design approach appears to be acceptable. But in other countries they can sue. However, modern models of the Galaxy C series are no longer similar to the iPhone. These are just mid-level smartphones in thin metal cases. They can be called conditional analogues of the Galaxy A - and it wouldn’t be too much of a mistake.
Samsung Galaxy C5 2016
What's good about the Samsung Galaxy M
All smartphones in 2022 look similar to each other, but the Galaxy A and Galaxy M series are like two peas in a pod. But there is a difference in the screens: one has an IPS matrix, and the other has an inexpensive AMOLED. The most interesting thing comes next: these two series do not need to be compared with each other, because they differ in the filling and battery capacity. In general, if you don’t understand, then this is normal, these are two identical series of budget smartphones, only the M-series smartphones have a more powerful battery.
The Galaxy M has worse materials, but the hardware and battery are a little more vigorous than the Galaxy A
To be honest, it is difficult for the average person to understand the differences between these lines, but we will assume that the difference is in the batteries. Interesting fact: the name of the “M” line stands for “millennial” and is aimed at active young people.
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Samsung W series smartphones, Folder, Galaxy Leader
Samsung foldable smartphones are sold under these names in China. They are not offered in other countries. Why? Probably for the reason that in China there is still a certain cult of “folding phones”, and manufacturers need to satisfy the needs of consumers. In fact, a folding Android smartphone is an extremely inconvenient thing: you can’t really play on it, and it’s not very convenient to poke at the touch screen when it’s open. In general, let the Chinese use it, and we will make do.
Samsung Galaxy Leader 8
Samsung Z series smartphones
A line of smartphones based on the Tizen operating system. Intended for corporate customers, it has gained some popularity in India and Russia. These models are not sold in ordinary stores (at least here), and they are not of interest to ordinary people due to the lack of the software we are all used to - instant messengers, social networks, etc. But they stand out for their battery life: Tizen is extremely economical, and With a battery capacity of around 2500 mAh, a Z series smartphone can last 3-4 days.
Samsung Z4
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