When the Samsung Spica came out a few weeks back, I was surprised with the retail price of the handset. It one of the most affordable Android-powered smartphone in the market. We looked deeper into the Samsung i5700 before handing out the verdict.
At first glance, the Spica looked like most other candybar phones released by Samsung with that distinctive design. The navigation panel is a bit intricate that you’d either love it or hate it. The control pad actually has 7 buttons laid out and separated by curved lines (and that does not include the 4-way directional pad).
In hindsight, the physical controls are basically the same as that of the HTC Hero but because of the layout/design, using them is a bit confusing (it’s got to do more with the layout of the keys). You get used to it in time.
On the side — there’s a dedicated camera button on the right with a lock button on top of it while the volume rocker is on the left. The micro-USB port is on top beside the 3.5mm audio jack. The body is mostly made up of rubbery plastic back panel and brushed-metal finish in front. There are red accents on the OK button and the front speakers. It’s a little thick at 13.2mm but not really bulky on the hands.
The 3.2″ display screen isn’t the largest we’ve seen but enough for a touch screen phone. The display is nice with a bright and crisp resolution.
Like the Hero, the Spica also suffers a bit with the virtual keyboard that’s somewhat cramped. The individual keys are a little skinny in the vertical orientation but that changes when you switch to the landscape orientation.
The interface is the basic Android UI with 3 panels. Samsung did not bother to include a layer UI on top of it. It would have been nice to see some eye-candy, even if it’s just the TouchWiz UI.
The Spica is powered by Samsung’s very own 800MHz processor and as such, apps and others functions (like media playback, browsing) are pretty snappy. The Spica actually ranks #2 among the fastest Android smartphones locally available, next to the X10, if we based it clock-for-clock. Most of the time though, it feels like the two handsets perform at par with each other.
The Spica has Android 1.5 (Cupcake) pre-installed but, as of this time, you can actually have it upgraded to Android 2.1 (Eclair). That’s an added bonus which I think was key to the Spica’s growing popularity.
Connectivity isn’t an issue with the Samsung Spica — it’s got Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11 b/g, 3G/HSDPA and GPS. Like most other Android handsets, there’s no native 3G switch (there’s a Switchers widget that controls everything else) so you’ll have to install an app like APNdroid to control 3G connectivity on-the-fly. Not a big deal but first time users should take note of this.
The 3.2MP camera isn’t impressive but decent enough. There’s no built-in flash but at least it has auto-focus. Here’s one shot I managed to take with it (forget the 15fps video recording).
Off-topic: I have to say — taking a ride on this Audi R8 was a blast. Feels like I’m on a rocket ship will all that G-force pulling me back.
Battery life is expectedly normal (with the 1500mAh Li-Ion) for smartphones like the Spica — can do 2 days on casual connectivity use but can easily drain in a day with heavy use. I suggest bringing a spare cable charger with you all the time.
If there’s a noticeable disappointment with the Spica, I think it would be the amount of internal storage that came with it. The 180MB internal storage seems too small if you’re looking to install a ton of apps. For all other file storage concerns, you’ll have to separately invest in a microSD card. The unit I got only had 1GB with it but you can stick in up to 32GB if you have the extra cash.
Ok, then there’s no multi-touch support too even if you upgrade to v2.1 — not a deal-killer but certainly something you’d miss on a touchscreen phone (especially with Google Maps and Photo Gallery). At least it’s got some sort of haptic feedback so you feel some subtle vibrations when tapping keys or the dial pad.
All in all, the Samsung Spica i5700 is a one desirable smartphone, especially to those who will be getting their first ever Android handset. This is highlighted by the fact that its got the basic features of Android smartphones at a very affordable price (Php13,800 in some stores) — less than half the price of other Android phones of the same caliber. It’s got its fair share of shortcomings but it gets bonus points for being capable to upgrade to Eclair v2.1. Samsung should get some good karma for introducing this handset into the local market.
Disclosure: Globe Telecom gave me this handset for free and Samsung is an advertiser on this blog.
adding my twitter so u can i get to see the response right away
I kinda modified mine. I upgraded it to Gingerbread and it works. However, idk how to fix or where to get camera and video drivers. My cam and vid does not work. Now, I’m only using it as an internet phone, I have IMO where i can use skype, ym and facebook chat..and more.. I have twitter caster and fb caster too. SO who can help me fix the cam and vid? I hope someone is kind to hel me out… and where i can get APNdroid, I cant find it in Android market???
im selling my spica for 10k. it came with my globe postpaid but im not much into touch screen. still less than a month old,no scratches,still smooth and shiny. complete with box. contact me if interested:091781*****
i’m planning to buy this as my starter android but i really don’t know how to root, etc… i’m a total noob but just curious coz of the many positive reviews on spica… been reading samdroid forum but it would be better if a kababayan would help out in case i brick my phone or something like that… :) may pinoy forum ba for spica users or mayroon bang pwedeng mag-assist/gumawa to enhance my spica… and magkano in case magpapatulong? :) TIA! :)
correction: (from 2 to 8 MFLOPS)
It’s available across forums… Notably samdroid.net. Site is not very user-friendly though. There’s a “kitchen” there where you can “cook” your own ROM (Samdroid kitchen). Afterwhich, you can force an update (via recovery) to insert SAMDROID turbo (a.k.a Frozen Eclair). The latter uses the engine of Froyo, supposedly. Linpack benchmark reports 4x the speed (from 2 to 4). And it feels quicker. Just read the cautions, etc.
how & where to get it?
just tried custom-made froyo ROM on this handset, it worked and it’s faster. (“,)
anybody having problems with incoming call??? i can’t hear the person calling me…
pls advice…
any info about the 2.2 upgrade?
this or sony ericson x8?
After months of thinking i finally bought my very own android, i bought spica for my sister, but its not for me, i bought motorola milestone very rare here in the philippines.and its wonderful.
spica or wildfire? why? pros and cons thank you!
SamdroidMod Version 1.3.1.deodexed [XXJH1] (Android 2.1)
Kernel [LK2.09.5 (multitouch driver as module qt5480.ko)]
LauncherPro [0.7.7.2]
XDA Phone.apk [v.29]
Calculator.apk
DeskClock.apk
VoiceRecorder.apk
HTC IME keyboard
Google services (Maps 4.4.0, Market, GMail, etc.)
WiFi Tether [2.0-pre10]
Gallery3D – No background version
LiveWallPaper support + Nexus WallPapers
Win7-Nexus Bootanimation
DVM ARM11 optimized
I don’t recommend the LiveWallpaper support.
– It doesn’t look that good on the small screen.
– slows down the swiping of the homescreen
– eats the battery A LOT since the processor is not that powerful and no GPU.
I have no problems except with installing Swype.
The Nexus boot animation is just awesome!!
Multitouch! *drools*
@roiji: what did you flash to your phone?
got it to finally work :)
my phone isn’t bricked after all ^^,
multi-touch works in Google Maps, the Browser, and in Gallery (3D gallery) >:)
it’s not as accurate as the one in iPod touch or iPhone but it works!
and.. i think i bricked my phone… huhu’
ayaw nang mag boot after i flashed it.. hahaha
yes i just knew a few days ago..
i’m gonna try to flash my spica in a few moments and hopefully everything works!
thanks-
@roiji: the i5700 is very capable of multi-touch at the hardware level. it’s just that samsung hasn’t release the driver that can take full advantage of it. however, the good folks at samdroid have a working multi-touch implementation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPyRhBtKIRk
try the HTC Wildfire. It’s more recent.