Samsung Acclaim Full Specs Pricing & Insights

Overview and History

The Samsung Acclaim was announced in June 2010 and released in July of the same year. It marked Samsung's foray into providing a smartphone with a physical QWERTY keyboard, appealing to users transitioning from feature phones or those who preferred tactile buttons for typing. However, it has since been discontinued, leaving behind a legacy representing the early stages of smartphones transitioning into multifaceted devices.

Design and Build

The Samsung Acclaim features a compact body with dimensions measuring 114 x 59 x 15 mm, and a weight of 130 grams, making it comfortably portable. The blue hue of the device adds a sleek touch to its compact design. The phone includes a mini-SIM slot and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard which was a significant feature at the time for users who preferred physical typing over on-screen keyboards. This physical keyboard was one of its main selling points, aimed at users who were accustomed to traditional phones with physical keypads.

Display

The device comes with a 3.2-inch TFT display, supporting 256K colors. The resolution stands at 320 x 480 pixels with an aspect ratio of 3:2, translating to a pixel density of approximately 180 ppi. Though modest by today's standards, the display was adequate for viewing basic content and accessing apps at the time of its release.

Hardware and Performance

The Samsung Acclaim utilized a standard processor for its time and operated on Android 2.1 Eclair, which was later upgradable to Android 2.2 Froyo. It featured a microSDHC card slot with an included 4GB card, allowing for expandable storage to accommodate the user's media and application needs. The 1500mAh removable Li-Ion battery provided substantial usage time, with a standby time of up to 450 hours and talk time of up to 8 hours - a vital feature for users on the go. Connectivity options included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g support with the ability to create a hotspot in the updated OS version, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP support, and microUSB 2.0 for data transfer and charging.

Camera Features

The Samsung Acclaim was equipped with a 3.15 MP rear camera featuring autofocus and an LED flash, allowing for basic photography needs. Video recording capabilities were included, albeit without specifications highlighting resolution or frames per second. The lack of a front camera meant that video calling or selfies were not supported, which is understandable given the era of its release.

Network and Connectivity

Operating on CDMA/EVDO technology, the Samsung Acclaim supported 2G bands on CDMA 800 / 1900 and 3G bands on CDMA2000 1xEV-DO. Data speeds reached up to 153.2 Kbps on EV-DO Rev.0, which at the time was standard fare for non-4G smartphones.

Sound and Multimedia

For sound, the Samsung Acclaim featured a loudspeaker but lacked a 3.5mm headphone jack, requiring users to utilize alternative accessories for private listening. This might have been a drawback for some, as personal audio equipment was already common in mobile usage. Nonetheless, this limitation did not heavily impact its user base due to the primary appeal of its other functional attributes.

Additional Features

Included in its sensor package was an accelerometer, primarily utilized for automatic screen rotation with its Android interface. The inclusion of GPS and A-GPS enabled basic navigation services, essential for geo-locational technology adoption at the time. Although lacking an FM radio, users were typically more focused on the new possibilities emerging with internet connectivity over mobile networks.

Pricing and Market Impact

Upon its release, the Samsung Acclaim was priced at approximately 170 EUR, targeting mid-range consumers looking for a gateway into smartphones with physical keyboards. While it did not redefine the smartphone market, the Acclaim played a role in extending more diverse device options to general consumers, especially those eager to adopt smartphone functionalities without forfeiting familiar physical typing experiences.

Reflection on the Legacy

Reflecting on its era, the Samsung Acclaim served a niche segment by bridging the gap between full-touch smartphones and older physical-keypad based phones. Although advancements in mobile technology have since overshadowed this device, it remains a testament to Samsung's adaptability and foresight in catering to varied consumer preferences. This device represents a historical piece in Samsung's expanding mobile ecosystem during the early 2010s.