Unveiling Samsung Galaxy Premier I9260 Specs Prices Pros & Cons

Overview of Samsung Galaxy Premier I9260

The Samsung Galaxy Premier I9260 was a smartphone launched in November 2012 and released in January 2013. It represented a middle-ground device, blending features from the high-performance Galaxy S series with affordability, making it an attractive choice for users seeking balanced performance without a premium price tag. Although the device has since been discontinued, it marked a significant entry in the mid-range smartphone market with its distinct features and capabilities.

Network and Connectivity

The Samsung Galaxy Premier I9260 was equipped with various connectivity options to cater to its users worldwide. It supported GSM, HSPA, and LTE networks, making it versatile for different regions and carriers. The device supported 2G bands including GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900, while 3G support extended to HSDPA 850, 900, 1900, and 2100 bands. Notably, the 4G LTE bands were market-dependent, providing different options for specific areas. The internet speeds were robust, offering HSPA up to 21.1/5.76 Mbps and LTE Cat3 up to 100/50 Mbps.

Design and Build

The Galaxy Premier was designed with comfort and usability in mind. It sported dimensions of 134.2 x 68 x 9 mm and a weight of 130 grams, making it both compact and lightweight. This made the device comfortable to carry and use, fitting easily in one hand. The design featured the classic look consistent with Samsung’s lineup at the time, available in White and Titanium Gray color options. Its build quality was sturdy, though it featured a plastic back — a common choice for many smartphones during that period.

Display and Screen

The device showcased a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display, boasting vivid colors and deep contrast ratios. With a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels and a 16:9 ratio, it provided a pixel density of approximately 316 ppi, ensuring sharp and clear visuals. The Super AMOLED technology was praised for its brightness and energy efficiency, offering infinite contrast ratios nominally and an adequate performance in sunlight with a contrast ratio of 2.958:1.

Performance and Software

Powering the Galaxy Premier I9260 was the TI OMAP 4470 chipset, coupled with a dual-core 1.5 GHz CPU and a PowerVR SGX544 GPU. This configuration delivered decent performance for daily tasks, multimedia consumption, and light gaming. At launch, the device ran on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which was one of the leading Android versions at that time, known for its smooth user interface and Google Now integration.

Memory and Storage

With respect to storage, the Galaxy Premier offered internal memory options of either 8GB or 16GB, paired with 1GB of RAM. While this seemed modest by today’s standards, it accommodated essential apps and data for its time. Additionally, Samsung included a dedicated microSDHC slot for expandable storage, allowing users to increase their device’s capacity considerably — a feature much appreciated by users who needed extra space for photos, music, and other media files.

Camera Capabilities

The camera features of the Galaxy Premier were competitive with a primary 8 MP camera equipped with auto-focus and an LED flash. This allowed users to capture clear and detailed photos, supporting full HD video recording at 1080p and 30fps. The front-facing camera, with 1.9 MP, catered to video calls and basic selfies which were gaining popularity at the time.

Audio and Multimedia

The smartphone was equipped with a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, providing clear audio output for calls and media consumption. It was suitable for listening to music, watching videos, and playing games, supported by stereo FM radio with RDS, allowing users access to terrestrial radio broadcasting.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Premier housed a removable Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery, which was a standard choice for smartphones of its time. It offered decent battery backup, with a standby time of up to 790 hours on 2G and up to 600 hours on 3G. The talk time was also substantial, lasting up to 21 hours and 40 minutes on 2G and up to 10 hours and 50 minutes on 3G, making it reliable for everyday usage.

Connectivity and Other Features

Samsung ensured that the Galaxy Premier came with comprehensive connectivity options. It supported Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, and hotspot capabilities. Bluetooth 4.0 was included for wireless file transfers and audio streaming. The device also featured GPS with GLONASS support, NFC for contactless payments and data exchange, and microUSB 2.0 for charging and data transfer. It featured an array of sensors, including an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass, enhancing its functionality in various applications.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Premier I9260 stands as a significant reminder of the rapid advancements in smartphone technology. While it might seem relatively outdated today, its offering of balanced features at a reasonable price point made it noteworthy during its release. It catered to a vast array of users, offering ample connectivity options, a competent camera setup, dependable performance, and robust battery life. Although discontinued, its influence is seen in how smartphones have continued to evolve, focusing on user-centric design and functionality.