Samsung Beam i8520 Features, Performance and Battery Life

The Samsung Beam i8520 is a feature-packed device that's sure to impress. It comes with a 5-megapixel camera, perfect for capturing life's precious moments.

One of the standout features of the Samsung Beam i8520 is its ability to project images and videos onto any surface using its built-in projector. This is made possible by the device's 15 lumens projector, which is surprisingly bright and clear.

The Samsung Beam i8520 also has a generous 3.2-inch touchscreen display, making it easy to navigate and interact with the device.

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The Samsung Beam i8520's software is a letdown, running on Android 2.1, which is a pretty outdated version.

The device lacks some advanced features found in later Android versions, and its user-friendly interface is somewhat compromised because of it.

The Beam is also equipped with an accelerometer and proximity sensors, which enhance its interactivity and overall user experience.

Unfortunately, the phone's firmware is running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which is about to celebrate its two-year anniversary, and there's simply no excuse for a modern smartphone to be running an antiquated OS, even if it is an entry-level device.

You get the same standard-grade TouchWiz 4.0 UI that first shipped on the Galaxy S II, which is not tied to any specific carrier, so you won't have to worry about any frustrating bloatware.

Hardware is the physical part of a computer system, and it's made up of various components that work together to process information.

A CPU, or central processing unit, is the brain of the computer, responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations.

It's typically measured in GHz, with higher numbers indicating faster processing speeds.

RAM, or random access memory, is a type of computer storage that temporarily holds data and applications while the CPU processes them.

A minimum of 4 GB is recommended for most users, but more is always better for heavy users.

Storage devices, such as hard drives and solid state drives, hold data and programs on a computer.

A hard drive is a traditional storage device that uses spinning disks and mechanical heads to read and write data.

In contrast, a solid state drive uses flash memory to store data, making it faster and more reliable.

Graphics cards are specialized hardware that handle graphics and video processing, and they come in different types, including integrated and dedicated.

Integrated graphics cards are built into the CPU, while dedicated graphics cards are separate components that provide better performance.

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The Galaxy Beam's software is a bit of a letdown, considering its hardware. It's running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which is an outdated OS.

This build of Google's mobile OS is about to celebrate its two-year anniversary, which is quite surprising for a modern smartphone. There's simply no excuse for a device of this caliber to be running such an antiquated OS.

The device is equipped with the standard-grade TouchWiz 4.0 UI, which is the same version that first shipped on the Galaxy S II. This UI allows for some customization, such as adding folders into the standard app menu.

You won't have to worry about carrier-specific bloatware on the Beam, which is a good thing since it's not so easy to get rid of unwanted apps on Gingerbread. The worst-case scenario is that you can tuck annoying apps out of the way by adding folders.

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The Samsung Beam i8520 has a range of impressive features that make it a great device to own.

It comes equipped with a 3.5 mm audio jack, allowing you to plug in your favorite headphones and enjoy your music without any hassle. The integrated DNSe (Digital Natural Sound Engine) ensures that your audio experience is top-notch.

In addition to its audio capabilities, the Samsung Beam i8520 also offers a range of other features, including social networking integration with live updates, Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Talk integration, making it easy to stay connected and productive on the go.

Some of the key features of the Samsung Beam i8520 can be summarized in the following table:

The Galaxy Beam has a decent external memory capacity, supporting up to 32GB micro SDHC cards.

Fring and Nimbuzz work on the Galaxy Beam, but you might need to update Fring to get it working.

To change the keyboard, simply tap and hold on the text field for 1 second, and then select the desired input method.

The latest baseband version, I8520DXJI1, has fixed the frozen screen problem, so make sure to check your baseband version in Settings.

The Galaxy Beam's keypad can be changed, but you need to tap and hold on the text field for 1 second to access the Input method settings.

The phone's memory can be a bit small, causing it to slow down when running multiple applications.

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The device's battery life is quite impressive, with up to 630 hours of standby time.

This is thanks to its removable Li-Ion 1800 mAh battery, which is a standard size that's easy to replace with a spare if needed.

On 2G networks, you can expect talk time of up to 14 hours, which is plenty for a day's use.

In contrast, 3G networks offer a slightly shorter talk time of up to 7 hours.

The removable design of the battery is a thoughtful touch, allowing users to carry spare batteries for prolonged usage.

The Galaxy series offers a range of features that enhance the user experience. The 3.5 mm audio jack is a standard feature, allowing users to connect their headphones or earbuds for personal listening.

The phone also comes with an Integrated DNSe (Digital Natural Sound Engine) that provides a more immersive audio experience. This feature is particularly useful for watching videos or listening to music.

Social networking integration with live updates keeps users connected to their friends and family. The phone also comes with Google Search, Maps, and Gmail, making it easy to stay organized and connected.

In addition to these features, the phone also comes with YouTube, Google Talk integration, and an MP3/WMA/WAV/eAAC+ player. This means users can enjoy their favorite music and videos on the go.

The phone also has a built-in MP4/H.263/H.264/Xvid/DivX player, allowing users to watch videos in various formats. An Image editor is also available, making it easy to edit and share photos.

Other useful features include TV out, Organizer, and Voice memo. The phone also has a T9 feature, which is useful for those who prefer a physical keyboard.

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The camera on this phone is a 5-megapixel shooter with a VGA front-facing camera. These specs are typical of lower-end smartphones.

You can customize the settings sidebar with the features you use the most, making it easy to access your favorite settings. Tap the viewfinder to lock focus but not exposure, or hold down the shutter button to lock both focus and exposure.

The camera has a focal length of 3.54mm and an f/2.6 aperture. In daylight, lighter colors were typically washed out, while the white balance appeared to favor a shift toward yellow.

Low-light images actually turned out well, so long as we used the dedicated low-light scene mode. This is a big plus for a lower-end camera.

The LED flash enabled the camera to capture more color than we anticipated, which is a nice surprise.

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The Samsung Beam i8520 has you covered with its reliable connectivity features. It supported GSM and HSPA network technologies.

With Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, you can seamlessly connect to wireless networks at home, at work, or in public hotspots. Bluetooth 3.0 allows for easy pairing with other devices.

The GPS with A-GPS functionality on this device makes navigation a breeze, helping you find your way even in unfamiliar areas.

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The Samsung Beam i8520 packs a punch when it comes to battery life, with a removable Li-Ion 1800 mAh battery that's designed for prolonged usage.

This battery design allows users to swap in a spare battery when the one in use starts to run low, making it perfect for long trips or extended periods of use.

You can expect up to 630 hours of standby time, which is impressive, and talk times of up to 14 hours on 2G networks and 7 hours on 3G.

The battery life of this device is quite impressive, with a removable Li-Ion 1800 mAh battery that can last up to 630 hours on standby.

This means you can go a long time without needing to recharge, which is perfect for those long trips or busy days.

On 2G networks, you can enjoy talk time of up to 14 hours, giving you plenty of time to catch up with friends and family.

However, on 3G networks, talk time is slightly shorter, at up to 7 hours, so you may need to recharge more frequently in areas with slower networks.

The removable design of the battery is also a huge plus, allowing you to carry spare batteries for prolonged usage and never be stuck without power.

The Samsung Beam's price varies by market, but in the UK, it's available for £270 ($430).

In the UK, the Samsung Beam is priced at £270, which is £20 more than the Galaxy S Advance.

The Samsung Beam is also available in France, Singapore, India, and Brazil.

US customers can import an unlocked model with AT&T-compatible 3G.