3 Star - not really a smartphone.

So why five (actually four and a half) stars? It's simple: I'm not from Big Brother Google (Android) collected, and lack GPS positioning can not create by me without further movement patterns and / or accurately send me advertising. Might sound a bit paranoid, but the long arm of Google enough by now in every little niche of daily life - and if Microsoft and Apple are better in this respect is not yet proven.

So here I have a proprietary operating system, which makes the Star 3 at a very practical device, but unfussy. The user interface is fairly self-explanatory and the touchscreen reacts very spontaneously and quickly to touches. It may be that this system is not any "smartphone" convinced -verwöhnten users. However, I come from "normal phone" and I'm thrilled.

In principle, the Star 3 can do everything a conventional middle-class mobile phone also can: You can make calls, SMS and MMS, make mediocre photos and tiny videos, listen to music (even FM radio) and the working day means a calendar manage (!). Add to that a few insignificant games, calculator, alarm clock, the usual stuff. The difference lies in the operation, and convinced me (until now the menus roamed only with a cursor cross) the most pleasant. The screen size (320x240px) is large enough and Brightness / Sharpness / Contrast is excellent for my (now over 50 years old) Eye.

The unit is wonderful in the hand and makes a high quality impression. Everything is processed squeaky clean. There are only three hardware keys with excellent tactile feedback at the Star 3, everything else is controlled via the screen. The display is surrounded by a chrome frames, the rest is black - unobtrusively elegant.

Can communicate the relatively petite unit course: Per-Fi, Bluetooth or USB data cable it can exchange data with the PC. Also via WLAN or course over the wireless network to get easily to the Internet. The device is effortless, the virtual QWERTY keyboard is actually quite easy and clear to use with my fat fingers. Of course, making even text messages easily by hand - the Tipperei on the conventional phone keypad has never opened up to me really. Anyone who wants can also chat, tweet and serve a large number of other social networks - everything is already pre-installed. For the Internet-visit there are still a little tidbit: Opera Mini, the ingenious browser on my PC for years giving good service in the Great, the people of Samsung have also packed it.

Let's look again at the ups and downs of the Star 3:

+ Elegant, high-quality processed device
+ Intuitive interface
+ Excellent touch screen with good sensitivity and representation
+ Good sounding, really loud speaker
+ Good connectivity
+ Memory expandable up to 16GB (Micro SD)
+ Good selection of pre-installed applications
+ Excellent price / performance ratio

- Really pitiful manual
- No automatic adjustment of the display position
- No data cable included (fits the Kindle by the way!)
- Common video formats are not supported (Youtube, etc. do not work)

Conclusion: The Samsung GT-S5220 Star 3 is not a smartphone that you constantly have to "Daddeln" in his hand. It is a completely normal cell phone, which can be extremely good use. Telephone, Internet, SMS, MMS, camera, music, radio, alarm clock, email, organizer, everything on board. For "kids" who are looking for a cheap pseudo-smartphone I can not recommend it (it's too convenient), but certainly for people middle to advanced age, which are also possibly something technology-averse. Operation is virtually self-explanatory. But (despite the minor for me smears, leading to half a star deduction) a strong buy recommendation!