Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2

The for the price no one expected to expect a high-end device, I set times ahead - and I do not. The device is suitable better or worse, only depending on the type and purpose of use.

Positive is definitely:
- The design. Okay, it's plastic, but it has to be bad. Metal frame there not at the price and plastics reduces the weight of the device, which is also so its design is not necessarily the easiest and most pleasing. The back and side panels are corrugated, the device is good "in hand", thick frames and corners protect it when things "down thunders" even tougher soils, the connections are sealed, that tolerate water, heat and dust can, I like to believe, although I have not tested it.
- The display is just barely adequate in terms of size and resolution
- The hardware is far from luxurious, but the unit still sufficient
- The battery life is really good, much better than in some high-end devices
- GPS fix is ​​immediate and very accurate, even inside buildings
-. Reception in 2G and 3G networks is - as far as I can tell - very good, really top quality telephony.
- To mention positive is still the torch trigger even with locked screen by pressing a button
- The speaker is surprisingly good, the FM radio also allows you record a program (I have seen except for Samsung nor on any smartphone)
- The battery is replaced, the memory expandable, photos, movies and music can be easily outsource

Mies is really:
- The camera. Please do not expect miracles! As notches on the go and at times to document an accident adequate but nothing for Ambitious. VCR is good again, even allows simultaneous recording of video and photo.
- It browses very slowly, the page layout takes a long time, the joy of web browsing goes fast.

But what really does not work in 2014 and the device for any ambitious smartphone usage is the death blow to the very very limited memory!
4 GiB will be installed, after initial power 980 MB were free, the device immediately calls a software update and update countless preinstalled apps. If you have done all this, 140 MB are only more free and the device so that "finished". After installing 2-3 other apps, the equipment left the service, with reference to the filled memory.

I know I should not clutter up with apps a "outdoor Smartphone"; Games are here eh not with sufficient performance to run (people who want to, like, please look elsewhere), but that is nothing to install 2-3 apps really small is an absurdity, Samsung!

Again, one would really 4 GiB can provide the user with freely available, which would have coped with the device, the hardware could handle that and the price of a little more memory would not get out of hand.

That what the device here obviously breaks his neck, is the structure of Samsung's "bloatware" in combination with the Android operating system. That Samsung's device is like stuffing with a lot of software well known, is not criticized by me here (is often also positive), but if a 0815 smartphone like this really all software gimmicks (like SPlanner, SSuggest, Smart Stay, Smart must break etc. pp.), I doubt it. It also comes as the fact that many applications are twice on the device.
So I have eg the "Internet" app from Samsung and "Chrome" from Google to browse.
I have "Music Hub" of Samsung and "Google Play Music" Listen to music from Google.
I "Video Hub" of Samsung and "Google Play videos" of Google to look at movies.
I have the photos to look at "Gallery" app from Samsung and "photos" of Google and sort.
I have "Games Hub" of Samsung and "Play Games" by Google.
I "messages" from Samsung and "Hangouts" Google ... etc.
And none of these double Lottie can I uninstall!
Fortunately Samsung has no own maps app and Google does not install their own camera, then we would be using the space in the negative numbers. And although almost no files will fit on the device, I have a file browser to me to look at this.

To play my MP3's I can choose between 2 apps that I want to play them. Just at the videos, photos, games, ... - usually pure luxury, for a device with such a limited-space absolutely deadly!

Especially for big games and movies here anyway There is no capacity for lack of memory, high-resolution display and limited hardware! Why then still 2 Apps for must have, I do not need and that I can not delete, have to tell me someone from Samsung. One would be better placed here on Stock Android, or you would have the software must adapt to the circumstances of the instrument, but as it is, it could not be!
In addition, some apps from Samsung themselves are no longer maintained. "Chat on" for example will no longer be supported. I can not use the app, but I can not delete it. Just Music Hub and SSuggest uw - please now no references to a root or the like, here it comes to assess the unit in the state as it arrives at the customer and usually not about what I myself "zusammenfrickeln" can.

I have some apps disabled, or to factory state (in terms of updates) and lots of files deleted (so are some of Samsung sample images and a video (together ü60 MB that nobody needs) installed) and after installing 5-6 Apps that I consider 200 MB free necessary. The device can be used as and serve, but the point of it? WhatsApp is it, an app for the transport, to an from the ADAC, one for news, an a ready for emails, for banking transactions. Facebook has no place, Twitter has no place, Instagram has no place as a single game I've installed.

In summary, one can say you get here a really good phone. The sound is clear, the reception good. The battery is super, to navigation, the device is ideally suited. One can manage his contacts / events / notes and sometimes short to research into the net for something. Also Read (pdf) is still quite eye safe. SMS, WA, EMail everything works. Tap going quite well, the virtual characters have a sufficient size. You can take the device good radio (with recording function!) And MP3's hearing, and quite passable record photos, the browser dominated even Adobe Flash. As a secondary device like me really good, especially when things go out and a 500 unit would be a shame. That was it but also. If that's enough, I can the Galaxy Xcover 2 from Samsung really highly recommended, especially for the price.

A little tip here's the same to me: You should go in and think about what you need exactly and truly. I have long smartphones, have installed on my Lumia 930 more than 150 apps, but how many of them I need daily? 5? or 6 ?. Do I really need a web app? - Easy [...] in the browser and set the page via shortcut on the homescreen, finished the "App". Do I really need Spiegel Online? - First, Flipboard is installed and not bad either, secondly, [...] call in the browser and use the shortcut on the homescreen, finished the mirror "app". Is somewhat cumbersome, but saves space and also works the same way with GMX, freenet, web.de, Facebook, Twitter, the Savings Bank, and so on.

But who really intends as such also to use a smartphone only rudimentary, who really want to do with good quality photos and post them, who wants to surf the net really intense, who can not live without Candy Crush and Angry Birds, who necessarily all frills needs of smart phones makes so beautiful, who still want to have an actual device in 2-3 years, that still is able to-date apps up and running, which is here definitely wrong and should look around somewhere else please.

I vacillate with the rating between 2-3 stars. Normal it would actually 4 because it is really good suitable for the purpose for which it was built, but by the Winzakku are really 2-3 star deducted and Samsung punished by a non-sale.