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Samsung Wave II review

7.1/10 AVG.
RATING
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Samsung Wave II
Samsung Wave II
Samsung Wave II
Samsung Wave II
...


7.1/10
Informr score
The Samsung Wave II currently has an Informr score of 7.1 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 8 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The successor to the original Wave, the Samsung Wave 2 features a large 3.7 inch display, generating 480 x 800 powerful pixels. Under the hood is a 1,000MHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, making the Wave is as powerful as it is feature-savvy.

Packed into its thin profile you'll find a 5MP camera with LED flash, Hi-Def video record, MP3 player with music recognition, FM radio, full HTML internet browser (Dolfin 2.0), and native support for Facebook and Twitter.

Rounding out the feature set is GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, 3.5mm headset jack and memory expansion up to 32GB.

The Samsung Wave 2 has a talk time up to 6.8 hours and a standby time up to 620 hours.


Bada OS
Operating system
Operating system
Bada OS
1 GHz
Processor
Processor
1 GHz
3.7"
Screen Size
Screen Size
3.7"
5+ MP
Camera
Camera
5+ MP
1500 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GSMArena
GSMArena

If you have the feeling the Wave II came out of nowhere you’re not alone. This is not your usual upgrade – it’s an emergency response to what might one day be known as the 2010 SuperAMOLED crisis. Just kidding really, but we guess it always helps to keep good humor when things don&...

- GSMArena Team, GSMArena
Cnet
Cnet

The Samsung Wave 2 has plenty of positive points, from its gorgeous screen to its solid, handsome case. But its modest software suffers from a few irritating quirks. If you're after apps and games, you could snap up an Android phone, like the Samsung Galaxy Ace, for roughly the same price. The Ace o...

- Flora Graham , Cnet
Mobile88
Mobile88

In this age of instant gratification, frustration with the lack of options remains the biggest hesitation for anyone thinking of jumping on board the Bada OS. But then again, there's power in numbers and this new imagining of the Wave is a shrewd move on Samsung's part to bring its own OS to a wider...

- Goh Xi Ning, Mobile88
Pocket-lint
Pocket-lint

A solidly decent smart phone though it’s not necessarily much cheaper than comparable Androids.

- Dave Oliver, Pocket-lint
T3
T3

In summary, we've mixed feelings about the Samsung Wave. It's not a massive update to the original Wave and certainly not worth upgrading too. However it's well built, the screen is excellent (although we'd still have liked Super AMOLED) and the UI is intuitive. However the browser really needs impr...

- Hannah Bouckley, T3


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Wave II user manual here.


Samsung backs up the Wave II with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Wave II has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Quick view

Screen Size
3.7"

The Samsung Wave II's screen size is 3.7 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1 GHz

There is a ARM Cortex A8 1 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
5+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 5+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera useful for video chat and self portraits.

Storage
2 GB

Internal memory is 2 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
1500mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1500 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 33.5 days standby time, 410 minutes.

Wave II Specs

Overview
Release Date November 15, 2010
Regions Available USA, Canada
Operating System No

Compare Bada OS Smartphones

Processor ARM Cortex A8 1 GHz
Internal Storage 2 GB
RAM No
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.625 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Headset, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA 3.6, HSUPA
Mobile / Cellular Data
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 3.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot No
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Smile detection
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, DivX, XviD
Video Recording Parameters
HD (1280 x 720 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (TFT)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density Unknown
Size 3.7 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer
Multi-Touch No
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features TouchWiz UI 3.0, Scratch-resistant oleophobic surface, Multi-touch input method
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1500 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Unknown
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Unknown
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 410 minutes
Standby Time Up to 33.5 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Colors Ebony Gray
Dimensions [H x W x D] 12.4 x 6.0 x 1.2 cm (4.9 x 2.4 x 0.5 in)
Weight 135 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, IM
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Any Key Answer: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
DLNA Support: Yes
Java Application: Yes
Audio Formats: MP3, eAAC+, WAV, QCP
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, DivX, XviD
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Radio: Yes (FM)
Wi-fi Encryption: -
Games: Yes
Apps: No
Included Software / Apps: Picsel document viewer, Image Editor
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Samsung S8530
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Wave II Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Wave II
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