Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy Ace is a medium sized handset, measuring 112.4 x 59 x 11.5mm. It easily slips into most pockets, and after a while is easy to forget it's even there. It's fairly light, at 113 grams, but feels still feels sturdy. The single physical button on the front of the handset has a definite click to it, and doesn't move from side to side at all. The story's the same for the power button and volume rocker around the shiny metallic rim. The cover over the microUSB port also has a very definite click into place, but requires some force to get it to start sliding across. The microSD port cover can feel like it's to big for the gap when putting it back on, but when closed feels very firm and solid. The two interchangeable backs that come with the Galaxy Ace both feel firm and sturdy, but I do get the feeling I'm going to snap them when trying to get them off.

All in all, for the bargain price of the Galaxy Ace, the build quality is fantastic.

The Screen

The screen on the Samsung Galaxy Ace is of the same standard and size as the iPhone 3G/3GS or the iPod touch 1st, 2nd or 3rd gen. It's very bright and has very saturated colour. Blacks are deep, but not quite as dark as sAMOLED screens like on the Galaxy S2. It's very responsive, and is capacitive. It's not the biggest screen on an android device, but is very usable, but doesn't restrict the phone from being compact. In sunlight it handles very well at is clearly visible.

For comparison, the screen on the Galaxy Ace is much like the apple iPhone/iPod touch screens before they started using retina displays. The only downside to this screen is that it drains battery life very quickly on full brightness, but from an LCD backlit display this is expected.