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What's hot: All the Android smartphone goodies minus the phone. What's not: Slow single core CPUs, Galaxy Player 3.6 screen is poor.
Reviewed June 6, 2012 by Lisa Gade, Editor in Chief (twitter: @lisagade) Dedicated portable media players aren't dead yet, and we have a feeling as long as Apple still sells the iPod Touch in decent numbers competitors will continue to offer alternatives. Samsung's line of Galaxy Players are dedicated media players that run Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread and effectively offer everything you'd find on a low to mid-range Android smartphone except the cell phone. The Players are perfect for kids who keep borrowing your smartphone to play games, view websites and check email and social network messages. If you're one of those folks who refuses to give up your feature phone but you want some of those smartphone goodies, the Galaxy Player could be for you. It's WiFi-only and requires no contract or data plan.
Both players are made of plastic, and the Galaxy Player 4.2 has a gloss piano black back that adores fingerprints. The Player 3.6 is understated gunmetal gray. Neither looks particularly chic or unique. They have a 3.5mm headphone jack (earbuds included), a micro USB port for charging and data transfer (MTP and mass storage are supported for media transfer), volume controls and a power button. The battery is removable.
Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 The Display is Key Not too long ago we reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0, and now Samsung has two new smaller players, the $199 Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 and the $149 Galaxy Player 3.6. The numbers indicate display size, and the screen is the significant differentiator between the two. The Player 4.2 has an 800 x 480 LED backlit display that's similar in quality to what you'd find on a mid-range Android smartphone. The Galaxy Player 3.6 is HVGA 320 x 480 resolution with a TN panel. While the display size difference between the two models isn't huge, the quality is: the 4.2 has a pleasing looking display while the 3.6's TN panel is grainy, has poor viewing angles and seems to scintillate if you move it a tiny bit. Do your eyes a favor (and your kid's): don't get the Galaxy Player 3.6. That $50 you saved over the Galaxy Player 4.2 will come back to haunt you in eye doctor bills.
Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 What's Inside? Low Octane But Good Enough Both players have identical internals. They have a 1GHz single core CPU, 8 gigs of storage, a microSD card slot compatible with cards up to 32 gigs, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and a GPS. They have front VGA cameras for video chat and a rear 2.0MP camera. Each has a 1500 mAh Lithium Ion battery that's user replaceable and they come with a charger, microUSB cable and stereo earbuds with inline music controls.
Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2
Though they can't make calls over the cellular network, they can make VoIP voice and video calls using Skype, Google Talk and other Internet-based calling apps. Likewise there's no SMS since there's no cell radio, but there are third party Internet-based apps that offer SMS services. It's very unlikely the Players will get an upgrade to Android 4.0 ICS.
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