Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 Pro Reviews

By now, you have probably gathered that while there isn't much wrong with the Galaxy Player 4.2, we feel Samsung could have tried harder. As we've noted throughout this review, 100 percent of the functionality of this device is available in any recent smartphone. Therefore, for this device to shine, it really should smack its core features. It doesn't. If the music player had been exceptional, or the screen wonderfully crisp, then we could see how this might stand alone as a media player. But Samsung chose not to do any of those things, and instead turned out something that sadly feels like the spare parts left over from various phones. Given that the 8GB model stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the iPod touch price-wise (the latter being older, granted), you'd have thought there would be a few features to swing any decision in its favor. As it happens, it really comes down to whether you prefer Android, want GPS, and the option to expand the memory.

With a much better screen than the Galaxy Player 3.6, and more compact and portable than the Galaxy Player 5.0, the Galaxy Player 4.2 represents a comfortable mid-point for those seeking the "Goldilocks zone" of a good iPod Touch-style device at a reasonable price. Although it's true that you can step up to a more powerful 7-inch Galaxy Tab for just $50 more, the Galaxy Player is portable and convenient in ways that a tablet never will be, being easily pocketable or tucked into a purse or glove compartment. And while it seems a little cheap at times, it delivers a full Android experience for a lot less than what a smartphone would cost you, and that alone will make the sale to a lot of people.

While there's nothing inherently wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 and the concept of a cellular (and contract) free Android device is admirable, it's doomed to be a niche product aimed at entertaining kids whose parents are already fans of Google's mobile ecosystem. Samsung could soon find its niche even smaller thanks to Google's Nexus 7 tablet, which offers better hardware and a larger display at the same price. While Apple's iPod sales have slowly receded since the dawn of the iPad, Samsung has no such wildly successful tablet to fall back on. For those squarely in the niche, the Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 is a capable media player, offering a decent mix of style and expandability at a competitive price – particularly for users not tied into the iTunes ecosystem.

The question isn't really if the Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 4.2 is a good MP3 player. Because it is. It's also a great app, game and internet device. In fact, if it had 3G it would be a great phone too. And therein lies our one major issue with it: in most cases, it would simply be better to buy a Samsung mobile phone, and not all that much more expensive either. But assuming you want something just for music, then we think you'll be very happy with the Galaxy S. It's a solid little device, with a pleasant finish and a lovely screen. Sound quality is, thankfully, excellent, and therefore listening to it is a pleasure. A limited processor means that you might struggle with the most recent, graphically intensive games, but even so, there is plenty of casual gaming to be done here, which should please the target audience.

The Galaxy Player 4.2 is a good all-around performer with a nice big screen, strong audio and video performance, solid gaming options, and passable rear- and front-facing cameras. For the price of an iPod touch, you can have a larger screen, front-facing speakers, and expandable memory. For buyers seeking an Android-powered alternative, the Galaxy Player 4.2 is the best choice.

The Galaxy Player 4.2 is a good all-around performer with a nice big screen, strong audio and video performance, solid gaming options, and passable rear- and front-facing cameras. For the price of an iPod Touch, you can have a larger screen, front-facing speakers, and expandable memory. For buyers seeking an Android-powered alternative, the Galaxy Player 4.2 is the best choice.

So far, the Galaxy Player 4.2 is my favorite of the entire Galaxy Player line. Its street price is sure to drop below that of the iPod Touch (which is as it should be). Its audio quality and hardware features will please those looking for a surefooted media player. The Android experience isn't hobbled or twisted, even if it is a little dated. If you can look beyond the disappointing camera and camcorder quality, I believe that this is the iPod Touch alternative that Android fans have been waiting for. It probably won't make iPod fans envious, but this Galaxy Player can finally hold its own.

We’ve said it before people and we’ll continue to say it again – well, that’s unless a future variant is outfitted with better hardware. On the outside, it’s fairly evident that the Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 is a beefy looking dedicated media device, but inside, it doesn’t proudly see any love whatsoever as it sports the same set of hardware that’s used on the Galaxy Player 3.6. Taking into account that this is $50 more, we definitely appreciate the larger display and better build quality of the Galaxy Player 4.2. In the end, though, it’s still lacking the value that’s found with some of the sub-$200 priced prepaid Android smartphones out there – so yeah, you’d better invest in one instead.

A viable Apple iPod touch alternative, the Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 is a great way to run Android apps without buying a smartphone.