Galaxy Core Advance Boasts Cheap Price, Dedicated Buttons

Samsung Tuesday unveiled a new Galaxy smartphone aimed at customers looking for an Android device on the cheaper end of the price scale. The Galaxy Core Advance, which looks somewhat like an S3, will be rolling out in early 2014 alongside what the company called “dedicated accessories.”

Pricing is unclear so far, but hopefully the phone will be offered at a bargain since it really isn’t much to brag about. The Galaxy Core Advance boasts a WVGA display and will ship running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. The device is a little puzzling in terms of a selling proposition, and Samsung mostly talked up its ergonomics and dedicated buttons in the announcement.

“Galaxy Core Advance provides users with a premium design, sporting a large 4.7” display and a Soft Feel coated back cover that increases durability providing a warm, soft touch to the user and making it easier and more comfortable to grip,” Samsung wrote in a press release. “Dedicated keys for voice recorder, camera, volume, menu, home and power functions brings users who are less comfortable with a touch-screen experience seamless access to Galaxy Core Advance’s capabilities.” 

Appealing to users who are uncomfortable with touchscreen phones by selling them outdated touchscreen phones with special grips seems like a dubious notion, but maybe the phone is better in real life than it looks on paper, or maybe it’s extraordinarily cheap. In either case, it probably won’t be launching in the U.S., so you’ll need to go a bit out of the way to get your hands on one.

In addition to the dedicated buttons and special grip, Samsung also pointed out the phone’s accessibility features for users with disabilities, which are typically available on most smartphones anyway.

“To extend the Galaxy experience to more users Galaxy Core Advance also provides convenient usability functions and enhanced accessibility features for disabled and visually impaired users. Key usability and accessibility features include Optical Scan that automatically recognizes text from an image and reads it aloud to the user, Light Sensing technology that uses the device’s camera to sense light direction and brightness, and Instant Voice Recorder that offers simplified access to make quick voice notes.”

The Galaxy Core Advance will come in Deep Blue and Pearl White.