Samsung Galaxy Core review: Two for one

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Core is equipped with a 4.3" WVGA (480 x 800) TFT display, which is good for around 217 ppi. While it's far from the sharpest display around it's still good at arm's length. Colors come out good, but are nowhere near AMOLED levels and the screen falters when pit side by side with a Galaxy S4 mini, for instance.

The Galaxy Core display

The pixel arrangement is nothing out of the ordinary by LCD standards - a standard RGB matrix, although the pixels are slightly larger this time due to the relatively low density.

The display under a microscope

When it comes to the contrast the display of the Samsung Galaxy Core is rather lacking at both 50% and 100% brightness settings. Blacks aren't very deep but brightness is okay.

Display test	50% brightness			100% brightness
	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio	Black, cd/m2	White, cd/m2	Contrast ratio
Samsung Galaxy Core	0.29	236	811	0.51	430	842
HTC One mini	0.15	177	1197	0.50	685	1361
HTC Desire 600	0.18	200	1106	0.46	532	1161
Samsung Galaxy S4 mini	0	166	∞	0	396	∞
Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4	0	201	∞	0	404	∞
Oppo Find 5	0.17	176	1123	0.51	565	1107
Samsung N7100 Galaxy Note II	0	215	∞	0	402	∞
LG Optimus G Pro	-	-	-	0.41	611	1489
Nokia Lumia 920	-	-	-	0.48	513	1065
LG Optimus G	0.14	197	1445	0.33	417	1438
Nexus 4	0.22	314	1447	0.45	608	1341
Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III	0	174	∞	0	330	∞
Apple iPhone 5	0.13	200	1490	0.48	640	1320

The next test shows the display's contrast in bright light, indicating what kind of performance you can expect when you take the phone outside on a bright sunny day. The Samsung Galaxy Core posted a below average score - it's not the worst phone and you'll be able to operate it but you'll need to work a bit to find a proper angle.

Sunlight contrast ratio

• Nokia 808 PureView
  4.698
• Apple iPhone 5
  3.997
• Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
  3.419
• Nokia Lumia 925
  3.402
• Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
  3.352
• Samsung Omnia W
  3.301
• Samsung Galaxy S
  3.155
• Samsung Galaxy S4 mini
  3.127
• Samsung Galaxy S4 zoom
  3.118
• Nokia N9
  3.069
• Samsung Galaxy Note
  2.970
• HTC One S
  2.901
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  2.832
• Samsung Galaxy S II Plus
  2.801
• Huawei Ascend P1
  2.655
• Sony Xperia ZR
  2.672
• Nokia Lumia 900
  2.562
• Nokia Lumia 720
  2.512
• HTC One
  2.504
• Sony Xperia Z
  2.462
• Samsung Galaxy S III mini
  2.422
• Motorola RAZR i
  2.366
• Samsung Galaxy Note II
  2.307
• Apple iPhone 4S
  2.269
• HTC Desire 600 dual sim
  2.262
• HTC One X
  2.158
• Nokia N8
  2.144
• Oppo Find 5
  2.088
• BlackBerry Z10
  2.051
• Apple iPhone 4
  2.016
• HTC One mini
  2.003
• Sony Ericsson Xperia ray
  1.955
• Samsung Galaxy Camera
  1.938
• HTC Butterfly
  1.873
• Huawei Ascend P6
  1.865
• Sony Xperia V
  1.792
• Sony Xperia U
  1.758
• LG Optimus 4X HD
  1.691
• HTC One V
  1.685
• BlackBerry Q5
  1.682
• LG Optimus Vu
  1.680
• LG Optimus GJ
  1.666
• HTC Desire V
  1.646
• Samsung Galaxy Core
  1.563
• LG Optimus G Pro
  1.552
• LG Optimus 3D
  1.542
• Nokia Asha 302
  1.537
• Nokia Lumia 610
  1.432
• Gigabyte GSmart G1355
  1.361
• HTC Desire C
  1.300
• Nokia Asha 501
  1.270
• LG Optimus L7
  1.269
• LG Optimus L9
  1.227
• Meizu MX
  1.221
• Sony Xperia E dual
  1.203
• Samsung Galaxy Pocket
  1.180
• Sony Xperia tipo
  1.166
• Samsung Galaxy mini 2
  1.114

You can find all about our display testing routines here.