Now (Jan '14) well past its prime now -- note its plummeting price -- clearly the price of $150 for a current purchase is "fair" - any more is not, but still (a) it's not a good phone for "rooting", due to its NZ version of the Samsung OS; (b) while it has some nice hardware features, for...

This was my first android phone and it was the worst experience I ever had. Android market was zooming and I decided to give it a try. Samsung being the leader in this race and a trusted product worldwide, I decided to buy this product.

With the Galaxy S III busy grabbing the headlines, a midrange smartphone has been making its way to a number of markets without much fanfare. But you can bet the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 won't settle for the role of just another sequel.

Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 no longer has the iPhone-like look of its predecessor. It gains more curves on the sides giving it an oval rather than a rectangular form. The home button located below the display is thinner and again, curvier than before.

is likely to steal most of the headlines this year but the company continues to expand its entire Galaxy range - even its budget models. The Galaxy Ace 2 is the successor to the and comes with a more powerful processor and a better screen.

Improved screen; More memory and bigger battery; Dual-core processor

No Ice Cream Sandwich software; No Australian release details

Great phone very cool

The amount of smartphones that Samsung has on the market is huge. In every segment it has several different models, so it's not shocking if you can't keep up with each release. The Samsung Ace 2 is a smartphone for the middle segment, for an average price of around £185.

Removing the rear of the case to access the battery and SIM card slot is easy, but highlights just how flimsy the rear panel is. While the components inside are suitably protected, it doesn't feel reassuringly solid, although this helps keeps the chassis thin and light.

Building on the market success of GALAXY Ace and GALAXY mini since their release last year, GALAXY Ace 2 and GALAXY mini 2 are ideal devices for users with active lifestyles who value individuality and style without compromising on performance or affordability.

All in all the Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 is a great mid-range smartphone for the price bracket. Despite the short comings in speaker quality and plastic back cover, this phone is great for a first time smartphone user.