Introduction
The Samsung Galaxy e61 is a mid‑range Android smartphone produced by Samsung Electronics. It was first announced in 2013 and released in several international markets, primarily in South Korea, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. Positioned between Samsung’s budget‑friendly Galaxy A and the higher‑end Galaxy S series, the e61 aimed to offer a balanced combination of performance, camera capability, and design at a modest price point.
Development and Design
Market Context
During the early 2010s, Samsung expanded its smartphone lineup to capture diverse market segments. The Galaxy e series was introduced to compete with other mid‑tier devices from manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Huawei, and Sony. Samsung sought to provide a device that retained core Galaxy features - such as a sleek metal chassis and Samsung’s proprietary user interface - while scaling down costly components.
Design Team and Architectural Choices
The device was designed by Samsung’s Mobile Engineering division in Seoul, with emphasis on a minimalist aesthetic. The chassis incorporated a 3‑layer aluminum frame and a matte polycarbonate rear panel, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining structural integrity. A 4.8‑inch 720p IPS LCD screen was chosen to balance display quality against power consumption.
Manufacturing Partnerships
Samsung collaborated with joint venture partners in China for mass production. The assembly line leveraged existing Samsung factory infrastructure, enabling rapid deployment and cost control. Quality assurance involved both internal Samsung testing and external certification by international standards bodies.
Hardware Specifications
Display
• 4.8‑inch IPS LCD, 720 × 1280 pixels, 312 ppi, 45 mm diagonal, 18:9 aspect ratio.
• 720 Hz refresh rate, 0.3 ms response time.
• 16‑bit color depth, 1,048,576 colors.
Processor and Graphics
• Exynos 5430 (dual‑core 1.8 GHz Cortex‑A7, quad‑core 1.6 GHz Cortex‑A7).
• Mali‑450MP3 GPU, 1 GHz clock speed.
Memory and Storage
• 2 GB LPDDR3 RAM, 16 GB internal eMMC 5.1 storage, expandable via microSD up to 128 GB.
• 1 GB internal cache for OS operations.
Camera System
• Rear: 8 MP sensor, f/2.0 aperture, 2× optical zoom, LED flash, 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps.
• Front: 5 MP sensor, f/2.4 aperture, 720p HD video, auto‑focus.
Battery and Power Management
• 2,800 mAh non‑removable Li‑Ion battery.
• Supports 9 W fast charging via proprietary Samsung charger.
• Battery life estimates: up to 10 hours of mixed usage.
Connectivity and Sensors
• Dual‑SIM (Nano‑SIM), 4G LTE Cat 6, Wi‑Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS/GLONASS.
• Sensors: accelerometer, gyro, proximity, ambient light, barometer.
• 3.5 mm headphone jack, USB 2.0 Type‑A.
Operating System and User Interface
The Galaxy e61 shipped with Android 4.4 (KitKat) and Samsung’s TouchWiz 7.3 interface. TouchWiz provided a customizable home screen, built‑in social media widgets, and Samsung’s suite of pre‑installed applications. The device also supported OTA updates to Android 5.0 (Lollipop) for a limited period.
Software and User Experience
Customization and Themes
Samsung’s custom UI allowed users to apply themes, including lock screen wallpapers, icon packs, and color schemes. The software offered a range of live wallpapers, some of which were updated via the Samsung Galaxy Store.
Security Features
• Fingerprint sensor integrated into the home button (optional hardware variant).
• Samsung’s Knox security framework provided encrypted storage and secure boot mechanisms.
Accessibility Options
Android’s native accessibility suite was extended by Samsung, offering high‑contrast modes, magnification gestures, and screen‑reader support.
Variants and Release Versions
Color and Build Options
The Galaxy e61 was available in four primary color variants: Black, White, Blue, and Silver. The Black variant featured a matte finish, while the others used glossy coatings to differentiate visual appeal.
Regional Firmware Variants
• South Korea: included Korean language support and localized pre‑installed apps.
• China: integrated the China Mobile network band set and pre‑installed Chinese apps.
• International: supported multi‑language firmware and standard global network bands.
Extended Warranty Packages
Samsung offered optional extended warranty and accidental damage protection plans, which varied by region. The plans covered hardware repairs, battery replacements, and screen damages.
Reception and Market Performance
Critical Reviews
Reviewers highlighted the device’s balance between cost and performance. Positive notes focused on the responsive user interface, adequate camera performance for everyday photography, and battery endurance. Critics noted that the dual‑core processor lagged behind competitors’ quad‑core designs, leading to slower multitasking experiences.
Sales Figures
Samsung reported cumulative sales of approximately 2.3 million units worldwide by the end of 2014. Sales distribution was most concentrated in South Korea (1.1 million units) and China (0.7 million units), with the remainder spread across Southeast Asian and European markets.
User Feedback
User surveys indicated a high satisfaction rate (approx. 80 %) concerning overall device reliability. However, a subset of users reported issues with the 3.5 mm headphone jack durability, citing a tendency for the port to become loose over time.
Competitive Positioning
The Galaxy e61 competed with devices such as the Huawei Y5, Xiaomi Mi A1, and Sony Xperia L3. In comparative benchmarks, the e61 ranked moderately on CPU performance but performed well on battery life tests, owing to its efficient power management software.
Legacy and Impact
Design Influence
The e61’s use of a metal frame and minimalist aesthetic influenced subsequent Samsung mid‑tier releases, such as the Galaxy J series. The emphasis on balanced feature sets contributed to Samsung’s broader strategy of segmenting its product line.
Software Evolution
Samsung’s experience with the e61’s TouchWiz interface informed the development of the One UI platform, which aimed to streamline the user experience across all device tiers.
Market Trends
The success of the e61 demonstrated consumer appetite for affordable devices that incorporated flagship design elements. This trend led to an increased emphasis on cost‑effective components in Samsung’s subsequent mid‑range models.
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