Isn't it better to get the Korean version of the player?

[X-Nemesis]

Does it not have better specs...is it that it's too difficult to get shipped over here?

[CrowdAds]

[Sarracen]

It's not too much of a hassle to get one shipped over, but you would have to be willing to shell out about 30% more money.

In Korea, electronics are more expensive. The specs are a little bit better, but the main improvement (Mobile TV), isn't something you can use outside of Korea. Unless you desperately need 2 more megapixels on your camera, or HDMI out, I would say that it's not worth it.

[X-Nemesis]

So how does the 5.0 perform app wise and overall smoothness of operation with 512mb/RAM?

[flashpoint_1230]

As with all Android phones/PMPs, a portion of the available RAM is allocated for system functions. So in the case of the SGP5.0, 384 MB of RAM is available for general use. In the SGP4.0, that drops to 342 MB. Still, I don't see any problems. Full desktop YouTube runs fine, desktop websites load quickly and display fine, and apps run without lag. I even loaded a full 150page manga with all of the images loading at one time. 512 MB RAM is completely sufficient even for multitabbed browsing using the Dolphin browser. Btw, I'm typing this on my SGP5.0. :-)

[neao]

The Korean version can also shoot 720p as apposed to 480p for the other versions. As far as the ram there is 368MB available for apps and 128 reserved for the GPU but I haven't had any memory problems. If you were to get it I would suggest not upgrading to 2.3 yet as a few things have slowed down such as the camera sense the update and you don't really get any new functionality by upgrading to 2.3 from 2.2.

[Sarracen]

Quick list of things the Korean models have over the US models:

Korean 4.0 Vs US 4.0:

T-DMB (useless in US)
Android 2.3.6 (no significant differences from 2.3.5)
Tactile center button (personal preference)

Korean 5.0 vs US 5.0
5 Megapixel camera
Can shoot 720P video
HDMI out
T-DMB (Useless in US)
Android 2.3.6 (no significant differences from 2.3.5)
Tacticle center button (personal preference)

Please note that the RAM is exactly the same on the Korean devices as it is on the US devices. 512 MB advertised, 384 shown on device, usually about 240 free maximum at any given time (running 0 apps, with very few apps installed). The 384 to 512 is the running of the OS, I assume, and 384 down to 240 ish is things like the samsung keyboard, that are always running.

[niblifar]

Does the Korean 5.0 have a removable battery? I heard the US 5.0 has a non-removable built-in battery.

[Sarracen]

Originally Posted by niblifar

Does the Korean 5.0 have a removable battery? I heard the US 5.0 has a non-removable built-in battery.

Only the 4.0 has a removable battery, but the 5.0 in both models is relatively easy to get at - you just have to take a few screws out.