In an effort to remain relevant in the increasingly-competitive smartphone market, Samsung has announced today that it will release the Samsung Galaxy Core, a low-cost alternative to the more high-end smartphones like the Note series and the S series. But do the specs really add up? Surprisingly, while not as high-tech as the more high-end offerings, the Core does provide a fair amount of nice options.

According to the website Trusted Reviews, the Core features a 4.7-inch display with a rather disappointing 480 x 800p HD display, up from the original Galaxy Core's 4.3-inch offering. Unfortunately, it only has Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, rather than Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or the latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS.

It runs on a dual-core 1.2GHz processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of microSD expandable internal storage. Offering a 2000mAh battery, the Galaxy Core Advance has NFC, Wi-Fi and GPS connectivity and is compatible with European 3G data bands. In the rear is a 5-megapixel camera with AutoFocus, which is complemented by a VGA front-facing offering for video calls, though the quality won't be that great. The Galaxy Core Advance weighs 145g and measures up at 133.3 x 70.5 x 9.7mm.

And, according to the Daily Mail (U.K.), the price of the Core is nothing if not competitive: the price will start at about 150 British pounds sterling (approximately $250), compared to the S series, which starts at about $600. The Core Advance does have two extra physical keys on the front of the device for 'users who are less comfortable with a touchscreen experience', according to Samsung's official release.

Elsewhere, it comes with a range of built-in apps and features including S Translator, Sound and Shot, which lets users add sounds to photos, and Group Play, that lets users stream music across multiple devices. The Core Advance will be available in Deep Blue and Pearl White.