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Samsung Galaxy S2 review

By Julian Prokaza, 16 May 2011

Rating:

Price as reviewed:£440 ex VAT from www.clove.co.uk

The new Samsung Galaxy S2 is an impressive smartphone, but is it enough to tempt Julian Prokaza away from his iPhone? Read on to find out.

Android may potentially pose a serious threat to the success of Apple’s mobile devices, but we’ve still to see an Android smartphone that could compete on equal terms with the iPhone 4. At the risk of giving the game away before this review is even underway, however, the Samsung Galaxy S II might just be the model that can.

This smartphone is something special and that is apparent straight from the box. Its most striking feature is its thickness — or lack of it. If not for a small bulge at the bottom end and around the rear camera lens, the Samsung Galaxy S II would measure a mere 8.7mm front to back and the slight 116g weight only adds to the allure.

Sadly, while Samsung clearly knows how to design a premium smartphone, it’s yet to figure out how to make it and the all-plastic case feels cheap and slippery in the hand. Of particular concern was the flimsy back panel that has to be awkwardly prised off to get at the battery, SIM and microSD card slots, but this snaps back into place with such a snug fit that it's unlikely to cause a problem.

That said, we soon forgot about the preponderance of plastic when we switched on the Samsung Galaxy S II. The front is one vast expanse of Gorilla Glass screen that’s 4.3in from corner to corner and the Super AMOLED Plus display beneath it is a marvel to behold. The ‘Plus’ denotes an improvement over the old PenTile Matrix technology used on the Samsung Galaxy S and other AMOLED phones. In short, this improved display technology uses a full complement of RGB sub-pixels to create a gloriously crisp, vibrant image, with pure whites and inky blacks.

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4 comments

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Build Quality? You miss the point!

I have an SGS1, traded up from iPhone4 last year. I have dropped it about on concrete/asphalt many times, the back may pop off, battery fall out, but the screen never breaks and it's "Build Quality" is designed exactly to take punishment, unlike iP4 which is about style over content. Features? how about being able to Drag and drop to and from the phone with a standard cable, on anyone's computer? How about a bootloader which is not locked and a company (samsung) who encourage hacking! I could go on... Hmmm I think you need to expand your understanding of what both "Build Quality" and "Features" could mean. IMO you miss the point on both counts.

By fredphoesh on Tuesday May 17

Fantastic plastic

I have a HTC Desire, one of those cheap plastic backed phones. Most of my misguided friends have Iphones with their lovely build quality metal cases. One friend with his Iphone is constantly complaining about Orange coverage, the network that I am also on. I always take great delight in showing him that my HTC makes and takes calls where the IPhone does not even have a signal. My wifi works in our local club at the far end of the bar, his does not.I work in the communications industry and can tell you that metal cases and microwave signals do not get on well together. There may even be an increased health risk due to reflected signals aimed back at your head. That,s why I say fantastic plastic!

By homealone on Tuesday Jun 7

Perfect Phone for Android Lovers

Great review - astonishingly balanced. Sounds like it is the phone Android lovers have been waiting for. So why are all the comments trying to denigrate the iPhone and iPhone users? Sad.

By greendave on Friday Jul 15

samson has raised the bar!

for them to compare this i-phone 4 is an joke. i got this 3 days a go and the stuff this can do, i-phone dont even come close to! the graphic in games, smooth control, bloddy it has more fire power than i-pad 2 .lo 1gb ram really make sure thing runs smoothly,multi tasking never felt better on a mobile, its like having an laptop in your pocket.until i-phone 5 comes this is the best mobile around,and even than probley it will do certain thing better. and total freedoom outside of apples restrictions to fill their pockets on top of that.great satnav inside with voice control no more typing the road names just say it and it shows you the way!

By mchammer on Sunday Aug 14