Samsung Galaxy S 2 Mobile Phone Review
I came late to the Samsung Galaxy S2 party; the phone was announced in February this year and released in May, but I only picked one up (along with my first paycheck) in August. I was worried that the Galaxy S2, bought so long after its release date, would be quickly eclipsed by a phone I didn’t know about, that I would be blindsided trying to merge near the head of the smartphone express way. It was with some trepidation that I ordered it, but once it arrived I began to feel much better about my choice.
The first thing you notice when you turn unbox the Galaxy S2 for the first time, hold it in your hands and turn it on, is how thin and light it is. It feels extremely delicate in the hand, like a large thin slice of expensive chocolate. It’s marvellous to turn on the screen; its wide expanse serves as a crazy counterpoint to the small dimensions everywhere else.
Watching streamed video is a treat on the bright and wide screen, although downloaded images were spoiled by over-aggressive compression by my mobile provider. The back cover also feels a bit flimsy, although that’s easily alleviated by purchasing a Samsung Galaxy S2 case.
Once you really get going with the Galaxy S2, you notice how quick it is. You can install apps two at a time with the quick dual core processor, which clocks in at 1.2GHz, and the phone’s benchmarking scores are off the charts (quite literally). This is the fastest mobile device I’ve ever used, and quite an upgrade from my T-Mobile G1, and even the Desires and Nexii of my friends. This power comes at a cost in terms of lower battery life, but that’s something I can live with.
The Android operating system is well served by the large screen and fast internals. The latest version, Gingerbread, comes installed by default. There’s also a cadre of Samsung-crafted apps, including useful upgrades to many of the standard Android applications, such as messaging, media player and more. It’s not as good as HTC’s Sense, but still represents a good upgrade over the stock experience.
It’s a wonderful feeling to have such a well equipped phone; whenever I read about a new technology in the latest phones – whether it be hosted USB, MHL connections to HDMI or assisted GPS, I can trust the Galaxy S2 to have it. I’m still slightly in awe of the fact that so much has been crammed into such a skinny silhouette.
All in all, I’m happy to report that my premonitions of smartphone inadequacy were wrong, and with Apple’s recent announcement of the iPhone 4S, I can remain confident that I bought the best smartphone on the market — just look at the reviews. While upcoming Android smartphones will boast faster CPUs and 720p HD displays, I can at least be sure that the Galaxy S2 will be remembered as a flagship smartphone, emblematic of the technical superiority Android phones now enjoy and the careful vision of Samsung.
This article was written by William Judd. William writes for MobileFun.co.uk, the UK’s largest online retailer of mobile phone accessories, including Samsung accessories.
