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Video review
Samsung has pulled out all the stops with the Galaxy S II i9100. It’s squeezed its best-quality 4.3-inch screen, an 8MP camera and a super-fast dual-core processor into a surprisingly slim case. In fact, at 8.49mm at its thinnest point, Samsung claims it’s the world’s thinnest smartphone.
And because it has a plastic back, it’s preposterously light, too, though the build quality is solid and well-designed enough to make it feel like a precision instrument. Something this light with a screen this big is an achievement, too.
Dream screen
Samsung is renowned for its AMOLED technology, the vivid, colourful screens it puts into many of its phones. This one is Super AMOLED, and while it still doesn’t equal the iPhone 4’s Retina Display for resolution, it looks great: high-resolution, rich and detailed. And the screen is behind a barrier of Gorilla Glass, so you won’t worry for its safety.
The dual-core processor is ridiculously fast, so the most mundane tasks are performed instantly with tougher jobs clearly not taxing the phone as much as they would on most handsets.
The freshest Gingerbread
The Galaxy S II uses Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread), which is the latest available. Samsung, like most Android phone manufacturers, likes to add its own spin on the vanilla Google experience but its overlay – called TouchWiz – is gentle enough.
It includes some excellent details, like the pull-down menu that lets you toggle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and sound on and off, not to mention locking or freeing the auto rotation – handy because sometimes the phone’s accelerometer is so fast and sensitive it’s hard to keep up.
Review continues after the break
There’s also a Samsung Social Hub to gather your Facebook and Twitter updates together seamlessly, along with music, game and reading hubs. Don’t fancy those? Then there’s the 100,000-plus Android apps.
Wallpaper with weather
There are a couple of eye-catching new animated wallpapers to enjoy, including two which change according to the weather. So you can look at waves crashing on the shore, with sunlight complete with lens flare or splashing rain. At night, of course, the sun is replaced by a moon. Be warned, it’ll eat the battery a little faster than a regular background, though battery life is surprisingly good – a full day’s use won’t leave it flagging.
There are some curiosities elsewhere too. When viewing a website you can touch the screen with two thumbs and rock the phone back and forth to zoom in and out. It’s interesting, but no match for the (also-available) pinch-to-zoom.
Optimum stills and video
The camera is strong. Its 8MP sensor delivers detailed shots, the LED flash helps in low light and the range of effects adds to the fun. So you can set it to automatically fire when your subject smiles, for instance. And it shoots video at 1080p.
Flash video is rendered smoothly and without delay and you can even play back video from the phone’s display on a flatscreen TV, though you’ll need a special cable for that which isn’t supplied.
This is one of the few disappointments with this splendid smartie that has pretty much everything going for it.
Promotional link: Click here for the latest Galaxy S2 deals
Tech Specs
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Dimensions
- 125x66x9mm
- Main camera resolution
- 8MP
- Operating system
- Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread
- Screen resolution
- 480x800
- Screen size
- 4.3in
- Storage
- 16/32GB
- Video resolution
- 1080p @ 30fps
- Weight
- 116g
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
Comments
A.Benitez
32 weeks ago
Its a brillant phone but it would have been perfect if they made the build quality better specially the back cover..
johntrott
1 year ago
Samsung Galaxy S Deals:With Exclusive Offers on mobile phones available in all best networks of Uk like orange, vodafone etc.
johntrott
1 year ago
Samsung Galaxy S Contract:With Exclusive Offers on mobile phones available in all best networks of Uk like orange, vodafone etc.
johntrott
1 year ago
Samsung Galaxy Sii Deals:With Reliable Offers on mobile phones available in all best networks of Uk like orange, vodafone etc.
johntrott
1 year ago
Samsung Galaxy Sii Contract:With Reliable Offers on mobile phones available in all best networks of Uk like orange, vodafone etc.
esther91
1 year ago
This is the best gadget for me yet. I bought one when it came out and I am still using it now.
HGH|Proactol Plus
vuxert
1 year ago
stumbled across your blog and was instantly amazed with all the useful information that is on it. Great post, just what i was looking for and i am looking forward to reading your other posts soon
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coetzeec
1 year ago
The only thing that worries me if this version of samsung will still have the audio problem on calls. i had a samsung jet s8003 and it annoyed met while i was on a call that the phone will mute the other person discussion when i tried talking, felt like i was talking on a sat-phone with the delay. and this is not the first time that one of their hand sets did this. plus the office suite was crap when interfacing with the calender and contact listing on MS oulook. anybody else had this?
Toolman11
1 year ago
Serj will perform a long-awaited, FREE open-air concert in Yerevan as the featured artist of the opening events of Tumo Center for Creative Technologies.
Regards,
I Need An Essay For Me
KenJi
1 year ago
what?this shit call best phone?i rather buy a HTC more better~~=o= the stuff.tv sure is blind already~~i hate samsung~~rubbish phone!!this shit phone cant even impress me=.=" too normal already, cant even giv me a reason to buy it...
--->to stuff.tv..
dissapointed to u all...u all should close ur fucking website now!!
BlueITagain
1 year ago
You've obviously never used an iphone!
I was lucky to get half a day with programmes and utilities as low as possible.
Thats why I switched from iphone to Galaxy 2,best move to date.!
Even better when ICS is updated on it.
inter4522
1 year ago
The galaxy is such a great phone. It has so many tools to use with it. I am definitely a buyer of it. Keep up the good work. orlando screen room
DP
1 year ago
Got this the other week. Have to say possibly the best phone I've had to date (last phone was the woeful BB Storm2 - so maybe I've been affected by that).
Wife has the iPhone 4, which she is not happy with (poor reception mainly)
S2, great screen, feature packed. Have seen some review that question the build quality. Can't see anything wrong with it.
claretblue
1 year ago
I have just recently got this on a 12 month contract with only £49.99 for the handest - http://www.phones4u.co.uk/shop/shop_contract_details.asp?ItemKey=519740&MPItemKey=541660&NetKey=2 - absolutely lovely phone and I have gone from iphone and bb 9800 to this and I am not the slightes bit disappointed. I suggest if you want one and only want to lock yourself into a short contract this is the place to go.
Bigpaddy
1 year ago
What an awsome phone very sexy and beautiful a tone of features special the processor a dual core samsung somthing at the speed of 1.4 GHz which is very fast and can do a lot and more. It has anomorous 4.3 inch screen or close to with Super Amoled + technology which is samsung newest screen which is has amazing graphic and can play any tough demanding games also it very good at playing hd movies 1080p. However like all mordern Smartphone there is a price to pay which none can not escape which is battery life depending on how much you do or dont will drain the battery if your a heavy user expect to charge about 6 hours perhap less and i do mean heavy internet, games, music etc. If not so much expect a day without charge but this is expecting with the screen size the battery has to power.
But dont let that put you off it is one of the best phone in the world out beats the new apple phone iphone 4s hand downs also it battery life will last longer then the iphone 4s anyway. But this is one of the greatest piece of technology you can every get and might not be able to find in some time. So what you waiting for buy it already or for crimbo it would make anyone smile and start having a party or a fit from the great surprise this should win phone of the year no phone of the univearse that how good it is.
Bigpaddy
1 year ago
read the one above i added a bt more
hendrix_lennon
1 year ago
Great battery? are you kidding me?
I'm lucky if I get maybe a day and a half out of it.
The battery life is abysml.
I've got my brightnes down as low as it can be and do everything to try to spare the battery life.
Not good at all.
Shocky45
1 year ago
Best smartphone currently available, Stuff should be ashamed still ranking the iPhone 4 better than this.
It’s faster in every way possible and has a beautiful screen.
Tasha_K10
1 year ago
I've had my samsung since april and i loved it to begin with and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. BUT now i'm starting to feel let down. My phone shuts down at random times and it is quite annoying. It gets to the point where i have to remove the battery just to get it to turn back on. I've googled about it and there are a few people with the same problem. some worse then mine. If it doesnt get sorted,I will be getting rid of it.
Varun123
1 year ago
I have it
I love it
Xylon123
1 year ago
This phone is available on a £10/month two-year contract (with an upfront fee of £209)
Just go here to see: http://mobiledeals.cnet.co.uk/phones/samsung/galaxy-s-ii
Hope I could help :)
superdanster
1 year ago
2 more months until my contract is up and i think i know what phone that i am getting now
cs09jac
1 year ago
I want one of these so much. I've just been told I'm due an upgrade from my Galaxy S (which is in itself a great phone), but the best vodafone offered me is an HTC Desire S. I told them I'd give it a miss. Just keep saving
superdanster
2 years ago
the galaxy s2 looks so slim and good but it will cost you £500 to get it. but i still want it and it looks way better than my slow and old htc hero. i would get an iphone but i think the world finally recognizes how good samsung and other android phones are getting over the years.
gav400
2 years ago
Ive had mine for just over a week now. Upgraded from a Desire. The speed is incredible and I have yet to get any lag.
I have very high expectations and I am so pleased with it.
Games from Gameloft are great. I miss HTC friend stream but that is it.
If you are thinking get one now!
derekemery
2 years ago
sounds great but not cheap at £500+
Xylon123
2 years ago
Better than the iPhone 4 by the looks of it, can't wait for Apple's innovations in their next generation iPhone. Samsung are the best challengers to Apple though, I think.
neen09
2 years ago
This looks fab really want this phone its so good!