Dual-core smartphones are coming thick and fast now and one of the most lauded contenders is the Samsung Galaxy S II (or Samsung Galaxy S 2 if you like). Following in the footsteps of its exceedingly popular predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S, the new model packs in a whopping 4.3in AMOLED touchscreen, an 8-megapixel camera, and a super speedy dual-core Samsung CPU that runs at 1.2GHz!
Key Features
1.2GHz dual core processor
4.3in Super AMOLED Plus display
8 megapixel camera
Android 2.3 Operating System
Samsung Galaxy S II i9100
You wouldn't guess the Galaxy S 2 was packing all this heat from looks alone. At just 8.5mm thick it's a true size zero of the smartphone world. That said, thickness is the only dimension where this phone does undercut the competition; when it comes to width and height, it's larger than most. Indeed the 66.1mm width and 125.3mm height make this phone feel just a little unwieldy - you have to grip it with your fingertips rather than it sitting comfortably in the palm of your hand. It's very much a personal preference thing but we did find this phone a little too big.
Samsung has thought about this usability issue though. Rather than making you stretch all the way to the top edge to lock and unlock the phone, you can unlock it using the central button on the front. Also, the power button is housed on the right edge where it falls more easily within reach – it is still a bit of a stretch though.
We have few complaints when it comes to styling, but here too are not particularly blown away. The front is clearly an homage to the iPhone 4 with a mostly seamless expanse of glass except for the earpiece grille and central button. It's classy and minimalist, though doesn't quite have the allure of the LG Optimus 2X, for instance, with its curved screen edges. Meanwhile the back is a mix of glossy black plastic and a finely chequered black plastic, which does a good job of hiding fingerprints and scratches but doesn't feel all that great in the hand. The latter finish adorns the battery cover, which prizes off via a thumbnail notch on the left edge, and is alarmingly thin and flimsy.
You don't notice this when the back's on, as the support plastic underneath keeps it held nice and firm, but take it off and it feels more like you're peeling the top off a yoghurt pot than opening the back of a £500 phone. Indeed, with its thin profile, the whole phone feels a little delicate compared to the robustness of something like the iPhone 4. Certainly we'd be particularly paranoid of this phone coming a cropper if you accidentally sat on it.
Otherwise, we're talking about a typically well equipped Android phone with a headphone jack on the top edge, a volume rocker on the left, microUSB on the bottom and microSD nestled next to the battery under its cover. You get 16GB or 32GB of storage onboard and can add up to 32GB via the memory slot. There is one further slip up, though. Quite simply, there's no HDMI port. It's not something that's particularly useful for everyday use but being able to plug your phone into a TV is a neat way to view pictures or video. With the help of an adapter you can use the microUSB port for this purpose but these currently aren't easily available.
Emerging from the blackness either side of the central Home button when the phone is activated are light-up touch sensitive controls for Back and Menu. They're responsive and fall within easy reach.
The Samsung Galaxy S II is clearly the smartphone of choice for those who simply want the most power. Its 1.2GHz dual core processor and bold-and-brash 4.3in screen really combine well to create a truly captivating, fast and eye-popping smartphone experience, especially if you like watching video on the move. It's not perfect, with call quality being particularly poor, and we prefer our phones a bit smaller and more ruggedly built. But nonetheless, its strengths are so compelling as to still earn a firm recommendation.
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