General characteristics
Type of?
Determining the type of device (phone or smartphone?) Is quite simple. If you need a simple and inexpensive device for calls and SMS, it is recommended to opt for a telephone. A smartphone is more expensive, but it offers a wide variety of options: games, videos, the Internet, thousands of programs for all occasions. However, its battery life is significantly shorter than that of a simple phone.
smartphone OS version Android 4.1 Body type classic Control mechanical / touch buttons SIM card type regular Number of SIM-cards 1 Weight 116 g Dimensions (WxHxT) 66.1x125.3x8.49 mmScreen
Screen type color AMOLED, 16.78 million colors, touch Touch screen type multitouch, capacitive Diagonal 4.27 inches. Image size 800x480 Pixels Per Inch (PPI) 218 Automatic screen rotation there is Scratch resistant glass there is 8 million pixels, 3264x2448, LED flash Camera functions autofocus, macro mode Face recognition Video recording there is Max. video resolution 1920x1080 Geo Tagging yes Front-camera yes, 2 million pixels. Audio MP3, FM radio Headphone jack 3.5mm MHL video outputConnection
Standard?
There are several basic standards cellular communication that are supported by modern phones. On the territory of Russia, the GSM standard is used almost everywhere. For high-speed data transmission, 3G and 4G LTE standards are used - the highest speed of the existing standards. Glossary of Terms by Category Mobile Phones
GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G Interfaces?
Almost all modern smartphones have Wi-Fi and USB interfaces. Bluetooth and IRDA are less common. Wi-Fi is used to connect to the internet. USB is used to connect the phone to a computer. Many phones also have Bluetooth. It is used to connect wireless headphone, to connect the phone to wireless speakers as well as for file transfer. A smartphone equipped with an IRDA interface can be used as universal remote control Remote Control Glossary of Terms by Category Mobile Phones
Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 3.0, USB Satellite navigation?
Built-in GPS modules and GLONASS allow you to determine the coordinates of the phone using signals from satellites. In the absence of GPS modern smartphone can determine its own location based on signals from base stations cellular operator... However, finding coordinates based on signals from satellites is usually much more accurate.
GPS A-GPS system yes DLNA support yesMemory and processor
CPU?
V modern telephones and smartphones usually use special processors - SoC (System on Chip, system on a chip), which, in addition to the processor itself, accommodate the graphics core, memory controller, I / O device controller, etc. Therefore, the processor largely determines the set of functions and device performance . Glossary of terms by category Mobile phones
Samsung Exynos 4210, 1200 MHz Number of processor cores 2 Video processor Mali-400 MP Built-in memorySuccess Galaxy line S is no longer questioned by anyone. This is the only line of smartphones that not only became famous and popular, but was able to surpass the famous iPhone in many ways, which was considered the benchmark for almost a decade. The success story of this series began with the first model released on the mass market, but it was the second version of the gadget that left a special mark in the memory of users. Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100, the characteristics of which at the time of release were simply discouraged. None of the competitors could come close to it in terms of the power of the "filling". The technologies that were used in this device were not available to other manufacturers, so the Koreans, without wasting time, used their trump card and decided to bring to the market all the best that they had, thereby intercepting the banner of superiority from Sony and HTC. Since then, Samsung has become the trendsetters and the main engine of progress in the difficult conditions of the struggle for the smartphone market. In this article, let's talk about one of the most prominent representatives of this industry - Samsung Galaxy S2. Is he really that good?
Equipment
So, what does the buyer get by purchasing this gadget:
- Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100 phone;
- lithium ion battery with a capacity of 1650 mAh;
- simple wired stereo headset;
- cable for charging and data synchronization with a computer;
- charger for power supply from the mains.
Specifications
For ease of perception, the information is presented in the form of a table.
4.3 inches, resolution 840 x 400 pixels, Super AMOLED + matrix |
|
CPU | ARM Cortex A-9, Exynos 4210 dual-core chip clock frequency up to 1200 megahertz |
Built in Mali 400 chip |
|
RAM | |
Persistent memory | 8 or 16 GB depending on the configuration + memory card up to 32 GB |
Battery | Li-ion battery with a capacity of 1650 mAh |
8 megapixels main, 2 megapixels front |
|
Operating Samsung system Galaxy S2 i9100 | Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) |
Case design and materials
Dimensions: 125x66x8.5 mm.
Weight: 116 grams.
The main design decisions migrated to the Galaxy S2 from the first generation of smartphones. All the same plastic as the main material, the same hump on the back panel, except that the phone has become a little wider in comparison with the previous model, which caused a lot of negativity on the Internet. An important difference was the thickness of the device. From 11 millimeters, the thickness of the case dropped to 8.5, which is impressive. The back cover has a grooved surface, a kind of imitation of leather on plastic. Visually, such a solution looks, to put it mildly, vulgar, but in practice it works out perfectly. Such a surface does not allow the phone to slide, thanks to it there are almost no minor scratches and even more so fingerprints on it. Only the hump in the lower part of the case is heavily scratched and rubbed off. The phone is not bad in the hand, it easily fits into a pocket of trousers or a shirt. The front panel of the device is boring, as, in fact, it was and always was before the Edge. As for the build quality, everything is average here. Creaks and slight backlash are noticeable, the case is far from monolithic and this greatly spoils the impression.
Controls and ports
Almost the entire front panel of the gadget is occupied by the display. Huddle over him front-camera, proximity sensor and earpiece. The main control keys are located under the display: touch button call the list running applications, physical button"Home", another touch-sensitive button for returning one level back. At the top there is a headphone port (standard 3.5 mm jack). At the bottom there is a charging port. On the right side there is a button for turning on and blocking the gadget, and on the left side there is a volume rocker. Slots for a sim card and a memory card are hidden under the cover.
Communications
The smartphone is equipped with a standard set of communication tools:
- USB 2.0 can be used in different modes, including Mass Storage (access to memory from a computer);
- Wi-Fi operating at 802.11 b / n / g frequencies. Supporting fast exchange technology Wi-Fi data Direct (a tool capable of replacing the new generation of Bluetooth);
- NFC is a technology for data exchange and interaction with contactless payment systems;
- Kies is a tool developed by Samsung that allows you to control data on a phone from a computer without connecting the phone itself with wires;
- Bluetooth 3.0 is also supported.
Display
At the time of the release of the gadget, the display installed in it was one of the best on the market, although it could not please with a high resolution. The display has a diagonal of 4.3 inches and a resolution of 840x400 pixels. At this ratio, the PPI is disappointing, but this is purely a technical resolution. In general, the screen is much better, the picture is quite bright, sharp, the colors are oversaturated and catchy. Paints are unrealistic, but pleasing to the human eye. The screen consumes much less power (power consumption depends entirely on what colors are shown on the display, black consumes a minimum of power). In the new generation of screens, the ill-fated PenTile (pixel arrangement technology) has disappeared, and Real-Stripe has come to replace it, smoothing the picture. All this became possible thanks to the use of SuperAMOLED + technology, which became the crown chip of the Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100. The glass above the display is tempered by Gorilla Glass. There is an anti-reflective coating, but it is not very useful. The image fades in the sun. Also, this device uses VibeZ technology (this is tactile feedback when touching the display).
Processor and graphics
The heart of the smartphone is a single-chip ARM Cortex A9 processor based on the Exynos 4210 chip (formerly Orion). The processor is equipped with two cores, each clock speed reaches 1200 MHz. The built-in video subsystem Mali 400 is responsible for the graphics performance. The hardware platform is quite powerful, looks extremely promising, but, unfortunately, Samsung lovers fill their phones with a bunch of pre-installed and unnecessary software, and are also developing their own version of the bootloader called TouchWiz. All of this negates the hardware computing power. The phone slows down. Slows down in the menu, in applications, when scrolling through long lists. There is an excessive load on the processor, heating it up significantly. Despite the above problems, the smartphone still pulls most of the games, although not at the highest settings. In the synthetic Quadrant test, the smartphone scored 3121 points, overtaking all competitors of its contemporaries.
Memory
The processor is supplemented by 1 GB of RAM (800 MB are available to the user). In theory, on paper, this is a record, in practice, it is a failure. Even this amount of memory is not enough to cope with Samsung firmware... TouchWiz does not spare a single megabyte and multitasking suffers greatly from this. You can fix the situation by reflashing the gadget and installing a "pure" Android on it, without the terrible Korean add-ons.
The main memory in the device is either 8 or 16 GB, depending on the selected configuration. In either case, this volume can be expanded by installing a memory card. Cards up to 32 GB are supported.
Autonomy
The Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100 battery has a capacity of 1650 mAh. An impressive figure for 2011. The manufacturer claims that the smartphone is capable of living about 6.5 hours of talk time and 350 hours of standby time. Independent tests have shown that the gadget:
- lives about 12 hours in reading mode (e-book);
- in audio playback mode about 19 hours;
- when watching a video at minimum brightness for about 5 hours.
The results are not bad, but not the best either. For more power saving, you can use the built-in Power Save Mode utility. This is a kind of advisor that will allow you to configure the phone in such a way that the operating time on a single charge will increase, but this is not a panacea.
Cameras
What, what, but Samsung cameras know how to do, especially in mobile gadgets. Koreans, as they were leaders in the industry 5 years ago, have remained so. The smartphone is equipped with a main camera with a resolution of 8 megapixels and a front one of 2 megapixels. Photos taken with the main camera are sharp, bright, saturated, without unnecessary overflows, artifacts and excessive noise. Even in low light, the smartphone produces a very decent picture. Other smartphones are not capable of this. Among the features of the camera, it is worth highlighting software chips, for example, filters that correct skin defects, panorama mode, search for a smile and activate the shutter when it enters the frame, as well as the choice of different scenes (something like pre-configured parameters for different landscapes and light levels) ... The front camera will delight both those who simply communicate with it via Skype, and those who like to take “selfies”. Its resolution, detail and viewing angle are much larger than that of many smartphones even today.
Information about the brand, model and alternative names of a specific device, if any.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, offered colors, certificates.
| Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 66.1 mm (millimeters) 6.61 cm (centimeters) 0.22 ft (feet) 2.6 in (inches) |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 125.3 mm (millimeters) 12.53 cm (centimeters) 0.41 ft (feet) 4.93 in (inches) |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements. | 8.5 mm (millimeters) 0.85 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.33 in (inches) |
| The weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 116 g (grams) 0.26 lbs (pounds) 4.09 oz (ounces) |
| Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with a rectangular parallelepiped shape. | 70.4 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 4.28 in³ (cubic inches) |
SIM card
The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.
Mobile networks
A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.
Mobile technology and data rates
Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
Operating system
An operating system is the system software that controls and coordinates the operation of the hardware components on a device.
SoC (System on a Chip)
A system on a chip (SoC) integrates all the major hardware components of a mobile device into a single chip.
| SoC (System on a Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software required for their operation. | Samsung Exynos 4 Dual 4210 |
| Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. The value in nanometers is half the distance between the elements in the processor. | 45 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | ARM Cortex-A9 |
| Processor size The bit size of the processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses and data buses. 64-bit processors offer better performance than 32-bit processors, which in turn are more efficient than 16-bit processors. | 32 bit |
| Instruction set architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets / controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv7 |
| Level 1 cache (L1) The cache memory is used by the processor to reduce the time it takes to access more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small and is much faster than both system memory and other levels of cache. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2. | 32 KB + 32 KB (kilobytes) |
| L2 cache L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but instead has a larger capacity to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for them in L3 cache memory (if available) or in RAM memory. | 1024 KB (kilobytes) 1 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to execute in parallel. | 2 |
| CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 1200 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics processing unit (GPU) A graphics processing unit (GPU) handles computation for a variety of 2D / 3D graphics applications... V mobile devices ah, it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, and more. | ARM Mali-400 MP4 |
| Number of cores GPU Like a processor, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle the graphical computation of various applications. | 4 |
| GPU clock speed Speed is the clock speed of the GPU and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 266 MHz (megahertz) |
| The amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) used operating system and all installed applications. The data that is saved in the RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted. | 1 GB (gigabytes) |
| Memory type (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device. | LPDDR2 |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) fixed memory.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage space for data.
Screen
The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.
| Type / technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends. | Super AMOLED Plus |
| Diagonal On mobile devices, screen size is expressed in terms of the length of its diagonal, measured in inches. | 4.3 in (inches) 109.22 mm (millimeters) 10.92 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 2.21 in (inches) 56.19 mm (millimeters) 5.62 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 3.69 in (inches) 93.66 mm (millimeters) 9.37 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect ratio The aspect ratio of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.667:1 5:3 |
| Permission Screen resolution indicates the number of pixels horizontally and vertically on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper image detail. | 480 x 800 pixels |
| Pixel density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be shown on the screen in clearer detail. | 217 ppi (pixels per inch) 85 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen footprint The approximate percentage of the display area on the front of the device. | 63.75% (percent) |
| Other characteristics Information about other functions and features of the screen. | Capacitive Multitouch Scratch resistant |
| Corning Gorilla Glass |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical metrics into signals that can be recognized by the mobile device.
Main camera
The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for photo and video shooting.
| Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as the optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device. | CMOS BSI (backside illumination) |
| Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with a larger sensor and lower pixel density offer more high quality images despite the lower resolution. | 4.54 x 3.42 mm (millimeters) 0.22 in (inches) |
| Pixel size The smaller pixel size of the photocell allows the use of more pixels per unit area, thus increasing the resolution. On the other hand, a smaller pixel size can have a negative impact on image quality when high levels sensitivity (ISO). | 1.391 μm (micrometers) 0.001391 mm (millimeters) |
| Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the size of a full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the size of the device's photo sensor. The number shown is the ratio of the diagonals of the full frame sensor (43.3 mm) to the photo sensor specific device. | 7.61 |
| ISO (light sensitivity) ISO values determine the level of light sensitivity of the photosensor. A lower value means weaker light sensitivity, and vice versa - a higher value means a higher light sensitivity, i.e. better ability of the sensor to work in low light conditions. | 100 - 800 |
| Diaphragm Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means a larger aperture opening. | f / 2.6 |
| Focal length Focal length is the distance in millimeters from the photosensor to the optical center of the lens. Equivalent focal lengths are also indicated, providing the same field of view with a full frame camera. | 3.97 mm (millimeters) 30.22 mm (millimeters) * (35 mm / full frame) |
| Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile cameras are LED and Xenon flashes. LED-flashes give softer light and, unlike brighter xenon ones, are also used for video filming. | LED |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras on mobile devices is their resolution, which shows the number of pixels horizontally and vertically in an image. | 3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels) |
| Video Resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution for video recording by the device. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
| Video - frame rate / frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video capture and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p. | 30 frames / sec (frames per second) |
| Specifications Information about other software and hardware features associated with the main camera that improve its functionality. | Autofocus Burst shooting Digital zoom Digital image stabilization Geographic tags Panoramic shooting Face recognition Adjusting the white balance ISO setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene selection mode Macro mode |
Additional camera
Additional cameras are usually mounted above the screen of the device and are used mainly for video calls, gesture recognition, etc.
Audio
Information about the type of speakers and audio technology supported by the device.
Radio
The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.
Locating
Information about the navigation and positioning technologies supported by the device.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is a technology that enables wireless communication for transferring data over short distances between various devices.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless transfer of data between different types of devices over short distances.
| Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, each of which improves communication speed, coverage, and makes it easier to find and connect devices. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device. | 3.0 |
| Specifications Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols to provide more fast exchange data, energy savings, better device discovery, and more. Some of these profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here. | A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVCTP (Audio / Video Control Transport Protocol) AVDTP (Audio / Video Distribution Transport Protocol) AVRCP (Audio / Visual Remote control Profile) GAVDP (Generic Audio / Video Distribution Profile) GAP (Generic Access Profile) HFP (Hands-Free Profile) HID (Human Interface Profile) HSP (Headset Profile) MAP (Message Access Profile) OPP (Object Push Profile) PBAP / PAB (Phone Book Access Profile) SPP (Serial Port Protocol) SAP / SIM / rSAP (SIM Access Profile) Hs |
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.
HDMI
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio / video interface that replaces older analog audio / video standards.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio connector. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
| Browser Information about some of the main features and standards supported by the device browser. | Html Flash |
Audio file formats / codecs
Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode / decode digital audio data.
Video file formats / codecs
Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode / decode digital video data.
Battery
Mobile device batteries differ in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge required for their function.
| Capacity Battery capacity indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliampere-hours. | 1650 mAh (milliampere-hours) |
| Type of The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, by the chemicals used. Exists different types lithium-ion and lithium-ion-polymer batteries are most commonly used in mobile devices. | Li-Ion (Lithium-ion) |
| Talk time 2G Talk time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network. | 18 hours 20 minutes 18.3 h (hours) 1099.8 min (minutes) 0.8 days |
| Standby time 2G Standby time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network. | 710 h (hours) 42600 min (minutes) 29.6 days |
| Talk time 3G Talk time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network. | 8 hours 40 minutes 8.7 h (hours) 520.2 minutes (minutes) 0.4 days |
| 3G standby time Standby time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network. | 610 h (hours) 36600 min (minutes) 25.4 days |
| Specifications Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery. | Removable |
Samsung Galaxy S-2 is the flagship of Samsung in the line of manufactured mobile switching devices. Using Android OS architecture 2.3 , the smartphone was first presented to the attention of the world community at a specialized exhibition MWC (Mobile World Congress) held in the middle of winter this year. For the first time, the graphical interface TouchWiz 4.0, famous for its rich arsenal of widgets, was used in mobile phone.
Samsung galaxy s2 specifications
This smartphone is equipped with a powerful ARM processor Cortex-A9 with two cores, total clock speed equal to 1.2 GHz. Impressive RAM in one gigabyte and the Mali-400 MP graphics card allows the phone to easily cope with rendering even the most resource-intensive games.
- dimensions 125.3 × 66.1 × 8.5 mm;
- weight 116 grams, meanwhile, this Japanese company weighs 3.5 times less;
- communication GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS / EDGE;
- Bluetooth v3.0 + HS;
Memory:
There are two varieties of the Samsung Galaxy s2 smartphone, with 16- and 32-gigabyte built-in storage, respectively. However, there is the possibility of expanding the built-in capacity by means of flash cards such as MicroCD. The smartphone is equipped with a hardware-based memory encryption method. For these purposes, there is a special module - the so-called cryptochip.
Screen:
The Super AMOLED Plus screen used in the device, which has a resolution of 480x800pp, with a diagonal size of 4.27 inches, consumes eighteen percent less energy than the previous version of the Super AMOLED screen. Also, thanks to the use of the latest Real-Stripe technology, it was possible to significantly reduce the image noise level. Also, the screen settings provide for changing the color saturation of the picture. The special Gorilla Glass with an anti-oil coating significantly reduces the overall screen stain.
Camera:
On board the device there was a place for two cameras at once. The main one, located on the back of the smartphone, has an eight-megapixel matrix equipped with an LED flash and autofocus. The camera allows you to take pictures high resolution, as well as to make movies in High Definition quality 1080p. The front two-megapixel camera allows for comfortable video communication using IP-telephony.
Outcome:
Summarizing all of the above, it is safe to say that Samsung has released a solid multifunctional device, competitive in the modern rapidly developing market of mobile devices.
Contents of delivery:
- Telephone
- Li-Ion 1650 mAh battery
- Wired stereo headset
- USB cable
- Charger
Attention. Unlike preliminary review, here you read the review of the final sample, as a result, you can evaluate all aspects of the phone without any discounts. Some parts are repeated with the first material, some are greatly supplemented and expanded. This is the final review.
Positioning
The success of the Galaxy S has never been predicted, and for such a product it has achieved phenomenal sales. The model is an absolute bestseller, it set the bar for the Android phone market, but also caused problems within Samsung. No one counted on a resounding success, as a result, no one could predict that the demand for phones would skyrocket. The company was let down by the lack of SuperAMOLED screens, their shortage did not allow to achieve large sales, the demand for the model is high, but it is not available in many markets in sufficient quantities. As one of the measures, Samsung has launched a cheaper variant of the Galaxy S, the i9003, which uses a SuperClear TFT display. It loses to SuperAMOLED in all respects, but at the same time remains one of the best screens on the market. At the same time, the price of the i9003 with the minimum memory capacity is 100-120 euros less than the original Galaxy S, the price difference will grow even more over time. It's not a bad proposition that will exploit the popularity of the original Galaxy S.
After the announcements at CES, when NVIDIA showed the first solutions on Tegra2, in particular, LG Optimus 2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola DROID Bionic, a natural question arose: how can Samsung answer these devices? It seemed that dual-core processors are becoming a necessity in flagship solutions, a good marketing ploy, even if there is no practical need for them so far, since there is no corresponding software, games, and the speed gain in ordinary applications is not so great. But at CES, Samsung did not say a single word about such plans. The reason is that the company wanted to close the gap between the product announcement and its appearance on the market as much as possible. So that potential buyers can get this solution at the same time as competitors.
Is Samsung counting on the success of its updated flagship? Definitely yes, and there are simply no prerequisites to believe that it will not be successful. Building on the sales of the previous device, this model will make the market for itself. It has several unique features that competitors do not yet have. The first is the screen technology race. The new term SuperAMOLED +, an improved version of the previous display, which did not have time to become obsolete, and competitors simply do not have an analogue. Why such a technology race is needed, I have no idea, but the screen is becoming a visible advantage of Samsung's flagships. One of strengths... I like the Galaxy S for the quality of the screen, but it's not as sharp as the iPhone 4, not as crisp, and the fonts are a little blurry. In the new SuperAmoled + variant, the sharpness has been increased, not yet by the iPhone, but already not by the Galaxy S.
The second feature is not yet applicable in practice in most situations, but it provides a huge reserve for the future, it is a dual-core processor. For technology lovers, such a processor has an undoubted advantage; its presence gives the phone an extra shine. But for practical people this is not the case. The presence of such a processor does not have an undoubted and quick benefit. Another thing is that over time, more and more programs will appear for such solutions, then this phone will show its capabilities.
In terms of technology, the first Galaxy S set a very high bar; it was not a showcase of technology for its sake, but a demonstration of how to tie everything together. Newest technologies into one attractive product. The S II went even further, this is the first phone that supports Wi-Fi Direct, does not need special software to work with any computer and synchronize data, the phone can send files via Wi-Fi, has a number of additional programs that are not familiar to other Android phones, but which will soon become standard. I can list the technologies used for quite a long time (NFC, MHL, and so on), there are an impressive number of them here. Without any discounts, Samsung created a flagship and did it without wasting money. Unfortunately, there is not a single device on the market that is similar in characteristics and overall capabilities. The devices based on NVIDIA Tegra 2 came close to the Galaxy S II, but they, as a rule, have a much worse camera, a larger size, and noticeably worse displays. Surprisingly, Samsung has created a flagship with an excellent price / quality ratio for its segment. A year will pass, and the functionally the device will remain at the level of the best solutions, it will not be greatly overshadowed by other models, although more interesting solutions from different companies will appear. This product is positioned as a long-term flagship, that is, a model that is bought in order not to change the phone for a long time. The life span of this device will be maximized for most markets and consumers.
It is also worth noting the HTC Sensation model, which is technically very similar to Galaxy II (dual-core processor, 1.2 GHz frequency, but worse camera, less internal memory, easier screen). This model wins by the presence of the Sense 3.0 shell, but at a similar cost, Samsung has a technological advantage. In any case, both models look extremely attractive, and choosing between them will be quite difficult.
The positioning of the phone as a flagship defines the portrait of its consumer, first of all those who buy the newest and best solutions. Of course, this device also belongs to them. The second and notable category is tech enthusiasts (geeks). Those who care about how powerful their phone is. For them, this model offers a win-win option, because other phones have nothing comparable in terms of technology. For practical buyers, this is an interesting model, since over time you can be sure that it remains relevant and does not require replacement.
Design, dimensions, controls
Here I heard many different opinions. Someone judged by the picture and said that the model looks exactly the same as the previous device, someone from the previous Galaxy owners complained that the device has become wider, and it is not very convenient. Some were just waiting for a different kind. Samsung considered the design of the first Galaxy S to be successful, and sales confirm this. And we decided not to change anything. In some ways, this approach is rational.
At the same time, due to the fact that the area of the device has become larger, it has been made thinner. An impressive 8.5 mm (the press release says it is 8.49 mm, but we will not calculate it with such accuracy?), Make this device one of the thinnest on the market. It immediately comes to mind Sony ericsson Arc, its thickness is 8.7 mm, which also looks thin, due to this the device is perceived in a completely different way and makes an impression. A forgotten trend that was in phones 4 years ago has been revived again for the smartphone segment. Remember the Ultra line of phones from Samsung, and before that there was a device with a body thickness of 9 mm, and this was perceived as a breakthrough. Everything new is well forgotten old.
Comparison with Sony Ericsson Arc:
By the way, Samsung Galaxy S II somewhat reminded me of Sony Ericsson Arc, and in terms of proportions, it is possible that the size, diagonal of the screen leaves an imprint, it is similar in both models. The Arc is 4.2 inches, while the Samsung 4.27 is not a huge difference. But Samsung's screen is orders of magnitude better and more interesting. Galaxy S II uses DNIe + technology (that's where the plus sign in the screen name comes from). This is a processor that processes any graphics, for example, photos, pictures, videos, and makes it better for the perception on the phone screen. A similar technology is used in all Samsung TVs. Curiously, something similar under the name BraviaEngine is used in Sony Ericsson Arc. These technologies are not used in the interface, that is, they are not responsible for drawing the menu.
The phone measures 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm (Galaxy S has 122.4x64.2x9.9 mm) and weighs 116 grams. For my taste, the device is a bit wide, some may think it is a disadvantage. But you adapt to it quickly, there is no discomfort. It's nice that the device is invisible in your pocket, it also looks good in a shirt.
Comparison with Samsung Galaxy S:
The answer to why the back cover is made of plastic and not metal can be found pretty quickly. With active use of the phone, when you watch videos, download large files, transfer them, it starts to get very hot. If the back cover were metal, then it would be impossible to touch the device, it would burn. The honeycomb structure of plastic was invented for a reason, it is a kind of passive radiator. But even with it, the phone sometimes heats up, does not burn, but you feel the heat. Warmest areas around the camera.
The lid is very thin and when you snap it you need to run your finger around the perimeter to make sure it fits snugly. Sometimes you don't close the lid completely, and this creates certain inconveniences. If the cover falls off, it is knocked out by the battery. My phone flew several times, but the cover did not receive any damage. Despite the thinness of the plastic, it is resistant to both shocks and bends.
The phone has a 2MP front-facing camera, proximity sensor, and lighting. The central key is mechanical, but the menu and return buttons are touch sensitive. On the left side there is a paired volume control key, on the right side there is an on / off button. It was not possible to find the camera key, it, as before, is not there, and the camera will have to be called from the menu.
At the top, there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack, the microUSB connector has been moved down. On the back you can see the lens of an 8-megapixel camera, plus an LED flash, and a speaker is located at the bottom.
For several weeks my main phone was exactly the Galaxy II, so it went through fire, water, and copper pipes. The body does not wear out anywhere, except for the rear protrusion, a slight abrasion appears here, it will intensify over time. It is clearly visible only in the light and at the correct angle. The second point is the back cover. In my pocket, it rubbed against the lining, unevenly, there were separate rubbed areas. But I will say again, they are visible upon a very careful examination of the phone, in fact it is difficult to find them. In total, everything is expected, the plastic case has both advantages (weight, practicality) and disadvantages.
To be honest, I don't share the opinion of many people that the phone case must necessarily be metal, especially if it's a flagship model. It can be made of both plastic and glass and other materials. The question is how the material behaves over time, ages or not, wipes off or not. For example, glass used in Apple iPhone 4, is relatively fragile, if dropped on the asphalt, it can be broken. Does this stop someone from buying a device? I think no. This is one of its features. The model turned out to be very light in weight, but at the same time wide, and this is captivating. Constantly using HTC Incredible S and Galaxy II, I caught myself thinking that Galaxy is more convenient for me. The reason is the weight and thickness of the case.
Display
Those who claim SuperAMOLED Plus is just marketing ploy, should take a look at how different the picture is compared to the regular SuperAMOLED. It is brighter, sharper with the increased diagonal of the screen, but the main thing is that the screen consumes less power. An option to save energy has appeared in the settings, when the power consumption is regulated depending on the picture that is currently displayed (using DNIe +). This technology is also used in all Samsung TVs, a special processor analyzes the information and then improves the picture, making it more beautiful for us. A side effect is that the phone can now analyze how energy is being spent. The selection of wallpapers also takes into account the fact that AMOLED screens use energy in different ways, depending on the color. A similar technology is used by Sony Ericsson, it is called Bravia Engine, but the gain on TFT screens is not so noticeable, rather there is a technology only for visual improvement of the displayed picture.
Let's go back to screen technology. The first SuperAMOLED matrices used PenTile technology, when one dot on the screen is formed from two subpixels. Surprisingly, this caused quite heated discussions in many forums, in which it was argued that the effective resolution of any screen with PenTile technology is at least a third lower than the stated one. Quite a bold and stupid statement, since the number of dots did not differ in any way from any screen, and if the manufacturer spoke about a matrix of 800x480 dots, then there were exactly that number of them on the screen. No more, no less.
Another thing is that in some aspects, a smaller number of subpixels gave visible distortions on the screen, which, coupled with high definition, annoyed individual users... For example, for the first generation SuperAMOLED, the fonts had a sharply defined outline with a ladder, in fact, this is the only visible difference from most screens that arises from the use of PenTile technology. Just look at the icon captions in the main screen and see this effect on the same Galaxy S. Comparison with second Galaxy will show that nothing of the kind is there.
The explanation lies in the Real RGB Stripe technology, which was used in SuperAMOLED Plus matrices. Now a separate point on the screen is formed not by two, but by three sub-points. The picture from Samsung Displays shows the difference, the increased number of dots makes the picture smoother, including fonts, there are no sharply defined outlines that could be annoying. I honestly admit that until they began to discuss this topic, to procrastinate it, I did not even pay attention to the fonts. But then, of course, I saw this sharpness, although it had no effect on my perception of the previous Galaxy.
In the sun, the screen behaves worse than in the first Galaxy, the explanation is that the matrix size has increased, but the resolution remains the same, plus the technology has changed. The picture is readable at right angles or in a not very bright sun. But otherwise everything is exactly the same as on other types of screens, there is no advantage that was in the first SuperAMOLED.
At the moment, SuperAMOLED Plus technology does not allow creating screens with a pixel density of more than 200 ppi, the iPhone has a matrix with more than 300 ppi. Samsung will change the matrix manufacturing technology in order to get more than 300 ppi in 2011.
For my taste, the picture on SuperAMOLED Plus looks smoother, the brightness control is well matched. But the main point is connected with the fact that the user can choose the saturation of the picture (Movie, Standard, Dynamic). In fact, this is a setting that allows you to set the color temperature of the screen, change the saturation of colors. Some people like bright colors - leave the standard option. Someone likes not so bright colors - choose the Movie mode.
The diagonal of the screen is 4.3 inches (in the previous model it is 4 inches, but the difference is huge, striking), the resolution is 800x480 pixels (displays 16 million colors). In practical terms, the display is extremely convenient, there is an automatic adjustment of the image brightness depending on the lighting. Safety glass hardened, coated with a special anti-reflective material. Also, the screen has an oleophobic coating, which in theory means that it does not get dirty with your hands. A similar coating is used in the Apple iPhone. The users of this device know that prints still remain, just a little less of them. The story is exactly the same here. There are greasy marks, but they are not so striking.
Samsung devices also use VibeZ technology - when you press the keys, the body vibrates, which confirms your action.
The screen fits up to 16 lines of text and up to three service lines. In the mode of reading messages, this can be up to 24 lines, depending on the selected font. For the screen in the settings, you can choose the size and style of the font, but they are not very different. Another thing is that, unlike many models, the screen font is huge here, it can be read without difficulty from any distance. This is a plus of the apparatus.
Comparison of the screen with the Galaxy S (maximum brightness, the same pictures).
Comparison of the screen with Sony Ericsson Arc (maximum brightness, the same pictures).
Battery
The phone uses a 1650 mAh Li-Ion battery. According to the manufacturer, the battery is capable of providing up to 6.5 hours of talk time and up to 350 hours of standby time. In the conditions of Moscow networks, the device works on average for about one day. It takes about 3 hours to fully charge the battery.
Playback of unconverted video is possible for approximately 8.5 hours. Music playback - up to 30 hours.
Perhaps, checking the operating time of the device was the most difficult and voluminous test for me. The number of settings related to power consumption is huge, and you can customize the phone for yourself, and besides, save time. For each person, this device will be able to show its results, it is very individual and depends on hundreds of settings (screen brightness, number of programs in memory, and so on). Therefore, I decided to carry out comparative tests with the first Galaxy. SIM-cards of the same operator were installed on two phones, PUSH-mail was set up, the same applications, programs and so on were also used. In fact, I even tried to call from the same places and talk for the same amount of time. The result was quite unusual - the Galaxy II battery life increased from 1.5 to 2 times. In my case, the first Galaxy, starting to work at 9 in the morning, was already completely discharged by lunchtime (yes, I am not very regular user, for many it works longer), but Galaxy II worked for a long time.
I will briefly tell you about the settings that are present in the phone and can do a good job in saving energy. First, you should go to the Wi-Fi section and, in the advanced settings, establish a connection only when the screen is active. This will save a little energy, especially if you do not use any IM messengers and want to see information the moment you pick up your phone. Secondly, it is worth considering whether you need PUSH in mail, if you receive a dozen letters per hour, this function greatly affects the operating time. You can set the interval to 15, 30 minutes, or even an hour. This gives a noticeable increase in operating time.
In the screen settings, I recommend setting automatic brightness control, but also adding an analysis of the picture on the screen (a separate item, not available for all competing products). This item allows the phone to choose the brightness depending on the applications used, everything works quite well. Regardless of whether this item is selected or not, the temperature sensor works in the phone. If you are in the sun and at the same time play some kind of toy, simultaneously swing large file, the screen brightness will automatically decrease to prevent overheating of the device. Until this moment, I have not seen such functionality.
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The Power Save Mode section allows you to install an assistant that will turn on the power saving mode when the battery is discharged to a certain level... In doing so, you can specify how exactly the phone will save energy. Enough good setting as it flexibly allows you to set your priorities. When the battery reaches 15 percent, the camera stops working. The phone is focused on the fact that you can call until the last moment. It's nice that at 15 percent the device lives for 1.5-2 hours, you can talk for up to 15-20 minutes.
Surprisingly, the fact is that the Galaxy SII lasts longer than the first Galaxy. And this is not affected by a slightly larger battery, but by the technological platform itself, the Exynos processor turned out to be very economical. In terms of technology, this is an extremely complex phone, in which many settings have been applied, with the help of which real energy savings are possible without deteriorating the user characteristics of the device. I will hint that by studying in detail the phone and its capabilities, you can save up to 50 percent of the operating time, which is just great. Other devices do not provide such tuning possibilities even close. And if you also have straight arms, you know how to dig into the insides of the apparatus, then even more. In short, among the flagships of the latest generation, it is the Samsung Galaxy SII that has one of the longest-lasting batteries.
Below are screenshots of the built-in Android utility that shows runtime and power consumption.
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USB, Bluetooth, NFC, communication capabilities
Bluetooth. Bluetooth version 3.0, also called High Speed. When transferring files to other devices that support this technology, Wi-Fi 802.11 n is used, and the theoretical transfer speed is about 24 Mbps. Testing the transfer of a 1 GB file showed a maximum speed of about 12 Mbps within three meters between devices.
The model supports various profiles, in particular, Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port, Dial Up Networking, File Transfer, Object Push, Basic Printing, SIM Access, A2DP. Working with headsets does not raise any questions, everything is ordinary.
USB connection... In the menu, you can select one of three possible operating modes: Media Player, Mass Storage, Samsung kies... The device is easy to use as a modem by turning on Wi-Fi Hotspot or by activating a similar function for USB.
V USB mode Mass Storage the device is perfectly picked up without additional drivers, you can copy the necessary data. The USB version is 2, the data transfer rate is about 25 Mb / s.
When connected to a PC, simultaneous USB operation and Bluetooth, the device requires turning off Bluetooth regardless of the current state (whether there is a connection and transmission or not), this is extremely inconvenient. When connected via USB, the device recharges.
Supported USB function on the Go, this means that using a special adapter, you can connect any flash drives or external hard disks, in this case, you will receive in file manager the ability to view files, copy them, and so on.
The microUSB connector also supports the MHL standard, which means that using a special cable (available from electronics stores), you can connect your phone to a TV (to the HDMI output). In fact, the standard describes the ability to connect via microUSB to HDMI. This solution looks preferable to a separate miniHDMI connector on the case.
For GSM networks, EDGE class 12 is provided.
Wi-Fi... The standard 802.11 a / b / g / n is supported, the wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember the selected networks, automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a one-touch connection to the router, for this you need to press a button on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device menu (WPA SecureEasySetup).
