Samsung Galaxy S2 Review

The iPhone 4 is exceptional, and has many applications available. However,as a fan of Android, this latest offering from Samsung does not mean I am likely to switch over to the big Apple just yet.

Featuring Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) this device is more like a small handheld computer than a phone. With a dual-core 1.2 Orion processor, 1gb of ram and 16gb (expandable via microSD card to 32gb) it positively flies compared with my previous Galaxy Portal, itself no slouch. I was also delighted with my screen on the Portal, but this high resolution Super AMOLED Plus 4.3 inch replacement blows it spluttering out of the water like a rat being bounced by a friendly porpoise, with its ability to play HD film content in a sharp, crisp manner.

The resolution is 480 x 800, but trust me, it looks like 1080p on a screen of this size, and as the Galaxy S2 can film at 1080p, you can see for yourself, and show it with an MHL port (Samsung MHL Adapter Port Dual-Purpose USB or HDMI Video Out for Galaxy S2) to your friends and family on a full screen household super HDTV. Oh yes, it truly is a good picture!

The still camera is an impressive eight megapixel too, with autofocus and an LED flash for those dimmer "not as well as you’d hoped areas" you find yourself in when you need to take a shot. I must say I prefer a proper flashtube as in the Sony Ericsson range, but they are specifically Cybershot cameras which are phones (not a criticism) rather than fully fledged all-singing, dancing and “look, I can film it doing the all-singing and dancing!” featured phone we have here. Video is recorded as 1080p@30fps and there is a secondary 2MP camera on the front for video calling.

It also has Wi-Fi, microUSB and the later version Bluetooth 3, which allows streaming music at 24mb/sec over Bluetooth devices such as headphones, speakers or a hands-free car kit with no loss of quality. Result!

With the ever-growing list of applications available on Android (many for free or far less than Apple Store), multi-tasking, a high contrast positively beautiful display and all the features you can wish for (1080HD filming!) in a Smartphone, this is definitely one for your wish list.