Flashback: the Samsung Galaxy S II was a best seller, its variants ushered in the 4G era

16 February 2020
The Galaxy S II came out right around the time of the first 4G networks, which made for some interesting versions.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • 8mp
  • 16 Feb 2020

Still got one. Being used as backup GPS mapping device.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • 0Bh
    • 16 Feb 2020

    Thank you for the Greatest Flashback ever !
    Dear GSMArena, please do continue with this huge,
    tremendous work and give us the pleasure to read
    also in detail about the other big Galaxy families of
    S III, S 4 and S 5 ! Let us remember the great times of
    the small BIG phones ! Hope one day Samsung will
    resurrect them, just with faster and bigger chipsets
    and memory ...
    And we will be let out, free of the glass menagerie ...

      • W
      • WillWC
      • nG7
      • 16 Feb 2020

      This is a stellar phone and zippy for the times, this is when Samsung smashed it against the likes of the iPhone 4s and the equivalent HTC's of the time, the build quality was durable although plastic and still maintained the magic 3: the removable battery, sd card slot and headphone jack, I never personally owned this model and only owned the s3 and the tank like note 4.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • U@G
        • 16 Feb 2020

        Hey! In your next throwback, could you guys please consider the Sony Ericsson Arc / Arc S? That was a beautiful phone that Sony can actually consider bringing back! :)

          • S
          • S2 for ever
          • smi
          • 16 Feb 2020

          My first Android phone. I miss it's durability. I never put a case on it. I like it's plastic back.
          Btw, it's still working.

            Found one on Ali..a S2,GT I9100,16GB,refurbished,obviously,but in a great condition for $35..that doesn't sound bad...no 4G,but replacement display set is $18..

              • G
              • GALAXY
              • Ki0
              • 16 Feb 2020

              Samsung Galaxy S II is my first Samsung phone, and first Samsung brand for Android.
              I used Xperia X10 before,
              I have a great experience UX of old Android OS in this phone than previous one.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • uvU
                • 16 Feb 2020

                i still have my Galaxy S2 fully functional. only the battery a bit weak now.

                  This is one of those devices that survived everything. Yes, even a fall from bike on the road and river dive(out of the water in 20 seconds, removed battery, dried up). It is 5 Stars device, except touchwiz. Didn't like it. But even then, I just got along with it somehow and had the phone for almost 3 years I believe - went for Honor 8?

                    • D
                    • AnonD-908380
                    • nfy
                    • 16 Feb 2020

                    Some things never change, like their crappy update policy. It's a shame since they make mostly great phones, but without updates they turn into e-waste for the majority of customers (99% don't know or care about custom ROM's).

                      • D
                      • Dave
                      • nqq
                      • 16 Feb 2020

                      Bought mine in 2012. Was a Nokia fan up to that point but never wanted to jump to WP. I remember how light and yet solid the Samsung felt. Liked the phone alot and used it for 3 or 4 years. I traded it for a Nokia N9 because I had to have it and already got S4 Black Edition which I still have. After S4 (N9 was never in active use, sometimes took some pics and I still have it aswell) it was right back to Nokia when they resurrected with Android. Even that I really liked those two Samsungs I don't think there's ever going to be more of them. I'm really happy to be back with Nokia again :) But good memories as a tech oriented person...

                        • S
                        • Steve Dojob
                        • uC4
                        • 16 Feb 2020

                        I think this phone and Galaxy Tab 7.7 is using the Super Amoled Plus Display. The RGB matrix reather that pen tile matrix.

                          • M
                          • Max
                          • LaE
                          • 16 Feb 2020

                          Believe it or not, a month ago I was still using an original 9100, and would still go on using it happily as there's nothing newer models offer that I care about - if only the flash hadn't packed it in, failing to boot then to power up completely. I'll miss that phone...

                            One of my absolute favourites from the Galaxy range along with the S7!

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • xj5
                              • 16 Feb 2020

                              I wish Samsung would go back to the square design looks much more neat and premium

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • KSu
                                • 16 Feb 2020

                                4.3 inch screen size while poor iPhone was stuck at 3.5 inch screen size. Took them years to reach 4.7 inch. I remember Apple owners begging for a bigger screen. When they got 4.7 inch screen, Android was already offering 5.5 inch plus phones.

                                  • g
                                  • gringo
                                  • N1q
                                  • 16 Feb 2020

                                  this device is called the beast ... the only one that survived from android 2 to 9. I'm using pixel experience pie on it !

                                    S2 was the start of the turning point for Samsung. Ever since then, Samsung continued to grow as a company & their sales kept improving.

                                    Some of my friends went for the S2, but i didn't. Instead i went for the HTC Amaze 4G after a few months, and IMO it was a much better phone. Better build & design, better specs, better display (AMOLEDs used to be too over-saturated back then, ruining the experience).

                                    Next year, i did buy the S3, and my experience was decent (still didn't like the display colors though). It's hard to believe it's been 8-9 years since then. Doesn't feel that long. Time flies.

                                      • S
                                      • Senthiil
                                      • pX$
                                      • 16 Feb 2020

                                      I still use it to date as a backup phone and it's absolute gold.. I love it..

                                      A real winner

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-454049
                                        • XLE
                                        • 16 Feb 2020

                                        Some devs managed to port android 10 to it. The just can't let go of it lol