Samsung Galaxy S II ICS review: Sugar coated

16 March 2012
The Samsung Galaxy S II has sold in record numbers worldwide and millions of users must've cheered the news of the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update rolling out. The latest OS from Google is a new lease of life for the Galaxy S II...

Sort by:

  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • sXD
  • 21 Mar 2012

luimed24, 21 Mar 2012Some new features of stock ICS are not included in SGS2 ICS... moreIn LPQ, the data monitering and Gallery are present. Which build are you using?

    • K
    • Ken
    • jJ6
    • 21 Mar 2012

    One bad bad thing about Samsung's Touch Wiz on ICS is that icon groups functionality is not available. Damn you Samsung!!!!

      • D
      • AnonD-9390
      • ucx
      • 21 Mar 2012

      hi all do anyone know when ICS update come to singapore?
      thanks

        • l
        • luimed24
        • LXr
        • 21 Mar 2012

        Some new features of stock ICS are not included in SGS2 ICS release, like lock screen shorcuts, per app data monitoring, the new ICS photo gallery. TouchWiz interface looks old and boring compared to the new ICS UI, but that's my personal opinion. In general, the system runs smoothly, I've just had some lags. The new UI effects are nice, and looks more consistent across screens. Battery duration it's shorter when compared with Gingerbread, maybe a third shorter. After a few tries with diferent releases for many countries I gave up, and switched back to gingerbread.

          • D
          • AnonD-252
          • 0TX
          • 21 Mar 2012

          veda2810, 21 Mar 2012I am surprised how GSMarena .. missed out on the fact that ... moreI have decided to upgrade back to GB, because batterylife on ICS is a lot worse than on GB, ki8, and ICS get very warm when browsing on Internet and I can not fully use my favorite browser , Miren, on ICS, and the sms-bug is fatal!

            I am surprised how GSMarena .. missed out on the fact that the audio quality of the device has improved by leaps and bounds .. Im an audiophile .. have been using this phone since 2.3.3->2.3.4->2.3.5->2.3.6 ... I must say .. that 4.0.3 has removed the distortion .. in the music ... It was clearly present in some songs before updating ... and was gone after upgrading to ICS ... (Earphones used to test-Creative EP630 application Player Pro )
            Another noticeable difference was the increase in the call volume .. there is a noticeable difference in ICS .. and the Firmware is not buggy at all .. I have been playing various games .. properly .. and using almost all features .. be sure to factory reset And format ur device before updating ..
            this is a major upgrade .. so .. its highly advisable to do so .

              • t
              • tim
              • sSW
              • 21 Mar 2012

              Tom-Helge, 20 Mar 2012No it's not, because in the end of the day, when you can cu... moreDoes this mean I can get rid of all the bloatware and SNS integrated rubbish that completely stuffs up my SII. Perhaps the upgrade might bring sound improvements (that is people hearing me) and also turn down the temperature of the SII because it is always too hot. Is it just me or do others have reception and sound quality issues with their SII.

                • o
                • omg
                • 2xw
                • 21 Mar 2012

                very disappointed
                battery is even worse than before and takes forever to charge
                wish i didnt upgrade

                  • T
                  • The King of Droids
                  • P@T
                  • 21 Mar 2012

                  The new update for ICS comes with a lot of improvements.(Forget about TW and use Apex Launcher to expecience pure ICS UI)
                  But few things are there which need polishing:
                  1. Contact app now shows profile pic of a perticular contact having SNS integration but the image is way out of resolution. What is the meaning of having this feature if the image can be unrecognizable?
                  2. WiFi took so much time to start which is definitely a pain in ass for full time WiFi users. This has to be resolved in urgency.
                  Apart from these issues the update is as smoth as butter in frying pan.

                    • a
                    • audio junk
                    • 25J
                    • 21 Mar 2012

                    Anonymous, 20 Mar 2012The zero shutter lag is a specific feature of the galaxy nexus Strange...its suppose to be an ICS feature....look at the latest HTC phones or even the old HTC sensation...all of them have instant.shutter that comes with the ICS...its a pity that the s2 left out such an important feature...also they should include the ability to record video and photo at the same time

                      iPhone 3G, 20 Mar 2012I think iOS is more user friendly than AndroidNo it's not, because in the end of the day, when you can customize your device after your OWN needs, then the user experience will get much better on Android because of that.

                        • i
                        • imran_amin
                        • PAm
                        • 20 Mar 2012

                        When is it arriving in Pakistan ?????

                          • i
                          • iPhone 3G
                          • PVi
                          • 20 Mar 2012

                          I think iOS is more user friendly than Android

                            • m
                            • me
                            • 3W$
                            • 20 Mar 2012

                            Lol it can't handle the ics its lagging and people ask why htc phones lags a bit...if we used htc sense on sgsII it would blow up

                              • c
                              • common
                              • 649
                              • 20 Mar 2012

                              when is it arrivin in UAE?

                                • D
                                • AnonD-47161
                                • vTQ
                                • 20 Mar 2012

                                When can we expect the ICS to be available in India

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • F1t
                                  • 20 Mar 2012

                                  I think Samsung did not update Touch Wiz to 5.0 because it would ruin the release of Galaxy S III. Imagine the UI for GSIII already in GSII no one will buy it anymore.

                                  I have updated my GSII to ICS (Philippines) it seems there is a problem when opening the Wi-Fi and with GoSMS.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 0R3
                                    • 20 Mar 2012

                                    audio junk, 17 Mar 2012I am just surprised at the camera updates...no fast shutter... moreThe zero shutter lag is a specific feature of the galaxy nexus

                                      • w
                                      • wolfliquid
                                      • PqR
                                      • 19 Mar 2012

                                      which rom are using gsm arena

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-47150
                                        • 0Pc
                                        • 19 Mar 2012

                                        Ok, but what about the camera stuttering problems?
                                        Why don't you talk about the buggy camera module with firmware version SCF02 wich is still not addressed by Samsung?
                                        A lot of people have this problem and it's still not admitted by Samsung customer care.
                                        They could change your module, but nothing can assure you that the next one will have SCF02 firmware, again (and it's not a remote possibility).
                                        Here you can find the offical xda-developers thread:
                                        http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1443658