Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II
- N
- NZtechfreak
- vxU
- 01 Jun 2011
@The Marketer your unit sounds faulty to me, my camera is excellent, I don't have problems with overheating, and battery life is no problem (2 hours and asking for charge? seriously? either its faulty or there is some kind of issue with the user).
- D
- AnonD-9855
- 3Wh
- 01 Jun 2011
This is a review of my Samsung GS2 - JUNE 2011
I have had the Samsung GS2 for over 5 weeks, I was one of the "lucky" ones and got it as a sim free handset.
As I have had everything, both in the house and in business either Sony or Samsung for over 20 years, it seemed only natural to get the latest tech smartphone from Samsung.
I will keep this honest and hope that it saves some people the time (and money!) with their potential "hyped" purchase.
Bad Points (that need sorting ASAP Samsung!)
CAMERA & SOFTWARE
The way the software accesses it, has got to be the worst thing since the original Blackberry Bold farce! It will not focus, the exposure is so far off you might as well use a Betamax Camcorder and a candle. I have taken both photos and videos at different res, everything is poor, I have the later firm update (not the one Samsung are currently working on) and it made NO difference in anyway. The videos are grainy,dull and seem like they are the old VGA res from the early Motorolas (144x120 pixel!) There is no way you can take videos at "dusk" or at "night" as the light on with the video makes it seem like someone is "following" you around the bar with a torch! There has been no thought in this part of the Hardware/Software, it was rushed to launch and should not have been. So if you want to take VIDEO or PHOTOS (in a hurry!) you will be very disappointed.
TIP - WAIT FOR AN UPDATE!
BATTERY & BATTERY LIFE
Now, for all you techies that complained 5 years ago on an earlier "My Samsung keeps running out of battery after 4-6 hours "normal use" the Samsung G2S should have been the answer to a very long fix in the Samsung R&D team. It was NOT, the battery life, battery charge holding & battery saving are all VERY POOR. My handset, without being on wifi, using it for less than 2 hours, has gone into please plug me in at least everyday since I have had it. This is the same issue as the old Samsung Soul U800, that was never fixed either. This is an all singing, all dancing, million dollar developed smartphone, one that was meant to "beat" the iphone hands down and they did not even sort a decent Battery life out. I have used every trick I know (apart from switching the handset off and not using it) to save & conserve the "use" but the only thing that happens if you use NOTHING on the phone is the standby is longer.
TIP - WAIT FOR AN UPDATE IF YOU USE WIFI/VIDEO CALLING/LOTS OF APPS!
HEAT DISPLACMENT / HOTNESS (and I do not mean looks!)
The handset gets hot, end of, it is always overly warm to hold after any intensive use EG Playing some games for an hour / surfing the web / using 5 apps, in fact ANYTHING that makes use of the CPU's and CAMERA warms this baby up! I have a Nexus S as well (yep the real G phone!) all updated to latest everything and obviously it is not loaded with all the crap Samsung loads on, it has never got hot when multitasking and it only has 1 CPU! If you have got cold hands and you live near the Ice pole, you will be fine with the Samsung getting hot, I am not, it seems to me it is another "rushed" part of the development. My phone has got so hot around the camera area, that I could use it as a Hip Flask to keep my Rum warm!
TIP - WAIT FOR UPDATE!
MICROPHONE / SPEAKER
Not good, in an area with built up noise, the person I have called in an office (quiet) cannot hear me. I have tried about 5 different setups on the handset and the only way (from the same test location) that my receiving party can hear me clearly, is to use my top of the shop Bluespoon BT heatset with digital noise supression. This is POOR, the fact that you have a $1000 handset and you cannot hold conversations in some noise is ridculious. The ear piece is good, but the loud speaker is not, listening to a 3 way conversation or 1 conversation & music (background) is almost "Tin Can on string" quality. The high kps music I have (some the same as on my Samsung S1) when played on the loudspeaker, sound rubbish.
TIP - IF YOU LIKE MUSIC OR HEARING PEOPLE TALK... WAIT FOR AN UPDATE!
ANDROID / OS
To me the most important part, Dual Core CPU running Android latest OS... Must be HEAVEN! Sorry no... My Nexus (no samsung bloatware) and my Galaxy S1 (samsung bloatware removed) are both FASTER on opening/using some everday apps and games! I hate to say it, but the phone NEEDS the faster processor to run all the crap. It is buggy, slow to response when say 7 or more apps and the web/wifi is doing something. I have been fair and compared this to my Nexus S as it is updated to hell. The SG2 is still a showboat of a fast phone, but SOMETHING is slowing it all down... but what?
TIP - WAIT FOR THE NEXT OS (samsung firmware) UPDATE!
All in all I could go on, but this is my opinion and I have not found anything that I could say is outstanding. I REALLY wanted it to be the best smartphone I have ever bought and would keep, but unless Samsung pull a big update out of the bag to get rid of the bugs/poor performance issues etc, I will be selling it by the end of June!
CONCLUSION
Do not believe the hype (for a while!) wait to see if an update is brought out (especially if you are like me buying sim free!) by Samsung. This is the best Android smartphone I have had, but I want to use my phone how I want, not how Samsung seem fit. I already have a hot water bottle, I do not need another "overheating" phone.
Come on Samsung, before you have "Galaxy Gate" like Apple had "Reception Gate" and your sales dive... get it SORTED... PLEASE!
- T
- The Marketer
- 3Wh
- 01 Jun 2011
This is a (brief) review of my Samsung GS2 - JUNE 2011
I have had the Samsung GS2 for about 5 weeks, I was one of the "lucky" ones and got it as a sim free handset direct from Samsung's distributors..
As I have had everything, both in the house and in business either Sony or Samsung for over 20 years, it seemed only natural to get the latest tech smartphone from Samsung.
I will keep this honest and hope that it saves some people the time (and money!) with their potential "hyped" purchase.
Bad Points (that need sorting ASAP Samsung!)
CAMERA & SOFTWARE
The way the software accesses it, has got to be the worst thing since the original Blackberry Bold farce! It will not focus, the exposure is so far off you might as well use a Beta max Camcorder and a candle. I have taken both photos and videos at different res, everything is poor, I have the later firm update (not the one Samsung are currently working on) and it made NO difference in anyway. The videos are grainy,dull and seem like they are the old VGA res from the early Motorolas (144x120 pixel!) There is no way you can take videos at "dusk" or at "night" as the light on with the video makes it seem like someone is "following" you around the bar with a torch! There has been no thought in this part of the Hardware/Software, it was rushed to launch and should not have been. So if you want to take VIDEO or PHOTOS (in a hurry!) you will be very disappointed.
TIP - WAIT FOR AN UPDATE!
BATTERY & BATTERY LIFE
Now, for all you techies that complained 5 years ago on an earlier "My Samsung keeps running out of battery after 4-6 hours "normal use" the Samsung G2S should have been the answer to a very long fix in the Samsung R&D team. It was NOT, the battery life, battery charge holding & battery saving are all VERY POOR. My handset, without being on wifi, using it for less than 2 hours, has gone into please plug me in at least everyday since I have had it. This is the same issue as the old Samsung Soul U800, that was never fixed either. This is an all singing, all dancing, million dollar developed smartphone, one that was meant to "beat" the iphone hands down and they did not even sort a decent Battery life out. I have used every trick I know (apart from switching the handset off and not using it) to save & conserve the "use" but the only thing that happens if you use NOTHING on the phone is the standby is longer.
TIP - WAIT FOR AN UPDATE IF YOU USE WIFI/VIDEO CALLING/LOTS OF APPS!
HEAT DISPLACMENT / HOTNESS (and I do not mean looks!)
The handset gets hot, end of, it is always overly warm to hold after any intensive use EG Playing some games for an hour / surfing the web / using 5 apps, in fact ANYTHING that makes use of the CPU's and CAMERA warms this baby up! I have a Nexus S as well (yep the real G phone!) all updated to latest everything and obviously it is not loaded with all the crap Samsung loads on, it has never got hot when multitasking and it only has 1 CPU! If you have got cold hands and you live near the Ice pole, you will be fine with the Samsung getting hot, I am not, it seems to me it is another "rushed" part of the development. My phone has got so hot around the camera area, that I could use it as a Hip Flask to keep my Rum warm!
TIP - WAIT FOR UPDATE!
MICROPHONE / SPEAKER
Not good, in an area with built up noise, the person I have called in an office (quiet) cannot hear me. I have tried about 5 different setups on the handset and the only way (from the same test location) that my receiving party can hear me clearly, is to use my top of the shop Bluespoon BT heatset with digital noise supression. This is POOR, the fact that you have a $1000 handset and you cannot hold conversations in some noise is ridculious. The ear piece is good, but the loud speaker is not, listening to a 3 way conversation or 1 conversation & music (background) is almost "Tin Can on string" quality. The high kps music I have (some the same as on my Samsung S1) when played on the loudspeaker, sound rubbish.
TIP - IF YOU LIKE MUSIC OR HEARING PEOPLE TALK... WAIT FOR AN UPDATE!
ANDROID / OS
To me the most important part, Dual Core CPU running Android latest OS... Must be HEAVEN! Sorry no... My Nexus (no samsung bloatware) and my Galaxy S1 (samsung bloatware removed) are both FASTER on opening/using some everday apps and games! I hate to say it, but the phone NEEDS the faster processor to run all the crap. It is buggy, slow to response when say 7 or more apps and the web/wifi is doing something. I have been fair and compared this to my Nexus S as it is updated to hell. The SG2 is still a showboat of a fast phone, but SOMETHING is slowing it all down... but what?
TIP - WAIT FOR THE NEXT OS (samsung firmware) UPDATE!
All in all I could go on, but this is my opinion and I have not found anything that I could say is outstanding. I REALLY wanted it to be the best smartphone I have ever bought and would keep, but unless Samsung pull a big update out of the bag to get rid of the bugs/poor performance issues etc, I will be selling it by the end of June!
CONCLUSION
Do not believe the hype (for a while!) wait to see if an update is brought out (especially if you are like me buying sim free!) by Samsung. This is the best Android smartphone I have had, but I want to use my phone how I want, not how Samsung seem fit. I already have a hot water bottle, I do not need another "overheating" phone.
Come on Samsung, before you have "Galaxy Gate" like Apple had "Reception Gate" and your sales dive... get it SORTED... PLEASE!
Nicholas
- N
- NZtechfreak
- vxU
- 01 Jun 2011
Much better MHL video demo here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bmtulP9Vlg
Also, check the Clove Blog for a real users SGSII review!
- D
- AnonD-5509
- 0FI
- 01 Jun 2011
AnonD-9843, 01 Jun 2011Just received handset, it does get quite hot, even just bro... moremay be ur charger is not working.plz change ur charger n try.borrow from some1 and try.i think it'll solve ur problem
- D
- AnonD-9849
- Tkh
- 01 Jun 2011
Can anybody comment on the mucsic playback quality through earphones. I currently have an iPhone 3GS and use the iPod feature a lot which is very good quality sound. I am looking to get one of these phones next month when my contract ends but have been put off by the review on here. It says that the sound quality through earphones is poor. I am happy enough with my iPhone and would rather keep it than change to this and be disappointed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
- D
- AnonD-9843
- IP3
- 01 Jun 2011
Update on my handset, I did factory reset, wiped data and cache, now works fine. Possible application error, could have rendered my device useless, but works fine now, if I find out any specific details, I will post. Otherwise, beautiful phone. Every new product has issues, it is only day one here afterall. Peace
- P
- Poomonster
- Tkh
- 01 Jun 2011
Can anybody comment on the mucsic playback quality through earphones. I currently have an iPhone 3GS and use the iPod feature a lot which is very good quality sound. I am looking to get one of these phones next month when my contract ends but have been put off by the review on here. It says that the sound quality through earphones is poor. I am happy enough with my iPhone and would rather keep it than change to this and be disappointed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
- R
- Ryan
- MAD
- 01 Jun 2011
Amazing phone but shocking poor video performance.
What I mean by this statement is that I previously owned the Galaxy S and loved the video performance and my girlfriend still has Galaxy S so I ran some tests.
The Galaxy S2 does obviously take clear video but the auto focus is a complete joke with how slow it takes to react and EXPOSURE is a complete failure.
What I mean with exposure issue is when you film into bright outdoor light then change your filming to indoors darker situation, it takes roughly 7-10 seconds to catch up. (Very Poor)
Other issues, when recording video on Galaxy S when I pressed the power button it would lock screen so you do not accidently zoom but on the Galaxy S2 it stops the video.
I am really hoping these issue I mention get fixed with future firmware upgrades and in my opinion it would be the best phone ever.
- D
- AnonD-9587
- RbX
- 01 Jun 2011
Is the phone works/run on SIMPLE MOBILE network 3G (1700/2100 Mhz)??? I
know this phone works any GSM/ any SIM card for voice call. I'm worry the
internet connection is only EDGE on SIMPLE MOBILE. SIMPLE MOBILE is T-
MOBILE network. Thank you for your answer & information.
- ?
- Anonymous
- vGq
- 01 Jun 2011
The negatives worry me....
Supposed to be launched today in India ... no ads at all ... humm
- D
- AnonD-9843
- RNL
- 01 Jun 2011
Just received handset, it does get quite hot, even just browsing net, but for me this isn't issue, my issue is, overnight it discharged and I can't charge or turn it back on again, so I now have to send phone back and wait a few weeks for replacement, all I get is continue battery icon with yellow exclamation mark. Flashing over and over again. :-( any one else had this problem, even with a past android phone?
- M
- Michael
- PEf
- 01 Jun 2011
Got hold of galaxy 2 a week back. I must say all that glitters is not gold. It is not that great as it looks on paper.
1. Battery life is insanely short. What is the point of carrying a phone which does not even last 1 day with minimal use.
2. It has a heating problem. Feels like I am holding a heated rod after playing few games on it.
3. Camera truly has a problem. Pictures taken from the phone looks as if someone has edited it on adobe and added pink and white spots.
4. Display is cartoonish.
5. Looks are not that great. Front is fine but the back is a waste.
6. Call also gets disconnected very often. I have tried few sims and of no help. I have contacted samsung about this and they are looking into the issue. Seems like a software prb. Not sure though.
7. Can not sync it with Outlook which is very disapointing.
All in all a 5/10. Dont go by the hype. I am sure once users get to use it all the hype will vanish.
- ?
- Anonymous
- xJf
- 01 Jun 2011
The phone is available for sale in Australia today. I just bought one, can't wait to test it out!!
- v
- vince9999985
- ibe
- 01 Jun 2011
SG2 heating problem? Please place your phone inside the freezer or snow or inside the room wif coolest aircond. This is needed while u r playing the game. Aniway, SG2 is current world best android smartphone! top ranked in europe,asia,ocenia and antartic.
- g
- gv
- vwq
- 01 Jun 2011
Sammy,
Why do u build handsets with all plastic??
CAn't u make it metal built pls...
- c
- couscous
- jSe
- 01 Jun 2011
AnonD-9587, 31 May 2011is the phone works/run on SIMPLE MOBILE network 3G (1700/21... moreI dont think you will get 3G on SGS II if you use SIMPLE MOBILE as it's using 1700/2100 Mhz. You will only get 2G on it. Only phones like Nokia N900 & other recent Nokia phones which use HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 can get 3G signal using simple mobile provider.
If you wanna use SGS II, there is another AT&T MNVO called H2O which is similar to Simple Mobile provider. H2O wireless definitely uses HSDPA (3G) bands 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 on SGS II
- R
- Ryan
- MAD
- 01 Jun 2011
Amazing phone but shocking poor video performance.
What I mean by this statement is that I previously owned the Galaxy S and loved the video performance and my girlfriend still has Galaxy S so I ran some tests.
The Galaxy S2 does obviously take clear video but the auto focus is a complete joke with how slow it takes to react and EXPOSURE is a complete failure.
What I mean with exposure issue is when you film into bright outdoor light then change your filming to indoors darker situation, it takes roughly 7-10 seconds to catch up. (Very Poor)
Other issues, when recording video on Galaxy S when I pressed the power button it would lock screen so you do not accidently zoom but on the Galaxy S2 it stops the video.
I am really hoping these issue I mention get fixed with future firmware upgrades and in my opinion it would be the best phone ever.
- D
- AnonD-9823
- mgE
- 01 Jun 2011
Boger X ...., 31 May 2011Are there any disadvantages of this SII samsung i9100 galax... moreI have used this phone about 3 weeks and haven't found anything to complain. If you like android, this is the best device available; atrix, sensation and optimus 2x are inferior. However some users don't like the plastic build for a high-end phone like this and there are many topics in xda about problems in galaxy s 2. Also the touchwiz doesn't suit everyones tastes. But I haven't encountered any problems and would recommend this phone to everyone wanting the phone closest to perfection and the best android experience around.
- D
- AnonD-6719
- j%f
- 01 Jun 2011
AnonD-9767, 31 May 2011So guys i really would like to know about SGSII heating pro... moreI have had my GSII for 4 days now and have spent hours so far setting it up. I have had no heating problems whatsoever. It gets warm, but barely noticible. I have not played any games, so that may be the main thing causing the heating issue on other phones. Mine came with KE7 installed - don't know if Samsung did anything about the overheating in that update.
Also - on another note - the GPS works flawlessly. It finds my location and stays locked on it, on the GPS setting only (works in flight mode without need of cell towers).