Galaxy S II vs Galaxy Nexus

[poofyhairguy]

I mean seriously, as nice as a the GPU is on the SGS2, is it as big of a deal as say dual core vs single core?

What matters about the Mali is that at the WVGA resolution it can play every current mobile game at the max framerate of 60fps. That means smooth, console-like action.

With the GNex you have a weaker GPU and a higher resolution. Look at the Anandtech benches posted- the GNex doesn't have the power to play most current games at 60fps at its native res, more like 40 fps. That means when the next generation of games come (and they will, even if they are just iOS ports or Tegra exclusives) the Mali will still play them at a decent framerate while a Gnex will feel like a slideshow.

Many people don't care about games so this doesn't matter, but some do.

 

[beduion]

Thanks, I'm looking into TMo for now. Does the SGS2 you own have anti glare coating? Also I only see on amazon the SA-I9100 which is the international version not the U.S version. Curious ot know If I buy the phone from TMo will it still be on the edge network...

GNex has zero shutter lag. This is, I think, the first cell phone camera to boast of such a feat. That I've seen, anyway.

I'd take that over the piddly 3 megapixel difference compared to SGS2. HD video recording appears to be same quality, as well.

Though, for what it's worth--I'm extremely happy with my SGS2 and feel no qualms with the GNex coming out soon. I thought the 4.3" size of the SGS2 was perfect at first (mine is international), but now I think it's either slightly too big, or at the very most, the largest size I could possibly want in a phone.

For the OP: I purchased mine--international unlocked off of Amazon. Paid right at $600, but applied that to new Chase Freedom card dela that gave me instant $250 cash back with first purcahse. that has since been credited, so I was in the end able to purchase an unlocked SGS2 for $350. Those deals for the cc are quite ubiquitous these days, btw.

My TMo contract had expired, so I wanted to go for a serious upgrade without having to sign any new contracts. I'm currently still using my TMo SIM card with new cheap plan (Still no data, lol). The problem is that the international version, if using TMo, locks you to Edge (the weird bands that TMo uses). That doesn't appear to be a problem for you, so...whatever.

Another option is to look into WalMart's Straight Talk service plans, which are extremely cheap "unlimited," and use ATT's network--which means the international SGS2 could be fully utilized on the ATT Network with a very cheap monthly plan, and no ATT hassle. (You have to buy the proper phone--$100 up front on top of monthly contract--to get this to work)

From a few benchmarks floating around, and including Anand's preliminary benchmark (they mention the full review will be out soon), the TMo SGS2 somewhat significantly outclasses the "real" SGS2 with Exynos in browser and other benchmarks. It even matches or beats iPhone 4S. However, it will likely be destroyed in games compared to the Exynos Mali, or so we expect. It's also the larger screen at 4.5" instead of 4.3'

Though, this idea that Sam's Club has one on ATT contract for 0.99 on BF--this sounds like a no-brainer to me. That is a serious phone for free, that should remain in the top tier of phones for another year or so. It is also, probably, the US version that you want--though it would be locked to ATT.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Also I only see on amazon the SA-I9100 which is the international version not the U.S version.

Here is the T Mobile version OOC:

http://www.wirefly.com/eCommerce/SpecialOffer.aspx?cid=35981_799733314a8e444aa3a3266042101a62

 

[zinfamous]

Thanks, I'm looking into TMo for now. Does the SGS2 you own have anti glare coating? Also I only see on amazon the SA-I9100 which is the international version not the U.S version. Curious ot know If I buy the phone from TMo will it still be on the edge network...

Yes--the I9100 will only work on Edge for T-Mobile, unfortunately.

I have simply been too lazy to make the switch to carriers (frankly, in the last 3 months, there were maybe 4 situations where I wanted data access. WiFi is ubiquitous for me on a daily basis).

Here is the T Mobile version OOC:

http://www.wirefly.com/eCommerce/SpecialOffer.aspx?cid=35981_799733314a8e444aa3a3266042101a62

Ooo, nice. that's what I paid for the international version. I keep meaning to stop by the TMo shop on my way home each day to compare the two. But being TMo, it's a crapshoot if the store will have a working device on display or just a shell.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Are there any solid tests of the Galaxy Nexus camera versus other cameras (i.e. Nexus S, SGS2, iPhone 4S, etc.)??? In fact I'm quite interested in how it does against other 5MP shooters like the SGS1/NS/iPhone 4 era phones.

I know people love to say "Well 3MP isn't a difference" or "any P&S will outdo these cameraphones"

but considering where we came from Motorola V300s where the 640x480 image was blurrier than any Adobe Photoshop blur filter you could put on today's images, we've come a long way. Sure there are many great P&Ses out there like the Canon S95, but there's plenty of mediocre P&Ses with crappy noise reduction still. Cameraphones can come close.

Additionally, there are good 5MP and bad 5MP sensors. You can take a look at some bad HTC phones and meanwhile the SGS phones had amazing 5MP sensors. The iPhone 4 had an amazing 5 MP sensor. If you took a bad 5MP sensor and put it next to a good one, and you told me the resulting images was cameraphone versus Canon P&S, I might be fooled. The fact is the 8MP sensors on the SGS2 and iPhone 4s are some of the BEST out there. To say that it's only 3MP and small sensors mean nothing and any DSLR will win when you're talking best-in-class 8MP cameraphones out there is a bit uninformed. Unless the Galaxy Nexus has the best goddamn 5MP camera out there, I don't think you can quickly dismiss the advantage of the 8MP phones right now.

 

[sjwaste]

So with the SGS2 for a penny on Amazon, is it a no brainer to get the AT&T SGS2 over the Skyrocket and the GNex, assuming I need to be on a carrier with an iPhone that isn't Sprint (the former for my wife, the latter because I have Sprint now and they blow in Maine)?

 

[Fire&Blood]

After 3 models, Nexus lineup has established itself as A-, the "-" can be interpreted every which way but I think it's being held back on purpose (no SD, 5MP shooter, average chip). One could reason is that's because Google doesn't want to interfere with "true" high end phones, partly to ensure a lower threshold for each update Nexus represents.

The real benefit for Samsung isn't the Nexus contract value, they won't sell too many and by now they know it, real money is in subsidy phones. Early access to updates through Nexus contracts is invaluable to Samsung. The Nexus as I see it, has 3 obstacles to being a top phone. Average SoC, 5MP cam and no SD slot. Enter SGS3. It's up for guesses exactly how bad the Nexus will look next to SGS3 but if history is any indication, it will be bad. Just like the "old" SGS2 competes well with the Nexus, (720p and temporary ICS crown aside) I expect the SGS3 to hold up against the next Nexus as well.

I will try to wait until Qualcomm's S4 as well but there is a good chance I might snatch the SGS3 even if it doesn't carry T-Mobile's bands. Yes, I expect it to be that hot.

 

[smartpatrol]

So with the SGS2 for a penny on Amazon, is it a no brainer to get the AT&T SGS2 over the Skyrocket and the GNex, assuming I need to be on a carrier with an iPhone that isn't Sprint (the former for my wife, the latter because I have Sprint now and they blow in Maine)?

Sounds like a good plan to me. I'd personally go with the Galaxy Nexus, but it's a tough call, and you can't argue with that price. SGS2 is still the most powerful Android phone out there hardware-wise.

Besides, you could always sell that phone and buy any unlocked European phone should you decide you want something new.

 

[gorcorps]

nevermind... was looking at wrong page

 

[cliftonite]

So with the SGS2 for a penny on Amazon, is it a no brainer to get the AT&T SGS2 over the Skyrocket and the GNex, assuming I need to be on a carrier with an iPhone that isn't Sprint (the former for my wife, the latter because I have Sprint now and they blow in Maine)?

Are you a new customer? It looks like its only a penny if you are new. $150 for existing customers

 

[Adam8281]

So with the SGS2 for a penny on Amazon, is it a no brainer to get the AT&T SGS2 over the Skyrocket and the GNex, assuming I need to be on a carrier with an iPhone that isn't Sprint (the former for my wife, the latter because I have Sprint now and they blow in Maine)?

The Skyrocket is also $.01, you know.

 

[sjwaste]

I'm a new customer - currently on Sprint, really bad reception up here.

What's the argument for the Skyrocket if we assume my market will never, or next to never, get AT&T LTE? Will AT&T LTE be able to roam onto US Cellular, or is that unlikely because of the 1291590123590123 frequencies licensed for LTE in the US?

I've kind of written off the Google Nexus, because no matter how good it is, I won't get it for $0.01 or even 2 orders of magnitude more than that for at least a year.

So now its SGS2 vs Skyrocket. SGS2 has a smaller screen, no LTE, but better community support (ROMs), and a better SOC. Skyrocket has a larger screen and LTE, but pretty poor support on XDA.

I'm not a huge gamer, but I do like to run custom ROMs, especially CyanogenMod, and get the latest OS updates. If it were literally your penny, would you go SGS2 or Skyrocket?

 

[ponyo]

I'm a new customer - currently on Sprint, really bad reception up here.

What's the argument for the Skyrocket if we assume my market will never, or next to never, get AT&T LTE? Will AT&T LTE be able to roam onto US Cellular, or is that unlikely because of the 1291590123590123 frequencies licensed for LTE in the US?

I've kind of written off the Google Nexus, because no matter how good it is, I won't get it for $0.01 or even 2 orders of magnitude more than that for at least a year.

So now its SGS2 vs Skyrocket. SGS2 has a smaller screen, no LTE, but better community support (ROMs), and a better SOC. Skyrocket has a larger screen and LTE, but pretty poor support on XDA.

I'm not a huge gamer, but I do like to run custom ROMs, especially CyanogenMod, and get the latest OS updates. If it were literally your penny, would you go SGS2 or Skyrocket?

SGS2. If you're not going to be in LTE area, it won't do you any good. Always go for the better community supported phone. Samsung and AT&T will abandon you once SGS3 is out so community support is all you'll have left.

 

[Adam8281]

If it were my shiny penny, I'd go GSII, because I think the HSPA+ speeds are plenty fast, I like the Exynos SOC more, and the smaller (but not small, by any stretch) screen of the GSII has higher pixel density.

 

[sjwaste]

SGS2. If you're not going to be in LTE area, it won't do you any good. Always go for the better community supported phone. Samsung and AT&T will abandon you once SGS3 is out so community support is all you'll have left.

That was my thought too. I have an Evo now, and I haven't applied a Sprint update since the one they pushed out on release day. I've always been running an enhanced, rooted stock rom like Fresh, a Sense 3.0, or CM7.

The AT&T SGS2 seems to have good support, is rootable, unlockable, and is getting CyanogenMod builds. The Skyrocket and other variants on the Snapdragon SOC don't seem to get as much community support.

 

[sjwaste]

If it were my shiny penny, I'd go GSII, because I think the HSPA+ speeds are plenty fast, I like the Exynos SOC more, and the smaller (but not small, by any stretch) screen of the GSII has higher pixel density.

I'm thinking the same. Thanks for the help - I was just thinking I missed something about the Skyrocket when you mentioned it.

 

[smartpatrol]

I've kind of written off the Google Nexus, because no matter how good it is, I won't get it for $0.01 or even 2 orders of magnitude more than that for at least a year.

. . . 2 orders of magnitude more as in $1.00? :-D

Anyway, I see absolutely no reason to go with the Skyrocket over the regular SGS2 if you're not in an LTE market. SGS2 has a better CPU, better GPU, better custom ROM support. Even the screen, while smaller, is supposedly better (I've heard about color issues on the larger SAMOLED+ screen used in some US versions of the GS2).

 

[poofyhairguy]

T
The AT&T SGS2 seems to have good support, is rootable, unlockable, and is getting CyanogenMod builds. The Skyrocket and other variants on the Snapdragon SOC don't seem to get as much community support.

I have been trying to avoid directly influencing your decision because I have the regular AT&T SGS2 and I don't want to come off as a fanboy, by the Skyrocket should be avoided. I worked with a guy on the XDA forum to test the Skyrocket, and compared to Exynos its GPU sucks. Out of my test samples almost NONE would work in the Skyrocket default player which means a weaker decoder than the GNex, let alone the real SGS2. The Skyrocket is a downgrade in everything not LTE.

The biggest benefit of the AT&T SGS2? Hellraiser:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1335377

That is a package that you flash after you flash International SGS2 ROMs to make them work. That means that almost all of the ROMs of the larger SGS2 community work on the AT&T one- the exceptions are CM based ROMs and ICS roms, but ours already has working CM7 and a great MIUI rom already so that doesn't matter.

In fact, without sounding like a fanboy for what I have, I would argue that the AT&T SGS2 is the best SGS2 to be released. Better than any of the larger screen ones due to pixel density. It has the real Exynos. It has NFC (unlike Int. version). It is AT&T's clear best phone, and if you are into flashing ROMs it is the only decent option on the network.

Poor Skyrocket people are pooling money to buy phones for established devs so they get some support, meanwhile I will have ICS fairly soon after the Int. version gets updated.

 

[zinfamous]

Sounds like a good plan to me. I'd personally go with the Galaxy Nexus, but it's a tough call, and you can't argue with that price. SGS2 is still the most powerful Android phone out there hardware-wise.

Besides, you could always sell that phone and buy any unlocked European phone should you decide you want something new.

this

 

[abaez]

I *would* buy the ATT SGSii, but it looks like tmo's galaxy s ii also has compatibility with ATT's 3G bands, which I like.

Also I can use tmo's 100minute/unlim data $30 plan, which saves you ALOT when buying ATT's version as you'll be forced on the rip data plans.

 

[sjwaste]

. . . 2 orders of magnitude more as in $1.00? :-D

Anyway, I see absolutely no reason to go with the Skyrocket over the regular SGS2 if you're not in an LTE market. SGS2 has a better CPU, better GPU, better custom ROM support. Even the screen, while smaller, is supposedly better (I've heard about color issues on the larger SAMOLED+ screen used in some US versions of the GS2).

Haha, sorry, I was thinking it was a dollar not a penny. I amend to FOUR orders of magnitude. Comparing prices for the same type of product that way is hilarious.

 

[Adam8281]

I *would* buy the ATT SGSii, but it looks like tmo's galaxy s ii also has compatibility with ATT's 3G bands, which I like.

Also I can use tmo's 100minute/unlim data $30 plan, which saves you ALOT when buying ATT's version as you'll be forced on the rip data plans.

However, T-Mo's version doesn't have the Exynos SOC.

 

[sjwaste]

I *would* buy the ATT SGSii, but it looks like tmo's galaxy s ii also has compatibility with ATT's 3G bands, which I like.

Also I can use tmo's 100minute/unlim data $30 plan, which saves you ALOT when buying ATT's version as you'll be forced on the rip data plans.

Hey, I appreciate the thoughts. I should have added, I'm not considering T-Mobile because their own coverage map puts my home and a half mile radius around it in a 2G zone. It's kind of ridiculous, actually. The rest of the Portland (Maine) metro area has 3G, but no HSPA+.

AT&T offers what they call 4G (HSPA+?) covering the entire area, including my office.

Verizon would be an option too, but far more expensive.

 

[sjwaste]

I have been trying to avoid directly influencing your decision because I have the regular AT&T SGS2 and I don't want to come off as a fanboy, by the Skyrocket should be avoided. I worked with a guy on the XDA forum to test the Skyrocket, and compared to Exynos its GPU sucks. Out of my test samples almost NONE would work in the Skyrocket default player which means a weaker decoder than the GNex, let alone the real SGS2. The Skyrocket is a downgrade in everything not LTE.

The biggest benefit of the AT&T SGS2? Hellraiser:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1335377

That is a package that you flash after you flash International SGS2 ROMs to make them work. That means that almost all of the ROMs of the larger SGS2 community work on the AT&T one- the exceptions are CM based ROMs and ICS roms, but ours already has working CM7 and a great MIUI rom already so that doesn't matter.

In fact, without sounding like a fanboy for what I have, I would argue that the AT&T SGS2 is the best SGS2 to be released. Better than any of the larger screen ones due to pixel density. It has the real Exynos. It has NFC (unlike Int. version). It is AT&T's clear best phone, and if you are into flashing ROMs it is the only decent option on the network.

Poor Skyrocket people are pooling money to buy phones for established devs so they get some support, meanwhile I will have ICS fairly soon after the Int. version gets updated.

That about sells it for me, though. I know you have a little more experience with these devices than I do, and of all my criteria, community support is probably #1 if everything else is decent. I'm spoiled with my Evo now and wouldn't even be thinking of a new phone if Sprint didn't blow. I'm not paying $60 a month for 1X data speeds.

 

[abaez]

However, T-Mo's version doesn't have the Exynos SOC.

$250/year minimum savings.. I'll take the slightly slower SOC.