Got to play with a SGS II for a few hours last night.

[amdhunter]

Went to the BGR summer meetup last night and got to play with both the AT&T and Samsung GS II's for about 2 hours straight. (Yay to Samsung for leaving the Market wide open to buy anything!)

First of all - as an iPhone user (but not the hardened fanboy) I have to say the phones are HUGE to me. They both are thinner than my iPhone 4, but they are just a little bit too big for my tastes.

The screen on both versions are absolutely gorgeous, but the Sprint version looked slightly stretched when comparing them. If I haven't seen them side by side, I wouldn't have an issue. While the colors on both were stunning, they Sprint version didn't seem as sharp with small text.

Surprisingly, the AT&T version was flying browsing wise, but the Sprint version had faster sustained downloads (~4-5mbit.) Sprint 4G held up OK, but the AT&T version kept dropping out.

Quadrant scores were 3200 on the AT&T after a few runs, while the Sprint version ran 3400. Both phones looked silky smooth and locked at 60fps. I got to run that Qualcomm demo (forgot the name) and it also looked smooth.

Also, the phones didn't lag much at all. I can't recall a moment when either one lagged, which was one of my biggest gripes about Android.

Cameras seemed sucky on both in the darkened lounge that we were in, but video recording seemed smooth and sharp.

Despite the Sprint version looking slightly stretched, I'd definitely get their version. The phone is just a hair too big, but screw it - don't cheap out on the smaller AT&T.

When did the industry decide we need plasma TV's in our pockets... :|

I also walked out with a Samsung Conquer 4G for Sprint. I have Sprint service, but have no use for a low-end phone like this. I'll probably use it for trade-in on a SGS II or iPhone 5. Just waiting to see what Apple will bring to the plate.

 

[Oyeve]

Does netflix work on these? I was thinking about bailing from tmo and going to sprint and getting a GS2.

 

[sciwizam]

Went to the BGR summer meetup last night and got to play with both the AT&T and Samsung GS II's for about 2 hours straight. (Yay to Samsung for leaving the Market wide open to buy anything!)

First of all - as an iPhone user (but not the hardened fanboy) I have to say the phones are HUGE to me. They both are thinner than my iPhone 4, but they are just a little bit too big for my tastes.

The screen on both versions are absolutely gorgeous, but the Sprint version looked slightly stretched when comparing them. If I haven't seen them side by side, I wouldn't have an issue. While the colors on both were stunning, they Sprint version didn't seem as sharp with small text.

Surprisingly, the AT&T version was flying browsing wise, but the Sprint version had faster sustained downloads (~4-5mbit.) Sprint 4G held up OK, but the AT&T version kept dropping out.

Quadrant scores were 3200 on the AT&T after a few runs, while the Sprint version ran 3400. Both phones looked silky smooth and locked at 60fps. I got to run that Qualcomm demo (forgot the name) and it also looked smooth.

Also, the phones didn't lag much at all. I can't recall a moment when either one lagged, which was one of my biggest gripes about Android.

Cameras seemed sucky on both in the darkened lounge that we were in, but video recording seemed smooth and sharp.

Despite the Sprint version looking slightly stretched, I'd definitely get their version. The phone is just a hair too big, but screw it - don't cheap out on the smaller AT&T.

When did the industry decide we need plasma TV's in our pockets... :|

I also walked out with a Samsung Conquer 4G for Sprint. I have Sprint service, but have no use for a low-end phone like this. I'll probably use it for trade-in on a SGS II or iPhone 5. Just waiting to see what Apple will bring to the plate.

I read Samsung hardware accelerates the browser.

 

[her209]

I found this old thread about the Epic 4G. Wondering if its still true with the new SG2 Epic.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2105164

 

[amdhunter]

I found this old thread about the Epic 4G. Wondering if its still true with the new SG2 Epic.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2105164

I don't think they have full hardware acceleration because of all the different phones out there.

Ice-Cream Sandwich is supposed to fix this though, if I recall correctly. The GUI on these were smooth. Angry Birds looked watery'er than normal too...lol

 

[Dulanic]

I am 90% sure my next phone is going to be the epic touch, unless the prime comes out early October. I can always pull the 30 day swap if it did.

 

[amdhunter]

I am 90% sure my next phone is going to be the epic touch, unless the prime comes out early October. I can always pull the 30 day swap if it did.

Not going to wait to see what Apple comes out with?

 

[Dulanic]

Not going to wait to see what Apple comes out with?

Not a flaming chance in hell. I won't support Apple's business practices. I am not a android fanboy, I just am a anti Apple boy. I actually rather like WebOS for example and WP7 is pretty nice too. Apple falls into my Best Buy category, no chance I will purchase there either.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I found this old thread about the Epic 4G. Wondering if its still true with the new SG2 Epic.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2105164

The Galaxy S phones all have hardware accelerated browsers on 2.1 and 2.2.1+.

TouchWiz 4 on the GSII is at least partially hardware accelerated so I assume the browser would be as well.

 

[her209]

I don't think they have full hardware acceleration because of all the different phones out there.

Ice-Cream Sandwich is supposed to fix this though, if I recall correctly. The GUI on these were smooth. Angry Birds looked watery'er than normal too...lol

Who thinks of these names?

 

[obidamnkenobi]

The Galaxy S phones all have hardware accelerated browsers on 2.1 and 2.2.1+.

TouchWiz 4 on the GSII is at least partially hardware accelerated so I assume the browser would be as well.

That's what I thought was the case as well. I'm only slightly worried since this seems to have caused some problems for the cyanogenmod crew. At least last I checked HW acceleration does not work in CM7 for SGSII. Hopefully they'll figure it out soon. Or they can just port ICS over when that comes out

 

[poofyhairguy]

Great writeup amdhunter. Everyone else seems to be bored with the SGS2s now, but for those of waiting for their American release any bit of news helps. Thank you.

I do have one question though:

Despite the Sprint version looking slightly stretched, I'd definitely get their version. The phone is just a hair too big, but screw it - don't cheap out on the smaller AT&T.

Why do you say get the Sprint version despite the lower PPI? I ask because I am gonna get the AT&T version (only good service where I live) and I figured I was getting the best version (same speed as rest with original SGS2 screen). Is there something in particular that is worse or wrong about the AT&T version other than the lack of notification LED?

 

[alent1234]

i was looking at the SGS 2 to replace my Inspire 4G, but the talk of Samsung dumping android is scaring me. i'll probably just get the iphone 5 next month. same price, better support

 

[Dulanic]

i was looking at the SGS 2 to replace my Inspire 4G, but the talk of Samsung dumping android is scaring me. i'll probably just get the iphone 5 next month. same price, better support

What talk? Samsung is making a killing off android. The SGSII is one of the top selling phones in the world. There is 0 chance of this happening. Samsung isn't stupid enough to try to spin off their own OS right now, the market doesn't have room for another OS and they know it.

 

[QuantumPion]

I'm holding out for the mystery Samsung AT&T device, the SGH-i927 (looks like a SGSII but with slider keyboard).

 

[alent1234]

the korean government is pressuring samsung to use a homegrown OS. and there are stories floating around that samsung is looking to buy Meego. a lot of chinese carriers use bada or a local homegrown version of android because no one wants to be beholden to google like they were to microsoft


https://twitter.com/#!/alent1234/mobile

this is my twitter list for mobile stories. the last samsung/meego story was this morning

 

[Dulanic]

the korean government is pressuring samsung to use a homegrown OS. and there are stories floating around that samsung is looking to buy Meego. a lot of chinese carriers use bada or a local homegrown version of android because no one wants to be beholden to google like they were to microsoft

Still don't believe it. Here is the key to android... they aren't bound to google. Look at the upcoming Amazon Kindle... they are putting their own stuff on top of android. I can see Samsung making some more changes but stopping Android? Not a chance.

 

[Oyeve]

the korean government is pressuring samsung to use a homegrown OS. and there are stories floating around that samsung is looking to buy Meego. a lot of chinese carriers use bada or a local homegrown version of android because no one wants to be beholden to google like they were to microsoft


https://twitter.com/#!/alent1234/mobile

this is my twitter list for mobile stories. the last samsung/meego story was this morning

US+EU+CH will stomp on that. The rest of the world moves forward. Let Korea stew in the past. Samsung aint gonna switch to anything.

 

[alent1234]

with samsung's shady past for upgrades, why take a chance? not like the parts they use in their phones are unique.

if i didn't have to pay an ETF to AT&T i'd probably go to verizon and get an iphone or bionic or one of the cheaper droids. since i have to stay on AT&T i might as well just get the iphone 5

 

[McWatt]

Why do you say get the Sprint version despite the lower PPI?

PPI isn't a very useful metric for a phone display. If you prefer pixels to appear at a certain angular size, you can adjust the distance between your eyes and the screen. At the same resolution, a lower PPI display will be more useable because UI elements will be larger and more easily selected.

Much more useful are display size, which directly relates to UI useability and phone portability, and absolute resolution, which directly relates to the amount of information available at one time. Their ratio isn't worth mentioning.

 

[Demo24]

with samsung's shady past for upgrades, why take a chance? not like the parts they use in their phones are unique.

if i didn't have to pay an ETF to AT&T i'd probably go to verizon and get an iphone or bionic or one of the cheaper droids. since i have to stay on AT&T i might as well just get the iphone 5

a) a lot of the upgrade issues with the galaxy s were carrier issues, the international version got many updates.

b)I'd say the phone is pretty unique. No one else uses that screen nor the processor Samsung has in it.

 

[alent1234]

i've been meaning to stop by the store to check out the newer displays. but the apps are the same across all phones. not like facebook is going to run any faster on exonys than snapdragon

 

[snikt]

a) a lot of the upgrade issues with the galaxy s were carrier issues, the international version got many updates.

I agree. I have an unlocked, international SGS2 and not too long after I got it and installed Kies on my PC, Samsung had released the 2.3.4 update. I'm using my SGS2 on AT&T.

 

[evident]

I agree. I have an unlocked, international SGS2 and not too long after I got it and installed Kies on my PC, Samsung had released the 2.3.4 update. I'm using my SGS2 on AT&T.

is it cheaper to buy the international version on newegg $600 and use it on ATT with their unlimited "non smartphone" data plan for $15 a month?

 

[snikt]

is it cheaper to buy the international version on newegg $600 and use it on ATT with their unlimited "non smartphone" data plan for $15 a month?

If I understand the non-smartphone data plans:

$20-$30 a month, unlimited, but throttled (I could be wrong on the throttled stipulation. Or possibly the limitation is the device, a dumphone?)

My current plan:

$15 a month, 200MB, on AT&T's HSPA+

Choose your poison.