Samsung Galaxy S2
The basics
The Samsung Galaxy S II is one of the latest smartphones on the market, running Android and boasting a stunningly thin design. It's packed with features and offers a fantastic screen. It's also the best smartphone on the market.
The good
The Samsung Galaxy S2 features one of the best screens available on a smartphone. At 4.2 inches, it's large enough to consume media content with ease, and it's also pin-sharp. Samsung has used AMOLED technology to produce stunning colour reproduction, with vivid hues and deep blacks on offer.
The Galaxy S2 is also the fastest smartphone we've had the pleasure of using, with the Gingerbread version of Android being powered by a 1.2GHz processor. Despite the performance, battery life is also pretty decent for an Android handset.
Features include an excellent 8-megapixel camera, which lags only behind the Nokia N8 for image quality. All this is crammed into an incredibly thin and light casing, measuring just 9mm at its thinnest point.
The bad
There's very little to dislike about the Samsung Galaxy S II. The huge screen and skinny casing can make it slightly awkward to hold, and the Android OS gets some slightly useless additions from Samsung, but both of these points are minor niggles.
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The bottom line
In short, we love the Samsung Galaxy S2. With an excellent OS, and even better hardware, it's the best smartphone in the world right now.






























User comments (45)
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jon bissett29 August 2011
This phone is awesome, easy to operate and is super fast. Internet access is rapid and there is as many settings on the camera as you would expect on a dslr. Would recommend it.
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Dan22 October 2011
Aftering enduring 2 years of Blackberry Storm2, I finally got my hands on the Galaxy S2. Had many phones over the past 15years, a number of which have been smart phones. I have to say that the S2 is the best phone I have had to date. Responsive Screen, good battery life (especially when you consider, that I've not put the phone down since I got it yesterday :) ), and great selection of apps in the market place ( I have a jealous wife now, who still has another 18months with her iPhone4 which is causing her nothing but grief)
Report as inappropriateTony29 October 2011
Been using this phone for a while and found the battery life was not so good. However, i found a heavy duty battery and rear cover and now it' is great and with the extra bulk i find it easier to hold as well. best phone I've had
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Anonymous16 November 2011
Had this for a few months now & without doubt the best phone I've ever had. My sister has an N8 & hates it, brother still running an i-3 & frustrated. Have found the battery life excellent, the ability to shut down background appts easily just brilliant. Have no complaints what so ever on this. Highly recommended, even against the new i-4s. Samsung do rule on this. I agree with Jackie above, why oh why has no company come up with a decent mini-usb docking system for a smartphone???? I have loads of music on mine & it does get a little tedious having to have headphones on all the time.
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Dave M12 December 2011
Finally made the leap from being an iPhone sheep. Not because i didnt like the phone but because i hate iTunes!!!! What a breath of fresh air the Galaxy S2 is, whatever I want to, not what iTunes will allow(usually for a fee), i could do. An awesome piece of kit with access to allow all manner of customization and a fantastic level tech. It was a big step that now i dont look back on. The Galaxy S2 is is far beyond the iPhone 4s.
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Mac17 December 2011
I was just reading a comment about a docking station to avoid use of head phones whilst using media player. I got a micro usb to hdmi cable converter for £15 now I can plug it up to my tv and the device just mirrors on to the tv so I can listen to my tunes and watch films direct via tv speakers, sub etc. Really great gadget. Another option is if your sterio has an aux input, use 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack and run music directly that way.
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Trevvie22 December 2011
Got to admit I have had this phone around 6 months now after being a iphone sheep for 3 years and have never looked back, got sick of having to jailbreak my iphone to get the really useful apps from cydia that are already available on android ok yes i'm a tech head and I do admit the itunes phone (really you cant use one without it) is a good stepping stone for those that never worked out how to set the timer on a VCR but in reality you will always be restricted into only being able to do what apple allow you to do on this phone and be conned into thinking stuff like facetime and siri a great but in reality they have been around for years but no one really cares video calling and voice commands are just bog standard on this phone anyway
Report as inappropriatePed26 December 2011
Just watched the Smartphone episode (18) why did they choose the Samsung Nexus and not the Galaxy S2?? (It has been out for months) Because the S2 would have wiped the floor with iPhone 4S! The best phone I have ever handled!! Even dropped mine in the toilet the other day & thankfully it survived with no problems!! Great screen, great battery, great speed, great apps, great camera... The list is endless! Top notch phone!
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rogerdemarco17 February 2012
You know when mobile phones first came out and it seemed almost supernatural...? Even when you know the technological synergy that makes it work, there's definitely something of the dark arts about this device. Can't wait to see what they do with the S3
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naeem25 February 2012
i have had this phone for not even a week now and i have already had to change the handset twice. they both overheated and "it is a very big problem with this phone" said the guy from the o2 store.i wouldn't say the phone is bad but try to keep the phone away from heating up e.g closing all background apps e.t.c
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Kevin Lander24 November 2012
I replaced my Samsung Galaxy S (which I was really pleased with) with the Samsung Galaxy S2 about 4 months ago, the thing that impressed me was the image quality for games and films, the colours are really vivid. I very nearly went for an iPhone but I’m very glad I went for the S2 instead. The battery life is very good and pages from the web seem to load really quickly. I have heard some bad things about the build quality especially the back cover but all I can say is that the Samsung Galaxy S2 is the best phone I have ever owned more reviews at mobilephonereviewer.co.uk
Report as inappropriateJJJIIIMMMBBBOOO28 January 2013
JUST SIMPLY ONE OF THE BEST PHONES EVER. :-) JUST BRILLIANT JUST FANTASTIC GREAT FOR DOING EVERYTHING JUST LUCKY iiiiiiiiiiiiii I'M not a fashion victim !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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