OK so I have been using the S2 for 3 weeks now nearly and although its a decent phone - a lot of things let it down.

The Negatives:

The biggest is battery life. Its hardly ever mentioned in reviews but battery is poor- period. Before anyone says "shut down this" "uninstall that" "use a battery app" - you shouldn't have to !
You have to be constantly going to task manager and closing down apps or turning off things like GPS and WiFi to save juice - not acceptable and not the same on the iPhone. The best you can get is about a day or so virtually unused with sync. The worse 2-4 hours playing games or using GPS. This isnt just me with a dud phone - most forums etc and complaints when you start digging is battery life.


Next is heat - the S2 gets very hot when using high amounts of CPU (as well as lots of battery in the process). Although it apparently isn't a problem it does feel scary hot sometimes.
Again - not just me, a common issue that pops up on dedicated forums etc.

The feel of the S2 is cheap. The front isn't bad, but its lightness and plastic body just feels cheap compared to the metal and glass of the iPhone.

Kies software for syncing music, photos and updates etc is crap - nothing else to say, just don't use it. A least iTunes works! Drag and drop etc instead.

Some software on the phone too just sometimes doesn't feel polished or have finesse. I have used IOS and it all just blends and works. Some Android standard equivalent apps just feel halfbaked sometimes. Then again some things are miles better like the Maps and Navigation stuff.

Sometimes a issue will just pop up - for example on saturday morning I woke up and the battery had drained overnight from 90 to 10%. It was something to do with wireless and sync. The 2.3.6 OS running has a issue with battery drain on wireless.
Another was the movement of icons. I went for a app and it wasn't there. Instead it had moved to a different screen all on its own. Again, a reported issue and not just me.

The colours on the S2 OLED screen are way oversaturated. The OLED screens is very nice and looks nice with excellent contrast, black levels etc, but it isn't a natural picture. So if you like photography or videos be prepared to watch in "hypervidion". (Note: changing to Cinema mode does tone down colours but it also alters warmth settings for a very warm white balance)

Overall my feelings are mixed. Its a good phone, but if you want something that just works for you with less hassle and worry - look elsewhere.

My next phone probably might not be a Android phone. If you are geeky and like to fiddle with settings and OS's etc then great. If you want a phone that just works for you iPhone is probably a better choice.

'Do you work for Apple' ???

No but on a positive note just about every other thing is great.

I've had my S2 since early December, and I've absolutely hammered it as I use it for work using the sat nav, camera, internet, music player 5 days a week.

I've had none of the issues you've mentioned at all. the phone has been pretty flawless for me.
I can't believe you've mentioned 'drag and drop' when comparing an iphone, that's just laughable.

agreed, but a problem with all smartphones. extended battery kits are available on ebay for £10 and make a noticeable difference


very rarely noticed this. the odd duff app has hammered cpu but otherwise not been an issue. Again, common in the iphone, to the point that an iphone app is available called handwarmer that just hammers your cpu and causes your phone to heat up How apple approved that....



Personal preference. try dropping both and see which fares better.


Agreed.


Disagree!!


without specifics I can't comment.Most apps work on both platforms.



never had this.


looks great to me...and I'm a photographer.


bears no resemblances to your specific points just sounds like you're repeating what you've heard from the isheep

I pretty much agree with this. I have had my S2 since 26/12 and I have had none of the issues you have mentioned (however having come from an HTC Desire, battery management is second nature to me)

You mention that the processor gets hot during gaming, however what you are feeling is actually the case getting hot and that is what it is supposed to do (if it didn't you would have a bigger problem. Also the fact that the battery goes flat after 2-3 hours of gaming.... this is perfectly normal for a phone of this type, even an iphone struggles under intensive gaming.

Problem with a thread like this is all the android fan boys will disagree and the apple will agree with no one really getting anywhere, next thing you have an android / iOS battle on your hands.

Had mine for many months or so, here's my experience.

Battery life could be better, but I turn off Wifi and GPS when I'm not using them. Why would i leave them on if they're not being used?

Kies is indeed terrible. I moved from an iPhone to the SII, and i did miss iTunes. It was easy to use. So, I paid a few quid and bought iSyncr which effectively uses iTunes to sync with the SII. Job done, happy bunny. For movies, I just copy them to the SD card directly through USB.

re. Apps, there are no apps that feel cheap that I've encountered yet. I do miss Chess for Friends which Zynga have inexplicably not bothered to port.

I don't game on the phone other than Words with Friends as I have a laptop for gaming, so can't comment on hot CPU.

I do watch lots of movies when travelling and listen to music, and find battery is no better or worse than equivalent usage on my old iPhone.

What I really like is the ability to turn it into a Wireless hotspot without having to pay O2 monthly ££, which I would've had to do on the iPhone. Bizarre. I know that's not a reflection on the iPhone, but it's still a problem.

As you say, navigation and maps are lovely. The native satnav app is excellent, and never lets me down.

Additionally I like the fact I can buy/ fit a spare battery or use a larger battery (with changed case to accomodate).

All in all, I'm a fanboi of neither Android nor Apple, but for now, Android and the SII gets my vote.

I went from an iPhone 3gs to the S2 my first thoughts were this feels cheap and horrible and using the keyboard wasn't a nice experience unlike the iPhones keyboard which is simply the best. But after a couple of months I love my S2, and when I use an iPhone it feels clunky!

I don't think it gets any hotter than the iphone, the battery is fine lasts about a day same as my iPhone did used in the same way. The moving of apps I get this sometimes when the apps update, but again had the same issue with the iPhone as well. Kies reminds me of old Sony Ericsson software and is a complete waste of space, I also use iSyncr as someone else mentioned it syncs most of my playlists from itunes but not audio books which is a bit of a pain but they are easier enough to drag over to the phone.

That's not the case any more. O2 have changed their tariffs so data is an add on, you select how much you want and tethering is included!

Sorry bit off topic, but relevant for anyone on contract who wants to do this legitimately.

I thought no one ever used Kies software and stuck with standard Android stuff.

It does have the feel of a 'I've paid £700 for my iPhone and I need to justify 'stupid money'.
Even with a high priced Android phone like the S2 you can go into a phone shop and see/feel it. Its a shame that kids feel emotionally inadeqate without a £700 top end phone.

I came from the iPhone to SGS2 and don't recognise any of the problems the OP has. The iPhone 4S has had nothing but complaints about battery life. I think battery management is just something you have to do on any smartphone. Of course someone coming from a dumbphone would have a moan about it, until they understand.
The rumour is that the S3 will have a new battery that will give far more service than the present ones. That said, I get a full day of use out of mine with fairly heavy use, but no gaming and I have never been left without power.
The heat problem was sorted a couple of updates ago, so have no problems with that.

Certainly agree with your battery issues, but not the rest, but then I think it's a general issue across the smartphone market that the battery technology is not yet advanced enough to cope with such screens and processing power.

Thinking of buying myself a spare battery because it simply doesn't have enough juice when I'm out all day, particularly if I'm using something like maps. That said I find simply turning data off when I'm not using it and turning the screen brightness right down makes a big difference, I have a widget which switches between lowest and auto, so it's easy enough to switch back when I'm in light environments.

Trouble is the S3 will also have a higher spec Quad core (rumoured is anyway) - so this is just going to sap battery maxed out too.

True, but even taking that into account Samsung reckon it'll be greatly improved over present batteries.

You seriously cant say as a photographer the sky blue and reds look natural?. The OLED is way over saturated on Normal mode.
Its as bad as people who have there TV on dynamic or umpa-lumpa vision.

Its a nice display - just not natural. If you did some reading you will find that colour optimisation of the OS and apps is needed to generate accurate colours on OLED - this isnt the sace it seems on the S2.
Also the OLED consumes MORE power than LCD when displaying bright/white screens ! + it still suffers from angle fade (again something never highlighted but true)

Also I'm not repeating apple heads. These issues are the ones I have had in the last month. And checking on-line I'm certainly not alone.

Nothings perfect - I thought the S2 was a godsend the way many banged on about it but it has annoying flaws- one of which is fan boys banging on about how flawless it is when many average users like me go out, get one and get issues.

Those who haven't experienced the heat- download Dead space from Samsung Apps (free) or Asphalt (free) - within a few min your phone will be toasty.
Its apparently not a "issue" - but it doesn't exactly feel good.

Skin tones look fine, grass looks the right shade of green. Still looking for a blue sky pic to check...been a while since we've had blue skies round here!

You've got a duff model, that seemed obvious in the iplayer thread when you were the only one with problems. But you keep insisting that there's fault with the S2's design....can't you just go and change it for another one?

take your pic...
http://www.google.co.uk/#q=Galaxy+S2...w=1680&bih=844
http://androidforums.com/samsung-gal...s2-screen.html
http://www.jayceooi.com/2011/09/29/h...isplay-colour/

+ Why would my phone be duff just because 1 app isn't working right? either others cant see what I'm seeing or the phone has selectively picked out iplayer for crap video.
Other users (inc S2 ones have also commented on choppy video)

https://market.android.com/details?i...player.android

I can squeeze 2 days out of my S2, you need to root it and flash a custom rom/kernel to improve battery life etc.

Depends on the what quad core processor your talking about. The TEGRA 3s have a fifth core to do all the small stuff, so only activate the other cores when required thus saving power.

If you want a battery powerful phone, get a Motorola RAZR MAXX when it appears.

The vibrancy if the S2 is so that you can actually see it outside. Vibrancy also helps compensate for having a tiny screen.
'Mutton dressed up as lamb' alternatives are probably only better if you are lifestyle limited.

Selected screen quality IMO goes in this order.
1 S2
2 LG Optimus Black
3 Iphone 4
4 Iphone 4s

The iPhone 4 is better than the LG Nova Black one for trueness but the Nova works in bright daylight much better.

Not at all doesn't work like that so you need to check the info you are quoting.

Why dont you just sell your sg2 and get an iphone probably have enough for a 3gs

Is late8 a yank?
Or did he just copy and paste his critique?

Nice one, when people disagree with you bring out the 'fanboy' card. Wow, you win!

Over the last fifteen years I've had phones of all makes, including iphones... Iphones are pretty awesome, but I looked at the specs and the apps as well as the UI and I chose the S2.
I came >< that close to getting an iphone 4s but I didn't. Doesn't mean that the 4s isn't a great phone... because it is!

It appears you have a faulty phone, get it exchanged and then just start enjoying it.

From some of the technical issues you have stated sounds like you have a faulty phone. Especially with the battery.

I bought myself this phone funny enough 3 weeks ago and I am having no problems with it. It seems every time i charged my phone the battery life improved so much better. I got 23 hours out of it in one charge and I am a heavy user and have wi-fi on all time, oh and I haven't rooted it either.

iPhones are lovely phones but the price don't justify for what they provide. Am no Apple hater as I have Mac products myself Macbook pro etc but no iPhone.