Information about the brand, model and alternative names of a specific device, if any.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, offered colors, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	66.1 mm (millimeters) 6.61 cm (centimeters) 0.22 ft (feet) 2.6 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	125.3 mm (millimeters) 12.53 cm (centimeters) 0.41 ft (feet) 4.93 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement.	8.5 mm (millimeters) 0.85 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.33 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	116 g (grams) 0.26 lbs (pounds) 4.09 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with a rectangular parallelepiped shape.	70.4 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 4.28 in³ (cubic inches)

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile technology and data rates

Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data rates.

Operating system

An operating system is the system software that controls and coordinates the operation of the hardware components on a device.

SoC (System on a Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) integrates all the major hardware components of a mobile device into a single chip.

SoC (System on a Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software required for their operation.	Samsung Exynos 4 Dual 4210
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. The value in nanometers is half the distance between the elements in the processor.	45 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	ARM Cortex-A9
Processor size The bit size of the processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses and data buses. 64-bit processors offer better performance than 32-bit processors, which in turn are more efficient than 16-bit processors.	32 bit
Instruction set architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets / controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv7
Level 1 cache (L1) The cache memory is used by the processor to reduce the time it takes to access more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (Level 1) cache is small and is much faster than both system memory and other levels of cache. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	32 KB + 32 KB (kilobytes)
L2 cache L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but instead has a larger capacity to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for them in L3 cache memory (if available) or in RAM memory.	1024 KB (kilobytes) 1 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to execute in parallel.	2
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1200 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics processing unit (GPU) A graphics processing unit (GPU) handles computation for a variety of 2D / 3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most commonly used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, and more.	ARM Mali-400 MP4
Number of GPU cores Like a processor, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle the graphical computation of various applications.	4
GPU clock speed Speed ​​is the clock speed of the GPU and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	266 MHz (megahertz)
Volume random access memory(RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. The data that is saved in the RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	1 GB (gigabytes)
Memory type (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR2

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) fixed memory.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage space for data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type / technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends.	Super AMOLED Plus
Diagonal On mobile devices, screen size is expressed in terms of the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	4.3 in (inches) 109.22 mm (millimeters) 10.92 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	2.21 in (inches) 56.19 mm (millimeters) 5.62 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	3.69 in (inches) 93.66 mm (millimeters) 9.37 cm (centimeters)
Aspect ratio The aspect ratio of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.667:1 5:3
Resolution Screen resolution indicates the number of pixels horizontally and vertically on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper image detail.	480 x 800 pixels
Pixel density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be shown on the screen in clearer detail.	217 ppi (pixels per inch) 85 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen footprint The approximate percentage of the display area on the front of the device.	63.75% (percent)
Other characteristics Information about other functions and features of the screen.	Capacitive Multitouch Scratch resistant
	Corning Gorilla Glass

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical metrics into signals that can be recognized by the mobile device.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its rear panel and can be combined with one or more additional cameras.

Sensor type Information about the type of camera sensor. Some of the most widely used types of sensors in mobile cameras are CMOS, BSI, ISOCELL, and others.	CMOS BSI (backside illumination)
Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically, cameras with a larger sensor and lower pixel density offer more high quality images despite the lower resolution.	4.54 x 3.42 mm (millimeters) 0.22 in (inches)
Pixel size Pixels are usually measured in microns. Larger pixels are capable of capturing more light and therefore provide better low-light performance and a wider dynamic range than smaller pixels. On the other hand, smaller pixels allow for higher resolution while maintaining the same sensor size.	1.391 μm (micrometers) 0.001391 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the size of a full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the size of the device's photo sensor. The number shown is the ratio of the diagonals of a full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) to that of a particular device's photo sensor.	7.61
ISO (light sensitivity) The ISO value / speed indicates the sensor's sensitivity to light. Digital camera sensors operate within a specific ISO range. The higher the ISO speed, the higher the sensor's sensitivity to light.	100 - 800
Light-strength Aperture (also known as aperture, aperture, or f-number) is a measure of the size of the lens aperture, which determines the amount of light entering the sensor. The lower the f-number, the larger the aperture and the more light reaches the sensor. Usually, the f-number is indicated, which corresponds to the maximum aperture of the aperture.	f / 2.6
Focal length The focal length indicates the distance in millimeters from the sensor to the optical center of the lens. Equivalent focal length (35mm) is the focal length of a mobile device camera, equated to the focal length of a 35mm full-frame sensor, at which the same angle of view will be achieved. It is calculated by multiplying the real focal length of the mobile device camera by the crop factor of its sensor. The crop factor can be defined as the ratio between the diagonals of a 35mm full-size sensor and a mobile device sensor.	3.97 mm (millimeters) 30.22 mm (millimeters) * (35 mm / full frame)
Flash type The rear (rear) cameras of mobile devices mainly use LED flashes. They can be configured with one, two or more light sources and vary in shape.	LED
Image Resolution Resolution is one of the main characteristics of cameras. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often quote resolutions in megapixels, indicating the approximate number of pixels in millions.	3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Video recording rate (frame rate) Information about the maximum recording rate (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps.	30 frames / sec (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera.	Autofocus Burst shooting Digital zoom Digital image stabilization Geographic tags Panoramic shooting Face recognition Adjusting the white balance ISO setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene selection mode Macro mode

Front-camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of different designs - pop-up camera, PTZ camera, notch or hole in the display, camera under the display.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technology supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Locating

Information about the navigation and positioning technologies supported by the device.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is a technology that enables wireless communication for transferring data over short distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless transfer of data between different types of devices over short distances.

Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, each of which improves communication speed, coverage, and makes it easier to find and connect devices. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device.

3.0

Characteristics Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols to provide more fast exchange data, energy savings, better device discovery, and more. Some of these profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here.

A2DP ( Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVCTP (Audio / Video Control Transport Protocol) AVDTP (Audio / Video Distribution Transport Protocol) AVRCP (Audio / Visual Remote Control Profile) GAVDP (Generic Audio / Video Distribution Profile) GAP (Generic Access Profile) HFP (Hands-Free Profile) HID (Human Interface Profile) HSP (Headset Profile) MAP (Message Access Profile) OPP (Object Push Profile) PBAP / PAB (Phone Book Access Profile) SPP (Serial Port Protocol) SAP / SIM / rSAP (SIM Access Profile) Hs

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

HDMI

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio / video interface that replaces older analog audio / video standards.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio connector. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Browser Information about some of the main features and standards supported by the device browser.

Html Flash

Audio file formats / codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode / decode digital audio data.

Video file formats / codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode / decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge required for their function.

Capacity Battery capacity indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliampere-hours.	1650 mAh (milliampere-hours)
A type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, by the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries most commonly used in mobile devices.	Li-Ion (Lithium-ion)
Talk time 2G Talk time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network.	18 hours 20 minutes 18.3 h (hours) 1099.8 min (minutes) 0.8 days
Standby time 2G Standby time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.	710 h (hours) 42600 min (minutes) 29.6 days
Talk time 3G Talk time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network.	8 hours 40 minutes 8.7 h (hours) 520.2 minutes (minutes) 0.4 days
3G standby time Standby time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.	610 h (hours) 36600 min (minutes) 25.4 days
Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery.	Removable

Sales started back in May 2011 Samsung Galaxy S2. Characteristics of its hardware and software parameters, owner reviews and other important information about it flagship smartphone will be discussed in detail later in this material.

List of accessories and components in the box

The characteristics of the S2 phone in terms of its hardware parameters at the time of its release allowed it to be classified as a flagship device. But the equipment of this gadget clearly does not correspond to this fact. The reason here, most likely, lies in the fact that Samsung, like other manufacturers, focuses on Apple products, which sets the tone for the mobile gadgets segment. Smartphones of the iPhone brand cannot boast of an excellent bundle. Here is a similar situation with S2. The boxed version of this gadget includes:

• Smartphone.
• Battery.
• Charger.
• Manual.

There can be no question of any memory card, OTZh interface cable, protective case and sticker and stereo headset. Although it will be quite difficult for the owner of this device to do without any of the previously mentioned accessory.

Appearance

The S2 has a lot in common with its predecessor, the S smartphone, but it is not an exact copy of it. On the front side of the gadget there is a display protected by tempered Gorilla Eye glass. Above, above the screen, there are sensor holes and an earpiece. Below, under the display, is a typical control panel. It consists of 2 touch-sensitive (located at the edges of the panel) and one mechanical (it is displayed in the middle) buttons. The lock button is located on the right edge of the device, and the volume rockers are located on the left edge of the smart phone.

On the underside of the smartphone there is a hole for the spoken microphone and the main wired port of the device - MicroUSB. On the upper edge of the gadget, there is only one wired audio port. The back cover of the device is made of structured plastic. Here is the backlit main camera, the manufacturer's logo and a loud speaker.

Processor and its computing capabilities

One of best processors 2011 was used in the Samsung Galaxy S2. The characteristics of its hardware parameters allowed this chip at that time to solve any problem in terms of complexity. We are talking about the Exynos 4210. This is the South Korean giant's own development. This CPU includes 2 cores of the Cortex-A9 architecture. Each of them could dynamically accelerate to 1.2 GHz in the highest load mode. If there was no need for such a high level of performance, then one of the computational modules was turned off, and the second reduced its frequency to 200 MHz. This engineering solution allowed to significantly save the battery charge level. Samsung Galaxy S2 DUOS boasted similar technical specifications. The characteristics of its processor are identical. But only in this case, the MSM8660 chip from Qualcomm was used. The same can be said about the rest of this family of smartphones: S2 Plus and S2 Mini. As a result, their performance level is comparable.

Gadget graphics

The graphics subsystem in the Samsung Galaxy S2 is quite well implemented. The characteristics of the technical specifications of the Mali400-MP4 graphics accelerator are not impressive today, but its presence is enough to run most applications. The diagonal of the display, as noted earlier, is 4.3 inches. Its resolution is 480 x 800. It is also based on the SUPERAMOELED matrix. The only thing that definitely gives rise to criticism is the presence of an air gap between the touch panel and the screen surface. This leads to distortion of the screen picture when the display deviates significantly from the right angle. Almost all devices in this series have identical technical parameters. Samsung is an exception in this regard. The specifications of its display will be more modest. Its resolution is exactly the same, but the diagonal is reduced by 0.6 inches and is 3.7 inches. Therefore, it will no longer be so convenient to work on it.

Cameras

Samsung Galaxy S2 is equipped with two cameras for taking photos and recording videos. Their characteristics are mediocre today, but at the time of the release of the device their parameters were one of the best. The camera is based on an 8 megapixel sensor. Also, at the software level, it implements a picture stabilization system and autofocus. As a result, the quality of photos and videos raises no objections. And the developers have not forgotten about the LED backlight, which allows you to take photos and record videos even in the dark at a distance of up to 2 meters. A more modest sensor on the front camera is only 2 megapixels. But for video calls, this is quite enough. Well, you can't expect more from her.

Memory

Despite the fact that in 2011 Samsung started selling its subsystems, even now, after 4 years, they are impressive. The amount of RAM is 1 GB, and this is enough for the normal and smooth operation of the gadget. Well, the capacity of the built-in storage is 16 GB. Of these, 4 GB are occupied by the pre-installed software. The rest can be used by the user at his own discretion. This is quite enough for installing additional application software and for storing personal data (documents, photos, videos, music). It is also possible to install an external storage with a maximum capacity of 32 GB. The corresponding slot is hidden behind the back cover of the device. It is possible to connect using an OTZh - cable (you need to buy it separately, it is not included in the delivery set of the device) of a regular flash drive.

Autonomy

This smartphone is equipped with a very modest battery. And the exact same battery comes with the Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus. Its characteristics are identical to the flagship solution, but the capacity of the built-in storage is reduced by 2 times and is equal to 8 GB. The battery capacity is 1650 mAh. If we add to this a 4.3-inch display diagonal and a 2-core productive processor, which cannot boast of good energy efficiency, then we get a very bad situation with autonomy. In the best case, in the maximum economy mode, it will take 1.5 days. If you increase the load on your smartphone, you can count on 1 day of work. Well, if you make a call, then one battery charge will last for half an hour of communication. You can solve the problem with autonomy by purchasing an additional battery with increased capacity.

Communications

Flawless communication set in S2. It has everything you need to start using your device to the fullest right after purchase. The list includes the following:

• Full support mobile networks second and, of course, third generation. In the first case, theoretically, you can get a data rate of 450 kbps. In practice, this value is significantly less. But in the case of working in 3G networks, the speed can theoretically reach 21 Mbps. In reality, as in the previous case, the speed will be lower.
• The main wireless interface is Wi-Fi . Almost all of its modifications are supported, except for "ac". This standard appeared much later and therefore is not implemented in this device. The maximum speed in this case can theoretically reach 150 Mbps.
• The developers have not forgotten about such an important wireless method of receiving information as bluetooth. It is indispensable in cases when you need to transfer or receive a small file from a similar mobile device or connect a wireless stereo headset to a smart phone.
• For navigation, the device is equipped with a GPS sensor and the "A-ZHPS" system . The complex use of these two components allows you to accurately determine the location of this gadget. Also, with their help, it is not difficult to turn this smartphone into a GPS navigator.
• There are only 2 wired interfaces in this device: MicroUSB (battery charging, connecting to a PC) and an audio port for connecting headphones.

A similar communication set is implemented in other smartphones of this series, for example, in the same Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus. Their characteristics are almost identical in this regard.

Software

The system software in this family of smartphones is the most popular platform today - "Android". Moreover, in its original state, version 2.3 is installed. But the first time you connect to the Internet, the software will be updated, and the OS version will already be 4.0. On top of the operating system, the TouchWiz 4th version is installed. With its help, you can easily and simply reconfigure the interface of a mobile gadget strictly according to your needs. Otherwise, the set of software is standard: social services (only international, and their domestic counterparts will have to be additionally installed from the Play Market), mini-applications from the OS and a set of programs from the search giant and part-time developer of the operating system - Google ...

User opinion

A very balanced solution is its characteristics clearly confirm this. The processor, memory subsystem, display and graphics accelerator are all perfectly matched, and this is not a problem. Also, cameras allow you to get photos and videos of acceptable quality. But the problem with the owners of this gadget is with autonomy and accessories. Its battery capacity is really modest, on one charge, as noted earlier, you can stretch for a maximum of 1.5 days. This problem can only be solved by purchasing an additional battery for additional money. The problem of modest equipment can be solved in a similar way. If you need a stereo headset or an interface cable, then we buy it separately for an additional fee. Moreover, in this case, we choose the accessory that is needed, and not the economy version from the manufacturer.

Price

One of the most expensive smartphones at the time of its appearance on sale was the Samsung Galaxy S2. The technical characteristics made it the best solution among the "Android" gadgets. Accordingly, its cost was about $ 800-900. But now, 4 years later, its hardware and software specifications only compete with entry-level devices. Accordingly, its cost dropped to $ 150-160. This price makes it one of the best value propositions in the entry-level segment.

Outcomes

For 4 years of sales, the Samsung Galaxy S2 has smoothly dropped from the premium smartphone segment to the entry-level device niche. The characteristics of its hardware resources clearly indicate this. But, on the other hand, even now, most everyday tasks can be easily and simply solved on this device. Not every gadget can boast of such performance.

Reviews Articles Prices

Description Samsung Galaxy S II GT-I9100

The Galaxy S II (GT-I9100) is larger and thinner than its predecessor, with a larger display, more powerful hardware and enhanced functionality. The display size has been increased from 4 inches to 4.3 inches, the processor has become dual-core, the amount of RAM has doubled to 1 GB, the thickness has decreased by about 1.5 mm and is 8.5 mm. The smartphone is equipped with a Super AMOLED + display. Galaxy S II is equipped with latest version Android 2.3 OS, supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n, including Wi-Fi Direct technology, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, HSPA + with data rates up to 21 Mbps and NFC technology.

Main technical characteristics

Features of the
A type	communicator
Operating system	Android
Version	2.3
CPU	ARM Cortex A9
Frequency	1200 MHz
RAM	1024 MB
Flash memory	16384 MB
Screen
Diagonal	4.3 "
Resolution	800 x 480
Color rendering	16 million colors
Digital camera
Camera	8 million pixels
Dimensions and weight
Width	66.1 mm
Height	125.3 mm
Depth	8.5 mm
Weight	116 gr.

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Smartphone Samsung Galaxy S II: the first test in Russia

The more successful the start, the more difficult it is to maintain the quality bar in the future. The second generation of the hit Samsung Galaxy S II is now one of the most talked about devices, in order not to disappoint the fans and not give a reason for the gloating of opponents, the company took a lot of effort to create a new device. In fact, the Samsung Galaxy S II is all the best in the mobile industry put together by the Korean giant in one case. We had at our disposal the first copy, imported to Russia specifically for the Samsung representative office, nevertheless, the device was a fully finalized smartphone, despite the formal status of an "engineering sample".

Galaxy Smartphone The S II was released back in 2011 by mobile standards, but it still enjoys the attention of users. At the time of release, it was a real flagship: a gorgeous 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus matrix with a decent WVGA resolution, a 2-core processor, a brand new Android 2.3 with a good proprietary shell - a beauty!

Is this the return of a legend, refined and modernized? At first glance, you cannot say so: the technical characteristics seem to have not changed, the design is the same, even the dimensions have remained the same down to a fraction of a millimeter. Today we will figure out what kind of beast the Galaxy S II Plus is, whether it differs in anything from the flagship two years ago and why Samsung released it.

Appearance

Déjà vu is the first sensation when you pick up the Galaxy S II Plus. The smartphone exactly repeats the design of its eminent ancestor. Nothing has changed significantly at all: the "hump" in the lower part of the rear panel, the location and size of controls, cameras, speakers, microphones, even a notch to hook the lid on - everything remained in place.

The only difference from the Galaxy S II is the rear panel. In the updated model, it is glossy and made in the style of the Galaxy S III. As a reminder, the original phone of 2011 has a textured cover. Rough plastic is much more practical than the glossy Galaxy S II with the "Plus" prefix. Fingerprints and any dirt remain on the latter, and all this is clearly visible on a dark surface. "Fingers" are easily erased, but in no time they reappear.

When we tested the Galaxy S II, its dimensions were alarming. Why: width 66 mm, height 125 mm! Today, against the background of "tablet phones" and other devices with a screen diagonal of more than 4.5 inches, the smartphone looks quite compact. The device fits comfortably in the hand. It does not seem heavy, although, judging by the technical specifications, the Plus model weighs 5 grams more than the “progenitor”.

The build of the smartphone is still good. The lid still sits firmly in its place, the buttons are pressed clearly, do not play, protrude from the case just enough to make them convenient to use blindly.

Well, the design of the Galaxy S II Plus has not changed, and the material from which the back is made is even worse than the original. Maybe the novelty will surprise you with something else? For example, an improved display, increased performance, or an even more advanced camera?

Display

It's amazing how perception changes in just a year and a half. It seems quite recently Galaxy screen The S II was one of the best in the smartphone segment, and no one noticed the pixelation. In the era of Retina, HD, and Full HD, the Galaxy S II Plus's resolution is an anachronism. Among the models of the middle and even lower price range, the resolution of 480x800 has become the norm, but you still expect a more modern screen from a new device costing over $ 500.

Matrix Super AMOLED Plus will delight lovers of "acid" images with bright and rich colors. The viewing angles are good, with deep blacks and muddy whites present. In general, everything is like in the Galaxy S II.

Camera

At one time, the Galaxy S II boasted one of the best "smartphone" cameras. So far, the pictures taken with this device look decent even when compared with the pictures taken with the new flagship models.

Snow photographed in bright sunlight

The Galaxy S II Plus smartphone also received a main 8-megapixel photo module. Most likely, the camera remained the same, that is, not bad. However, in our sample there were clearly defects either with the matrix, or with software processing of images, or both. There is a noticeable pink spot in the center of all the photos, there are problems with white balance and focusing, some shots turned out to be like they went through the throat of Instagram.

Functionality

The Galaxy S II Plus we tested ran Android 4.0.4, although the device is expected to ship with the more recent Android 4.1. The new up-to-date firmware "out of the box" is a significant advantage over the Galaxy S II, but only if the owners of the second smartphone, for some reason, do not want to update it to the official Jelly Bean.

The interface and capabilities of the device now resemble or rather. The similarities are in everything from the gurgling audio lock screen to some Samsung-branded features.

For example, when working with long lists of contacts, addresses Email or messages, you can go to the beginning of the list by double-tapping the top of the device. Implemented the ability to zoom in and out of a web page and a photo by holding two fingers on the screen and tilting the smartphone. The same principle is at the heart of moving a shortcut to another desktop: the icon itself is held in one place with your finger, and you need to move the phone to the right or left. Another feature is called "Shake to Refresh". No, the smartphone's firmware won't update by shaking, but the Galaxy S II Plus will be able to find available Bluetooth devices.

The device is also able to track the user's gaze, preventing the screen from turning off. Thanks to "Direct Call", you can call a subscriber whose contact or message is open on the display without touching the display - just hold your smartphone to your ear.

Some of these functions are useful, others are only interesting for a short time for the sake of pampering, others do not always work correctly (such as eye tracking).

Performance and battery life

Finally, the first significant hardware difference from its predecessor! The Galaxy S II Plus smartphone is built on the Broadcom BC28155 platform with two Cortex-A9 processing cores operating at 1.2 GHz, 1 GB of RAM and Broadcom VideoCore IV graphics. The predecessor was based on the Exynos 4210 chip, the specifications of which do not differ from the Broadcom BC28155.

It's hard to compare now Galaxy performance S II and Galaxy S II Plus on synthetic tests due to different versions operating systems and benchmarks. It remains to focus on working in conditions close to reality and subjective impressions.

The capacity of the latter is 1650 mAh. Subjectively, the new product is more "tenacious" than its predecessor. This can be explained new version OS and possibly a more power efficient processor. In the video playback mode at maximum brightness and with the wireless modules turned off, the smartphone lasted 5 and a half hours. In most cases, for day to day use, the device will need to be charged once every 1.5 days.

Contents of delivery:

• Telephone
• Li-Ion 1650 mAh battery
• Wired stereo headset
• USB cable
• Charger

Attention. Unlike preliminary review, here you read the review of the final sample, as a result, you can evaluate all aspects of the phone without any discounts. Some parts are repeated with the first material, some are greatly supplemented and expanded. This is the final review.

Positioning

The success of the Galaxy S has never been predicted, and for such a product it has achieved phenomenal sales. The model is an absolute bestseller, it set the bar for the Android phone market, but also caused problems within Samsung. No one expected a resounding success, as a result, no one could have predicted that the demand for phones would skyrocket. The company was let down by the lack of SuperAMOLED screens, their shortage did not allow to achieve large sales, the demand for the model is high, but it is not available in many markets in sufficient quantities. As one of the measures, Samsung has launched a cheaper variant of the Galaxy S, the i9003, which uses a SuperClear TFT display. It loses to SuperAMOLED in all respects, but at the same time remains one of the best screens On the market. At the same time, the price of the i9003 with the minimum memory capacity is 100-120 euros less than the original Galaxy S, the price difference will grow even more over time. It's not a bad proposition that will exploit the popularity of the original Galaxy S.

After the announcements at CES, when NVIDIA showed the first solutions on Tegra2, in particular, LG Optimus 2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola DROID Bionic, a natural question arose: how can Samsung answer these devices? It seemed that dual-core processors are becoming a necessity in flagship solutions, a good marketing ploy, even if there is no practical need for them, since there is no corresponding software, games, and the speed gain in ordinary applications is not so great. But at CES, Samsung did not say a single word about such plans. The reason is that the company wanted to close the gap between the product announcement and its appearance on the market as much as possible. So that potential buyers can get this solution at the same time as competitors.

Is Samsung counting on the success of its updated flagship? Definitely yes, and there are simply no prerequisites to believe that it will not be successful. Building on the sales of the previous device, this model will make the market for itself. It has several unique features that competitors do not yet have. The first is the screen technology race. The new term SuperAMOLED +, an improved version of the previous display, which did not have time to become obsolete, and competitors simply do not have an analogue. Why such a technology race is needed, I have no idea, but the screen is becoming a visible advantage of Samsung's flagships. One of the strengths. I like the Galaxy S for the quality of the screen, but it's not as sharp as the iPhone 4, not as crisp, and the fonts are a little blurry. In the new SuperAmoled + variant, the sharpness was increased, not yet the iPhone, but not the Galaxy S.

The second feature is not yet applicable in practice in most situations, but it provides a huge reserve for the future, it is a dual-core processor. For technology lovers, such a processor has an undoubted advantage, its presence gives an additional shine to the phone. But for practical people this is not the case. The presence of such a processor does not have an undoubted and quick benefit. Another thing is that over time, more and more programs will appear for such solutions, then this phone will show its capabilities.

In terms of technology, the first Galaxy S set a very high bar, not a showcase for technology's sake, but a showcase of how to bundle all the latest technology into one compelling product. The S II went even further, this is the first phone that supports Wi-Fi Direct, does not need special software to work with any computer and synchronize data, the phone can send files via Wi-Fi, has a number of additional programs that are not familiar to other Android phones, but which will soon become standard. I can list the technologies used for quite a long time (NFC, MHL, and so on), there are an impressive number of them here. Without any discounts, Samsung created a flagship and did it without wasting little things. Unfortunately, there is not a single device on the market that is similar in characteristics and overall capabilities. The devices based on NVIDIA Tegra 2 came close to the Galaxy S II, but they, as a rule, have a much worse camera, a larger size, and noticeably worse displays. Surprisingly, Samsung has created a flagship with an excellent price / quality ratio for its segment. A year will pass, and the functionally the device will remain at the level of the best solutions, it will not be greatly overshadowed by other models, although more interesting solutions from different companies will appear. This product is positioned as a long-term flagship, that is, a model that is bought in order not to change the phone for a long time. The life span of this device will be maximized for most markets and consumers.

It is also worth noting the HTC Sensation model, which is technically very similar to the Galaxy II (dual-core processor, 1.2 GHz, but worse camera, less built-in memory, simpler screen). This model wins by the presence of the Sense 3.0 shell, but at a similar cost, Samsung has a technological advantage. In any case, both models look extremely attractive, and choosing between them will be quite difficult.

The positioning of the phone as a flagship defines the portrait of its consumer, these are primarily those who buy the latest and best solutions... Of course, this device also belongs to them. The second and notable category is tech enthusiasts (geeks). Those who care about how powerful their phone is. For them, this model offers a win-win option, because other phones have nothing comparable in terms of technology. For practical buyers, this is an interesting model, since for a long time you can be sure that it remains relevant and does not require replacement.

Design, dimensions, controls

Here I heard many different opinions. Someone judged by the picture and said that the model looks exactly the same as the previous device, someone from the previous Galaxy owners complained that the device has become wider, and it is not very convenient. Some were just waiting for a different kind. Samsung considered the design of the first Galaxy S to be successful, and sales confirm this. And we decided not to change anything. In some ways, this approach is rational.

At the same time, due to the fact that the area of ​​the device has become larger, it has been made thinner. An impressive 8.5 mm (the press release says it is 8.49 mm, but we will not calculate it with such accuracy?), Make this device one of the thinnest on the market. Sony Ericsson Arc immediately comes to mind, its thickness is 8.7 mm, which also looks thin, due to this the device is perceived quite differently and makes an impression. A forgotten trend that was in phones 4 years ago has been revived again for the smartphone segment. Remember the Ultra line of phones from Samsung, and before that there was a device with a body thickness of 9 mm, and this was perceived as a breakthrough. Everything new is well forgotten old.

Comparison with Sony Ericsson Arc:

By the way, Samsung Galaxy S II somewhat reminded me of Sony Ericsson Arc, and in terms of proportions, it is possible that the size, diagonal of the screen leaves an imprint, it is similar in both models. The Arc is 4.2 inches, while the Samsung 4.27 is not a huge difference. But Samsung's screen is orders of magnitude better and more interesting. Galaxy S II uses DNIe + technology (that's where the plus sign in the screen name comes from). This is a processor that processes any graphics, for example, photos, pictures, videos, and makes it better for the perception on the phone screen. A similar technology is used in all Samsung TVs. Curiously, something similar under the name BraviaEngine is used in Sony Ericsson Arc. These technologies are not used in the interface, that is, they are not responsible for drawing the menu.

The phone measures 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm (the Galaxy S has 122.4x64.2x9.9 mm) and weighs 116 grams. For my taste, the device is a bit wide, some may think it is a disadvantage. But you adapt to it quickly, there is no discomfort. It's nice that the device is invisible in your pocket, it looks good in a shirt as well.

Comparison with Samsung Galaxy S:

The answer to why the back cover is made of plastic and not metal can be found pretty quickly. With active use of the phone, when you watch videos, download large files, transfer them, it starts to get very hot. If the back cover were metal, then it would be impossible to touch the device, it would burn. The honeycomb structure of plastic was invented for a reason, it is a kind of passive radiator. But even with it, the phone sometimes heats up, does not burn, but you feel the heat. Warmest areas around the camera.

The cover is very thin and when you snap it you need to run your finger around the perimeter to make sure it fits snugly. Sometimes you don't close the lid completely, and this creates certain inconveniences. If the cover falls off, it is knocked out by the battery. My phone flew several times, but the cover did not receive any damage. Despite the thinness of the plastic, it is resistant to both shocks and bends.

The phone has a 2MP front-facing camera, proximity sensor, and lighting. The central key is mechanical, but the menu and return buttons are touch sensitive. On the left side there is a paired volume control key, on the right side there is an on / off button. We failed to find the camera key, as before, it is not there, and the camera will have to be called from the menu.

At the top, there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack, the microUSB connector has been moved down. On the back, you can see the lens of an 8-megapixel camera, plus an LED flash, and a speaker is located at the bottom.

For several weeks my main phone was exactly the Galaxy II, so it went through fire, water, and copper pipes. The body does not wear out anywhere, with the exception of the rear ledge, a slight wear appears here, it will intensify over time. It is clearly visible only in the light and at the correct angle. The second point is the back cover. In my pocket, it rubbed against the lining, unevenly, there were separate rubbed areas. But I will say again, they are visible upon a very careful examination of the phone, in fact it is difficult to find them. In total, everything is expected, the plastic case has both its advantages (weight, practicality) and disadvantages.

To be honest, I don't share the opinion of many people that the phone case must necessarily be metal, especially if it's a flagship model. It can be made of both plastic and glass and other materials. The question is how the material behaves over time, ages or not, wipes off or not. For example, glass used in Apple iPhone 4, is relatively fragile, if dropped on the asphalt, it can be broken. Does this stop someone from buying a device? I think no. This is one of its features. The model turned out to be very light in weight, but at the same time wide, and this is captivating. Constantly using HTC Incredible S and Galaxy II, I caught myself thinking that Galaxy is more convenient for me. The reason is the weight and thickness of the case.

Display

Those who argue that SuperAMOLED Plus is just a marketing ploy should take a look at how the picture is different compared to regular SuperAMOLED. It is brighter, sharper with the increased diagonal of the screen, but the main thing is that the screen consumes less energy. An option to save energy has appeared in the settings, when the power consumption is regulated depending on the picture that is currently displayed (using DNIe +). This technology is also used in all Samsung TVs, a special processor analyzes the information and then improves the picture, making it more beautiful for us. A side effect is that the phone can now analyze how energy is being spent. The selection of wallpapers also takes into account the fact that AMOLED screens use energy in different ways, depending on the color. A similar technology is used by Sony Ericsson, it is called Bravia Engine, but the gain on TFT screens is not so noticeable, rather there is a technology only for visual improvement of the displayed picture.

Let's go back to screen technology. The first SuperAMOLED matrices used PenTile technology, when one dot on the screen is formed from two subpixels. Surprisingly, this caused quite heated discussions in many forums, in which it was argued that the effective resolution of any screen with PenTile technology is at least a third lower than the stated one. Quite a bold and stupid statement, since the number of dots did not differ in any way from any screen, and if the manufacturer was talking about a matrix of 800x480 dots, then there were exactly that number of them on the screen. No more, no less.

Another thing is that in some aspects, a smaller number of subpixels gave visible distortions on the screen, which, coupled with high definition, annoyed individual users. For example, for the first generation SuperAMOLED, the fonts had a sharply outlined outline with a ladder, in fact, this is the only visible difference from most screens that arises from the use of PenTile technology. It is enough to look at the icon captions in the main screen and see this effect on the same Galaxy S. Comparison with the second Galaxy will show that there is nothing of the kind there.

The explanation lies in the Real RGB Stripe technology, which was used in SuperAMOLED Plus matrices. Now a separate point on the screen is formed not by two, but by three sub-points. The picture from Samsung Displays shows the difference, the increased number of dots makes the picture smoother, including fonts, there are no sharply defined outlines that could be annoying. I honestly admit that until they began to discuss this topic, to procrastinate it, I did not even pay attention to the fonts. But then, of course, I saw this sharpness, although it had no effect on my perception of the previous Galaxy.

In the sun, the screen behaves worse than in the first Galaxy, the explanation is that the matrix size has increased, but the resolution remains the same, plus the technology has changed. The picture is readable at right angles or in a not very bright sun. But otherwise everything is exactly the same as on other types of screens, there is no advantage that was in the first SuperAMOLED.

At the moment, SuperAMOLED Plus technology does not allow creating screens with a pixel density of more than 200 ppi, the iPhone has a matrix with more than 300 ppi. Samsung will change the matrix manufacturing technology in order to get more than 300 ppi in 2011.

For my taste, the picture on SuperAMOLED Plus looks smoother, the brightness control is well matched. But the main point is that the user can choose the saturation of the picture (Movie, Standard, Dynamic). In fact, this is a setting that allows you to set the color temperature of the screen, change the saturation of colors. Some people like bright colors - leave the standard option. Someone likes not so bright colors - choose the Movie mode.

The diagonal of the screen is 4.3 inches (in the previous model it is 4 inches, but the difference is huge, striking), the resolution is 800x480 pixels (displays 16 million colors). In practical terms, the display is extremely convenient, there is an automatic adjustment of the image brightness depending on the lighting. Safety glass hardened, coated with a special anti-reflective material. Also, the screen has an oleophobic coating, which in theory means that it does not get dirty with your hands. A similar coating is used in the Apple iPhone. The users of this device know that prints still remain, just a little less of them. The story is exactly the same here. There are greasy marks, but they are not so striking.

Samsung devices also use VibeZ technology - when you press the keys, the body vibrates, which confirms your action.

The screen fits up to 16 lines of text and up to three service lines. In the mode of reading messages, this can be up to 24 lines, depending on the selected font. For the screen in the settings, you can choose the size and style of the font, but they are not very different. Another thing is that, unlike many models, the screen font is huge here, it can be read without difficulty from any distance. This is a plus of the apparatus.

Comparison of the screen with Galaxy S (maximum brightness, the same pictures).

Comparison of the screen with Sony Ericsson Arc (maximum brightness, the same pictures).

Battery

The phone uses a 1650 mAh Li-Ion battery. According to the manufacturer, the battery is capable of providing up to 6.5 hours of talk time and up to 350 hours of standby time. In the conditions of Moscow networks, the device works on average for about one day. It takes about 3 hours to fully charge the battery.

Playback of unconverted video is possible for approximately 8.5 hours. Music playback - up to 30 hours.

Perhaps, checking the operating time of the device was the most difficult and voluminous test for me. The number of settings related to power consumption is huge, and you can customize the phone for yourself, and besides, save time. For each person, this device will be able to show its results, it is very individual and depends on hundreds of settings (screen brightness, number of programs in memory, and so on). Therefore, I decided to carry out comparative tests with first Galaxy... SIM-cards of the same operator were installed on two phones, PUSH-mail was set up, the same applications, programs and so on were also used. In fact, I even tried to call from the same places and talk for the same amount of time. The result was quite unusual - the Galaxy II battery life increased from 1.5 to 2 times. In my case, the first Galaxy, starting to work at 9 am, was already completely discharged by lunchtime (yes, I'm not a very ordinary user, for many it works longer), but Galaxy II worked for a long time.

I will briefly tell you about the settings that are present in the phone and can do a good job in saving energy. First, you should go to the Wi-Fi section and, in the advanced settings, establish a connection only when the screen is active. This will save a little energy, especially if you do not use any IM-messengers and want to see information the moment you pick up your phone. Secondly, it is worth considering whether you need PUSH in mail, if you receive a dozen letters per hour, this function greatly affects the operating time. You can set the interval to 15, 30 minutes, or even an hour. This gives a noticeable increase in operating time.

In the screen settings, I recommend setting automatic brightness control, but also adding an analysis of the picture on the screen (a separate item, not available for all competing products). This item allows the phone to choose the brightness depending on the applications used, everything works quite well. Regardless of whether this item is selected or not, the temperature sensor works in the phone. If you are in the sun and at the same time play some kind of toy, simultaneously download a large file, the screen brightness will automatically decrease so that the device does not overheat. Until this moment, I have not seen such functionality.

The Power Save Mode section allows you to install an assistant that will turn on the power saving mode when the battery is discharged to a certain level. In doing so, you can specify exactly how the phone will save energy. Pretty good setting as it flexibly allows you to set your priorities. When the battery reaches 15 percent, the camera stops working. The phone is focused on the fact that you can call until the last moment. It's nice that at 15 percent the device lives for 1.5-2 hours, you can talk for up to 15-20 minutes.

Surprisingly enough, the Galaxy SII lasts longer than the first Galaxy. And this is not affected by a slightly larger battery, but by the technological platform itself, the Exynos processor turned out to be very economical. In terms of technology, this is an extremely complex phone, in which many settings have been applied, with the help of which real energy savings are possible without deteriorating the user characteristics of the device. I will hint that by studying in detail the phone and its capabilities, you can save up to 50 percent of the operating time, which is just great. Other devices do not provide such tuning possibilities even close. And if you also have straight arms, you know how to dig into the insides of the apparatus, then even more. In short, among the flagships of the latest generation, it is the Samsung Galaxy SII that has one of the longest-lasting batteries.

Below are screenshots of the built-in Android utility that shows runtime and power consumption.

USB, Bluetooth, NFC, communication capabilities

Bluetooth. Bluetooth version 3.0, also called High Speed. When transferring files to other devices that support this technology, Wi-Fi 802.11 n is used, and the theoretical transfer speed is about 24 Mbps. Testing the transfer of a 1 GB file showed a maximum speed of about 12 Mbps within three meters between devices.

The model supports various profiles, in particular, Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port, Dial Up Networking, File Transfer, Object Push, Basic Printing, SIM Access, A2DP. Working with headsets does not raise any questions, everything is commonplace.

USB connection... In the menu, you can select one of three possible operating modes: Media Player, Mass Storage, Samsung Kies... The device is easy to use as a modem by turning on Wi-Fi Hotspot or by activating a similar function for USB.

In the USB Mass Storage mode, the device is perfectly picked up without additional drivers, you can copy the necessary data. The USB version is 2, the data transfer rate is about 25 Mb / s.

When connected to a PC, the simultaneous operation of USB and Bluetooth is unacceptable, the device requires turning off Bluetooth regardless of the current state (whether there is a connection and transmission or not), this is extremely inconvenient. When connected via USB, the device recharges.

The USB on the Go function is supported, which means that using a special adapter, you can connect any flash drives or external hard drives to the microUSB connector, in this case, you will get the ability to view files, copy them, and so on in the file manager.

The microUSB connector also supports the MHL standard, which means that using a special cable (available from electronics stores), you can connect your phone to a TV (to the HDMI output). In fact, the standard describes the ability to connect via microUSB to HDMI. This solution looks preferable to a separate miniHDMI connector on the case.

For GSM networks, EDGE class 12 is provided.

Wi-Fi... The standard 802.11 a / b / g / n is supported, the wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember the selected networks, automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a one-touch connection to the router, for this you need to press a button on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device menu (WPA SecureEasySetup).

Wi-Fi Direct... A new protocol that aims to replace Bluetooth or compete with its third version (it also uses Wi-Fi version n to transfer large files). In the Wi-Fi settings menu, select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone starts looking for devices around. We select the desired device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now, in the file manager, you can view files on another device, as well as transfer them. Another option is to simply find the devices connected to your router and transfer to them required files, this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.

NFC (Near Field Communication)... The phone has a built-in NFC technology, with its help in some countries they create payment systems when you can pay for a purchase with your phone in a parking lot or at a kiosk. Such systems will evolve, and Samsung has incorporated these capabilities into the device to make it the most advanced. For some countries, this option will not be available in the menu (Russia is one of them, at the same time, NFC is physically present).

Kies via Wi-Fi... Motorola was the first company to offer working with a phone without having to download any software to a computer. You connected to a PC using Wi-Fi, in the browser you could view individual sections of the phone. Samsung went a little further and gave access to all sections of the phone. Enter in the browser the address that the phone provides you, and you can work with all your data, upload them to your PC. Convenient and simple. No special programs, you can write SMS from your computer, read them, and so on.

Motion control

Individual functions can be controlled using movements. In most cases, these movements are contrived. For example, in the gallery you can touch the picture with two fingers and, by tilting the device, zoom in or out the image. It is not always possible to adjust the rate of change of the picture, it is easier to zoom it with your hands. The only convenient function is unlocking, touch the screen and shake the phone, the lock is removed. There are good tutorials on the menu showing how to work with movements, but to save energy it is better to turn them off.

Memory, memory cards

The phone has 16 GB of internal memory (a version with 32 GB is planned), initially about 14 GB is available to the user. The memory card is visible separately, it is possible to display all folders (both from the memory card and internal). There is a file manager that allows you to copy files both from the card and to it. Memory cards are not hot swappable. We checked the work microSD cards up to 32GB, everything works.

The amount of RAM is 1 GB, after downloading it is free about 800 MB. This is enough for all applications, the phone is one of the best on the market in terms of RAM.

Performance

This is the first dual-core phone from Samsung, and is used internally by the Orion processor, which was recently renamed the Exynos 4210. Compared to prototypes, the processor has been changed - it is also dual-core, but the maximum frequency is 1.2 GHz.

Is this solution comparable to NVIDIA Tegra2, which I was able to test in Motorola ATRIX 4G, as well as LG Optimus 2x. Both phones were my main phones for several weeks. I can only evaluate the performance from the user's point of view, since there are simply no programs that use all the capabilities of such an architecture today. Samsung's solution is as fast as Motorola's or LG's. They are perceived at the same level. My impression is extremely positive, this is one of the fastest phones on the market. In a number of situations, the Samsung phone even looks faster, it seems that a lot of work has been done on its optimization.

So, here are the results in the synthetic Quadrant test, the usual Galaxy firmware SII shows about 3000 points, while competitors are lagging behind by a significant margin. I want to emphasize that these measurements are speculative in nature, they do not affect the real performance of the device, which depends not only on the processor, but also on the memory, as well as on how the programs are optimized and how stable they are in operation.

In Smartbench 2011 (optimized for dual-core processors), the results are just as impressive. At the time of testing, this is the only product that showed the maximum result, as you can see for yourself in the screenshot. Below are the results of the overclocked LG Optimus 2x, but this is not a very honest comparison, since you can raise the frequency on Oxynos to much higher rates (1.8 GHz, to be precise). In the absence of commercial samples of HTC Sensation, it is unfair to compare the performance of these two devices, while Sensation loses in performance in tests. In our Sensation review, we compare the processors and system performance with the Galaxy SII.

Camera

The model received a new 8-megapixel camera module from Samsung, which is one of the best on the market. However, let's compare it with that of Sony Ericsson Arc.

Sony has created the EXMOR matrix, which is used in the company's flagship - Sony Ericsson Arc. Countless advertising, marketing materials show the superiority of this matrix in the conditions poor lighting and marketing has hammered into people's heads that this is the perfect solution. Or close to that. Unfortunately, Sony is not the leader in photo solutions for phones, moreover, the products of this company are secondary to what Samsung is doing. This can be seen in simple examples of comparative pictures.

So, we look at a photo of chrysanthemums without any lighting. The pictures look the same. Hereinafter, pictures from Galaxy SII are located on the left.

Let's take off the pencils on the table by the window. Side light, illumination is clearly insufficient. Both cameras coped with the work in about the same way, I would not single out a leader.

The laughing Buddha in my office turned out great on Galaxy, but for some reason Arc raised the ISO to 400 (250 on Galaxy), and at the same time darkened the picture. It also turned out to be not very sharp.

With the flash, the Arc is even worse, the device just shoots as it should. See for yourself. I tried to take pictures several times, but all the time I got this result.

But in this picture (a rare case!) You can even say that Arc shot a little better. Little bit.

In daylight, bright lighting, the cameras parity, although not all Arc scenes work out well. But let me remind you that these are almost ideal conditions, and all cameras work well in them.

Well, a couple more pictures:

Hopefully this little comparison shows that Sony's EXMOR is pure marketing, nothing more. A conventional, untitled camera from Samsung puts EXMOR on both paddles and delivers the best picture quality in all conditions. I think that's enough to stop talking about Sony Ericsson's marketing bullshit about superior camera quality once and for all (and yes, the iPhone will use a Sony solution that won't be available on SE phones due to the high cost).

There's a small but major change to the camera interface on the Galaxy SII. Now the interface can be both horizontal and vertical, it all depends on how you hold the device.

All settings are shown on a translucent background, which is also pleasing. I will briefly list the main settings.

The zoom is digital, 4x, you just need to swipe the screen with two fingers to activate it. Very convenient implementation (pinch to zoom). The quality of the zoom can be estimated from the following photos, it is not impressive.

Flash mode - automatic, always on, off.

Shooting mode - One shot (default), Beauty (filter that hides blemishes), Smile Shot (find and respond to a smile), Panorama, Action Shot (pictures of moving people or objects), Cartoon (filter that turns a picture into something similar to the sketch).

Scene Mode - Portrait, Landscape, Night, Sports, Party / Indoor, Beach / Snow, Sunset, Dawn, Fall color, Firework, Text, Candelight, Backlight.

The shutter speed is adjustable from -2 to +2.

Focusing - autofocus, face, macro.

Timer for 2, 5 and 10 seconds.

Effects - negative, black and white, sepia.

Resolution - 8M (3264x2448), 6.5W (3264x1968), 7M (3072x2304), 5.7W (3072x1856) and lower resolutions.

White Balance - Day, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent.

ISO - auto, 100, 200, 400, 800.

Also worth noting is point or matrix metering, automatic contrast, image stabilization, the ability to set a GPS tag.

Examples of photos can be found below:

Video... To the already used resolution of 1280x720, 1920x1080 pixels (1080p) have been added. At the same time, the file properties indicate up to 30 frames per second, but the picture looks a little jerky if you walk or drive. Constant autofocus is supported, while in difficult conditions the camera is not always able to quickly focus on the subject or subject of shooting (example with cocktails). But in general, the quality of shooting is quite at the level of other solutions and even better. See for yourself.